Filtering computer.lang.python

[C W Rose]

Thomas Jollans <tjol at tjol.eu> wrote:
> 
> Welcome to python-list/comp.lang.python!
> 
> This isn't originally a Google group. Google just mirrors the old USENET
> group, which is awash with spam.
> 
> There is also a mailing list version of this group (posts are mirrored
> both ways) at https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
> 
> The mailing list has proper spam filtering and some moderation. None (or
> barely any) of the regulars use Google Groups. Some people use USENET
> directly and maintain their own extensive filtering regime to make it
> readable. Probably most of us use the mailing list, because it's just so
> much nicer!
> 
> -- Thomas

I fetch comp.lang.python from eternal.september with leafnode, and after
30 years of Usenet I recently had to install a news filter to remove the
garbage.  After the initial flurry the filter doesn't need much updating,
but here's why it's necessary:

    Feb  1 comp.lang.python: 39 articles fetched 73 killed
    Feb  2 comp.lang.python: 43 articles fetched 57 killed
    Feb  3 comp.lang.python: 19 articles fetched 108 killed
    Feb  4 comp.lang.python: 36 articles fetched 122 killed
    Feb  5 comp.lang.python: 45 articles fetched 79 killed
    Feb  6 comp.lang.python: 68 articles fetched 93 killed
    Feb  7 comp.lang.python: 32 articles fetched 118 killed
    Feb  8 comp.lang.python: 41 articles fetched 100 killed
    Feb  9 comp.lang.python: 47 articles fetched 201 killed
    Feb 10 comp.lang.python: 44 articles fetched 137 killed
    Feb 11 comp.lang.python: 36 articles fetched 130 killed
    Feb 12 comp.lang.python: 13 articles fetched 79 killed
    Feb 13 comp.lang.python: 18 articles fetched 65 killed
    Feb 14 comp.lang.python: 34 articles fetched 72 killed
    Feb 15 comp.lang.python: 15 articles fetched 63 killed
    Feb 16 comp.lang.python: 14 articles fetched 72 killed
    Feb 17 comp.lang.python: 50 articles fetched 62 killed
    Feb 18 comp.lang.python: 37 articles fetched 35 killed
    Feb 19 comp.lang.python: 58 articles fetched 57 killed
    Feb 20 comp.lang.python: 71 articles fetched 46 killed
    Feb 21 comp.lang.python: 63 articles fetched 95 killed
    Feb 22 comp.lang.python: 35 articles fetched 91 killed
    Feb 23 comp.lang.python: 38 articles fetched 91 killed
    Feb 25 comp.lang.python: 51 articles fetched 153 killed
    Feb 26 comp.lang.python: 70 articles fetched 89 killed
    Feb 27 comp.lang.python: 64 articles fetched 68 killed
    Mar  1 comp.lang.python: 98 articles fetched 133 killed
    Mar  2 comp.lang.python: 65 articles fetched 110 killed
    Mar  3 comp.lang.python: 38 articles fetched 113 killed
    Mar  4 comp.lang.python: 31 articles fetched 16 killed
    Mar  5 comp.lang.python: 51 articles fetched 104 killed
    Mar  6 comp.lang.python: 46 articles fetched 40 killed
    Mar  7 comp.lang.python: 18 articles fetched 71 killed
    Mar  8 comp.lang.python: 44 articles fetched 85 killed
    Mar  9 comp.lang.python: 43 articles fetched 65 killed
    Mar 10 comp.lang.python: 16 articles fetched 39 killed
    Mar 11 comp.lang.python: 25 articles fetched 59 killed
    Mar 13 comp.lang.python: 43 articles fetched 186 killed
    Mar 14 comp.lang.python: 20 articles fetched 76 killed
    Mar 15 comp.lang.python: 32 articles fetched 33 killed
    Mar 16 comp.lang.python: 16 articles fetched 79 killed
    Mar 17 comp.lang.python: 11 articles fetched 69 killed
    Mar 18 comp.lang.python: 4  articles fetched 70 killed
    Mar 19 comp.lang.python: 10 articles fetched 67 killed
    Mar 20 comp.lang.python: 42 articles fetched 33 killed
    Mar 21 comp.lang.python: 43 articles fetched 77 killed
    Mar 22 comp.lang.python: 14 articles fetched 35 killed
    Mar 23 comp.lang.python: 37 articles fetched 39 killed
    Mar 26 comp.lang.python: 139 articles fetched 144 killed
    Mar 27 comp.lang.python: 83 articles fetched 86 killed
    Mar 28 comp.lang.python: 39 articles fetched 45 killed
    Mar 29 comp.lang.python: 12 articles fetched 29 killed
    Mar 31 comp.lang.python: 67 articles fetched 125 killed

for totals of 2168 fetched and 4384 killed; that is, the group
is now 2/3 spam and the volume doesn't seem to be decreasing.
I don't understand why other groups gatewayed to Google Groups
aren't spammed, but from a limited sample they don't seem to be.

Will

-- 
"That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow.  That is the
 whole Torah; the rest is commentary."
  -- Hillel the Elder