Having dipped my toe back into the waters of Usenet again, are there any
more interesting chat groups like this one still running? I've looked
around some I used to frequent but most of them are empty, and it takes
so long to subscribe and then unsubscribe one at a time.

--
Regards,

Bob

If all seems to be going well, you obviously have no idea what is really
happening.

Well, there are some about tv and radio, some take themselves far too
seriously. Most are no longer moderated, those which are are moderated with
folk who are power crazed ax murderers, well, at least the former of those.
Have you tries Facebook groups? I don't like the data harvesting that goes
on over there, or the web interface, but many do. Then there is Mastodon,
which I'm hearing good things about for true chat like interchanges in real
time. In the social media cases though, I think they waste a lot of time.
Brian

--

--:
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...
briang1@blueyonder.co.uk
Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Bob Henson" <fake@obfuscation.net> wrote in message
news:ka9uudF71rmU1@mid.individual.net...
> Having dipped my toe back into the waters of Usenet again, are there any
> more interesting chat groups like this one still running? I've looked
> around some I used to frequent but most of them are empty, and it takes so
> long to subscribe and then unsubscribe one at a time.
>
>
> --
> Regards,
>
> Bob
>
> If all seems to be going well, you obviously have no idea what is really
> happening.

Bob Henson <fake@obfuscation.net> wrote:

> Having dipped my toe back into the waters of Usenet again, are there
> any more interesting chat groups like this one still running? I've looked
> around some I used to frequent but most of them are empty, and it takes
> so long to subscribe and then unsubscribe one at a time.
>

uk.d-i-y has lots of traffic, not all the topics are diy. Otherwise,
the uk.tech.* froups are worth a look if you're that way inclined.

Beyond that, you're into mainstream Big8 froups according to
your taste in topics. All will require assiduous spam-filtration
unless your server does it for you.

Then there's always the Wild West of alt.* and niche free.* froups.

Stick with it, Bob; contrary to reports, Usenet Is Still Not Dead Yet™.

--
^Ï^. – Sn!pe – My pet rock Gordon just is.

<https://youtu.be/_kqytf31a8E>

Sn!pe <snipeco.2@gmail.com> wrote:

> Bob Henson <fake@obfuscation.net> wrote:
>
> > Having dipped my toe back into the waters of Usenet again, are there
> > any more interesting chat groups like this one still running? I've looked
> > around some I used to frequent but most of them are empty, and it takes
> > so long to subscribe and then unsubscribe one at a time.
> >
>
> uk.d-i-y has lots of traffic, not all the topics are diy. Otherwise,
> the uk.tech.* froups are worth a look if you're that way inclined.
>
> Beyond that, you're into mainstream Big8 froups according to
> your taste in topics. All will require assiduous spam-filtration
> unless your server does it for you.
>
> Then there's always the Wild West of alt.* and niche free.* froups.
>
> Stick with it, Bob; contrary to reports, Usenet Is Still Not Dead Yet™.
>

P. S. This might help: <https://narkive.com>

--
^Ï^. – Sn!pe – My pet rock Gordon just is.

<https://youtu.be/_kqytf31a8E>

On Wed, 19 Apr 2023 11:43:24 +0100
Bob Henson <fake@obfuscation.net> wrote:

> Having dipped my toe back into the waters of Usenet again, are there any
> more interesting chat groups like this one still running?

alt.folklore.computers (auld farts of computing) is moderately active, not
what it used to be thobut due at least partly to too many auld farts closing
shed doors.

--
Steve O'Hara-Smith
Odds and Ends at http://www.sohara.org/

Brian Gaff wrote:

> Well, there are some about tv and radio, some take themselves far too
> seriously. Most are no longer moderated, those which are are moderated with
> folk who are power crazed ax murderers, well, at least the former of those.
> Have you tries Facebook groups? I don't like the data harvesting that goes
> on over there, or the web interface, but many do. Then there is Mastodon,
> which I'm hearing good things about for true chat like interchanges in real
> time. In the social media cases though, I think they waste a lot of time.
> Brian

I'd much rather stick to Usenet. I used to have a Facebook account but
there was so much deliberately vicious trolling going on and so many
downright lies being told for me to stomach. I may have a look at Mastodon
but it looks a tad too much like Twitter.

--
Bob
Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England

Foreign Aid - The transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to
rich people in poor countries.

