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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
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