Path: utzoo!attcan!telly!druid!darcy
From: darcy@druid.uucp (D'Arcy J.M. Cain)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: free advertising
Message-ID: <1990Jun9.125236.10368@druid.uucp>
Date: 9 Jun 90 12:52:36 GMT
References: <M1TDG00.90May31145137@fsrcs1.fed.frb.gov> <Doq0J1w162w@cattie.UUCP> <3967@milton.acs.washington.edu> <M1TDG00.90Jun7091112@fsrcs1.fed.frb.gov>
Reply-To: darcy@druid.UUCP (D'Arcy J.M. Cain)
Organization: D'Arcy Cain Consulting, West Hill, Ontario
Lines: 41

In article <M1TDG00.90Jun7091112@fsrcs1.fed.frb.gov> m1tdg00@fsrcs1.fed.frb.gov (Taegan D. Goddard) writes:
> [...]
>]   >Why in the world is this posted?  The USENET is not a free advertizing
>]   >medium!
>]
>]   Others who might disagree include the DOZENS of people who have been
>]   posting systems, parts and software FOR SALE in this group during the
>]   last few months.
>]
>]   What is this, Burger King?
>No, this is America.  Everyone has a right to free speech in this country.
>
And of course if it happens outside of the U.S. it doesn't count?

>Maybe you should learn about the Bill of Rights.  You don't have to read
>something if you don't want to, but please don't try to censor others.

OK, all together now:
    "USENET IS NOT FREE!!!!"

Maybe you should learn something about Usenet.  It is a collection of
individual machines working together in a voluntary anarchy.  There are
guidelines that have no force of law but are nonetheless adhered to in
the main.  Without the voluntary adherence to those guidelines, Usenet
would cease to exist.  One of those guidelines is no commercial postings
in the mainline groups.  (There is a biz hierarchy for that.)  The reason
for this guideline is quite simple.  Many commercial sites are paying the
costs of picking up and passing on this stuff.  It is manifestly unfair
to make these sites pay for advertising for others who may even be their
competitors.  This is not to say that companies cannot engage in dialogue
on the net or answer questions about their product but gratuitous pitches
about their particular brand of snake oil is unacceptable.

If you don't like the guidelines imposed on you by Usenet then please feel
free to remove your site from it.  *That* is what free means.

-- 
D'Arcy J.M. Cain (darcy@druid)     |   Government:
D'Arcy Cain Consulting             |   Organized crime with an attitude
West Hill, Ontario, Canada         |
(416) 281-6094                     |