Posted by Erwin Moller on 05/19/06 16:00

Jerry Stuckle wrote:

> Erwin Moller wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> Does anybody know why we have so many PHP related NG's?
>> (php.general, alt.php to name a few)
>>
>> I can imagine the use of groups like alt.php.sql as a specialized NG for
>> SQL-related PHP stuff, but wouldn't it be much easier for everybody if we
>> just ditched them all and just use this one?
>>
>> comp.lang.php seems to be by far the busiest.
>>
>> How is this handled? Do we have some central authority which can make
>> such decisions? (If I understand well, everybody can start an alt.*
>> group)
>>
>> I ask this because:
>> 1) I don't know who manages NG (except the ISPs who relay them)
>> 2) I think everybody should come here. :-)
>>
>> I am curious if anybody has thoughts about this.
>>
>> TIA,
>> Erwin Moller
>
> Erwin,
>

Hi Jerry,

Thanks for your clear explanation.

> No one "manages" newsgroups. There is a group which governs the creation
> of non-alt groups, but that's about it.
>
> As you indicated, anyone can create an alt group. It is possible to get
> rid of
> a non-alt group, but it's difficult. Virtually impossible to get rid of a
> non-alt group, though.
>
> And you can't force anyone to go anyplace on usenet. Just live with it.

Oh, I am fine with it, I just stick to this NG. :-)
My question wasn't intended at all to force people somewhere.
I merely asked because I wondered what was the reason for the current
approach (if any).

It seems just over-the-top/inefficient to me.
Like having 20 numbers to call an ambulance where some phones are never
answered.

Regards,
Erwin Moller

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