Sn!pe wrote:

> Sn!pe <snipeco.2@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Bob Henson <fake@obfuscation.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Having dipped my toe back into the waters of Usenet again, are there
>>> any more interesting chat groups like this one still running? I've looked
>>> around some I used to frequent but most of them are empty, and it takes
>>> so long to subscribe and then unsubscribe one at a time.
>>>
>>
>> uk.d-i-y has lots of traffic, not all the topics are diy. Otherwise,
>> the uk.tech.* froups are worth a look if you're that way inclined.
>>
>> Beyond that, you're into mainstream Big8 froups according to
>> your taste in topics. All will require assiduous spam-filtration
>> unless your server does it for you.
>>
>> Then there's always the Wild West of alt.* and niche free.* froups.
>>
>> Stick with it, Bob; contrary to reports, Usenet Is Still Not Dead Yet™.
>>
>
> P. S. This might help: <https://narkive.com>

Thanks - I'll have a look at some of the suggestions there.

--
Bob
Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England

If ever you see a man opening the car door for his wife, it's either a new
car or a new wife. - Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Ahem A Rivet's Shot wrote:

> On Wed, 19 Apr 2023 11:43:24 +0100
> Bob Henson <fake@obfuscation.net> wrote:
>
>> Having dipped my toe back into the waters of Usenet again, are there any
>> more interesting chat groups like this one still running?
>
> alt.folklore.computers (auld farts of computing) is moderately active, not
> what it used to be thobut due at least partly to too many auld farts closing
> shed doors.

I'll have a look.
--
Bob
Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England

I asked Mother if I was a gifted child. She said they certainly wouldn't
have paid for me.

On Wed, 19 Apr 2023 11:43:24 +0100, Bob Henson <fake@obfuscation.net>
wrote:

>Having dipped my toe back into the waters of Usenet again, are there any
>more interesting chat groups like this one still running? I've looked
>around some I used to frequent but most of them are empty, and it takes
>so long to subscribe and then unsubscribe one at a time.

I also miss some of the fun old groups - penpals 40+ was a hoot.
But < unless it's a moderated group > subscribing / unsubscribing
involves a few mouse clicks ... no ?
In Forte Agent -
: Tools --> Newsgroup Directory
: scroll through the huge list
: add Newsgroup

That's it !

Sample headers to see what's recent and decide if it's active.

Unsubscribing is even easier - left click - remove folder.

I follow a couple photo groups ; a home repair group that has
devolved into political blather ; a woodworking group ;
.. and this one.
John T.

On 2023-04-19, Bob Henson <fake@obfuscation.net> wrote:
> Having dipped my toe back into the waters of Usenet again, are there any
> more interesting chat groups like this one still running? I've looked
> around some I used to frequent but most of them are empty, and it takes
> so long to subscribe and then unsubscribe one at a time.
>
>
Seek and you will find.

greymaus wrote:

> On 2023-04-19, Bob Henson <fake@obfuscation.net> wrote:
>> Having dipped my toe back into the waters of Usenet again, are there any
>> more interesting chat groups like this one still running? I've looked
>> around some I used to frequent but most of them are empty, and it takes
>> so long to subscribe and then unsubscribe one at a time.
>>
>>
> Seek and you will find.

And, as my Granny used to say, a bit of help is worth a lot of pity.

--
Bob
Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England

Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

On 2023-04-19, Bob Henson <fake@obfuscation.net> wrote:
> greymaus wrote:
>
>> On 2023-04-19, Bob Henson <fake@obfuscation.net> wrote:
>>> Having dipped my toe back into the waters of Usenet again, are there any
>>> more interesting chat groups like this one still running? I've looked
>>> around some I used to frequent but most of them are empty, and it takes
>>> so long to subscribe and then unsubscribe one at a time.
>>>
>>>
>> Seek and you will find.
>
> And, as my Granny used to say, a bit of help is worth a lot of pity.

I think that Facebook is a pain in the A. A relative called by once and
persuaded me to join (under an assumed name, of course), and after a
while, I realsed how much of a PITA it was. I buy things from the Big
River Company, and when would log into facebook, I would get messages
about that. Since, I do not log in, but still get messages from them,
"[someone] wants to be a friend"

Its like stepping in sh**. its hard to clean it off.
>

On 19 Apr 2023 17:00:08 GMT, greymaus <maus@darkstar.org> wrote:

>On 2023-04-19, Bob Henson <fake@obfuscation.net> wrote:
>> greymaus wrote:
>>
>>> On 2023-04-19, Bob Henson <fake@obfuscation.net> wrote:
>>>> Having dipped my toe back into the waters of Usenet again, are there any
>>>> more interesting chat groups like this one still running? I've looked
>>>> around some I used to frequent but most of them are empty, and it takes
>>>> so long to subscribe and then unsubscribe one at a time.
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Seek and you will find.
>>
>> And, as my Granny used to say, a bit of help is worth a lot of pity.
>
>I think that Facebook is a pain in the A. A relative called by once and
>persuaded me to join (under an assumed name, of course), and after a
>while, I realsed how much of a PITA it was. I buy things from the Big
>River Company, and when would log into facebook, I would get messages
>about that. Since, I do not log in, but still get messages from them,
>"[someone] wants to be a friend"
>
>Its like stepping in sh**. its hard to clean it off.
>>

