Xref: utzoo news.groups:4759 comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d:470 Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!husc6!mailrus!ames!killer!wpg!russ From: russ@wpg.UUCP (Russell Lawrence) Newsgroups: news.groups,comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d Subject: Re: What to do about binaries Message-ID: <463@wpg.UUCP> Date: 27 Jun 88 00:54:20 GMT References: <6010@megaron.arizona.edu> <1128@csccat.UUCP> Followup-To: alt.flame Organization: WP Group, POB 306, Metairie, LA 70004 Lines: 39 In article <1128@csccat.UUCP> loci@csccat.UUCP (Chuck Brunow) had suggested that it might be appropriate to ban shareware postings on usenet. In article <6010@megaron.arizona.edu>, gudeman@arizona.edu (David Gudeman) took issue with Mr. Brunow's article and posted a truly cleverless diatribe claiming over and over again that Mr. Brunow was "stupid". Mr. Gudeman adamantly concluded: > We're not going to ban shareware. Post away, it's a free net, even > though there are some like you who don't want it to be. Mr. Gudeman is wrong, of course. As most people know, it's not a free net... although it would appear from Gudeman's posting that he doesn't contribute to the high cost of its upkeep. And, while it may be true that Mr. Gudeman is not going to ban shareware (how magnanimous of him), it remains to be seen whether shareware (not to mention ibm.binaries) will continue to be propagated through unix sites if net volume continues to increase. Many of us have held legitimate concerns for quite some time that shareware publishers (I can't say whether Mr. Gudeman is included in their number -- although his vehemence suggests that he may have an ax to grind) are taking advantage of the net to promote their products at the expense of others. In view of the groundswell of opinion aimed at putting the net "on a diet" as Chuq proposed several weeks ago, it might be a good idea for readers of comp.binaries.ibm to give some consideration to Mr. Brunow's suggestion. As it is, Mr. Gudeman's advice to "post away" is ill-advised. Now, Mr. Gudeman, go ahead and tell everybody how stupid I am! If you need inspiration, try looking in the mirror. ;-) -- Russell Lawrence, WP Group, New Orleans (504) 456-0001 {uunet,killer}!wpg!russ