Xref: utzoo news.misc:1123 news.config:422
Path: utzoo!linus!husc6!cmcl2!rutgers!mtune!codas!ateng!chip
From: chip@ateng.UUCP (Chip Salzenberg)
Newsgroups: news.misc,news.config
Subject: Re: The USENET Backbone
Message-ID: <146@ateng.UUCP>
Date: 6 Jan 88 17:58:31 GMT
References: <1846@s.cc.purdue.edu>
Organization: A T Engineering, Tampa, FL
Lines: 48
In-Reply-To: <444@pcrat.UUCP>
Cc:
Bcc:

In article <444@pcrat.UUCP> rick@pcrat (Rick Richardson) writes:
>
>Just try to create a newsgroup without "Backbone" support.  It'll
>be deleted.

Man, haven't you ever heard of alt?  You can create a group there whenever
you please.  Also, see discussion of "anarchy" below.

>How about net.jokes?  I believe that group
>was victimized by censorship at a backbone site around 1982.

It's no use attacking the entire backbone for the actions of one sysadmin
who no doubt acted on his own.

>I've already gone somewhere ... to UUNET.

Uunet _is_ a backbone site.  Rick@uunet is _on_ the backbone mailing list.
In your opinion, what separates purdue from uunet?  I see no difference.

>"We don't like your views, so please leave"
> - hmm, smacks of censorship to me.

That's _not_ what he said.  He said, "If you're not happy with the
situation, you're free to leave." Which you are.  You're also free to stay.

I think that you don't fully understand what anarchy is.  In an anarchy, no
one is in charge.  Whatever you have the power to do, you can do.

The backbone sites have no control over you, and you have no control over
them.  But by virtue of their connectivity, they have power over the flow
of Usenet news.  For example, you can create a new newsgroup, and if it
doesn't flow through the backbone, they won't even see it, much less delete
it.  Of course, if it doesn't go through the backbone, it won't be widely
distributed -- today.  But you can make your own backbone.  Or perhaps you
should use alt groups, since the backbone doesn't mess with alt.

If you want to form an alternative backbone and make your own mailing
list, more power to you! (As a matter of fact, I'd like to be on that list
if you start it.)

If you don't like something, if it's in your power to do something about
it, _no one can stop you_.  That's anarchy.  That is the current state of
the Usenet.  You can work with it, work to change it, or ignore it.  It's
up to you.
-- 
Chip Salzenberg                 UUCP: "{codas,uunet}!ateng!chip"
A T Engineering                 My employer's opinions are a trade secret.
    "Anything that works is better than anything that doesn't."  -- me