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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!ittatc!dcdwest!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!glenn
From: glenn@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Glenn C. Scott)
Newsgroups: net.news,net.news.group,net.flame
Subject: Re: Fear and Loathing on the Clouds
Message-ID: <2431@sdcrdcf.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 1-Nov-85 15:12:01 EST
Article-I.D.: sdcrdcf.2431
Posted: Fri Nov  1 15:12:01 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 5-Nov-85 05:40:40 EST
References: <614@h-sc1.UUCP> <1817@hao.UUCP> <1078@trwrdc.UUCP>
Reply-To: glenn@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Glenn C. Scott)
Followup-To: <1078@trwrdc.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: System Development Corp. R+D, Santa Monica
Lines: 39
Xref: linus net.news:3446 net.news.group:3583 net.flame:11697
Summary: Put your money where your mouths are

In article <1078@trwrdc.UUCP> frith@trwrdc.UUCP (Lord Frith) writes:

> I fully disagree with your assertion that "we"  cannot allow just
> anyone to post whatever they want because it isn't "practical."  The
> existance of the net is NOT dependent upon how practical or effecient
> you might perceive it to be.  It is reliant only upon generous backbone
> sites that will shell out the bucks for long-distance high-volume
> calls.  I doubt the net will ever "collapse" under it's own weight as
> long as there are people to post articles and people who will read them.

Wanna bet ?  The volume of the net is EXACTLY what the backbone sites are
concerned about.  It seems fairly clear that the volume of the net and the
"weight" of the net are synonymous.  This volume is what is driving up
the multi-thousand dollar phone bills I see every month.  The net will
certainly collapse if there isn't anyone to pay the costs for your morning
feeding of news.

> What you are willing or not willing to pay for effects sites down the pike
> that rely on you for news.  How about being a little more considerate of
> the needs of people in general?  Your site may pay the bills, but that
> doesn't mean you can ignore the needs of everyone else.

Hold it right there.  SDC volunteered their site as a backbone because we
thought USENET was a good thing.  We have given our time, money and equipment
to help keep it moving.  However this free use of our time, money and
equipment extends only as far as it does not become a big burden.  For us
USENET is becoming a burden and it's headed toward becoming a big burden. The
liabilities are outweighing the assets.

  And by the way, we *can* completely ignore the needs of everyone else. After
all it's our money and we can spend it where we want.  We aren't obligated to
being a backbone site.  No backbone site is obligated to be a backbone site.

  I think it's about time for these reactionaries to start putting their money
where their mouths are.  This is a community -- help support it or shut up.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Glenn Scott  System Development Corporation   Santa Monica, Califonia 90406
	     213-820-4111 X5653