pete@octopus.UUCP (Pete Holzmann) (06/15/88)
Trying to step back and look at the forest for a moment...
This article is for rational folks to read.
Folks, Usenet has been in trouble for a while; we've been ignoring the problem
until now. The problem? Creeping selfishness.
If Usenet is to be saved, we've all got a LOT of learning to do. A lot of
attitudes need to change. There are lessons to be learned from recent FidoNet
history. I *hope* we can learn without the same pain. [Briefly, the people
who helped get FidoNet running eventually got fed up with the flame levels,
decided it wasn't fun anymore, and mostly left. FidoNet is surviving, even
growing quickly, but I don't think their crisis is over even now, many
moons later.]
Usenet became what it is because *people* helped out, unselfishly. Usenet
was not a business. It was people becoming friends through sharing common
interests. People generally acted maturely. One of the most important
entrepreneurial rules was followed pretty well: If there isn't already
a rule about it, it is probably ok.
Now, Usenet is growing up. We've become more like a big company, with lots
of rules in place, ostensibly to help control spiraling expenses and immature
participants. Rules are necessary in big companies. Work can still be Fun
even when working for a big company. Unfortunately, we're also taking on some
of the bad traits that often show up in Big Companies: it's 'normal' to
complain about the Boss, the Rules, etc; its 'normal' to contribute as little
as possible to your job... after all, it is just a job!; in general, people
get more selfish... less willing to contribute for the common good. After
all, The Company is so BIG, nobody cares about me; I need to take care of
myself!
Usenet is also becoming more of a business than a hobby: sometimes because
of a desire to save money (uunet, stargate); sometimes to make Usenet
more accessible (public access sites); sometimes to control expenses
(ATT's recent decision). In all of these cases, the Bottom Line becomes
an Important Factor in decisions regarding Usenet. Friendship and Fun are
secondary.
I'm not going to argue that the Bottom Line should be ignored. After all,
resources ARE limited. However, Friendship and Fun have an *extremely*
important place in the net. And I when I say 'fun' I don't mean 'freedom
to do anything you like, no matter how asinine'.
So what pratical things can be done to re-ignite the Friendship and Fun
factor?
- when solving volume problems on the net, try to resolve them
in favor of continuing the Fun parts. For example, I'd
MUCH rather see #1 of the following 2 choices:
1) Take all the Fun groups, and split their
distribution in half. Create 2 geographical
areas each containing half the posting
population.
2) Eliminate half of the Fun groups. Continue
distributing the rest over their current
widespread area.
This is an idealized, simplified situation. I hope my
point is clear. (Note that I said TRY to resolve
them this way. duh.* newsgroups may need to be
limited to local machines only :-()
- When reading an article and preparing to respond, BE FRIENDLY.
In Real Life, mature people don't go around personally
yelling at everyone they disagree with. They don't
write a letter to the editor every time they read something
disgustingly <whatever> in the paper. Instead, they tend
to ignore the bad stuff, and respond positively to the
people with whom they get along well.
We seem to have forgotten our manners! Remember Netiquette?
IT IS IMPORTANT! As a social entity, we are getting in
trouble, folks!
- When resolving namespace issues, or other weighty matters, think
about the consequences of going along with what others want.
Try to come up with a reasonable compromise. Voice
your own opinion, nicely. Then cooperate. If going along
won't be too painful, let it ride! If going along WILL be
too painful, maybe it's time to think about leaving the
party. If we are all communicating well, this should RARELY
be necessary... see my analogy at the end of the article
for why I think so.
- Express appreciation. Send flowers to your favorite backbone admin
:-) Send flowers to the piggiest backbone admin you can think
of :-) :-) Try to accomplish what *others* want, not what
*you* want. Let other people take care of your needs!
- If you are in a situation where Usenet is Business, be especially
aware that Friendship and Fun are important.
- If you are dealing with someone for whome Usenet is Business, be
especially aware that they need all the Friendship and Fun
help they can get. They get plenty of hassles already, just
because they have to deal with Usenet on a Bottom Line basis.
- If somebody gives up on the net, let them go in Friendship. Give
them a going away party! Don't blast them with flames even
as they leave! Flames do *not* make the net a nicer place.
A [poor] analogy: Keeping Usenet Friendly and Fun is like keeping a marriage
Friendly and Fun. We've got to be nice to each other. Arguments are
ok every once in awhile, but they need to be resolved. We must
cooperate. We must grow together, rather than apart. We must
look out for the other person's needs rather than our own [express
your own needs, meet other peoples' needs].
I don't have any more time, so I'll quit now. Hopefully while I'm ahead!
Pete
--
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