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From: shindman@utcs.uucp (Paul Shindman)
Newsgroups: ont.uucp
Subject: Re: news feed & NETNORTH/BITNET
Message-ID: <1041@utcs.uucp>
Date: Mon, 6-Jan-86 09:54:04 EST
Article-I.D.: utcs.1041
Posted: Mon Jan  6 09:54:04 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 6-Jan-86 10:14:13 EST
References: <1886@utcsri.UUCP>
Reply-To: shindman@utcs.UUCP (Paul Shindman)
Distribution: ont
Organization: University of Toronto - General Purpose UNIX
Lines: 32
Summary: 



Unfortunately the guidelines governing the use of NETNORTH/BITNET
preclude this type of feed.  I would be *very* upset if this started
for the following reasons:

-the rules say so. To quote for the usage guidelines "All usage of
 BITNET must be consistent with its goal to facilitate the exchange
 of non-commercial information in support of a member institution's
 mission of education and research".  As far as I know, NETNORTH has
 adopted the BITNET guidelines.

-even if you could convince me that net.*.*.* was "consistent with" etc,
 NETNORTH/BITNET is a 'store and forward' type network with only one
 unique path to each node.  USENET garbage would quickly grind the
 network, as well as everyone's spool, to a halt.  For example, if
 York crashed, the news for Humber College, McMaster, and Laurentian
 (as well as several York nodes) would pile up at Guelph.  So multiply
 net.sources.mac and net.sources by the number of receiving sites #
 downstream from York and the spool at Guelph quickly fills.

-NETNORTH/BITNET already has several moderated discussion groups.
 At present these are restricted to technical issues dealing with
 the network.  There is nothing preventing individuals from having
 their own private mailings on topics of their choice.

So that's my opinion, of course.
-- 
-----------------
Paul Shindman, U of T Computing Services, Toronto (416) 978-6878
USENET: {ihnp4|decvax}!utcs!shindman
BITNET: paulie at utoronto     IP SHARP MAIL: uoft