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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!mcnc!rti-sel!SCINEWS!todd
From: todd@SCINEWS.UUCP (Todd Jones)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Network Stupidity
Message-ID: <118@SCINEWS.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 6-Jun-85 15:12:09 EDT
Article-I.D.: SCINEWS.118
Posted: Thu Jun  6 15:12:09 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 10-Jun-85 06:48:50 EDT
References: <376@unc.UUCP>
Organization: SCI Systems, Research Triangle Park, NC
Lines: 59

> 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

Just thought I'd add a point here:

THE NEW AND IMPROVED 1986 BLUE DEVILS WILL KICK DEAN SMITH'S BOYS
RIGHT OUTTA THEIR NEW STADIUM!

Excuse the interruption. Continue...

> 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

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