this newsgroup is censored

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Rick Merrill - 17 Oct 2003 23:50 GMT

If Microsoft is going to censor opinions by
expiring the thread, I would hope they would
also expire the spam postings and track down
the offenders.

But shouldn't Microsoft also add "moderated"
to the group name? - RM

Reply to this Message

Doug Robbins - Word MVP - 18 Oct 2003 09:13 GMT

The time that messages are stored on the server has been reduced from 90
days to 30 days to minimise problems resulting from the recent wave of
spam/virus attacks. I understand the figure was something like 20,000 per
second.

I, for one, cannot agree with your statement that this amounts to "Microsoft
censoring opinions"

Spam postings are deleted from the servers on a prompt basis. If you are
still seaing them, you should reset the newsgroups on your machine.

As messages are archived on Google, the reduction from 90 days storage on
the Microsoft Servers to 30 days does not mean that legitimate messages are
no longer available.

Please post any further questions or followup to the newsgroups for the
benefit of others who may be interested. Unsolicited questions forwarded
directly to me will only be answered on a paid consulting basis.

Hope this helps
Doug Robbins - Word MVP

> If Microsoft is going to censor opinions by
> expiring the thread, I would hope they would
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> But shouldn't Microsoft also add "moderated"
> to the group name? - RM

Reply to this Message

Rick Merrill - 19 Oct 2003 14:39 GMT

> The time that messages are stored on the server has been reduced from 90
> days to 30 days to minimise problems resulting from the recent wave of
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> Hope this helps
> Doug Robbins - Word MVP

Hi Doug,

Try to find the previous dialog between you and me. I actually SAW it
disappear: there it was in the middle of other stuff (I'm listing by
thread) and I clicked on one entry: "entry has expired". I tried each
of the other entries in the dialog: "entry has expired" [or words to
that effect] - it was the only such tread I could see on this server!

My purpose was to challenge Microsoft to exert efforts to fix internet
abuse. Maybe my criticism was misunderstood!-)

Rick
Merrill

Reply to this Message

Doug Robbins - Word MVP - 20 Oct 2003 10:05 GMT

Hi Rick,

That particular dialog got deleted because it was a continuation of a thread
that had the subject "Try on this patch for Internet Explorer", which I
believe is understandable.

As I mentioned in that exchange, MS has implemented measures to stop the
posting of virus bearing messages DIRECTLY to its own newservers. The ones
that still get through are those that are posted to newsservers maintained
by other entities which relay
their posts to the Microsoft servers.

If Microsoft were to stop accepting relays from other newsservers, they
would be denying access to the newsgroups by those people who "connect to
the groups" via their own ISP's newsserver rather than directly to
msnews.microsoft.com. Such people would be able to see posts that appear on
msnews.microsoft.com, but anything they themselves posted would not get
through to msnews.microsoft.com so their chances of receiving a response
would be serverly curtailed, being limited only to responses that might come
from others connecting via the same ISP's newsserver.

I know for a fact, that Microsoft have devoted a lot of resources to try and
overcome this problem, and I have a very high regard for the dedication of
the personnel involved.

The ones I despise are the perpetrators of the spam and virii. If they are
caught, I hope they get locked away for life.

Please post any further questions or followup to the newsgroups for the
benefit of others who may be interested. Unsolicited questions forwarded
directly to me will only be answered on a paid consulting basis.

Hope this helps
Doug Robbins - Word MVP

> > The time that messages are stored on the server has been reduced from 90
> > days to 30 days to minimise problems resulting from the recent wave of
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
> Rick
> Merrill

Reply to this Message

Rick Merrill - 20 Oct 2003 20:13 GMT

> Hi Rick,
>
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> Hope this helps
> Doug Robbins - Word MVP

Yes, that helps a lot. Thank you for the explanation.

Suppose instead of not "accepting relays" Microsoft were to run an AV
filter against such postings and post a non-virulent version? What's
the problem with that solution? Is it too late anyway? - RM

Reply to this Message

Doug Robbins - Word MVP - 21 Oct 2003 11:05 GMT

Now that would be censorship <g>

Please post any further questions or followup to the newsgroups for the
benefit of others who may be interested. Unsolicited questions forwarded
directly to me will only be answered on a paid consulting basis.

Hope this helps
Doug Robbins - Word MVP

> > Hi Rick,
> >
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
> filter against such postings and post a non-virulent version? What's
> the problem with that solution? Is it too late anyway? - RM

Reply to this Message

Rick Merrill - 21 Oct 2003 15:20 GMT

> Now that would be censorship <g>

You think screening out VIRUS/WORMS is censorship?
That's not even funny!-)

Reply to this Message