Alt.usenet.kooks

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alt.usenet.kooks is a newsgroup established on 1993-12-20 as part of the alt hierarchy, its main focus is on discussing Usenet contributors who fit the definition of a "net.kook" as mentioned in its FAQ:^[1]

Anyone who posts uniquely strange, preferably incomprehensible articles, or who manifests a persistent, extreme, and somewhat bizarre obsession, might be a net.kook.

The subscribers to the group regularly hold votes to label people as "recipients" of various mock awards. Past "winners" include people of Usenet notoriety such as Archimedes Plutonium, Sollog, Kenneth Robert Pangborn and Jack Sarfatti, and also people (or organizations) of greater fame such as Bill Gates, Bill Clinton, Gary Glitter and the Kansas Board of Education.^[2] Awards of special distinction have been given to Edmond Wollmann (Kook of the Millennium), Earl Curley (Kook of the Century), John Grubor (Kook of the Century and Decade), Brad Jesness (Kook of the Decade) and Richard Bullis (Clueless Eternal Newbie).^[2] See the external links below for a full list of award winners.

As its name implies, the main focus is on Usenet posters seen as kooks, though alleged kooks on the World Wide Web and in real life are also discussed, as are more general topics of what motivates posters perceived as kooks by the other subscribers, and what an appropriate response to them might be. Also, persons suffering from actual mental illness rather than mere kookdom are sometimes spared from receiving the award.^{[citation needed]} See Formosa's Law.

The group receives many crossposts in the form of follow-ups to alleged kookery in other groups, as well as many posts from people who believe they have been falsely accused of being kooks.

The FAQ attempts to distinguish between "kooks" and other types of irritating people:^[1]

It is important to note the subtle distinction between a net.kook, a net.cretin, a clueless newbie, troll, or garden-variety asshole. The newbie, one hopes, can acquire a clue on the installment plan even if he can't afford to buy one for cash. The cretin is merely stupid and/or irritating. The troll is purposely pulling your leg like it got caught in some heavy machinery. The @$$hole is, well, simply that. But a TRUE net.kook has a special fascination derived from his/her/its utter ineffability. Their behavior is irrational, if not downright weird, but they are seldom merely boring.

[edit] Controversy

Because the subscribers are typically anonymous (or pseudonymous) and the group is not moderated, those labeled "kooks" have little chance of redress. Those labeled "kooks" are banned for life from voting in awards on alt.usenet.kooks.^[3]

Especially in the late 1990s and early 2000s, alt.usenet.kooks has been criticized by some^{[attribution needed]} as a soapbox for personal or political grudges.^{[citation needed]} Critics^{[attribution needed]} claimed that regular users of the newsgroup displayed a "pack mentality" and were engaging in cyberbullying.^{[citation needed]}

Regulars in alt.usenet.kooks also followed those labeled "kooks" into other newsgroups and posted messages attacking them.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} 6. Who is a net.kook?. Frequently Asked Questions — Official FAQ for Alt.Usenet.Kooks — 2006. Caballista.org.
2. ^ ^{a b} alt.usenet.kooks / award-winners. insurgent.org (2006-02-09). Retrieved on 2006-11-30.
3. ^ 5. Are only AUK regulars allowed to vote?. Official Alt.Usenet.Kooks FAQ - 2006 [How to Vote Mini-FAQ]. Caballista.org. Retrieved on 2006-11-30.

[edit] See also

• Crank
• Barbara Schwarz

[edit] External links

• Alt.usenet.kooks newsgroup on Usenet
• Official FAQ for Alt.Usenet.Kooks (2007). – Rules and Award Descriptions
• Kookle Search Engine. – Search engine for Kook Awards and winners
• Taylor NetScum. Be Careful What You Ask For — You May GET IT. – a Frequently Asked Questions document
• alt.usenet.kooks on Google Groups