Re: NATHAN and the FAQ Dilemna

[pfg@yallara.cs.rmit.EDU.AU (Paul Francis Gilbert)]

swhite@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu (Steve White) writes:

>In article <61k1dh$m7v$1@goanna.cs.rmit.edu.au>,
>pfg@yallara.cs.rmit.EDU.AU (Paul Francis Gilbert) wrote:

>> The only minor point in which I feel Nathan is missing the point: Whilst he
>> has the right to copyright his FAQ, what he does not have the right to do
>> is call it THE comp.sys.apple2 FAQ without a majority agreement of the
>> newsgroup. I expect that with the renewed interest in FAQs/documents, a
>> great many readers will be contributing to a new FAQ. When it's done, we
>> the group can name it THE comp.sys.apple2 FAQ, which will be posted to the
>> newsgroup and news.answers. Nathan can continue maintaining his FAQ if he
>> so wishes, but he will not be able to claim that it is THE comp.sys.apple2
>> FAQ [not the official one at least].

>There is no "official" FAQ. There is no group consensus. In fact, there is
>no "membership" here. People come and go all the time. There is no
>mechanism to vote, and any vote taken would be meaningless in six months.
>There is no "THE cmsa2 FAQ". There are whatever FAQs people wish to
>maintain and post. These are copyright by the writers, and said writers
>may attach whatever conditions they wish. Those who don't like it are free
>to look elsewhere for information.

Interesting point. But talking semantics... if there exists more than one
FAQ, then the first can no longer be called "THE" comp.sys.apple2 FAQ.
Indeed, if by group consensus, it is agreed that the second is the
preferred FAQ, then the second FAQ / FAQ maintainer would be maintaining
"THE" comp.sys.apple2 FAQ, while the first would only be "Nathan's 
Apple2 FAQ".

Calling something "The comp.sys.apple2 FAQ" indicates is maintaining the
main FAQ for the newsgroup, and if by group consensus, without even a
formal vote if you will, names a different FAQ the 'comp.sys.apple2' FAQ
then by logical extension, the first no longer has the right to be called
the 'comp.sys.apple2 FAQ'; at most only 'a'.





>steve
--
Paul Gilbert           | pfg@yallara.cs.rmit.edu.au
Bach App Sci, Bach Eng | The opinions expressed are my own, all my own, and
Year 4, RMIT Melbourne | as such will contain no references to small furry
Australia	       | creatures from Alpha Centauri.