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From: lauren@vortex.UUCP (Lauren Weinstein)
Newsgroups: net.news.group
Subject: Causes on the net...
Message-ID: <770@vortex.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 30-Aug-85 15:33:35 EDT
Article-I.D.: vortex.770
Posted: Fri Aug 30 15:33:35 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 31-Aug-85 21:53:14 EDT
Organization: Vortex Technology, Los Angeles
Lines: 32

Some interesting questions arise...

Someone recently proposed a "net.peace" group.  While the cause would
appear quite laudable, it presents a general problem as well.

Does USENET exist to provide "free or cheap" conduits for any and
all groups that might desire to "piggyback" their operations onto the
net?  For example, in the case of the net.peace proposal, an implied
benefit of using USENET was that it would reduce costs for the 
"organizing" activities of peace activists.  Of course, this could
only occur since other people and organizations would be footing
the various bills, one way or another.  Is it proper to try use
the network in this manner?  

Another point.  Let's say for the sake of the argument that we
say net.peace is OK (remember, the person proposing it suggested
it would be used for organizing activities).  What do we say
when OTHER groups come along?  Hawkish groups?  Religious groups?
Racial hate groups?  Not to mention commercial trade industry groups of 
one sort or another.  What if THEY also want to "cut their costs"
by using USENET as a virtually "free" information conduit (from
their standpoint, anyway?)  Be they commercial or not, is this
really what USENET should be used for?

We're going to see more and more cases where the use of the network
will become confused between pure "information exchange" and 
"the furtherance of specific causes."  My own view is that USENET
should concentrate on the former and discourage the latter in newsgroups.

I invite comment.

--Lauren--