RE: ATM on saa

[Ken Carter <kencar@worldnet.att.net>]

Jack,
  I'm not a big one for Usenet as a service in general so I was staying out 
of this discussion for that reason, however you touched base on a desire 
for interactive communication between ATMs.  I have worked hard and long to 
provide that interface in the ATM Channel on the Undernet.  Internet Relay 
Chat has it's problems like any other delivery service on the Internet 
today.  The administrators of the ATM Channel ( #ATM ), Science Astronomy 
Chat ( #SCIASTRO ), and Astronomy Chat ( #astronomy ) are doing all we can 
to provide a serious, friendly environment for these discussions to take 
place.

  One thing we have to our advantage is that we can remove, temporary or 
otherwise, people from the channels that cause disruption, just as Mel has 
the ability to remove trouble makers from this list.  There is a lot of 
junk on the Undernet, Usenet, and everywhere else on the Internet. We are 
trying to build useful tools to those who participate in our hobby.  Our 
biggest problem is that we get a lot of newer people wanting to get 
started, but seasoned ATM are few and far between at this time.

I don't know if Mel has any why to determine where new people are coming to 
the list from, but I dare say that some of them, I am sure are coming from 
the ATM Channels effort to bring new blood into the hobby / art-form / 
craft / science of ATMing.

  Bottom line is that...
A.      The ATM Channel is a useful resource that supplements and complements 
the ATM List. I know our existence on the Undernet has added to the 
membership of the list, not detracted.
B.      We are bringing new people to the hobby constantly.
C.      We are building telescopes, grinding mirrors and making accessories for 
telescopes.
D.      The medium ( IRC ) is highly interactive.  That is why I picked it to 
bolster the hobby.
E.      We still need more participation from experienced ATMs to improve the 
usefulness of the channel.
F.      It is by far a better, more controlled medium than what is available in 
s.a.a. on UseNet.

  I try not to use a lot of Mel's bandwidth to promote the channel here on 
the list, but since I do promote the list on the channel, I don't feel bad 
about it every now and then.  This post is longer than any I have posted to 
date related to the ATM channel and for that I'm sorry to take up space.

  And while I'm at it...    Mel, thanks for providing this list!

Ken...

Visit my Web Site at http://kencar.simplenet.com
Channel Master of the #ATM Channel on the Undernet 
http://www.icstars.com/carrolls/atm