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From: peter@taronga.hackercorp.com (Peter da Silva)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Thoughts on BBSs and Business Rates
Message-ID: <16255@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 21 Jan 91 22:47:54 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 44, Message 2 of 11


In article <72205@bu.edu.bu.edu>, ehopper@ehpcb.wlk.com (Ed Hopper)
writes:

> Issue #6 - "What makes sysops so special?"

If you have to answer this question you have already lost. The
position you are arguing is that sysops are not special, and should
not have to pay a higher rate than other residential customers. Any
other response to this is weak and (as the moderator has so ably
demonstrated) can be easily dismissed simply by bringing in other
worthy causes.

On the point of BBSs that solicit donations, I believe SWBell's point
is valid. I report to the IRS and pay taxes on my shareware income,
even though it is voluntary donations and comes nowhere near covering
my costs.  You don't ask for payments to support a hobby. Unsolicited
donations, however, are another matter. Business don't run on
spontaneous gifts.


peter@taronga.uucp.ferranti.com