Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!oucsace!deadpup!paul
From: paul@deadpup.UUCP (paul)
Newsgroups: news.misc
Subject: Re: The Rape of Usenet
Keywords: The wholesale capturing of Usenet by GEnie
Message-ID: <443@deadpup.UUCP>
Date: 23 Dec 89 19:07:18 GMT
References: <946@crash.cts.com>
Organization: self employed in Athens, OH
Lines: 38

In article <946@crash.cts.com>, canada@crash.cts.com (Diane Barlow Close) writes:
+ As witten by: dsmall@well.UUCP (David Small)
> -> 	I wanted to let you know to prevent invading anyone's privacy.
> -> [...] If someone has a real need not to have their notes forwarded to 
> -> GEnie, I will be happy to put a "filter" on to prevent it by request; [...]
> 
> I think this should be changed to ``only take articles from Usenet if a
> person sends Dave his *approval*''.  Why should I have to trust Dave to remove 
> Is there anything (legal?) that we can do to stop this link?  In general,
> are there any ``net rules'' for this type of thing?  Is GEnie in any danger
> by uploading Usenet articles wholesale?

I would suggest that you compose a "letter of objection" much as you
have posted above. Spell out explicitly, suscinctly, and politely what
your objections are and why you don't want your material posted on GEnie. 
In addition, explain why you feel that explicit approval is more appropriate
than the system Mr. Small proposes. Try to get a consensus on it in the
affected group, and ask anyone who feels the same way that you do to submit
a copy of the letter or a reference to the same. At the same time collect
names and ID's of people who agree with you, sorted by those in the group
and net.people in general. Be extreamly scrupulous in forming this list.
Then submit the letter and list to the management of GEnie.

If you can get a sufficient number of people to cooperate, the GEnie feed
will become of marginal value. Only fractions of conversations would be
transmitted iff Mr. Small abides by his word. If you have the people who
post the best information with you as well, the content of the transmitted
data will be marginal.

Likewise, if a large number of people object to the practice, GEnie's
management might form a policy (perhaps a two way exchange) that would
address your objections. (By the way, don't make threats. Be amicable
and seek a solution to the problem. They may surprise you.)

Paul J. Mech
oucsace.cs.OHIOU.EDU!deadpup!paul
uiucuxc!oucs!oucsace!deadpup!paul
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