Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!ut-sally!ut-ngp!clyde
From: clyde@ut-ngp.UUCP (Head UNIX Hacquer)
Newsgroups: news.stargate
Subject: Re: "try-out trials" (and some general opinions)
Message-ID: <5049@ut-ngp.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 21-Apr-87 09:26:06 EST
Article-I.D.: ut-ngp.5049
Posted: Tue Apr 21 09:26:06 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 22-Apr-87 02:49:34 EST
References: <965@vortex.UUCP> <6582@bu-cs.BU.EDU> <2403@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu> <181@brandx.klinzhai.RUTGERS.EDU>
Organization: Moose & Squirrel Software
Lines: 59
Summary: Theres No Such Thing As A Free Lunch, buckaroos

In article <181@brandx.klinzhai.RUTGERS.EDU>, webber@klinzhai.RUTGERS.EDU (Webber) writes:
> In article <7041@orchid.UUCP>, imprint@orchid.UUCP writes:
> > It has been suggested that a moderator choosing the "best"
> > items, and listing the names of others who said the same
> > thing would cause a dealy while the moderator waited for the
> > definitive piece. 
> > 
> > Not so. A Usenent Moderator and an ordinary Editor in print
> > communication are essentially the same thing. The newspaper
> > editor still gets a paper out every day, even though he has
> > given you only 40% of what he had avaialable.
> >...
> 
> In many ways, usenet was a unique utopian experiment.  Twenty years
> from now, you will only find it in the history books (check next to
> the Oneida colony).  You will tell your children about a free network
> where people all over the country/world discussed whatever they wanted to.
> Once they get over the shock of the concept, they will ask you why it
> was destroyed.  I have no idea what you will reply.
> 
> ---------------- BOB (webber@aramis.rutgers.edu ; BACKBONE!topaz!webber)

Gee, it seems to me that Usenet still 'is'.  Here again we have the
misperception that Usenet is free.  To your particular site, it may be:
for us it essentially is (the RM03 we use was bought with out PDP 11/70
over 8 years ago), but it isn't for everyone.

How do you think Usenet stuff gets from Texas to Rutgers? Somebody makes
either a long-distance phone call (and pays for it directly) or uses a wire
that SOMEBODY ELSE is paying for (Arpanet, leased lines, etc).

I recall that once upon a time that decvax had a phone bill of $100,000.00
per year (I think that was right).   It's nice that DEC has that money.
But sooner or later some beancounter at some backbone is going to wonder
why so much tribute is being paid to AT&T - and boom goes Usenet,
either in toto or the 'talk.*' and 'rec.*' groups.

If Usenet 'collapses', it will be from its own sheer weight.  I am fully
in favor of the most personal freedom possible, but I also know that one
cannot rely upon manna from heaven to pay the bills.

Stargate is a good place to start searching for an alternative distribution
method.  Maybe we will find out just how important Usenet is to people when
they start to consider its cost.

Besides, Usenet isn't the only game in town BOB, if  you want 'complete'
freedom, then go out an buy yourself a PC/AT or some such box, a LOT
of hard disk and a modem or two, and run the Usenet software in whatever
fashion you wish.  That is how Usenet has grown.

If you don't like Stargate, then don't participate.  I say lets give it a
chance - and I thank Lauren and the others who have spent much time and
effort to take a pie-in-the-sky idea and turn it into hard reality.

-- 
Shouter-To-Dead-Parrots @ Univ. of Texas Computation Center; Austin, Texas  
	clyde@ngp.utexas.edu; ...!ut-sally!ut-ngp!clyde
"It's a sort of a threat, you see.  I've never been very good at them
myself, but I've told they can be very effective."