I joined facebook a few years ago to see some of the posts
about the grandkids. That plus a small private group of the
neighbourhood folks is all I partake. I blocked all the other stuff
right from the start and it's not a bother today.
I don't use it on my phone ; I don't stay logged in ;
it takes very little of my time to log in, check posts, log out.
When I created the account I used an assumed name, false birthday,
and a photo of the back of my head - the rest of my profile is
empty < optional >.
John T.

On 19/4/23 6:00 pm, greymaus wrote:
> On 2023-04-19, Bob Henson <fake@obfuscation.net> wrote:
>> greymaus wrote:
>>
>>> On 2023-04-19, Bob Henson <fake@obfuscation.net> wrote:
>>>> Having dipped my toe back into the waters of Usenet again, are there any
>>>> more interesting chat groups like this one still running? I've looked
>>>> around some I used to frequent but most of them are empty, and it takes
>>>> so long to subscribe and then unsubscribe one at a time.
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Seek and you will find.
>>
>> And, as my Granny used to say, a bit of help is worth a lot of pity.
>
> I think that Facebook is a pain in the A. A relative called by once and
> persuaded me to join (under an assumed name, of course), and after a
> while, I realsed how much of a PITA it was. I buy things from the Big
> River Company, and when would log into facebook, I would get messages
> about that. Since, I do not log in, but still get messages from them,
> "[someone] wants to be a friend"
>
> Its like stepping in sh**. its hard to clean it off.
>>

I couldn't agree more. it is one of the worst things that has happened
to humanity in a very long time. The harm it continues to do,
particularly to the young, is immense.

--
Regards,

Bob

If all seems to be going well, you obviously have no idea what is really
happening.

On 19-Apr-23 11:43, Bob Henson wrote:
> Having dipped my toe back into the waters of Usenet again, are there any
> more interesting chat groups like this one still running? I've looked
> around some I used to frequent but most of them are empty, and it takes
> so long to subscribe and then unsubscribe one at a time.

uk.legal.moderated is fairly busy but (as usual) you have to be able to
sort the wheat from the chaff.

I used to have a Usenet client which could be made to list all the
available groups, sorted by the number of live posts available - that
made it easy to ignore the moribund.
I can't find a way to do that in Thunderbug.

--
Sam Plusnet

Sam Plusnet wrote:

> On 19-Apr-23 11:43, Bob Henson wrote:
>> Having dipped my toe back into the waters of Usenet again, are there any
>> more interesting chat groups like this one still running? I've looked
>> around some I used to frequent but most of them are empty, and it takes
>> so long to subscribe and then unsubscribe one at a time.
>
> uk.legal.moderated is fairly busy but (as usual) you have to be able to
> sort the wheat from the chaff.
>
> I used to have a Usenet client which could be made to list all the
> available groups, sorted by the number of live posts available - that
> made it easy to ignore the moribund.
> I can't find a way to do that in Thunderbug.

uk.legal.moderated is one that I have actually been reading again. I've
just switched from Thunderbird to the much older 40tude Dialog (it's
actually better) - but I don't think that will read the numbers of live
posts in the groups either. Good idea though.

--
Bob
Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England

The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

Bob Henson wrote:

> Sam Plusnet wrote:
>
>> On 19-Apr-23 11:43, Bob Henson wrote:
>>> Having dipped my toe back into the waters of Usenet again, are there any
>>> more interesting chat groups like this one still running? I've looked
>>> around some I used to frequent but most of them are empty, and it takes
>>> so long to subscribe and then unsubscribe one at a time.
>>
>> uk.legal.moderated is fairly busy but (as usual) you have to be able to
>> sort the wheat from the chaff.
>>
>> I used to have a Usenet client which could be made to list all the
>> available groups, sorted by the number of live posts available - that
>> made it easy to ignore the moribund.
>> I can't find a way to do that in Thunderbug.
>
> uk.legal.moderated is one that I have actually been reading again. I've
> just switched from Thunderbird to the much older 40tude Dialog (it's
> actually better) - but I don't think that will read the numbers of live
> posts in the groups either. Good idea though.

Hmm, maybe it will - I've just found a %newsservercount% parameter that may
do that - I'll see if I can get it to function.

