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From: lmm@panda.UUCP (Linda M. McInnis)
Newsgroups: net.news
Subject: Re: how ubiquitous is Usenet?
Message-ID: <222@panda.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 10-Jan-85 09:54:49 EST
Article-I.D.: panda.222
Posted: Thu Jan 10 09:54:49 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 12-Jan-85 06:20:20 EST
References: <2217@Glacier.ARPA>
Reply-To: lmm@panda.UUCP (Linda M. McInnis)
Distribution: net
Organization: GenRad, Inc., Concord, Mass.
Lines: 45
Summary: 


I think your point is well taken but don't you think that
it's appropriate to think about natural growth of phenomena?

Let's face it, ten to fifteen years ago, how many people had
computers at home??  I did (more correctly my boyfriend did)
but we were the only people in a hacker group of about 100.
It was a Northstar kit (How many people remember those??).

Also, Usenet doesn't cost the "average" user anything.  It
costs his/her company/client.  If everyone used Usenet, it
would have to be financially supported by each user.  It
grows in leaps and bounds and seems to grow gracefully that
way.  ( I know sys administrators are gagging in the
background).  For the "average" user, it does work and works
well.  (I'm the average user, I assume.)

Networks are still a mystery to "normal" people.  The reason
many of us are excited about Usenet is that it enables us
to work at home a great deal (especially in cold weather) and
in locations we like (my husband and I are hoping to move
to Maine soon) and yet continue to be in close communication
with the computing community.  When a technical question comes
up that I can't answer, Usenet provides an invaluable resource
of non-threatening advice.  Yes, there are pompous flamers but,
in general, I've received a lot of support from Usenet people.

Let's face it, by using Usenet, I was able to send my resume
and cover letter from Boston to the west coast in about 2-3
hours.  Federal Express can't top that!!

I'm braced now....bring on the flamers!


-- 
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	Linda M. McInnis  USENET:    genrad!teddy!lmm

	"I used to be disgusted, now I'm just amused."
				Elvis Costello

	"This ain't no party, this ain't no disco..."
				David Byrne

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