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From: djacobs@pawl.rpi.edu (Daniel H. Jacobs)
Newsgroups: comp.society.futures
Subject: Re: Databases and comm channels:  future trends? (Really about Prodigy)
Message-ID: <{0*^=C#@rpi.edu>
Date: 16 Nov 90 01:57:33 GMT
References: <90Nov12.154523pst.17170@alpha.xerox.com> <12858@uswat.UUCP> <2737@polari.UUCP>
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People have been comparing the Prodigy service to newspapers, telephones,
and the Postal Service.  The comparison to the Postal Service was based on
the fact that you can send a large quantity of messages through it, while
you can only call one person at a time.  This isn't necessarily true, since
there are computers that call people over the phone to take surveys or
express opinions, so this could be done in mass quantities too.  Furthermore,
since the phone lines are used in computer communications, I think the 
analogy to the phone service is best, although it can be compared to
electronic voice mailboxes, an advanced type of answering machine system.  
These mailboxes will be affected by whatever decisions are made about
Prodigy.

Once again, does Prodigy have the right to boot users from the system for
maligning the service and sending out a multitude of messages to users (aka
harrassing)?  Anyone who says "yes" to this should also agree that MCI,
SPRINT, and their competitors also have the right to remove customers.  I
not sure, but I believe that phone harassment is a misdemeanor, so BBS
harrassment should be dealt with in the same manner.  In any case, I can't
remember a MCI customer being cut off from the service for saying bad 
things about MCI or making harassing phone calls.  Furthermore, does
Prodigy have the right to scan private e-mail?  Again, there is Federal
protection for tapping into a phone line or tampering with the mail,
so there should be the same protection afforded to e-mail, which is the 
electronic form of communication.
 
Finally, Prodigy is a business, so it should have the right to choose its
customers.  However, it must evaluate the consequences of kicking users
off of the system.  It not only loses those users, but any other users who
are offended by this action and potential future users.  Either Prodigy
feels that the price increase will cover these losses, more users would
have left the system if they had continued to be harassed, or there are
bad decisions being made in management.  Users are free to join another
service.
 
One more point to consider... Does Prodigy have the right to warn other
services about the user's behavior, like a credit card company can put
out a bad credit rating alert?  After all, no service wants to have
troublemaking users.  What do others think?

Dan Jacobs.