Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/3/84; site panda.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!genrad!teddy!panda!lmm 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! -- ********************************************* 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 *********************************************