Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!uunet!ogicse!milton!sumax!halcyon!ralphs From: halcyon!ralphs@seattleu.edu (Ralph Sims) Newsgroups: comp.admin.policy Subject: Re: 804 dialout Keywords: DIALOUT Message-ID: Date: 7 Jun 91 16:53:31 GMT Article-I.D.: halcyon.wRk739w164w References: <_7.-MMG@engin.umich.edu> Organization: The 23:00 News and Mail Service Lines: 34 fullnews@engin.umich.edu (Henry Park) writes: > In article <1991Jun7.050512.29949@eagle.lerc.nasa.gov>: > >are you living in a cave?? no company or university is going to give you > >(an outsider) something for nothing.. they're not in business to do that... > >if they do, they certainly wouldn't be in business long... > Fabian is referring to the idea of "dialouts" in situations where no password > is required. He seems to feel that there is something unethical about using > freely accessible resources. In some of the annoyances he is talking about I > think he is right. I would think that many admins of dialout ports would grant access willingly, if asked. It's the disregard of local needs that seems to create the problem; if a site's targeted usergroup has first crack at a resource, the casual 'outsider' should find out whether his intrusions are welcome. It may not be feasible to post a 'welcome' on the port stating "This dialout is provided for the ___________ of _____________. Access to others available after _________ hrs. on a first-come, first-served basis", or something to that effect, but it should be inferred. If I want to camp on someone's property, I would ask permission first. Many universities offer 'outside' accounts with resources that mimic those of its students, usually with a small monthly 'service fee' and/or a bill for cpu time. The packet-switching networks (TYMNET comes to mind) offer dialouts, for a fee. Access is available and without hassles for anyone wishing to make an effort to find one; FREE access should neither be demanded or expected. TANSTAAFL -- "These are the days of lasers in the jungle; this is a long distance call." Paul Simon - The Boy in the Bubble, Graceland