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From: gda@unc.UUCP (Greg Abram)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Network Stupidity
Message-ID: <376@unc.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 5-Jun-85 11:29:54 EDT
Article-I.D.: unc.376
Posted: Wed Jun  5 11:29:54 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 8-Jun-85 01:46:22 EDT
Organization: CS Dept., U. of N. Carolina at Chapel Hill
Lines: 49

Being a lifetime grad student at UNC-Chapel Hill (one end of the
first Usenet link, 5 or 6 years ago) I feel I qualify as one of the
most senior net-watchers.  Although for years I have only read the
professional newsgroups regularly, I look around in bored moments 
to see what is going on elsewhere, and always find myself appalled at
the incredibly stupid things going on.  

When this net began, it served as a badly needed communications channel
with Duke U. (the original "other end"), with whom we maintain close
contact (except in basketball season).  As it grew, its use as a
general communications tool became clear: how else can someone
discuss an esoteric topic when the few others interested in the subject
are spread out all over the world?  But is this the way people
generally use the net?  No.

I remember the founders joking about how stupid it would be to advertise
a car on the net, since the average ad reader would be hundreds of 
miles away.  How often does this happen now?  I imagine Bellovin, Ellis
and Daniel (who have I left out?) still get a chuckle each time such
an ad is seen.  More stupid than a car, which you could conceivably
pick up or deliver, how about a house?

Worse yet are the goings-on here in net.flame.  We have people here
discussing why women use more toilet paper than men!  Who cares?!
Would you have brought this issue up with your office-mate?  If so, why
not and leave the net alone!  If not, does discussing this in front of
thousands make it OK?  This discussion has disintegrated even further
with people accusing each other of penis envy!  Why, why must this shit
go onto the net?

The net is not free, it is subsidized by the managers of the constituent
computers.  Telephone time, computer cycles and disk space add up.  Every
time a stupid article is submitted a few pennies leave a LOT of pockets.
It is the number of pennies remaining in these pockets that determines
whether systems will remain on the net.  System owners have no obligation
to stay on the net, they do it because they see a benefit in the forum.
Is there a benefit in discussing why men splash when they urinate?
But, hey, I NEED old Coke if I'm going to get any work done; certainly
my system should support a hundred or so articles discussing it.

The problem with an anarchic network like this is a problem with
anarchy in general:  it depends on a modicum of judgement and common
sense from the people involved.  And it is clear that a lot of people
are devoid of both.  I'd end with a plea for people to learn some, but
I fear its a lost cause.  Instead, I'll end with a joke.

Whats Irish and sits out in the rain?

					Greg Abram, gda@unc