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From: fay@encore.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.society.futures
Subject: Re: UUCP - USSR
Message-ID: <2094@encore.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 28-Oct-87 15:53:47 EST
Article-I.D.: encore.2094
Posted: Wed Oct 28 15:53:47 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 31-Oct-87 10:02:55 EST
References: <875@cod.NOSC.MIL> <8710280303.AA01116@bu-cs.BU.EDU>
Reply-To: fay@encore.UUCP (Peter Fay)
Organization: Encore Computer Corp, Marlboro, MA
Lines: 82

In article <8710280303.AA01116@bu-cs.BU.EDU> bzs@BU-CS.BU.EDU (Barry Shein) writes:
>
>I've decided that the anti-Soviet contingent has now grabbed
>info-futures and turned it into a cheap soap-box for their cause.
>
>
>I am seriously considering:
>
>	a) Withdrawing info-futures from usenet distribution.
>	b) Going to a digestified, edited format to restore order
>	and eliminate this tripe.
>...
>
>	-Barry Shein, Boston University

I plead guilty to being the object of much of the scorn wreaked by the
anti-Soviets. My comments, if you will recall, simply stated that:

1. The U.S. is probably the leader in foreign campaigns of 'dirty
	aggression', but I said this was a non-issue.
2. The U.S. government discourages information exchange between Americans
	and socialist countries.
3. Beliefs of 'security threats' from exchange are unwarranted.
4. There is much to be gained from technical and social interchange.


The negative responses were absolutely vehement, but should at least be
addressed. They are summarized (as objectively as I can) below:

---------------------------------------------------------------
We (proponents) are "naive".
-	This is immaterial whether true or not.

Only "approved" "academicians they trust to travel to the West" will
be able to participate.
-	If true, the usenet exchange would be at least as fruitful as
	current cultural and scientific exchanges.

"Amateur diplomacy"
-	This is the whole idea.

"Intelligence boon" to the Soviets.
-	They likely already receive Usenet.

The Soviets really "want to prevent all (except carefully monitored) contact".
-	See mail on Soviets initiating student newspaper exchange
-	critical of Soviet government.

"Illusions regarding the cultural and political differences." (Read:
U.S. is far freer and superior.)
-	The differences are precisely what we are trying to address by
	info exchange. Other than that, issue is irrelevant.

No useful technical information will flow East-to-West.
-	You can find dozens of Soviet technical journals translated
into English sitting on the periodical shelves of most U.S.
universities - presumeably for a good reason. Also note the thousands
of American scientists, physicians, academics who meet with Soviets
each year.

Registration of typewriters and Xerox machines exerts a "chilling
effect".
-	This (even if true) is irrelevant.

"Personal acquaintance and familiarity" didn't stop WWI and WWII.
-	A US-USSR link won't stop WWIII either. It may however have some
	tiny effect on reducing tensions, which makes a link well
	worth while.

-------------------------------------------------
As to eliminating the newsgroup, or moderating it: The irrelevant comments
about how the USSR is 'oppressive' (irrelevent to this group, anyway)
are a pain to wade through. Nevertheless, a lot of very interesting info
has come out of this group - particularly from outside the US. It would be
a shame to shut it down.

If the irrelevent anti-Sovietism continues, perhaps moderation is the route
to go, to keep discussion on the topic.  
-- 
			peter fay
			fay@multimax.arpa
{allegra|compass|decvax|ihnp4|linus|necis|pur-ee|talcott}!encore!fay