Harlan Lunsford <hlunsford[at]bellsouth.net> wrote:
- quote -

What I did was to go here:
http://groups-beta.google.com/advanced_search

Then I put her email address (at least the one she used
here) in the box labeled, "Return only messages where the
author is"

Finally I put the name of this newsgroup in the box labeled,
"Return only messages from the group".

What I found were threads in which she participated.

Stu

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

Stuart A. Bronstein wrote:
- quote -

Not sure how one would do such a google search, Stu. However
I do remember one such case, however I won't call any names.

And it wasn't George Harrison, whoeverinthehell he is.

ChEAr$,
Harlan Lunsford

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

lanny williams wrote:

- quote -

PLUS the fact that there is a well known provision in the
tax law called "extensions".

I don't like them personally, but can't avoid having one or
two or six (this year) that needed one for some reason or
another.

And getting the correct answer to one's tax question is
really a valid reason I think for an automatic extension.

ChEAr$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

jik[at]kamens.brookline.ma.us (Jonathan Kamens) writes:

- quote -

IMHO it would be difficult to find a better moderated forum
in any area, let alone in the limited area of taxation. Of
course, I happen to think that the posting delay on
misc.taxes.moderated is pretty close to optimal. It is short
enough that I never find myself frustrated (but then I try
to avoid ever being in a hurry yet long enough to
introduce an element of fairness among posters with
differing frequencies of newsgroup access.

Dan Lanciani
ddl[at]danlan.*com

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

jik[at]kamens.brookline.ma.us (Jonathan Kamens) wrote:
- quote -

I went back and did a google search for Jennifer, and didn't
see any bashing of her. Sarcasm, yes, but no personal
attacks.

Stu

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

"Jennifer D" <best_scrivener[at]yahoo.com> writes:

- quote -

But, truthfully, you began by bashing the moderator.

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

Jennifer D wrote:
- quote -

I don't understand why you seem so outraged over the delay
in getting answers to posted questions. True, if you are
seeking help in providing an answer to a client's question,
you might get impatient but, in such a case, you can always
tell the client that you are "researching" the matter.

Although we face deadlines when returns are due, the
complexity of the tax law is such that no one should expect
"instant" answers. This newsgroup is not an oracle but a
place for reasoned responses to technical question. I, for
one, believe it is better to take a little time and get
responses from other professionals than to open my reader to
all the spam that comes in other groups. The delay is the
price we pay for the elimination of all these useless
posting.

No one should be in a position where they need an answer to
a tax question in a matter of hours, or even days.

Lanny K. Williams, CPA
Nawarat, Williams & Co., Ltd.
Income Tax Services for Expatriate Americans

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

Paul <TaxMan[at]negia.net> wrote:
- quote -

It depends on the group and the posters. There are
moderated groups where some posters have permission to post
directly (it isn't exactly forging if done with the
appropriate permission). With unsophisticated posters, it's
easiest to do it at the moderator's end, probably requiring
new software.

Seth

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

Paul wrote:

- quote -

Here is a link to an available program that is used by a
number of other moderated newsgroups:

http://www.algebra.com/~ichudov/stump/

MTW

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

"Jennifer D" <best_scrivener[at]yahoo.com> writes:

- quote -

I'm sure you're right that the moderator of this group
occasionally slips up and let posts through that he
shouldn't have. In fact, he has admitted so. You are
surely also right that this is not the only forum on the
whole internet to discuss U.S. taxation. But I challenge
you to find another one with less bashing.

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

- quote -

The software already exists; it was written for various
other moderated groups and then generalized to be useable
for any interested moderated group. In fact, I think there
are even sites and volunteers willing to host the moderation
software for those who want to use it. Admittedly, it isn't
entirely smooth to set up, but once it's set up it runs
pretty smoothly. But there are good reasons not to use it,
as outlined in the other message I just posted about this.

(BTW, I have some experience in this area because I maintain
the moderation server for the rec.humor.jewish newsgroup.)

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

"MTW" <mtwingcpa[at]yahoo.com> writes:

- quote -

First of all, automated moderation probably throws more
nerdy technology at Mr. Adams than he wants to deal with
:-).

Second, by definition such moderation lowers the quality of
the material in the newsgroup. Even regular posters to the
newsgroup occasionally see their postings rejected by Mr.
Adams for legitimate reasons; if automated moderation in
place, those legitimately rejected submissions would be
posted rather than rejected.

Note from Moderator:
Our newsgroup is now in its 10 year. It has not been
unusual to receive submissions that began as a response
to an asked question and ended with tax protestor
gibberish. The "From:", "Reply-To", and "Organization"
header would be consistent with a newsgroup regular.
The volume of this type of submission was as high as
daily for a long time and is now down to 4 to 6 a year.

For a long-time, I could cancel messages once posted.
This is no longer possible.

There are other problems I choose not to enumerate in a
public forum lest I give sociopaths information I do not
want them to have.

