From [email protected] Thu Aug 17 03:02:13 2000
Path: news.isc.org!bounce-back
From: Malcolm McMahon 
Newsgroups: news.announce.newgroups,news.groups,alt.sci.nanotech,sci.life-extension,sci.cryonics,alt.society.futures,comp.society.futures,rec.arts.sf.science
Subject: RFD: soc.nanotech
Followup-To: news.groups
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Approved: [email protected]
Archive-Name: soc.nanotech
Date: Thu, 17 Aug 2000 07:23:52 GMT
Lines: 79
Xref: news.isc.org news.announce.newgroups:11570 news.groups:362782 sci.life-extension:33444 sci.cryonics:11203 comp.society.futures:13859 rec.arts.sf.science:101535

                     REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION (RFD)
                    unmoderated group soc.nanotech

This is a formal Request For Discussion (RFD) for the creation of a
world-wide unmoderated Usenet newsgroup soc.nanotech.  This is not a
Call for Votes (CFV); you cannot vote at this time.  Procedural
details are below.

Newgroup Line:
soc.nanotech    Social and political consequences of nanotechnology

RATIONALE: soc.nanotech

The existing sci.nanotech was set up as a forum for the discussion of
technical approaches to the development of molecular nanotechnology,
which is the development of machines capable of mechanically
manipulating individual molecules or atoms.

The predicted development of this technology has enormous economic,
social and even philosophical implications. At present most of the
traffic on sci.nanotech consists of discussion and speculation on these
matters, which is actually off-topic for a science group.

Further sci.nanotech is moderated. It makes sense for a technical
discussion group to be moderated by an expert in the field but it's not
the ideal situation for free-flowing debate on highly speculative
matters.

The proposal, first put forward on sci.nanotech, is to create a
nanotechnology group in the soc hierarchy as an arena for such
discussion and leave sci.nanotech to far more rigourous technical
matters.

CHARTER: soc.nanotech

soc.nanotech is a group for speculation and discussion on the possible
effects on the future of mankind and the environment resulting from the
predicted development of molecular nanotechnology.

Advertisements are not permitted, with the exception of notice of
specifically related events or calls for papers.

Binaries are not permitted except for small digital signatures and
digital calling cards.

END CHARTER.

PROCEDURE:

This is a request for discussion, not a call for votes.  In this phase
of the process, any potential problems with the proposed newsgroups
should be raised and resolved.  The discussion period will continue
for a minimum of 21 days (starting from when the first RFD for this
proposal is posted to news.announce.newgroups), after which a Call For
Votes (CFV) may be posted by a neutral vote taker if the discussion
warrants it.  Please do not attempt to vote until this happens.

All discussion of this proposal should be posted to news.groups.

This RFD attempts to comply fully with the Usenet newsgroup creation
guidelines outlined in "How to Create a New Usenet Newsgroup" and "How
to Format and Submit a New Group Proposal".  Please refer to these
documents (available in news.announce.newgroups) if you have any
questions about the process.

DISTRIBUTION:

news.announce.newgroups
news.groups
sci.nanotech
alt.sci.nanotech
alt.extropians
sci.life-extension
sci.cryonics
alt.society.futures
comp.society.futures
rec.arts.sf.science

Proponent: Malcolm McMahon 

From [email protected] Sun Sep 24 20:59:37 2000
Path: news.isc.org!bounce-back
From: Malcolm McMahon 
Newsgroups: news.announce.newgroups,news.groups,alt.sci.nanotech,sci.life-extension,sci.cryonics,alt.society.futures,comp.society.futures,rec.arts.sf.science
Subject: 2nd RFD: sci.futureology.nanotech (was: soc.nanotech)
Followup-To: news.groups
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Approved: [email protected]
Archive-Name: sci.futureology.nanotech
Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2000 03:55:07 GMT
Lines: 98
Xref: news.isc.org news.announce.newgroups:11590 news.groups:365738 sci.life-extension:34197 sci.cryonics:11323 comp.society.futures:13889 rec.arts.sf.science:103746

                     REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION (RFD)
              unmoderated group sci.futureology.nanotech

Newgroup Line:
sci.futureology.nanotech        Social and political consequences of nanotech.

CHANGES from previous RFD:

Name changed to sci.futureology.nanotech from soc.nanotech.

RATIONALE: sci.futureology.nanotech

The existing sci.nanotech was set up as a forum for the discussion of
technical approaches to the development of molecular nanotechnology,
which is the development of machines capable of mechanically
manipulating individual molecules or atoms.

The predicted development of this technology has enormous economic,
social and even philosophical implications. At present most of the
traffic on sci.nanotech consists of discussion and speculation on these
matters, which is actually off-topic for a science group.

Further sci.nanotech is moderated. It makes sense for a technical
discussion group to be moderated by an expert in the field but it's not
the ideal situation for free-flowing debate on highly speculative
matters.

The proposal, first put forward on sci.nanotech, is to create a
nanotechnology group in the soc hierarchy as an arena for such
discussion and leave sci.nanotech to far more rigourous technical
matters.

Reaction to the first RFD showed a lot of resistance to the placement of
the new group in soc.* so, the proposed name has been changed to
sci.futureology.nanotech. This categorises the kind of discussion
quite well and also provides a hook for any further groups for the
discussion of future consequences of other technologies as
sci.futureology.*

Straw poll.

A straw pole advertised solely on sci.nanotech and with the originally
proposed group name for one week produced the following results.

16 votes for the creation of soc.nanotech.
5  votes against the creation of soc.nanotech.
1  abstain (gee, that wasn't an option!)
1  comment (couldn't tell if it was for or against).

