Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!bloom-beacon!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!triceratops.cis.ohio-state.edu!karl
From: karl@triceratops.cis.ohio-state.edu (Karl Kleinpaste)
Newsgroups: comp.sources.wanted
Subject: Re: Mr. Moderator, please post XXX
Message-ID: <20080@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu>
Date: 16 Aug 88 16:33:07 GMT
References:  <222@pigs.UUCP> <6031@orstcs.CS.ORST.EDU> <236@pigs.UUCP> <4663@whuts.UUCP>
Sender: news@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu
Lines: 73
In-reply-to: wsd@whuts.UUCP's message of 16 Aug 88 09:46:05 GMT

wsd@whuts.UUCP writes:
   [...a lot of complaining...]
   I have seen alot of boasting about this rpp386 site lately and it's
   really sad you think you're doing everyone a favor!

I don't do *everyone* a favor.  I have, however, done a favor to
something like 3000 sites.  That's quite a favor, I think.

   The users in our group can't modify the L.sys files you talk about.

That's unfortunate.  Then you need to see about getting your
administrator to do it for you.  He certainly has the power to edit
L.sys, so he can arrange for you to be able to get at things held in
source archives.

If his opinion of the value of what would be obtained is not high
enough to warrant access, that is his right/privilege/responsibility,
to see that your machine is used in appropriate ways.  The definition
of `appropriate' changes from one machine to another.

   What we have is what we work with, period.

That includes your administrator.  Work with your adminstrator to get
permission to access one of the UUCPable archives.

   I have used some sites where all you need to do is send a
   mail message with a subject of SERVER and a body with the commands and
   files being requested. Much easier, no problems.

No problems for whom?  For you?  Or for the N sites through which the
source-holding mail will pass on the way back to you?  How many other
people should pay for the sources you want to cross the links to reach
you?

UUCPable archives are Philosophically Correct in that you, the user
wanting access to sources, are compelled to spend Your Money getting
what you want, and thus you are not freeloading off the rest of the
network.

If your adminstrator is unwilling to help you in this regard, that is
his privilege, to avoid spending $$$ that he may think aren't
(shouldn't be) available for such things.  That's a judgment call on
the part of whoever runs any given machine.

   As far as I can tell
   the rpp386 site is of no use to us. If I'm wrong, by all means correct me.

You're wrong if you have not tried to get access to the UUCPable
archive sites with your administrator's consent.  If you have asked
and been denied by your administrator, then you may be out of options.
Find someone willing to dump it to a tape and snail-mail it to you.
Lots of people will do such things; I have, on occasion, but I tend to
avoid it these days.

"Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of
magtapes."  --Source unknown

   It just irks me that some people assume the world knows everything they
   do, and if they don't they have to submit to flames from someone who 
   refuses to get off their high horse and give a little help.

It bothers me a lot that there is this basic assumption that everyone
else has to help you, when those of us running these archive sites
have already done quite a heck a lot for you.

     CAN THE ATTITUDE GENTLEMEN AND HELP THESE PEOPLE!

Read that back to yourself slowly a few times (improved punctuation
would have helped), and then help yourself.  Start by walking into
your administrator's office and describing your problem.

--Karl
Admin of archive site osu-cis