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

- quote -

That
is perfectly fine. If you don't know the answer or don't care to help,
its not a problem. With a large group such as this one, the
probability
is high that *someone* will be happy...YES HAPPY to help. If you don't
want to help, then move on to the next topic that interest you. Under
NO circumstances does a mere request for a citation deserve bashing.
Any reasonable professional in this biz goes to the horses' mouth,
i.e.,
the code, the regs, the Rev Rul's etc. YOU KNOW what a huge volume
of info that is. It is nice to sometimes get a little help from your
friends,
that is others similarily situated. Don't pick a fight where one is
not
warranted. JUST move on. As for asking for someone to do my research
or demanding servitude...I think you just have it all wrong. I am just
asking
if anyone has recently visited this issue and knows the answer of the
top
of their head...that's all. NO ONE EVER DESERVES to be bashed.

- quote -

you do not support bashing. Of course, you don't. I wouldn't expect
any moderator to support bashing. But, truthfully, I have been bashed.
You have let unprofessional posts through, and it makes this forum
unpleasant. Surely, this is NOT the only forum on the whole internet
to discuss U.S. taxation. Perhaps, I should just move on.

Jennifer DeBoer
Tax Cents LLC
New Philadelphia, OH

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

- quote -


- quote -

most of the time accept it as "part of life".

- quote -

was a new person co-coordinating it (my husband had been the co-coordinator
for several years and this person graciously took over this huge task after
my husband's death). While there were the normal small complaints, one man
did NOT like how this person did the job and was very vocal about it, to the
point of telling the co-coordinator that he should never do it again,
because he did such a lousy job (yes, there were a few "snafus" but nothing
major). So I have decided that next year I'm going to have a "volunteer
sign-up sheet" and anybody who doesn't like how things are done, can give me
their name and address so they can help out next year. *grin*

- quote -

group.

- quote -

we don't drop everything and get them an answer RIGHT AWAY. Although I
do admit to being guilty of sometimes posting a quick question to see if one
of the other professionals know the answer off the top of their heads, so I
don't have to spend hours looking something up. (or verifying that my
understanding is correct) But I don't expect an instantaneous response and
don't throw a fit if I don't get any answer.

Beth M.

- quote -


<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

Bryan Kellar wrote:

(snipped)

- quote -

England had a "queen" in 1750? Sure you jest!

(hint: it was that fellow Georgia Porgie, something like that.)

ChEAr$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA


Moderator:
I am certain our colleague, Mr. Keller, picked a year at
random. But it should be noted that the basis for U.S.
copyright law comes from the reign of Queen Anne in the
eary 1700's.

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

"Stuart A. Bronstein" <stu[at]lexregia.com> wrote

- quote -

Wouldn't software have to be bought or written to do that?

--
Paul A. Thomas, CPA
Athens, Georgia

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

Stuart A. Bronstein wrote:

- quote -

flatly opposed to such approaches.

MTW

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

"Jennifer D" <best_scrivener[at]yahoo.com> asks:
- quote -

Later, she answers her own question:

- quote -

to exercise full control over every submission that gets posted. It
is exactly this full control which makes the quality of the content in
this group so high.

- quote -

I believe that the delay introduced by his moderation is well worth it,
given the result.

- quote -

is a "deal-breaker" for you, you're free to go elsewhere.

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

Jennifer D wrote:
- quote -

and do not violate the established charter of the newsgroup (e.g. on
topic, non-abusive, non-commercial, or whatever other standards have
been set). Since moderators usually have lives outside Usenet, one
has to expect that posts will not be reviewed and posted instantly.
The fact that, for the most part, this group is updated at least once
daily shows a dedication by the moderator not found in many other
groups, and when there have been anticipated delays in posting for known
occupational, medical or personal reasons, he has posted notice of same
in advance.

- quote -

no responses had been posted and, if I had the requested knowledge,
would post a reply, only to find that the next time the group was
updated my post was among several others that evidently had already been
sent before mine but were sitting in the moderation queue, often making
mine superfluous. After a while, I ended up no longer answering most
such questions unless I saw no responses for a couple of days or the
ones that were there I knew to be incorrect or incomplete. Adding to
this frustration is the fact that when the posts hit the newsgroup, they
bear the timestamp of when the moderator uploads them, not the original
one of the sender, so especially when there are a bunch of seemingly
conflicting responses, there's no way to tell in what order they
actually came in (and sometimes that makes a difference in evaluating
them).

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->

"Jennifer D" <best_scrivener[at]yahoo.com> wrote:

- quote -

Often people remember code sections, and if they don't they
may be simple to look up. Regulations are another matter.
I'm unlikely to take an hour out of my time, unpaid, when
you could do the same research.

- quote -

If you like to think of volunteers as servants who should
do whatever you order them to do as a military officer
orders around those in his command, you deserve to be
bashed. That kind of attitude is not only insensitive,
it's insulting.

Stu

Moderator:
Normally I would not have posted this for the simple
reason that it fails the simple test of collegiality
expected in a professional forum. People do not get
bashed here because I read every submission though every
now and then I fall asleep at the switch.

<< -------------------------------------------------> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org > << ------------------------------------------------->