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Path: utzoo!linus!security!genrad!grkermit!masscomp!clyde!ihnp4!houxm!mhuxl!mhuxm!pyuxi!pyuxnn!pyuxmm!cbdkc1!cbosgd!cbscc!pmd
From: pmd@cbscc.UUCP (Paul Dubuc)
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: referencing material off the net. - (nf)
Message-ID: <1198@cbscc.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 9-Dec-83 08:54:21 EST
Article-I.D.: cbscc.1198
Posted: Fri Dec  9 08:54:21 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 11-Dec-83 00:38:49 EST
References: <173@whuxle.UUCP>, <1003@mit-eddie.UUCP> <715@cbosgd.UUCP>, <513@linus.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories <SCCS>, Columbus
Lines: 34


    Sure, a standard refernce format can be chosen (or at least one
    could come close).  has anyone thought of the consequences?
    I, for one, would like to keep any flames I have off someone's
    paper.  I would feel less free in my opinions if I knew it would
    haunt me later in some publication.  Do people really WANT their
    articles referenced?  I can see from net.unix-wizards, perhaps, but
    from net.jokes and net.flame also?  Dare I bring up the BLKTRAN
    problem.  From the resulting discussion, having the person haunted
    with that article later on could hurt his/her career.
    Granted, that would be extreme, but let's take a hard look on the
    precedent just taken.  I like to sit back and wait for someone to
    air views like mine, but none came so far!

I think I can see a benefit that might out weigh any potential harm.
The possibility of being referenced would probably cut down on the amount
of hubris on the net.  Why is it that people do not want to be held
accountable for what they write or to stand behind their own opinions?
Before we submit anything to this medium there is always the opportunity
to reflect upon and refine what we have written.  I would think that more
people would avail themselves of that opportunity if they thought they
might be referenced.  Your words are your own.  If you have to eat them
someday, so be it.

If you don't want to be attached to your words you can always leave your
articles unsigned or submit them anonymously.  Plenty of people do that.
(Who is rabbit!jj anyway? :-) )  I would be nice if more people made it a
rule not to say anything on the net that they wouldn't say to anyone's face.

By the way, the best thing I have done recently to foster my own peace of mind
is to unsubsribe to net.flame.

Paul Dubuc		... cbosgd!cbscc!pmd