ABPEH FAQ PAGE

ABPEH FAQ PAGE

Last updated 12 August 2001

FAQ FAQ FAQ Horny Rob Group FAQ FAQ FAQ

FAQ for the alt.binaries.pictures.erotica.hornyrob groups

This FAQ describes the abpeh group's rules. Please read it before
requesting or posting in the abpeh groups.

Welcome new readers of the Hornyrob news group.
Along with the rest of the regulars we hope you have read
the FAQ for this group, and post accordingly.

Visit us on the web as well at http://www.abpeh.org.

Any questions regarding the FAQ can be addressed
in the group or email at the address on the bottom of this FAQ.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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MAINTENENCE AND MODIFICATION OF THIS FAQ
----------------------------------------------
WHAT IS THE MISSION OF THE HORNY ROB NEWSGROUP?
WHO IS HORNY ROB?
WHO ARE THE OTHER CONTRIBUTORS OF ORIGINAL WORK IN THIS GROUP?
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WHAT ARE THE RULES OF BEHAVIOR IN THIS GROUP?
----------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE LEVELS OF PARTICIPATION IN GROUP ACTIVITY?
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HOW DOES ONE MAKE A REQUEST?
WHAT REQUESTING ACTIONS ARE FROWNED UPON?
----------------------------------------------
HOW DOES ONE BECOME AN ACTIVE POSTER IN THE GROUP?
ARE THERE ANY RULES ABOUT POSTING?
WHAT POSTING ACTIONS ARE FROWNED UPON?
HOW CAN I HELP REDUCE MULTIPLE REPLY POSTING?
WHAT'S THAT ABOUT FRIDAY POSTING?
----------------------------------------------
WHAT IS VERIFICATION?
WHY DO WE NEED VERIFICATION?
WHAT DO PEOPLE DO TO PICTURE FILES?
WHAT ELSE DO PEOPLE DO?
HOW IMPORTANT IS VERIFICATION?
WHAT'S WITH "THE SHERIFF"
ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES TO SHERIFF?
WHAT ABOUT FILES I CAN'T FIND CRC LISTS FOR?
----------------------------------------------
OTHER THAN THIS FAQ, WHAT USEFUL DOCUMENTS EXIST?
----------------------------------------------

**********************

MAINTENENCE AND MODIFICATION OF THIS FAQ

Changes or additions to this FAQ might occur from time to time by
voting within the group. Ballots that are posted for voting will be
in the form of multiple choice; votes will be cast by placing an X or
other mark in the box that corresponds with the voter's choice.

Comments and elaboration may be made for any item being voted on but
past history suggests that folks with other viewpoints or corrections
to provide might respond.

Voting will be open for two weeks to allow reasonable time for votes
to be cast.

------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS THE MISSION OF THE HORNY ROB NEWSGROUP?

The group serves two purposes.

First, it is a location where Horny Rob, and a few other traditional
posters who closely follow his style and intent, can first publish
their new work.

Second, it is a meeting place for collectors of his and those few
others work, where on a friendly, helpful basis they can exchange
items with each other in order to build their individual collections.
The trading concept of something for something does not apply here. If
someone has a need, and someone else can help, that's all there is to
it.

WHO IS HORNY ROB?

HR is a Dutchman with a longtime interest in visual erotica. He does
some original work, but a great part of his output consists of scans
taken from various sources. He also samples many videos, as for
instance Dirty Debutantes for the debut series. Other sources are
vintage and classic erotica, from which the hr60s collection, Classic
Nudes and the Erotica Universalis derive.

At this date HR and his "family" have posted more than 37,000+ pictures
to the Internet, a figure which keeps increasing with new releases
usually on a weekly basis.

WHO ARE THE OTHER CONTRIBUTORS OF ORIGINAL WORK IN THIS GROUP?

A very few others have been deemed by HR to be acceptable as original
contributors to the newsgroup, on the basis of similarity of viewpoint
and techniques.

These are:

Son of Horny Rob (SOHR)
A Son of Horny Rob (SHR)
Daughter of Horny Rob (DOHR)
2 Bees Please
Niro

There is no present expectation of any addition to that list.

-------------------------------------------------------------

WHAT ARE THE RULES OF BEHAVIOR IN THIS GROUP?

Observe "Netiquette" pretty much says it all.

The Golden Rule applies. It doesn't hurt, when writing messages, to
visualize the other person as sitting a few feet away from you,
instead of hundreds or thousands of miles. Don't say anything you
wouldn't care to defend at close quarters.

Free speech is among the freedoms that this group supports. The abpeh
groups will not support or tolerate suggestions of prosecution or any
other form of threats or reprisal in response to voting.

---------------------------------------------------------

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE LEVELS OF PARTICIPATION IN GROUP ACTIVITY?

There are basically three levels. They are lurker, requester and
poster.

