Xref: utzoo news.software.b:7598 news.admin:13951
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!ucsd!celit!billd
From: billd@fps.com (Bill Davidson)
Newsgroups: news.software.b,news.admin
Subject: Re: "fascist" option (or posting security)
Message-ID: <17196@celit.fps.com>
Date: 27 Apr 91 21:28:54 GMT
References: <1991Apr26.070028.705000@zeus.calpoly.edu>
Followup-To: news.software.b
Organization: FPS Computing Inc., San Diego CA
Lines: 25

In article <1991Apr26.070028.705000@zeus.calpoly.edu> chris@hypnos.calpoly.edu (The Squire, Phish) writes:
>I seem to recall a variable in news called FASCIST which enabled the
>"authorized" file. After installing the latest C news, I can't find 
>it.

That's because it's a Bnews feature.

>I've disabled Pnews in the meantime, but the users are clammoring
>to at least be able to post locally. But, with an expected userbase
>nearing 8000 (2500 now), I can't have posting completely on. We're going
>to require a form first. In any case, the reason for my rambling is
>to ask am I missing something, or is FASCIST/authorized just not used
>anymore?

I use it here to keep people from posting from "anonymous" accounts
like "guest" etc.  I used to just tell people not to do it but that
didn't work.  While it's pretty easy for someone who really wants to
get around it to do so, most of my users are not that motivated to
learn about how news works.  They usually have done it from the wrong
account by mistake anyway.  For me "FASCIST" is more of a convenience
feature than a real security measure.

--Bill Davidson
-- 
The great thing about Alzheimer's that is you meet new people every day.