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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!micomvax!othervax!ray
From: ray@othervax.UUCP (Raymond D. Dunn)
Newsgroups: net.news
Subject: Re: cleaning up the net -- software solutions proposed
Message-ID: <430@othervax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 24-Jul-85 16:15:03 EDT
Article-I.D.: othervax.430
Posted: Wed Jul 24 16:15:03 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 25-Jul-85 21:42:29 EDT
References: <2961@nsc.UUCP> <331@phri.UUCP> <3013@nsc.UUCP>
Reply-To: ray@othervax.UUCP (Raymond D. Dunn)
Distribution: net
Organization: Philips Information Systems - St. Laurent  P.Q., Canada
Lines: 33
Summary: The only way is to charge


An effective way to regulate any human action is to associate some sort of
cost with that action.  Currently a reverse affect takes place - the "cost"
of a posting is seen by the poster to be bourne by everyone on the net, and
a "getting something for nothing" syndrome can enhance the satisfaction a
flamer feels when letting loose.  Even the most reponsible user has very
little way of measuring the sociability of a posting, and if what I read
is typical, the major criteria used is ego.

Even though USENET is an informal medium, is it not possible to impose a
weekly (monthly) quota on each site (user).  "All" it would take is for the
major distribution sites to accumulate traffic statistics, and block
articles which cause the quota criteria to be exceeded.  It should be
noted that this could easily be imposed by any site unilaterally if (when)
universal agreement cannot be reached.

Realistically of course, what is going to happen, is that sooner or later
the corporate entities which actually bear the costs of USENET and don't
realise it, are going to call a halt to the whole thing.  The major part
of these costs is the thousands of employee hours wasted in readnews - sure
I know, at least 5% of the traffic is worthwhile from a professional or
business point of view, but if you read e.g. net.jokes at your desk every
morning, this is exactly on the same level as goofing off.  Even a large
percentage of the supposed useful categories consist of cocktail-party
level conversation of dubious value.

Would you act in the same way if you knew that your company president
monitored the hours you spend in readnews, and read every article you posted?

Self regulation is too difficult, the net should impose regulation NOW.


Ray Dunn.   ..philabs!micomvax!othervax!ray