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Re: A request, and a question

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Anthony Cuozzo <anthony@cuozzo.us> writes:

[..what is topical in comp.lang.c?..]

> I think it would make sense to expand the official scope of the
> newsgroup to any topic related to C, even funky half-baked K&R-era
> implementations on long-dead architectures.
>
> I don't see why a question on, e.g., x86-64 SIMD instructions
> would need to be off-topic here if the OP is using a C compiler
> with builtin functions for them.

Topicality is not binary.  No matter where the boundary is drawn,
there will be postings that fall somewhere outside of it.  And
that's okay.

That said, some issues are pretty close to the main body, and
some are clearly outside.  It isn't just if, but how often, how
much, and how long.  Some off-topic threads go on at great length
for dozens of postings or more.  If someone has a short question
about compiler-specific intrinsics, that should be okay.  On the
other hand, there are a few bad actors who will use any excuse
to go farther and farther into left field, to the point where any
connection to most people who visit the group has long since
disappeared.  (Even worse are the offenders who will talk about
anything that interests them but chastise others for topic they
aren't interested in.  No names but I think most people know who
all fall into this category.)

In short, I don't mind a fuzzy boundary, with the primary focus
of the newsgroup being standard C, and with a normal distribution
fall-off as the subjects get farther from the center.  (And of
course I know that there are people who will continue to talk
about whatever it is they want to talk about, regardless of how
much or how little it has to do with C.  Nothing is ever going to
stop them but it's good to call them out every so often.)

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A request, and a question Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2024-01-28 12:13 -0800
  Re: A request, and a question Spiros Bousbouras <spibou@gmail.com> - 2024-01-28 21:17 +0000
    Re: A request, and a question Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2024-01-29 11:36 -0800
    Re: A request, and a question John McCue <jmccue@qball.jmcunx.com> - 2024-01-29 21:49 +0000
      Re: A request, and a question Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2024-01-30 14:59 +0200
      Re: A request, and a question Spiros Bousbouras <spibou@gmail.com> - 2024-01-30 16:47 +0000
    Re: A request, and a question James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2024-01-29 23:54 -0500
      Re: A request, and a question Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-01-29 21:19 -0800
        Re: A request, and a question Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2024-01-30 00:45 -0500
        Re: A request, and a question Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-01-30 12:49 -0800
      Re: A request, and a question Kaz Kylheku <433-929-6894@kylheku.com> - 2024-01-30 05:48 +0000
        Re: A request, and a question Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-01-29 23:04 -0800
          Re: A request, and a question Kaz Kylheku <433-929-6894@kylheku.com> - 2024-01-30 20:50 +0000
            Re: A request, and a question Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-01-30 13:06 -0800
              Re: A request, and a question Kaz Kylheku <433-929-6894@kylheku.com> - 2024-01-30 21:12 +0000
                Re: A request, and a question Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-01-30 13:44 -0800
                Re: A request, and a question Richard Damon <richard@damon-family.org> - 2024-02-03 09:17 -0500
                Re: A request, and a question Kaz Kylheku <433-929-6894@kylheku.com> - 2024-02-03 18:28 +0000
      Re: A request, and a question David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-01-30 09:54 +0100
        Re: A request, and a question mjos_examine <m6502x64@gmail.com> - 2024-01-30 09:53 -0500
          Re: A request, and a question Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-01-30 12:32 -0800
            Re: A request, and a question mjos_examine <m6502x64@gmail.com> - 2024-01-30 16:41 -0500
        Re: A request, and a question Spiros Bousbouras <spibou@gmail.com> - 2024-01-30 16:24 +0000
      Re: A request, and a question tTh <tth@none.invalid> - 2024-01-30 11:14 +0100
      Re: A request, and a question Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2024-02-03 11:25 -0800
  Re: A request, and a question Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2024-01-29 00:26 +0000
    Re: A request, and a question Anthony Cuozzo <anthony@cuozzo.us> - 2024-01-28 23:57 -0500
      Re: A request, and a question Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2024-01-29 19:31 -0800
    Re: A request, and a question Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2024-01-29 11:45 -0800

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