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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!micomvax!othervax!ray
From: ray@othervax.UUCP (Raymond D. Dunn)
Newsgroups: net.news.group,net.micro.amiga
Subject: commercialism and net.micro.amiga going the way of .mac
Message-ID: <715@othervax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 29-Oct-85 11:05:41 EST
Article-I.D.: othervax.715
Posted: Tue Oct 29 11:05:41 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 1-Nov-85 01:28:48 EST
References: <5717@fortune.UUCP> <629@ecsvax.UUCP> <1828@hao.UUCP>
Reply-To: ray@othervax.UUCP (Raymond D. Dunn)
Followup-To: net.news.group
Distribution: net
Organization: Philips Information Systems - St. Laurent  P.Q., Canada
Lines: 54
Xref: linus net.news.group:3420 net.micro.amiga:4418
Summary: 

Organization:


There has been much reasonable discussion on the volume and content of
net.sources.mac recently.  The questions of commercialism and relevance to
an essentially UNIX based network have been covered.  In addition,
net.internat, and net.bizarre have been deleted amid a general clamour about
costs, traffic and rule breaking.

Can I suggest that the situation with net.micro.amiga is rapidly getting out
of hand, and that for once, we attempt to self-regulate a group BEFORE it
becomes a serious problem, and before it requires the sort of action that
generates more net.news.group and net.flame traffic than the offending
groups did in the first place!

The bulk of the current postings in net.micro.amiga are from so called
'developers' who receive special treatment from Commodore to enhance the
commercial value of the Amiga, with an increasing volume of traffic from
Commodore itself, answering technical questions, making reassuring noises,
promising software and documentation issues etc.  It is also very clear that
there is much e-mail being passed through the network between Commodore and
its developers.

There is no argument that this is extremely useful and interesting traffic
to the Amiga world, and peripherally interesting to many of us, but surely
it is *PURE COMMERCIALISM* with the cost being met by the network as a whole,
in some cases by *COMPETITORS* to Commodore, whether directly or indirectly.

In addition, program sources are beginning to appear within the group, and,
if net.sources.mac is any indication, these will proliferate extremely
quickly.

Another example which I feel we should be concerned about was the recent
announcement from Intel re the arrival of the 386.  This was a perfectly
justifyable general announcement except for the solicitation for e-mail
requests for information.  Yes, there was a telephone number to phone, but I
believe in such cases there should be a mandatory statement that e-mail
communications will *NOT* be entered into.  I admit that even I mailed a
comment to Intel before I gave the implications serious thought - why should
the network bear part of the cost of marketing this device?

Quite honestly, the only real solution I see to the current net malaise, is
to retrench ourselves into a pure UNIX network, with moderated feeds from
other interest groups, and perhaps even with full moderation on all groups.

To the flamers, please note that the issue is *NOT* one of free speech, nor
is it any attempt to gain control over the *priviledges* we enjoy in being
able to communicate in this medium.

The only alternative I see, is a fully commercial pay-as-you-go structure
for the network.

Ray Dunn.   ...philabs!micomvax!othervax!ray

Disclaimer: The above is the opinion of the author as an individual, and not
	    necessarily that of his employer or any other organisation.