Hopefully the combination of a more widely advertised CFV and the
greater number of people who vote in CFVs anyway will give us enough
votes.

CHARTER: sci.futureology.nanotech

sci.futureology.nanotech is a group for speculation and discussion on
the possible effects on the future of mankind and the environment
resulting from the predicted development of molecular nanotechnology.

Advertisements are not permitted, with the exception of notice of
specifically related events or calls for papers.

Binaries are not permitted except for small digital signatures and
digital calling cards.

END CHARTER.

PROCEDURE:

This is a request for discussion, not a call for votes.  In this phase
of the process, any potential problems with the proposed newsgroups
should be raised and resolved.  The discussion period will continue
for a minimum of 21 days (starting from when the first RFD for this
proposal is posted to news.announce.newgroups), after which a Call For
Votes (CFV) may be posted by a neutral vote taker if the discussion
warrants it.  Please do not attempt to vote until this happens.

All discussion of this proposal should be posted to news.groups.

This RFD attempts to comply fully with the Usenet newsgroup creation
guidelines outlined in "How to Create a New Usenet Newsgroup" and "How
to Format and Submit a New Group Proposal".  Please refer to these
documents (available in news.announce.newgroups) if you have any
questions about the process.

DISTRIBUTION:

news.announce.newgroups
news.groups
sci.nanotech
alt.sci.nanotech
sci.life-extension
sci.cryonics
alt.society.futures
comp.society.futures
rec.arts.sf.science

Proponent: Malcolm McMahon 

From [email protected] Sun Oct  8 18:59:07 2000
Path: news.isc.org!bounce-back
From: Malcolm McMahon 
Newsgroups: news.announce.newgroups,news.groups,alt.sci.nanotech,sci.life-extension,sci.cryonics,alt.society.futures,comp.society.futures,rec.arts.sf.science
Subject: 3rd RFD: sci.futurology.nanotech (was: soc.nanotech then sci.futureology.nanotech)
Followup-To: news.groups
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Approved: [email protected]
Archive-Name: sci.futurology.nanotech
Date: Mon, 09 Oct 2000 01:56:48 GMT
Lines: 100
Xref: news.isc.org news.announce.newgroups:11595 news.groups:366881 sci.life-extension:34497 sci.cryonics:11364 comp.society.futures:13900 rec.arts.sf.science:104581

                     REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION (RFD)
              unmoderated group sci.futurology.nanotech

CHANGES from previous RFD:

This 3rd RFD, embarassingly, is just to correct a spelling mistake in
the proposed name.

Newgroup Line:
sci.futurology.nanotech Social and political consequences of nanotechnology.

RATIONALE: sci.futurology.nanotech

The existing sci.nanotech was set up as a forum for the discussion of
technical approaches to the development of molecular nanotechnology,
which is the development of machines capable of mechanically
manipulating individual molecules or atoms.

The predicted development of this technology has enormous economic,
social and even philosophical implications. At present most of the
traffic on sci.nanotech consists of discussion and speculation on these
matters, which is actually off-topic for a science group.

Further sci.nanotech is moderated. It makes sense for a technical
discussion group to be moderated by an expert in the field but it's not
the ideal situation for free-flowing debate on highly speculative
matters.

The proposal, first put forward on sci.nanotech, is to create a
nanotechnology group in the soc hierarchy as an arena for such
discussion and leave sci.nanotech to far more rigourous technical
matters.

Reaction to the first RFD showed a lot of resistance to the placement of
the new group in soc.* so, the proposed name has been changed to
sci.futurology.nanotech. This categorises the kind of discussion
quite well and also provides a hook for any further groups for the
discussion of future consequences of other technologies as
sci.futurology.*


Straw poll.

A straw pole advertised solely on sci.nanotech and with the originally
proposed group name for one week produced the following results.

16 votes for the creation of soc.nanotech.
5  votes against the creation of soc.nanotech.
1  abstain (gee, that wasn't an option!)
1  comment (couldn't tell if it was for or against).

Hopefully the combination of a more widely advertised CFV and the
greater number of people who vote in CFVs anyway will give us enough
votes.

CHARTER: sci.futurology.nanotech

sci.futurology.nanotech is a group for speculation and discussion on the
possible effects on the future of mankind and the environment resulting
>From the predicted development of molecular nanotechnology.

Advertisements are not permitted, with the exception of notice of
specifically related events or calls for papers.

Binaries are not permitted except for small digital signatures and
digital calling cards.

END CHARTER.

PROCEDURE:

This is a request for discussion, not a call for votes.  In this phase
of the process, any potential problems with the proposed newsgroups
should be raised and resolved.  The discussion period will continue
for a minimum of 21 days (starting from when the first RFD for this
proposal is posted to news.announce.newgroups), after which a Call For
Votes (CFV) may be posted by a neutral vote taker if the discussion
warrants it.  Please do not attempt to vote until this happens.

All discussion of this proposal should be posted to news.groups.

This RFD attempts to comply fully with the Usenet newsgroup creation
guidelines outlined in "How to Create a New Usenet Newsgroup" and "How
to Format and Submit a New Group Proposal".  Please refer to these
documents (available in news.announce.newgroups) if you have any
questions about the process.

DISTRIBUTION:

news.announce.newgroups
news.groups
sci.nanotech
alt.sci.nanotech
sci.life-extension
sci.cryonics
alt.society.futures
comp.society.futures
rec.arts.sf.science

Proponent: Malcolm McMahon