Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/3/84; site maynard.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!think!harvard!talcott!wjh12!maynard!campbell From: campbell@maynard.UUCP (Larry Campbell) Newsgroups: net.news,net.flame Subject: Re: Re: Is anyone else offended..... Message-ID: <128@maynard.UUCP> Date: Thu, 27-Jun-85 08:12:31 EDT Article-I.D.: maynard.128 Posted: Thu Jun 27 08:12:31 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 29-Jun-85 03:26:52 EDT References: <266@timeinc.UUCP> <2908@nsc.UUCP> Organization: The Boston Software Works Inc., Maynard, MA Lines: 35 Xref: watmath net.news:3513 net.flame:10858 Chuq, I'm surprised you got flamed at so much for suggesting that system administrators be notified about rogue posters. This followup is my attempt to explain why rogue posters should be exposed, even at the cost of official sanctions from their employer or university. Usenet isn't a video game, it's a community. A community is composed of people -- real live people, with feelings that get hurt and sensibilities that get offended. In this sense Usenet is a microcosm of any of the other communities you might belong to -- your school, company, town, neighborhood, country, or world. All communities impose certain restrictions on behavior, in order to make life more pleasant (or at least bearable) for their members. Communities also impose sanctions (ostracism, firing, jail) on those who willfully or repeatedly flout these sanctions. Imposing a sanction does not make someone a fascist. These sanctions are not revenge, they are education (or should be). If a rogue poster is put on academic suspension as a result of a flame being called to the attention of their system administrator, GREAT! Not because I'm vengeful, but because it just might teach them a little bit of consideration. Perhaps they'll realize that this is REAL. You're not shooting down Klingons, you're not flaming at a computer, you're hurting and offending real live people who deserve more consideration than that. (Not to mention jeopardizing the continued existence of Usenet itself.) So for what it's worth... here's a vote for notifying system adminstrators about rogue posters. AFTER first notifying the poster in question and getting an unsatisfactory response. - Larry Campbell The Boston Software Works, Inc., 120 Fulton St., Boston MA 02109 UUCP: {decvax, security, linus, mit-eddie}!genrad!enmasse!maynard!campbell ARPA: decvax!genrad!enmasse!maynard!campbell@DECWRL.ARPA