LURKERS, the actual number of whom can never be known, simply visit
the group and read the Message List. If they become interested in some
discussion among group members they can follow its progress, although
it might be pointed out that there isn't much discussion in this group
compared to many others. Our primary interest is pictures, rather than
words.

After reading the Message List each lurker can select posted pictures
which would assist in building his/her own collection, and download
them.

For beginners it might be useful to point out that a complete "HR and
Family" collection would probably now require close to 4 1/2 Gigabytes of
hard disk space to store. Unless blessed with unlimited resources the
new collector might need initially to decide on a restricted
collecting goal.

Most beginners concentrate on the basic HR-### series. These at the
moment run from HR-001 through HR-205, for a total of around 4500
pictures, taking close to 270 Mb of disk space.

REQUESTERS are born when lurkers have randomly accumulated enough
pictures in a given set (or series - the terms are interchangeable) to
become impatient about getting the rest. The reluctance to break the
message-posting ice finally is overcome by the urgent need to get
results.

A minor aspect of becoming a requester is that of "revealing oneself"
to the world. Whether your concern is about getting unwanted junk
e-mail, or of that dreaded knock on the door at 4 AM, simply look at
the structure of messages while still lurking and note how different
people use their posting software to create fictitious identities and
addresses.

It is very much in the group's interest for lurkers to become
requesters, since that action reinforces the group philosophy of
"Request and Reply". As will be seen further on, the group tries to
discourage the posting of material which has not actually been
requested, in the interest of conserving space on marginal news
servers.

There are a number of things a requester can do to help the group run
smoothly, which will be touched upon in a later section of this FAQ.

POSTERS have gone a step further toward learning about their software
and its ability to have an "attachment" made to a basic message. Most
everyone's first attempt involves a single picture, which hopefully
will appear properly on the Message List after one or a few tries.

There is a heady feeling of achievement about that, and sometimes an
almost addictive urge to post more, More, MORE. That is why there is a
fair section later on devoted to the do's and don'ts of posting.

---------------------------------------------------------

HOW DOES ONE MAKE A REQUEST?

Never send a request message by making it a reply to a posting
message, thus starting with "Re:" and including the description of the
already posted file on the subject line. That is totally confusing.

Simply post a new message into the group asking for what you need. Be
as clear as you can, describing pictures correctly. Say hr-017 series
not hr 17, sohr0512.jpg not sohr 512.

Always indicate that the message is a request. The preferred way to do
that is to begin the message subject line with "REQ" or "REQUEST"
(Omit the quotes)

Saying "ATTN" is more appropriate in announcing some other sort of
statement to an individual or to the group, while saying "RE"
specifically implies a reply to some other message.

If you only need some items in a set, list those items -- don't ask
for the entire set. To avoid confusion, if you only need parts of a
set, don't just mention the set number in your message header, as
often a poster will misunderstand and send you the entire set. If only
a few items, make them part of the subject. If many, give some
indication to look inside the message. Include the extension name for
the requested files, i.e. .jpg or .mpg. Most posters use software that
require those extensions.

Limit your request to 50 jpg files and/or 5 movie files per day. If
it is a large movie, the poster will probably post it over a few days.
Keep the jpg and movie requests separate. A poster might have all of
your jpg request but not your movie request and hesitate to fill your
request. Also, remember, the posters fill your requests as a hobby.
They are limited to how many files they may post also, so please give
them common courtesy.

When requesting say please if that is normal to your nature. Say ASAP
and you risk being ignored by posters for all time.

While you can say TIA (thanks in advance) it is far preferable to post
a follow-up "Thank you" message, letting the poster know that his
efforts were indeed successful.

WHAT REQUESTING ACTIONS ARE FROWNED UPON?

Not many, really, particularly since newbies are the potential
lifeblood of any group, and are bound to screw things up now and then
in the learning process.

One unnecessary annoyance to everyone, though, is the hybrid
poster/requester who says "Here's what I have, fill the gaps."

This person is asking a potential poster to do his homework for him,
rather than making up his own wishlist. In addition there is no way of
knowing whether the gaps represent actual needs, or simply failure of
the Internet to get those items through.

------------------------------------------------------------

HOW DOES ONE BECOME AN ACTIVE POSTER IN THE GROUP?

Anyone who finds he has something that someone else needs, and who has
taken the trouble of learning how his posting software works, is
warmly invited to join in the fun.

ARE THERE ANY RULES ABOUT POSTING?

The most important rule is to be sensible about quantity of material
reposted. A limit of 200 picture binaries per day has been set, as well
as a limit of 20 movie fills. News servers vary greatly in their
capacities for retaining posted material, before it must be discarded
to make room for newer items. People in areas with relatively poor
service will encounter more and more missing item problems as the
volume of posting goes up. If you consistently miss parts of your
requests, you might consider purchasing a better news provider.

