This review was written by me in October 1997, and was posted to news.groups.reviews, a newsgroup for publishing reader-written reviews of other newsgroups. The review text is taken verbatim from the posted copy, except that a typo was fixed.
Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written.robert-jordan
Moderator: none
Description: Books by author Robert Jordan
Keywords: robert jordan, fantasy, wheel of time
Related-Groups: alt.fan.robert-jordan, alt.wheel.of.time,
rec.arts.sf.written
FAQ-Location: http://www.landfield.com/faqs/sf/robert-jordan-faq/
Reviewer: Karl-Johan Noren <kjnoren@hem3.passagen.se>
Review-Date: Sun, 5 Oct 1997 00:55:10 +0200 (MET DST)
Some time ago, a newcomer to
rec.arts.sf.written.robert-jordan (rasfwr-j)
characterised the newsgroup as a "a collective lovable
curmudgeon"
. And while it is near impossible to accurately
describe the "flavour" of a 200 posts-a-day newsgroup, this comes
about as close as it can do.
rasfwr-j is officially for the discussion about the American author Robert Jordan and his Wheel of Time series of fantasy books, but since the books are only released with year-plus long intervals, social banter, off-topic discussions etc are generally welcome. This has one caveat: it is to be kept within rasfwr-j. This is partly due to some spectacular incidents regarding crossposting (the most recent and as I write this still ongoing incident is a crossposting with alt.religion.mormon), but also that the regulars generally considers themselves as friends.
Netiquette is held in a high regard, and while new posters are given allowance for mistakes, they are usually firmly but politely given the advice to lurk for a while and check out the group's FAQs. On the other hand, the reaction against them who fails to take the hint is usually quite strong, but not as strong as against them who engages in newbie bashing or abuse.
The above combined with the fact that the regulars look out for each other have given the group an - IMO - undeserved reputation for cliquishness and flaming. Yes, there is a large amount of social banter and in-jokes, but anyone who wants to invest the effort to become a member of the "clique" and proves herself a competent poster with something to say will be welcomed.
If you want to find out more about rasfwr-j and Robert Jordan the best starting point is, without any doubt, The Compleat Index of Wheel of Time Related 'Net Resources maintained by Pam Korda (who also doubles as the maintainer of the Wheel of Time FAQ)
http://student-www.uchicago.edu/users/kor2/WOT/WOTindex/
For those who read The Wheel of Time rasfwr-j is the undisputed center for fandom, theories and discussion, even though there are two more newsgroups, one mailing list, several web boards and IRC channels as well as boards on commercial providers like AOL dealing with the topic.
Of course, the above is but one example of the reviews or introductions that have been written regarding the strange and wonderful place known as rasfwr-j. Rob Pfeifer has written another, more colourful, review. Anthony Towns (50k) has written The Sights and Sounds of rasfwr-j.
Last I can provide a pointer to the greatest document known about the newsgroup: alt.Shrugged (75k), also a great commentary about Usenet in general.
Karl-Johan Norén,
kjnoren@hem3.passagen.se