Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!helios.ee.lbl.gov!pasteur!ames!vsi1!wyse!mips!sultra!dtynan From: dtynan@sultra.UUCP (Dermot Tynan) Newsgroups: news.admin Subject: Re: A SERIOUS DILEMMA FOR THE NET Summary: limited distribution Keywords: Portal, profiteering Message-ID: <2415@sultra.UUCP> Date: 20 Sep 88 21:17:58 GMT References: <1219@cbnews.ATT.COM> Distribution: na Organization: Ultrasystems DSI, Sunnyvale, CA Lines: 37 It seems to me, that there is little benefit to Portal listing the users *real* name. I mean, what are we going to do? Find someone local to throw a brick through their window? Seriously, the problem is deeper than that. In a way, systems like Portal are in essence ''bending the rules'' when it comes to Usenet. This network is supported by the contributions of the associated companies and users. Portal is then making a profit from these contributions. Sort of like a PBS station with commercials. I'm not suggesting that services not be allowed to charge fees for reading news. Although I do believe that sites 'pay' for their newsfeeds by contributing valid information to the net. Something that perhaps, Portal is not doing. Anyway, my basic point here, is that it should be defined clearly, that "world distribution, in fact, any distribution other than local, is a priviledge, not a right." Up to this time, we have been self-regulated, with the fear of losing a newsfeed if netiquette isn't followed. With the advent of pay-newsfeeds like uunet, this becomes a lot harder. We need to impress upon the administrators at Portal the sanctity of "world distribution". In fact, I would suggest that most of their stuff be kept locally, and perhaps perused by someone at that end as to form and content, and then allowed external distribution. This is tantamount to censorship, and not something that easily fits within the usual framework of this net. The alternative, however, is grim. Given the cost of distribution, a lot of companies may be looking at this forum, and evaluating it for possible elimination. With a quick examination of some of the output from Portal (not all, by any means), and the knowledge that the company is funding the distribution of this data, we may end up saying goodbye to some sites. In summary, I don't think a real user-name will accomplish anything. Not being able to change 'handles' would facilitate people in ignoring/killing certain articles, but in the long run, Portal MUST be held accountable for its output. I think that this is a subject which will probably be glued to this newsgroup for some time to come. At least a whole pile of inflamed cross-discussions is better than apathy. Comments, as usual, by email please. - Der -- Reply: dtynan@sultra.UUCP (Dermot Tynan @ Tynan Computers) {mips,pyramid}!sultra!dtynan Cast a cold eye on life, on death. Horseman, pass by... [WBY]