Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!ames!hc!pprg.unm.edu!unmvax!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!uflorida!gatech!emcard!stiatl!john
From: john@stiatl.UUCP (John DeArmond)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Freedom ????
Message-ID: <2497@stiatl.UUCP>
Date: 6 Jan 89 18:22:49 GMT
References: <2796.23E8472C@mailcom.FIDONET.ORG> <2288@eos.UUCP>
Reply-To: john@stiatl.UUCP (John DeArmond)
Organization: Sales Technologies Inc., Atlanta, GA
Lines: 48

In article <2288@eos.UUCP> chan@ames.arc.nasa.gov writes:
>Mr. Almoni,
>I'm currently re-checking the local policy on usenet postings from here.
>I appreciate your warning and I also appreciate the trouble you took to
>post it.  I fully comprehend what you're saying.  I'm against waste and 
>if my message constituted waste, I take full responsibility personally 
>and also apologise to all taxpayers (including myself) for the waste.  I
>do not, however, apologise for message content.  In addition, if you are 
>trying to threaten me, perhaps we should meet and discuss the matter.
>
>In partial answer to John De Armond, I'm not a government employee, but
>I don't want to do or say anything that would lead to problems.  Mr.
>Almoni's perspective is correct in that he is trying to save taxpayer's
>money.  Considering the trouble he took to post, perhaps he is bitter
>that his access was cut.  I would have no respect if he simply disagreed
>though.
>
>Until I get an official answer, I'm cutting my tounge out.
>
>Cheers.

As a taxpayer, I appreciate your concern for "government waste".
However, as an ex-government employee I recognize a beaucratic threat
directed toward you simply because you have something Mr almoni does not.
This is the kind of petty back-biting that gives government service
such a bad name.  I hope you did not miss this threat.  

Let's briefly address the "waste" issue.  Next to my reference material,
the Usenet is the most valuable information resource I have access to.
Even in spite of the lids and idiots, there exists a synergy on this network
like no other I've ever experieced.  By the very definition of the word
synergy, you are getting more back from the net than you contribute.
You benefit, your work benefits, your agency benefits and by implication,
I as a taxpayer benefits.  So assuming your use of the net is not excessive,
we must by definition drop the term "waste" from the discussion.  What is
left is a spoil-sport baby whose supervisor has wisely prohibited him
from accessing the network trying to deprive you of a valuable resource.

As for asking permission to remain on the network, to quote Grace Hopper,
"If you don't ask, you cannot be told no"  or "It's easier to say
'I'm sorry' than to get permission"

john

-- 
John De Armond, WD4OQC                     | "I can't drive 85!"
Sales Technologies, Inc.    Atlanta, GA    | Sammy Hagar driving 
...!gatech!stiatl!john                     | thru Atlanta!