Xref: utzoo alt.config:454 comp.sys.cbm:1597
Path: utzoo!hoptoad!amdcad!decwrl!purdue!umd5!umbc3!pete
From: pete@umbc3.UMD.EDU (Pete Hsi )
Newsgroups: alt.config,comp.sys.cbm
Subject: Re: comp.binaries.cbm and comp.sources.cbm (and maybe alt.whatever)
Message-ID: <1085@umbc3.UMD.EDU>
Date: 17 Jul 88 00:22:51 GMT
References: <7377@j.cc.purdue.edu> <4855@hoptoad.uucp>
Reply-To: pete@umbc3.UMD.EDU (Pete Hsi (C))
Organization: University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Lines: 47

In article <4855@hoptoad.uucp> gnu@hoptoad.uucp (John Gilmore) writes:
>I think that users' groups and such are a more appropriate
>mechanism for distributing Commodore 8-bit software.  

True, but I got more useful stuff from this net than from my user's group AND
for machines besides my own. Besides that, I saw and have heard of illegal
software copying going on at these groups... heavens, you don't want to promote
that, do you? At least here on the nets, there is a way to moderate such
activities (well, at least shame 'em).

>You are
>welcome to set up your own network of 8-bit micros calling each
>other on the phone, but please don't sent it through our network
>at our expense.  We will even give you all our freely available
>C language software for modem communications, netnews, and such, if
>you can make it run on your machines.

I beg your pardon, this is not a flame but can you please define "our network"
and "We"?  Somehow, that paragraph didn't rub me the right way (and by reading
other follow up articles, I think you offended others as well).

>A sources group for 6502-based software would likely be mostly
>assembler language or BASIC programs, which are not likely to be useful
>anyway.

That's a two edged sword, friend. I don't find programs for other machines
particularly useful either but they still do clutter up "our network".

>  (A major reason that I like sources is that I can port them to
>my system even if they didn't originally run on it.)

Agreed!

As a supporter for a 8-bit CBM binary or source group, I am not saying to
create a newsgroup for every machine available. Rather, I am saying to create
them as the need arises and it "done did" for 8-bit Commodore machines.

Let me say this as nice as possible: John, your posting strikes me as elitist
and selfish.  Just because you do not find a newsgroup personally useful
doesn't mean you have to be against it. Remember, you are not the sole user of
this net.

--Pete Hsi
Univ of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC = "U Must Be Crazee" :-)
   Internet/ARPA: pete@umbc3.umd.edu -or- pete@umbc2.umd.edu
   Bitnet:        pete@umbc
"Cobol is a virus from outer space"