jhsmith@crdc-vax2.ARPA (Jack H. Smith) (09/25/85)
I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I'm getting tired of seeing these 'classified ads' in my message box each morning. I know that I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I remember seeing a request from one of the key administrators of the list, and he said that these types of messages were unwanted, and I agree. I also know that the list is one of the best means available of reaching those who would probably be most interested in these types of 'ads', and most likely to follow-up and buy something if they were interested. But, the fact remains that the list is not, was not, and never will be, intended to serve as a 'classified ads' medium..... I regret that these opinions are my own, and cannot be considered anybody else's, because if they were shared, I probably wouldn't have much to write about. Sorry if I bored you guys....just wanted to get it off my chest.... Jack H. Smith
edelheit@MITRE.ARPA (Jeff Edelheit) (09/26/85)
Jack - I really agree with you and have raised the issue with Dave Towson (the super-helpful administrator of info-cpm). The bottom line is this: virtually all of these advertisements are coming from the USENET side of the internet, not the ARPA/MILNET side. It appears that not only does usenet approve of this activity, but they even have a specialized distribution list just for selling stuff. I applaud the restraint of the ARPA/MILNET users have shown in not abusing the net with advertisements of their own. (I would really hate to see "our" side of the net affected by some whistle-blower complaining about the mis-use of DoD facilites, etc.) They only way to stop these messages would be to drop the gateway between USENET and ARPA/MILNET. I, for one, feel that the help and information I receive from our USENET friends is worth the trouble of the for sale notes. My opinion is based on seeing only a few for sale notes every week; if we really started getting a bunch of them, then I might have to rethink my stand. One possible approach is that if USENET has a specialized distribution list just for advertisements, then they somehow try to insure that all adverts appear just on that list and not on info-cpm or any of the other lists. Anyone else have an opinion on the subject? Jeff Edelheit (edelheit@mitre.arpa)
earl@BRL.ARPA (VLD/ASB) (09/26/85)
I agree with Jeff, but I think the 'for sale' traffic is far less than 2 or 3 a week. Or maybe I unconciously skip over them, so their frequency is not a memorable number. At any rate, it has not been bothersome to me, but we do have to be careful about misuse. But those are "personal" for sales. What about Gov't agencies or Gov't contractors? Does the reg prohibit, say, NASA advertising that it has an excess VAX that can be picked up by any other Gov't agency for the cost of packing and shipping (as is done by USnail with the Defense Automation Resources Information Center's Excess Automation Equipment BULLETIN)?
edelheit@MITRE.ARPA (Jeff Edelheit) (09/28/85)
Earl - Excess hardware disposal is handled by GSA. GSA is notified by Agency X that it has ABC as excess. GSA collects all of the notifications for one month and then publishes what is available, general condition of the hdw and who has declared it surplus. Agency Y contacts X and if Y decides they want it, Y contacts GSA and claims ABC. If no Fed Agency claims the hardware, States & munnicipals get next shot, followed by schools, with for profits getting last chance. Generally, if it isn't claimed by the school level, it isn't worth much. I remember an old Honeywell mainframe that was picked-up by a little old man. He cut all the cables with a hacksaw and was not very gentle in the way he was dismembering it. When we protested, saying that it did work, but if he continued the way he was going that it wouldn't work, his response was that it wasn't a computer as far as he was concerned: "It is just of gold on circuit boards and I am going after the gold". Regards, Jeff
wcwells%ucbopal.CC@berkeley.edu (William C. Wells) (09/28/85)
The USENET news group is "net.wanted". Bill