I was unpleasantly surprised to see the string of maybe 100 multiple posts concerning the stupid MassiveProng thing, and it really detracted from my ability to read other headers. However, I found that, using my Outlook Express newsreader, I was able to permanently delete them. If only the same thing could be done throughout Usenet, to remove such obvious trash, which seems to have been done specifically to compromise the usefulness of Usenet.
This sort of abuse is IMHO much worse than the occasional spam, and borders on the seriousness of a virus. What is to stop someone from creating a robotic post generator sending thousands of garbage posts to selected newgroups that they want to cripple? How can the perps be traced and effectively neutralized (creative ideas are brewing in my mind).
It is perhaps a sensitive issue to permit any sort of filtering or censorship not directly controlled by the recipient. Is there a solution for unmoderated newsgroups? Can there be some sort of automatic detection and rejection system that would intercept such "attacks" and render them harmless? An internet SDI?
One solution I have been trying to propose, for email spam, is to charge a universal tax of perhaps $0.01 per email sent. This would certainly not bother me, or most individuals, because if I send 25 emails (or posts) in a day, that is a lot, and I would happily spend a quarter to be assured that my inbox (or spam filter) is not clogged with a hundred emails that I need to go through to pick out the occasion false catch. If it saves me 5 minutes, my time is certainly worth more than what I spent.
Legitimate business users can deduct this "tax" as a legitimate expense. Perhaps a "bulk permit" could be offered, with the assurance that any recipient could actually opt out.
The funds generated by such a "tax" could be used to find and prosecute those who create and distribute viruses or other malware.
Paul