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simple filters for newsreaders

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  simple filters for newsreaders D <J@M> - 2026-07-07 15:43 +0200
    Re: simple filters for newsreaders "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-07-07 23:08 +0800
    Re: simple filters for newsreaders Mike Easter <MikeE@ster.invalid> - 2026-07-07 09:38 -0700
      Re: simple filters for newsreaders "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-07-08 03:30 +0800
        Re: simple filters for newsreaders Mike Easter <MikeE@ster.invalid> - 2026-07-07 12:39 -0700
          Re: simple filters for newsreaders "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-07-08 07:32 +0800

#21318 — simple filters for newsreaders

 
using 40tude dialog to automatically "move" all unwanted/unimportant 
article headers to the newsreader's "junk"/"troll" folders, that may 
be reviewed before routine purging, to ensure filters are working as 
expected, also to add new "move" or "watch" filters, if desired, and
to provide a daily "troll-count", which if you're subscribed to more 
than a dozen active newsgroups, is always dozens or hundreds per day,
or if sampling newsgroup headers, can easily number in the thousands 
 
the first rule demotes all new articles in all subscribed newsgroups 
to "-1", and sets the ignore flag on them, then "moves" all x-posted
articles to the "junk" folder (the hash sign "#" for blank lines and 
comments), and "moves" any articles with trollish text in headers to 
the "troll" folder, leaving only articles that were not cross-posted,
now with the red "ignore" flag and red "-1" score set on all of them: 
 
>[*] 
>-1 From *
>!ignore From * 
>!move(junk) Xpost %>1 
># 
>!move(troll) From "troll001" "troll002" "troll..." 
>!move(troll) From "troll101" "troll102" "troll..." 
>#
>!move(troll) Subject "cull001" "cull002" "cull..."
>!move(troll) Message-ID "rogue001" "rogue002" ... 
 
because the usenet chatbots obsessively cross-post, this one simple 
rule "!move(junk) xpost %>1" automatically eliminates probably half 
of all troll farm chatter, depending on the newsgroup and hierarchy,
but not all cross-posts are trolls, especially when browsing usenet 
archives, so the "junk" folder accommodates all x-posts and generic
from headers that have not been otherwise whitelisted, watched, etc. 

the "troll" folder is for your newsreader's blacklist, any overview 
headers that contain unique strings of text (using wildcards */" to
minimize length of entries without oversimplifying), that are known 
to be chronic offenders (the troll farm "hall of fame" sockpuppets), 
so your newsreader's killfile list can quickly expand into hundreds 
of entries, but the result is worth the effort, for every kill-file 
entry added, newsgroups become less cluttered by troll farm minions,
allowing ephemeral, uncommon troll aliases to be ignored, junkfiled, 
and for troll aliases that become chronic, simply killfile them too 
 
the second rule promotes "self" to the maximum "+9999", then unsets 
the ignore flag, and highlights header colors to stand out from the
rest, then any whitelisted contributors, topics, servers, etc., are
also unignored, and promoted to "+1", or any number from 0 to +9998: 

>[*] 
>=+9999 From "self <name@server01>" "self <name@server02>" ... 
>=!unsetwatchignore,setcolor(red;yellow) From "self <name@server01>" ...
># 
>=!unsetwatchignore From "user001" "user002" "user003" "user..." 
>=+1 From "user001" "user002" "user003" "user004" "user..." 
># 
>=!unsetwatchignore Subject "topic001" "topic002" "topic..."
>=+1 Subject "topic001" "topic002" "topic003" "topic..."
># 
>=!unsetwatchignore Message-ID "@server001" "@server002" ...
>=+1 Message-ID "@server001" "@server002" "@server003"...
 
lastly, the third rule "moves" remaining articles with the score of 
"-1" directly to the "junk" folder, then, after cursory review, the
"troll" and "junk" folders are purged (recommend purges once daily): 
 
># 
>!move(junk) Score "-1" 
 
because the default score of "-1" was first applied to all articles, 
any articles moved to the "junk" or "troll" folders retain the "-1", 
so any remaining articles that weren't promoted are moved to "junk", 
leaving only promoted article headers (if any) in your newsreader's 
viewing window, encouraging users to whitelist helpful contributors,
and purge the unhelpful ... depending on the newsgroup, some groups 
attract non-troll articles and discussions, but most newsgroups are 
predominantly if not 100% trollfarm "chatterbots", so caveat emptor 
 
the complete example filter looks like this, but of course requires
actual header strings in order to demonstrate how this really works: 
 