In line with this, a 50 picture binaries per day and 5 MPG file limit
per day has been placed on all requests. The rule of thumb is if you
see a file that has been posted that you need, get it.

It will show courtesy to the group, on the part of each poster, to
post material which merits the marking vfd (verified).

In accordance with general Usenet practice, the correct file name
should be displayed in the subject line of each posted item.

In order to make the downloader's reading job as easy as possible, it
is preferable not to include too much "garbage" in the subject line.
One item well omitted is a requote of the requester's subject line.
"Short and sweet" particularly benefits downloaders working with small
monitors.

alt.binaries.pictures.erotica.hornyrob.d is the discussion group for
abpeh. Discussion is restricted to the discussion group. Any other
text posts may also be posted in the abpeh discussion group.

Notices of abpeh website updates, CRCs, and other group information
are posted in the main group (abpeh). Requests and thank-you posts as
well as text posts that are not expected to result in discussion may
also be posted in the main group. However, ongoing threads of text
posts should be moved to abpehd.

WHAT POSTING ACTIONS ARE FROWNED UPON?

(1) Simply emptying one's hard drive into the group, with some subject
heading like "all my HR".

(2) Posting basic HR-###, SOHR or SHR sets that no one has requested.
There is no assurance that there is anyone interested out there, at
any given time. Bandwidth will be better utilized when those who have
been lurkers overcome their shyness and learn to take that small extra
step of posting request messages for items that they will be there to
receive.

Complete sets, other than those mentioned above, may be posted even
though not requested. It is only asked that the poster exercise
reasonable discretion and restraint. Very large JPEG sets should be
broken up into 50 file blocks, to be posted on successive days.

(3) Posting graphic material generated by anyone other than the
approved posters listed earlier. There are many other specialized
groups appropriate to various interests, where non-HR items can easily
find comfortable homes. This group is for Horny Rob and "HR Approved"
work only.

SPAM for the purposes of a.b.p.e.h and associated groups is defined
as "any non-requested posting of materials other than those original
materials prepared by Horny Rob and/or his "family" as designated
above." All materials will be verifiable using current verification
listings as provided. Ads, promotions and any other non-verifiable
material will not be tolerated and reported as SPAM to the violators
provider. Newsgroup communication regarding HR and family material
is not considered SPAM for the purpose of this paragraph.

HOW CAN I HELP REDUCE MULTIPLE REPLY POSTING?

In order to allow other posters to decide whether a given request has
already been answered, always include a statement such as "for
JohnDoe" in each subject line of your reply. "As requested" just
doesn't hack it.

If the individual making the request used an internal message
signature different from his "Author" identity, by preference use the
author name in your "for -------" statement. It is the only one other
posters can see in a simple message list presentation.

WHAT'S THAT ABOUT FRIDAY POSTING?

There is a school of thought in the group that not posting on Friday
until HR has done his weekly upload will improve the chances of his
stuff getting through to everybody. No real evidence one way or the
other, but a lot of us go along with it just to be good buddies. Lets
the modem cool down a bit, too :-)

---------------------------------------------------------

WHAT IS VERIFICATION?

Verification requires that an electronic document be evaluated in
comparison to some standard, in order to find whether the document has
been altered from its original form.

A document which passes the test is then considered verified (vfd).
In our group the chosen method of verification employs the JPEG
Sheriff program, which checks file name, file size in bytes, picture
size in pixels and precise file content.

It should be noted that a simple agreement on file size in bytes is
NOT adequately accurate to permit declaring a file verified.

WHY DO WE NEED VERIFICATION?

When an original scanner, for example HR, presents his work to the
cyberworld each picture is in the form of an electronic document.
These documents (files) are quite highly organized internally, in
accordance with one of many available standard formats. The format
employed for still pictures in this group is JPEG.

Any change to the internal structure of a JPEG file can result in the
viewed picture being defective in some fashion -- streaks, missing
picture areas, color degradation, even complete failure to function.

Changes can come about accidentally through Internet transmission
errors, inadvertently because of bugs in uploading and downloading
software, and all too often as a result of the actions of PEOPLE like
you and me.

WHAT DO PEOPLE DO TO PICTURE FILES?

One of the most common actions by people is to use a graphics program
to "compress" a file, thus permitting storage of more files in a given
hard disk space.

This isn't to be confused with commercial compression programs
intended for "space saving", because they are designed to be
"lossless" -- that is, not to permanently alter the files they handle.

However, JPEG files are nearly incompressible by those programs, and
there is a temptation to use the inherent JPEG capability of being
compressed at different ratios to achieve file size reduction. By
"opening" a picture in a suitable program and then "saving" it at a
higher compression ratio, the file size can often be cut by 1/2, 2/3
or even more.

