Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!njin!princeton!phoenix!vnend
From: vnend@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (D. W. James)
Newsgroups: news.misc
Subject: Re: Adding commercial access to Usenet
Keywords: news BIX
Message-ID: <6382@phoenix.Princeton.EDU>
Date: 14 Feb 89 17:15:09 GMT
References: <796@n8emr.UUCP> <4524@inco.UUCP> <206@bixpb>
Reply-To: vnend@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (D. W. James)
Organization: Princeton University, NJ
Lines: 69

In article <206@bixpb> bensmith@bixpb.UUCP (PUT YOUR NAME HERE) writes:
 
)It is true that BIX is considering posting some of the NetNews articles
)in a conference for just that purpose. The reasoning as follows:
)   (1) Many BIX users do not have access to UseNet but are interested
)       knowing what is going on.

	No gripe with this.  I don't have access to BIX, but I'm interested
in what is going on there.  Does reverse reasoning apply?


)   (2) The articles are editited to include only valuable article of
)       interest to BIX readers (this may be considered either a service
)       or a limitation, depending on your point of view.

	Whoops, here I see a problem.  Could you post an example of an
article editited in the way you mean?  I can see that I would have
serious problems with some ways BIX could edit articles, but I'd like to
see what you have in mind before I try to make a decision.



)   (3) NetNews may seem to be free, but someone is actually having to
)       pay the phone bills, the disk space, the administration time.
)       The idea that the news is free is very naive. BIX is actually
)       an inexpensive system for individuals.

	What does this have to do with the above?  I'm not argueing its
truth, just its relevance to the discussion.  It seems to be that you are
proposing that since you are spending money on getting USENET that you 
have the right to do with it what you please.  This is probably true, 
but lets look at two other questions. 
	First, does your expense enhance USENET?  If your site becomes a
black hole, absorbing information and contributing nothing back, then is
it an advantage to USENET to let you do so?  Basically, you say that USENET
is not free.  Fine, but how does your money make it better?
	The second question is related to the first, we can see what USENET
is going to do for you, what are you going to do for USENET?  You see, 
different sites contribute to USENET in different ways.  Sometimes it just
provides a link.  Sometimes it supplies LOTS of links, and archiving, and 
other services.  Some sites maintain and develope software for the whole
net.  Even the smallest sites make a contribution... the time and thoughts
of those who read news there, via postings to the net and replys to posters.
What is BIX going to provide?  It has the posibility of adding something
significant, besides the thoughts of its users and subscribers, such as
a channel into the press via BYTE.  (Example, would a realistic description
of the JEDR/R.H.F. incident, as opposed to the presentations we've seen from
the media have helped?  I think so.)  But are your users going to be able to
share things with us?

 
)However, if there is an overwhelming negative reaction to net users about
)the possibility of having their articles appearing on one more machine
)after being transmitted to tens of thousands around the world, we would
)not pursue the plans to bring NetNews to BIX. 

	I depends on the factors I'd described above, at least in my case.
None of the other sites (to my knowledge) is preparing to edit postings...

 
)Ben Smith - technical editor  | (603) 924-2575  | uunet!bixpb!bensmith
)BYTE Magazine                 |                 | uunet!bixpb!smith!ben


-- 
Later Y'all,  Vnend                       Ignorance is the mother of adventure.   
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