After reading your post and all the responses to date, I have to say that I
was also very close to giving up on this NG due to all the off-topic crap.
I even posted a coupla rants about it until I realized *they* were
off-topic! : } I agree with everyone else that said filtering is the
answer; I have set up several filters for this NG & it weeds out most of the
crap, I then ignore the posts with subjects unrelated to SWL, and all posts
by *certain" posters (especially the back-woodsy types).
As a responder to your post mentioned, a moderated NG may be the answer. I
have offered in the past & repeat now, I would be willing to act as a
moderator in a new *moderated* NG for SWL.
Perhaps something like what the author of SWLog is trying to set up (damn
spammers!) would be the way to go; set up a bulletin board on a hosted site,
or blog, and only allow registered users to post, then blackball 'em on
their first off-topic post. He hasn't quite found a fool-proof solution
yet, mainly because fools are so damned ingenious, but I am confident there
is a solution.
The one thing most people tend to forget, even the good guys, is that this
NG (and all NG's, for that matter) is supposed to be for a *specific topic*,
and ANYTHING else is simply off-topic, there really is no gray area! If you
absolutely MUST make a comment about something other than SWL, find a
relevant NG & post it there. common sense really.
Looking forward to the days when we have a moderated NG to discuss SWL & SWL
only! : } (I am in other NG's to discuss/post/rant-rave on other topics)
My calendar:
http://calendar.yahoo.com/public/earlwphillipsjr
"JeroenK" wrote in message
...
Hey All,
I know I'm not contributing that much to this group, nevertheless I'd
like to say I'm very close to giving up on this group and moving on to
other places that cost me less time to wade through to find the few
worthwhile posts.
Its no fun spending this amount of time to wade through and be left with
less then 5% or so posts actually worth reading.
I'm surprised not many others speak up. Maybe they already left long
ago. Also because of the political and propaganda posts that fill up
this group.
Anyway, just wanted to say before I just silently go away. Maybe it
helps, maybe not 
Have a good day all,
--
JeroenK