From: pc123@cl.cam.ac.uk (Pete Chown on ashley.cl.cam.ac.uk)
   Reply-To: pc123@phx.cam.ac.uk (Pete Chown)

   I have sent a message to news.announce.newgroups, to start a formal
   discussion on splitting comp.os.linux.

The only problem with this is that many of the people which will be
screwed by your actions don't have Usenet access, and therefore will not
be able to see your message on news.announce.newsgroups, nor be able to
participate on the discussion on news.groups.  Specifically, I am
referring to the people who receive this group via the Fidonet gateway,
and the people who are receiving this group via the Mail Digest
(currently 130-140 people).

But, of course, there will always be selfish bastards that don't care
about hurting a significant fraction of the Linux community, just as
long as it is convenient for them to read comp.os.linux.  Evidently it's
just too much effort for them to obtain a reasonable newsreader.
Sigh....

   I will post any call for votes to comp.os.linux as well, of course.
   It seems as though only a vote will answer the question of how people
   divide between pro- and anti- split.

This is a waste of time, but there is one good thing about calling a
vote.  After it is squashed, we will be safe from people bringing up the
topic for six months.

For people who receive this via the Mail Digest and Fidonet --- fear
not; I will make sure that you are informed when it becomes time to
vote, just in case the call for vote isn't posted to comp.os.linux.  (It
would of course be a logcal method for the pro-split forces to attempt
to keep you in the dark.)  Remember --- even though you are not part of
Usenet, you have every right to participate on a vote about whether or
not you will be cut off from the rest of the Linux community.

                                                - Ted