Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version VT1.00C 11/1/84; site vortex.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!genrad!decvax!vortex!lauren From: lauren@vortex.UUCP (Lauren Weinstein) Newsgroups: net.news Subject: Re: Is anyone else offended..... Message-ID: <704@vortex.UUCP> Date: Sat, 6-Jul-85 23:13:47 EDT Article-I.D.: vortex.704 Posted: Sat Jul 6 23:13:47 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 8-Jul-85 01:08:48 EDT References: <278@timeinc.UUCP> Organization: Vortex Technology, Los Angeles Lines: 28 While I support the concept of keeping net.flame flowing whenever possible, I think it's going too far to say that all sites have some sort of "responsibility" to pass along all groups. To the extent that they are able to do so without problems, then full pass-through is to be encouraged, at least for the time being. But many sites are operating in more restricted environments, and have disk limits, CPU limits, or management edicts with which to deal. It is not terribly reasonable to try force these sites into disrupting their own local operations for the sake of Usenet! There are very few machines on the net whose sole reason for existence is Usenet--most of them are supposed to be accomplishing other work as well! As we see more smaller machines join the net, the number of sites unable, for one reason or another, to pass all or even any groups will increase. What this means is that more sites will need to get their feeds from multiple points instead of just one, and more sites will have to pay for some or all of the calls. As volume increases, this will be true even for technical groups, much less the non-technical newsgroups. Trying to "force" all sites into passing all groups is most likely to result in many sites being forced to drop off the network completely. While I personally think that net.flame serves a useful purpose, I still feel that each site must make an individual decision regarding what groups they can reasonably pass. The more the better, but it still IS up to the individual site. --Lauren--