User:Pschleck

Paul W. Schleck

I have participated on Usenet newsgroups since 1990. My first exposure to Usenet was the Stupid People's Court (aka, rec.humor.spc), created by Jeff Meyer. I currently host the most complete direct archive.

The Stupid People's Court, or SPC, was a satire of the TV show People's Court (an early reality show that emulated a small claims court) that attempted to make net-etiquette offenders on the early Usenet "stand trial" for their offenses, and receive humorously ironic punishments. It was a brilliant send-up of unproductive on-line behavior, and was an early influence on my participation on-line.

Other more serious groups that I have regularly followed since then are rec.ham-radio (later rec.radio.amateur.*) and comp.dcom.telecom.

I served on the editorial board for a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) list for rec.radio.amateur.* from approximately 1991 to 1995 (FAQ is now defunct after last chief editor gave it up, and is arguably superseded by the outstanding resources available for amateur radio at the web site of the American Radio Relay League ).

I created, maintained, and posted to the Usenet newsgroups from 1991 to 2000, another information resource called the "Amateur Radio Elmers Resource Directory," which was a list of mentors, experts, and gurus for amateur radio on the net. The term "Elmer" in amateur radio refers to an expert, usually older and wiser.

I was a co-moderator for the *.answers newsgroups, working with chief moderator Jonathan Kamens and the rest of his team.

I also previously served as a Usenet Volunteer Votetaker, conducting votes for comp.sys.psion and sci.techniques.microscopy.

In 1993, I helped Mark Salyzyn create and maintain rec.radio.info, initially serving as guest moderator, and currently as chief moderator.

In 2007, I was the proponent for rec.radio.amateur.moderated, organizing its moderation team, setting up an instance of Secure, Team-Based Usenet Moderation Program or STUMP, and currently serving as chief moderator.

I have also assisted several other moderation teams set up their own instances of STUMP to moderate their own newsgroups.

I wish to share my experience and knowledge of Usenet with others and ensure Usenet's long-term survival as a personally and professionally useful information resource.