>[*]
>-1 From * 
>!ignore From * 
>!move(junk) Xpost %>1 
># 
>!move(troll) From "troll001" "troll002" "troll..." 
>!move(troll) From "troll101" "troll102" "troll..."
># 
>!move(troll) Subject "cull001" "cull002" "cull..." 
>!move(troll) Message-ID "rogue001" "rogue002" ... 
># 
>=+9999 From "self <name@server01>" "self <name@server02>" ...
>=!unsetwatchignore,setcolor(red;yellow) From "self <name@server01>" ... 
># 
>=!unsetwatchignore From "user001" "user002" "user003" "user..." 
>=+1 From "user001" "user002" "user003" "user004" "user..."
># 
>=!unsetwatchignore Subject "topic001" "topic002" "topic..." 
>=+1 Subject "topic001" "topic002" "topic003" "topic..." 
># 
>=!unsetwatchignore Message-ID "@server001" "@server002" ... 
>=+1 Message-ID "@server001" "@server002" "@server003"...
>#
>!move(junk) Score "-1" 
 
this uses simple syntax which should be modified to suit your needs, 
and as your own newsreader filter becomes larger, more personalized, 
recommend saving an occasional "progress" copy of your last working
filter, in case errors appear that may not be easily corrected, and 
with practice, your usenet newsgroups will become a troll-free zone,
where uninterrupted productivity will always be your first priority 

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#21319

On 7/7/2026 9:43 PM, D wrote:
 >
 > .....


Maybe  you should filter things in the firewall
of your loverly operating systems (e.g. Linux)?

That way, all apps will be free of "trolls" and
trolling. You can even filter yourself. :)

-- 

    @~@   Simplicity is Beauty! Remain silent! Drink, Blink, Stretch!
   / v \  May the Force and farces be with you! Live long and prosper!!
  /( _ )\ https://sites.google.com/site/changmw/
    ^ ^   https://github.com/changmw/changmw
          The game is afoot... Meow...

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#21322

D wrote:
> using 40tude dialog

This is all very worthwhile for an agent which has scoring and other 
strong features which Tb does NOT.

In order to apply your useful ideas, one would have to use a different 
agent than Tb OR put a strong local news server between one's NSP and Tb.

Linux leafnode; Win Hamster.

-- 
Mike Easter

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#21325

On 7/8/2026 12:38 AM, Mike Easter wrote:
> D wrote:
>> using 40tude dialog
> 
> This is all very worthwhile for an agent which has scoring and other
> strong features which Tb does NOT.

Imagine what might happen if you forgot
you were using a filter? Or there was a
problem turning off those filters?

Be careful, everyone!!

Remove  all  those filters and use your
brain to do the filtering.

-- 

    @~@   Simplicity is Beauty! Remain silent! Drink, Blink, Stretch!
   / v \  May the Force and farces be with you! Live long and prosper!!
  /( _ )\ https://sites.google.com/site/changmw/
    ^ ^   https://github.com/changmw/changmw
          The game is afoot... Meow...

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#21326

Chang wrote:
> Remove  all  those filters and use your
> brain to do the filtering.

Tb has a filter log one can check.

Some groups need filtering however you want to configure its simple 
filters, to disappear or to mark read.

Ignoring is one thing; disappearing another.


-- 
Mike Easter

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#21330

On 7/8/2026 3:39 AM, Mike Easter wrote:
> 
> Tb has a filter log one can check.
> Some groups need filtering however you want to configure its simple
> filters, to disappear or to mark read.
> Ignoring is one thing; disappearing another.

I do not use it. That's all. Good luck!

-- 

    @~@   Simplicity is Beauty! Remain silent! Drink, Blink, Stretch!
   / v \  May the Force and farces be with you! Live long and prosper!!
  /( _ )\ https://sites.google.com/site/changmw/
    ^ ^   https://github.com/changmw/changmw
          The game is afoot... Meow...

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