FAQ: Want to ask a DIY question? Here's how. (V.16)

X-No-Archive [Weekly posting - Archived once a month]

This is an introduction to the UK.D-I-Y newsgroup for new and experienced Do-It-Yourselfers in the United Kingdom. If you want help, or just want to find out more about a problem before calling in 'the professionals' you are welcome to 'pick our brains'.

There is a good chance your query, or a very similar one, has already been discussed and answered by the group, so please have a look at the Google uk.d-i-y archive, and our companion website for Frequently Asked Questions (the FAQ) before posting a question here.

The Google uk.d-i-y archive is available for searching at

The FAQ includes detailed information on common DIY problems in areas such as central heating, plumbing, electrical, decorating, security, plastering, and tools. It also has a reference section pointing to other useful sites and companies.

You should be aware that although replies in most cases are perfectly accurate and sensible, there are occasions when someone posts an inappropriate answer. In this case one of the regulars is very likely to post a correction, so it is always a good idea to check back later.

The FAQ makes clear that commercial advertising in the group is NOT welcome. Unsolicited advertising is considered abuse, and is likely to be reported as abuse to the advertiser's ISP. However, replies to specific questions which mention products sold by the person replying are acceptable. There is more information on commercial participation in the FAQ.

Phil The uk.d-i-y FAQ is at

Sorry, nearly missed that one:

Relevant commercial advertising IS acceptable in uk.d-i-y. Your advertisements should have subjects of the form "AD: Advertisement Title", and not be posted more often than once a month. Unsolicited but relevant advertising is not considered abuse.

For information on real DIY matters, see

In article , Chris Bacon writes

Acceptable to you perhaps but not to others. As a recent thread showed you were in a minority of one in your wish to accept unsolicited advertising posts. That makes unsolicited advertising in this group an abuse issue with the advertiser's service provider.

No it doesn't. Thank you for publicising this FAQ again, "Fred":

Relevant commercial advertising IS acceptable in uk.d-i-y. Your advertisements should have subjects of the form "AD: Advertisement Title", and not be posted more often than once a month. Unsolicited but relevant advertising is not considered abuse.

For information on real DIY matters, see

No it's not.

Note to new readers: Chris Bacon has decided that he wants to rule the group. He has come in and started making statements such as the above, in the hope that if he says them often enough, they will become true.

Please help by:

a) killfiling him b) not quoting his rubbish except to refute it

No it's not.

|In article , Chris Bacon | writes |>

|>Relevant commercial advertising IS acceptable in uk.d-i-y. | |Acceptable to you perhaps but not to others. As a recent thread showed |you were in a minority of one in your wish to accept unsolicited advertising |posts. That makes unsolicited advertising in this group an abuse issue |with the advertiser's service provider.

My vote is against. uk.* is a democratic organisation and nothing *important* happens without a vote.

The message from Steve Firth contains these words:

Perhaps Bacon is in so many kill files that he thinks his lone voice is a majority. :-)

Seriously though his attitude does cast considerable doubt on the reliability of anything else he posts to this ng which is one of the reasons he is one of the few occupants of my killfile. I can't recall anyone else at all supporting Bacons attitude to commercial advertising and ISTR (pre Bacon) that the consensus was very much against it when we agreed the contents of the FAQ that Phil posts every month.

Oh yes it is!

I've been posting here for a lot longer than you, noob.

The one WRT commercial advertising *is* true.

Now go and stick your head back in the sand.

Oh yes it is!

Relevant commercial advertising IS acceptable in uk.d-i-y. Your advertisements should have subjects of the form "AD: Advertisement Title", and not be posted more often than once a month. Unsolicited but relevant advertising is not considered abuse.

Manisfestly untrue, at least according to Google. The first article I can find from Bob was posted on 25th Feb 2001, your first in the archive is dated 3rd March 2005.

No it's not.

It might be accurate to say that the first posting by "Chris Bacon" was then.

No it's not.

Since the default for all groups is that advertising is off-topic, you're going to have to prove your claim.

Indeed...if you want to count any postings to Usenet at all, and you can find a big enough archive, you could probably find postings I made in

Read the charter for uk.d-i-y. N.B. a FAQ isn't a charter.