Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!linus!heart-of-gold!jc
From: jc@heart-of-gold (John M Chambers)
Newsgroups: comp.mail.uucp
Subject: Re: Grumpy != grumpy
Message-ID: <163@heart-of-gold>
Date: 4 Nov 88 18:34:43 GMT
References: <398@ditka.UUCP> <42300005@uicsrd.csrd.uiuc.edu> <1016@netxcom.UUCP>
Organization: Mitre Corp, Bedford, MA, USA
Lines: 52

> >I've heard all these amazing claims that "I shouldn't have to register
> >my hosts" but I've never yet seen a good explanation for why it isn't
> >A Good Idea.
> >
> 
> I've only seen one article that could be interpreted as above, and that
> one was simply asking whether he *had* to do it.

Well, I continually run into a simple, straightforward answer to that 
question.  I routinely deal with a fair number of computer-ignorant users 
(secretaries, managers, and so on) who of course all have a computer of 
some sort on their desk.  They have no interest whatsoever in becoming 
computer gurus, for mail or for any other purpose.  When the machine 
gets installed, they just want to turn it on and use it with as little
hassle as possible.  They tend to see the first few pages of whatever
installation guide comes with the machine, and when it does what they
need, they totally use interest in anything else.  In particular, if
someone tells them that they should register their hostname with some
self-proclaimed authority somewhere, their response typically is to
give an incredulous "What ARE you talking about, turkey?" look and
then casually go about the job they are being paid for.

In other words, they are NOT going to listen to you.  If you expect their
workstation to be registered, YOU will have to do the registering.  Maybe
you can persuade the vendor(s) to include some software that automates
this, though I kinda doubt it.  Maybe you can persuade me to take care
of a few of them, though I myself DO have a job that I'm being paid for,
and it only includes babysitting PCs as a side interest.

One thing you especially have going against your demand is that they must
have a name that doesn't conflict with names used halfway around the world.
Their response to that is quite predictable: "Who cares, when I'm just going
to exchange files with Sally down the hall?"

OK, so you don't think such novices should be allowed to buy machines
with email on them.  Tough; they're buying them right now, and there's
no way you can restrict email to only gurus like yourself.

Of course, the arrogance with which much of the email community approaches
the issue is also a major turn-off to many users.  Perhaps if you could
find ways of helping people, rather than insulting them, they'd be more
willing to cooperate.  Note that arguments of the form "The email system
requires that you..." are not convincing.  Few users care to spend their
time/money solving someone else's problem.  If you want cooperation, you
must find a way of saying "If you want to use email easily, you should..."
Then perhaps they'll get motivated.

-- 
From:	John Chambers <mitre-bedford.arpa!heart-of-gold!jc>
From	...!linus!!heart-of-gold!jc (John Chambers)
Phone	617/217-7780
[Send flames; they keep it cool in this lab :-]