Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!ccu.umanitoba.ca!bright From: bright@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Bob Bright) Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st Subject: Re: Mark Choi's USENET ST mail order service..... Message-ID: <1991May10.170810.24497@ccu.umanitoba.ca> Date: 10 May 91 17:08:10 GMT References: <1991May9.214806.2258@abode.wciu.edu> Organization: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada Lines: 30 In article <1991May9.214806.2258@abode.wciu.edu> scale@abode.wciu.edu (Luis Outumuro) writes: > Any way one looks at it, it still comes down to being a commercial >venture being promoted through the public networks; and granted I am not an >expert on UseNet ethics, but hasn't these types of ventures been either >frowned upon, restricted or not allowed? We've all seen many commercial >publishers here on the networks, although they have been typically >providing technical support and service information; not pitching thier >products. > Now let's assume that such a service is "allowed". Does this mean >that one vendor is selected as the singular official UseNet ST supplier; or >establish c.s.a.st as an open marketplace where any vendor can freely >provide thier services to the network? How would this be fairly decided? >I do not see any easy answers. Using c.s.a.st or any other newsgroup as a source of free advertising would be a definite no-no. But what's the objection to operating a mail-order business entirely via email (i.e., catalogs mailed only to people who have explicitly requested them; all orders, confirmations, inquiries handled through email)? So far as I can see, Usenet commercial guidelines would have no bearing at all on such a service. (Individual sites might have objections about their users using email resources in this fashion, but that's up to them to deal with.) BBB -- Bob Bright Dept. of Philosophy University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Man R3T 2N2 (204) 474-9105