--
Bob
Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England

You know you're old when an "allnighter" means you didn't have to go to the
loo once!

Bob Henson wrote:

> Bob Henson wrote:
>
>> Sam Plusnet wrote:
>>
>>> On 19-Apr-23 11:43, Bob Henson wrote:
>>>> Having dipped my toe back into the waters of Usenet again, are there any
>>>> more interesting chat groups like this one still running? I've looked
>>>> around some I used to frequent but most of them are empty, and it takes
>>>> so long to subscribe and then unsubscribe one at a time.
>>>
>>> uk.legal.moderated is fairly busy but (as usual) you have to be able to
>>> sort the wheat from the chaff.
>>>
>>> I used to have a Usenet client which could be made to list all the
>>> available groups, sorted by the number of live posts available - that
>>> made it easy to ignore the moribund.
>>> I can't find a way to do that in Thunderbug.
>>
>> uk.legal.moderated is one that I have actually been reading again. I've
>> just switched from Thunderbird to the much older 40tude Dialog (it's
>> actually better) - but I don't think that will read the numbers of live
>> posts in the groups either. Good idea though.
>
> Hmm, maybe it will - I've just found a %newsservercount% parameter that may
> do that - I'll see if I can get it to function.

It did. Thanks Sam - that will save loads of time.
--
Bob
Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England

Diplomacy - the art of letting someone else have your own way.

>>>
>
>
> I joined facebook a few years ago to see some of the posts
> about the grandkids. That plus a small private group of the
> neighbourhood folks is all I partake. I blocked all the other stuff
> right from the start and it's not a bother today.
> I don't use it on my phone ; I don't stay logged in ;
> it takes very little of my time to log in, check posts, log out.
> When I created the account I used an assumed name, false birthday,
> and a photo of the back of my head - the rest of my profile is
> empty < optional >.
> John T.

FB is useful for advertising radio shows and keeping in touch with
audiences, but it is also dangerous ans a trolls habitat.

You need to be picky.

Tone

On Wed, 19 Apr 2023 19:49:35 +0100, Tone <tone@email.com> wrote:

>
>>>>
>>
>>
>> I joined facebook a few years ago to see some of the posts
>> about the grandkids. That plus a small private group of the
>> neighbourhood folks is all I partake. I blocked all the other stuff
>> right from the start and it's not a bother today.
>> I don't use it on my phone ; I don't stay logged in ;
>> it takes very little of my time to log in, check posts, log out.
>> When I created the account I used an assumed name, false birthday,
>> and a photo of the back of my head - the rest of my profile is
>> empty < optional >.
>> John T.
>
>FB is useful for advertising radio shows and keeping in touch with
>audiences, but it is also dangerous ans a trolls habitat.
>You need to be picky.
>Tone
>

Some music acts have used twitter for the immediate posts -
but twitter is falling out of favour lately ..
.. like this guy - crossing over the pond real soon -

https://twitter.com/RonSexsmith

John T.

On 2023-04-19, Tone <tone@email.com> wrote:
>
>>>>
>>
>>
>> I joined facebook a few years ago to see some of the posts
>> about the grandkids. That plus a small private group of the
>> neighbourhood folks is all I partake. I blocked all the other stuff
>> right from the start and it's not a bother today.
>> I don't use it on my phone ; I don't stay logged in ;
>> it takes very little of my time to log in, check posts, log out.
>> When I created the account I used an assumed name, false birthday,
>> and a photo of the back of my head - the rest of my profile is
>> empty < optional >.
>> John T.
>
> FB is useful for advertising radio shows and keeping in touch with
> audiences, but it is also dangerous ans a trolls habitat.
>
> You need to be picky.
>
> Tone

And, I am told*, its incredibly easy to hack peoples accounts, which
might make you liable to being prosecuted.

Bob Henson <fake@obfuscation.net> writes:

> Having dipped my toe back into the waters of Usenet again, are there
> any more interesting chat groups like this one still running? I've
> looked around some I used to frequent but most of them are empty,
> and it takes so long to subscribe and then unsubscribe one at a
> time.

comp.misc -- sporadic traffic

misc.news.internet.discuss -- light traffic

alt.folklore.computers -- moderate traffic

sci.misc -- sporadic traffic,

rec.arts.sf.written -- Quite busy, mostly on topic

rec.crafts.metalworking -- Formerly, > 50% political crap, now metalworking
once again. The trolls have moved on.

comp.dcom.telecom -- Moderated

comp.risks -- Moderated email digest gatewayed to Usenet

--
Mike Spencer Nova Scotia, Canada