From rj14yc at yahoo.com  Thu Aug  7 05:05:51 2003
From: rj14yc at yahoo.com (Red Mike)
Date: Wed Jan 12 17:26:29 2005
Subject: [REVIEW] 24hoursupport.helpdesk
Message-ID: <3f312444.2313111@news.mindspring.com>

Newsgroup: 24hoursupport.helpdesk
Description: No control found
Moderated: No
Charter-Location: No control found
FAQ-Location: See article body
Reviewer: Red Mike (rj14yc@yahoo.com)
Review-Date: August 6, 2003

This is probably the most non-specific help group anywhere on Usenet.
Just about anything related to computers is considered appropriate.

Some may wonder why the traditional advice to post a question to the
single "best" group for it hasn't killed 24hoursupport.helpdesk.  As
examples, the group has questions about news some may consider best
posted to news.newusers.questions, and questions about Microsoft
products for which there are hundreds (thousands?) of groups in
comp.*, local/regional hierarchies, and on the Microsoft server.  But
despite these supposed disadvantages, the group is successful,
averaging in excess of 4,000 posts a month, most on topic if on topic
is defined as "related to computers and/or electronic devices".

There are several reasons for this success.  One is the group name.
By starting with "24" it gets sorted as the first group most people
see on their newsreader.  Its obviously a help group, and so general
that people are encouraged to post.

More important is the core of regular posters, people who for no
reason other than self-satisfaction, answer questions.  Those who ask
questions, in typical Usenet fashion, are usually "here and gone".
But its the regular posters, generally knowledgable types, who make
this group work.  Hopefully, a few of those who ask questions will, as
they become more knowledgable, return the favor by helping others.

Lack of  an official FAQ is sometimes debated by regulars, but with
such a wide range of appropriate topics, the practicality of a FAQ
must be questioned.  Several FAQs exist, some claiming to be official,
some proudly claiming there is no such thing as an official FAQ for
the group.

In the end, its irrelevant.  Advantageous placement in most people's
newsgroup list gets traffic for the group.  A large number of
knowledgable posters who answer questions keep the questions coming.


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