[Info-vax] Leaving all Google Groups?

[Arne Vajhøj]

On 12/1/2023 12:10 PM, Neil Rieck wrote:
> On Friday, December 1, 2023 at 11:03:10 AM UTC-5, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
>> On 12/1/2023 6:38 AM, Neil Rieck wrote:
>>> 2) I lodged a complaint via https://support.google.com/ where a
>>> non-Google employee suggested I create a new group with the requisite
>>> privacy settings. I did that then attempted to create
>>> "comp.os.openvms" but it came up as "composopenvms". Perhaps the
>>> lack of dots helps to distinguish the old flavor newsgroup from the
>>> new. This makes me wonder if messages post here are being seen my
>>> the traditional news readers. Anyway, you are free to use
>>> https://groups.google.com/g/composopenvms if you wish.
>>>
>>> 3) As an alternative, I suggest we all unsubscribe from all Google
>>> Groups then continue our conversations on reddit where we will be
>>> free to continue our conversation under the OpenVMS sub-reddit. Click
>>> here to see what I mean: https://www.reddit.com/r/OpenVMS/ Some
>>> people might not know that reddit (the first social media company?)
>>> was created in 2005 with the intent of dealing with SPAM. In return
>>> for free use, the odd reddit message might contain a advert from one
>>> of their corporate adverts, but this is nothing like navigating the
>>> SPAM we see at comp.os.vms
>> I am not sure that I see the point.
>>
>> Today we have:
>>
>> c.o.v @ GG --- c.o.v @ few NNTP servers --- I-V maillist
>> w few users w some users w few users
>>
>> and:
>> * GG users
>> * NNTP server admins
>> * maillist gateway admin
>> has a problem with the spam from GG.
>>
>> But I don't see:
>>
>> c.o.v @ GG --- c.o.v @ few NNTP servers --- I-V maillist
>> w no users w some users w few users
>>
>> X @ GG or Reddit
>> w few users
>>
>> as having any point without a connection.


> With all due respect, NNTP technology was developed BEFORE anyone
> ever thought that there may be a billion people in India acting as
> SPAM bots. (apparently the original spammers thought that "VMS" meant
> "Vitamin + Mineral Supplements". I would have guessed that "VM" meant
> "Vedic Medicine" )
> 
> I fear that the only way the NNTP could ever survive is to employ a
> modern A.I. to act as a content filter (but we are already seeing
> A.I. being used to generate some really good fake news).

Those actually using NNTP does not have a problem.

Many NNTP servers has implemented 98% effective spam filters.

Those using a NNTP server not having done so can just configure
their NNTP client to delete all messages originating from Google Groups
(and maybe not match a white list).

It is those accessing GG via HTTP(S) that has a problem. It has
become useless.

And the SPAM is send in to GG via HTTP(S).

So not a NNTP problem.

> The reason why I chose reddit is this: over the years I have been
> able to solve numerous problems by getting into near instantaneous
> touch with subject matter experts. For example, when my employer
> tasked me with a Rocky Linux install, after I ran into problems I
> posted some questions on reddit, I received a response from the guy
> who packaged the module in question. Likewise, when my employer
> tasked me with some work involving ELevate-leapp, people from
> AlmaLinux answered me within a couple of hours.
> 
> People needing direct answers for OpenVMS issues should visit here:
> https://forum.vmssoftware.com/ But people wanting to have an informal
> discussion about OpenVMS might wish to consider this:
> https://www.reddit.com/r/OpenVMS/
If people like Reddit then by all means use it.

But don't expect the maybe 90% of comp.os.vms users not
having a spam problem because they use a NNTP client
accessing a NNTP server to follow.

Arne