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From: slerner@sesame.UUCP (Simcha-Yitzchak Lerner)
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: Re: is there really a need for BBS's?
Message-ID: <368@sesame.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 18-Oct-85 02:35:17 EDT
Article-I.D.: sesame.368
Posted: Fri Oct 18 02:35:17 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 21-Oct-85 00:47:14 EDT
References: <746@bgsuvax.UUCP> <4400121@uiucdcsb>, <876@voder.UUCP> <4445@alice.UUCP>
Organization: Lotus Development Corp
Lines: 38

> On a TNET system I used to run, in order to keep people from just
> logging on, reading some messages, and "slurping from the trough,"...
> 
> We installed a doodad that forced two posts (Contributions to the System)
> before anything like downloading *anything* was allowed. You'd think
> we'd end up with two-line posts and stuff, right?

I find this a bit extream.  The newer versions of RBBS can be set up to
incentivise (sp?) users to upload without getting violent about it.  You
can set time limits per sesion and per 24hrs for logging on, and then 
give them time credit as a multiple of time spent uploading.  The bigger 
the upload, the longer the credit.

The advantage here is that people who don't have any public software are not
locked out entirely.  They are given a reasonable amount of time per day
for downloading or messaging as they want.

It's no skin off my nose if someone has nothing to contibute at the moment,
as long as he doesn't hog the system too much per day.

Remember, not all modem users are programers that they can create public
software, and many new users have no public software.  Let's not turn
BBS's into a private closed club.  (And lets get down off our soapboxes,
relax, and try to have fun.  Those people who get upset with what
people do or don't do on their systems (as long as it isn't destructive)
seem to be on a bit of a power trip.  Maybe we can get them jobs as sysops
on a mainframe or two :-) !) 

-- 
Opinions expressed are public domain, and do not belong to Lotus
Development Corp.
----------------------------------------------------------------

Simcha-Yitzchak Lerner

              {genrad|ihnp4|ima}!wjh12!talcott!sesame!slerner
                      {cbosgd|harvard}!talcott!sesame!slerner
                       talcott!sesame!slerner@harvard.ARPA