Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!psuvax1!psuvm!UTDALLAS!LIPPKE From: LIPPKE@UTDALLAS.BITNET (David Lippke) Newsgroups: bit.listserv.policy-l Subject: Re: User interface for list postings Message-ID: Date: 4 Feb 90 07:22:25 GMT Sender: Discussion about BITNET policies Reply-To: Discussion about BITNET policies Lines: 37 Approved: NETNEWS@PSUVM Gateway In-Reply-To: Message of Fri, 2 Feb 90 13:36:00 PST from In regard to the proposition that BITNIC should be charged with the production and maintenance of software for BITNET sites, I have two comments. First, I have faith that the production and maintenance of good software by BITNET volunteers is something you can count on. I hope Richard is never run over a truck and that he continues to be able to maintain his MAIL package until he retires, but the fact is that if he for some reason could not continue his work, someone else would rise from the ranks to take his place. There'd likely be a stressful interim period, but things would somehow or another work themselves out. This process has repeated itself time and time again. As long as BITNET's volunteers aren't somehow stifled (and if they were, I'm sure that the end of BITNET would be near), I'm positive things will continue to work. Second, judging from the negative reaction that BITNIC seems to get to their every action, I doubt the network community ("pack of wolves" may be a better description (hmmm.. maybe "jackals" even better yet)) would ever accept software produced or maintained by BITNIC. I'm sure that we'd hunt down every little weakness in it and then go for blood every time. It seems, on this network, the only persons immune from real attack about their software are volunteers. In fact, this may be the ONLY safe way to produce software on BITNET. Volunteers are the only ones who can successfully employ the critical fallback of "Don't like it? Then YOU fix it!" I'm not blameless in this. Witness how I've attacked those who demand commercial-class bucks for their BITNET-related software. To me, it's a sortof sacrilege against an imaginary brotherhood based on trust and mutual regard. I know I'm strange ;-), but BITNET just means certain things to me and VOLUNTARISM is one of those things. It could be that BITNET is entering a new phase of its life which demands bureaucracy with all of its rules, regulations, and forms in triplicate. In my book, such a phase should be labeled THE DECLINE. I sincerely hope this is not what's actually happening. Regards, David Lippke