The penalty paid will be in degradation of picture quality, especially
important to us because it is most apparent in the rendition of skin
color tones and texture :-(

A WARNING to all in connection with this. Even though you may have no
intention of doing so, if instead of "closing" a picture after viewing
you "save" it, you will most likely have changed the file
irreversibly.

The nature of JPEG's is that this will always degrade picture quality
to some degree, even if you deliberately save to a larger file size.
There is no way of improving a JPEG picture through re-saving it.

WHAT ELSE DO PEOPLE DO?

If someone is working with a small monitor, he can use a graphics
program to fit a picture to his screen by reducing its pixel size, as
from 800x600 to 640x480. This involves a total recomputation of the
picture file and will usually raise havoc with its appearance.

Or, someone may decide to remove part of a picture by "cropping".

Or, someone may think he can improve a picture by using a suitable
program to change contrast, brightness or color balance.

Or, at minimum, someone may rename a picture to fit his own filing
scheme.

Obviously, every one of us has the right to do whatever we want with
our own copies of pictures.

But, we also have a responsibility to our fellow groupies not to post
back into the group any files which we have knowingly modified.

HOW IMPORTANT IS VERIFICATION?

Some group members are very serious and fussy collectors. Others are
far more casual and don't demand total authenticity in their pictures.

For all members to be satisfied a successful ongoing verification
effort is needed, to keep the quality of posted images high -- insofar
as possible, identical to the original HR postings into the group.

For those less experienced ones among us, it would be asking too much
to require that no posting be made of a picture that they have not
personally verified.

But, it is also reasonable to expect that such members will be posting
just for fun, and not in large volume.

For bulk posters, those who answer lengthy request lists, there is a
moral obligation to the group to put up only good material. The means
are available and there is no excuse for shoddy work.

Happily there seems to be pretty good agreement on that, and there
have been a number of independent comments recently as to the notable
improvement of quality in the group.

WHAT'S WITH "THE SHERIFF"

JPEG Sheriff is a program which, when presented with a group of JPEG
files, will generate a "CRC list". As noted earlier that list
contains, for each file: file name, file size in bytes, picture size
in pixels and a mathematically computed CRC number which is unique for
that file.

By using files of known correctness when generating the lists, those
lists can be widely distributed as standards and anyone with a copy of
Sheriff can use them to check another collection. Any file in that
collection which does not conform in all respects to the standard will
be flagged.

ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES TO SHERIFF?

Since the official standards of the group originally were Sheriff CRC
lists, any alternative program must still derive its data from JPEG
Sheriff prepared lists. By virtue of vote, it was decided that CSV's
would be authorized as long as the lists were converted from JPEG
Sheriff prepared CRC's and verified in the same way that the Official
CRC lists are. Also, movie verification is accomplished using CSV
programs.

WHAT ABOUT FILES I CAN'T FIND CRC LISTS FOR?

An official Horny Rob CDROM (from a few years ago) was
employed as the reference in creating CRC lists covering about 8000
files.

This leaves a "gray area" of material (nearly 700 files) posted after
the CD was burned, but long enough ago to have been circulated a lot
and degraded by handling and mis-handling. This has left enough
versions of each file around to make any correct choice among them
impossible.

It appears that the only way these sets can ever be reliably organized
will be to get reference copies from HR himself. Some efforts have
been made in that direction, but so far with no success.

Meanwhile, here is a listing of "gray area" sets, hopefully fairly
accurate and complete, although figures indicating the number of files
in each set could be off a little.

A HR Animal Sex Presentation (HR's own BBS downloads) -- 70+ (wide
range of
filenames)
anna##hr -- 62
b-tina -- 14
hr-ac -- 56
hr-ang -- 19
hr-brz -- 12
hr-cac (Crazy Sex Collection) -- 25
hr-dog -- 41
hr-frk -- 5
hr-hp (Home page) -- 61 (Same as hr-001, hr-005, hr-012 and hr-014)
hr-sles (Sex Lessons) -- 4
hr17t -- 292

-------------------------------------------------------------

OTHER THAN THIS FAQ, WHAT USEFUL DOCUMENTS EXIST?

(1) Over several months mefib, our "CRC Lady" created CRC lists
covering nearly all HR and "family" material for which reliable
references could be found. She posted these as they became available,
and also did repeated postings of "crcpkg.zip", containing all lists
current as of each posting. mefib eventually retired from this arduous
task. Work is continuing as new series are released. This is done by a
group of regulars working together. Look for regular new postings of
revised individual lists and of crcpkg.zip. CRCs are also available
at the abpeh website.

(2) There are 214 indices which Shadow constructed during the Spring
of 1997, for HR series which have no indices of their own. These index
files are on-topic in abpeh. There is a tentative CRC for these
indices which let you see whether there are any you would care to
request in the group.

*** END OF FAQ ***

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