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From: michael@ucbiris.berkeley.edu (Tom Slone [(415)486-5954])
Newsgroups: net.general
Subject: The elimination of certain non-technical newsgroups by so called "powers-that-be"
Message-ID: <588@jade.BERKELEY.EDU>
Date: Sun, 20-Apr-86 15:57:19 EST
Article-I.D.: jade.588
Posted: Sun Apr 20 15:57:19 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 24-Apr-86 06:23:22 EST
Sender: usenet@jade.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: michael@ucbiris.BERKELEY.EDU (Tom Slone [(415)486-5954])
Followup-To: net.followup
Organization: Lawrence-Berkeley Labs, Carcinogenic Potency Program
Lines: 32

A rumor has been put out that certain so called "powers-that-be" in the
backbone-sites are deciding the fate of certain non-technical
newsgroups, either to eliminate them, or to give them a second class
status.  The discussion is taking place without the general knowledge
of the USENET community.  It is being done in an attempt to reduce the
ever increasing costs of USENET, particularly to these backbone-sites.

I support efforts at reducing USENET phone costs, however I do not
support the elimination of non-technical newsgroups for two reasons.
First, a minor reason, elimination of newsgroups will have the effect
of increasing discussion of extraneous matters within technical
newsgroups.  Second, the major reason:  USENET, as it now exists, is a
greater concept than many of us would seem to know.  Because of its
open-endedness; its free exchange of ideas; and its availability to
anyone with a modest amount of money (specifically through groups like
Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link which provides general public access to
USENET for a fee); USENET has the features of an electronic
university.  Indeed, in some sense, USENET is more like a university
than many institutions which go by that name, because unlike many of
those institutions, it can be accessible at a modest fee to the
individual and it does not tend to suppress individuals from thinking
for themselves (I refer here to the rote method which still dominates
many of today's classrooms).

In consideration of the virtues of the current state of USENET, I urge
the powers-that-be at the backbone-sites to exhaust all possible
avenues for cost cutting before further newsgroup eliminations are
implemented.
..arizona!___\					   michael@ucbiris.berkeley.edu
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..sun!______/					  michael%ucbiris@berkeley.arpa