peterb@spastic.UUCP (11/11/85)
{ cannon fodder for the line eater}
It's funny to see the amount of traffic generated from an action that
started out to try to quell the overflow of postings from USENET.
Now we have people getting ready to break up the net over issues dear
to the heart. Now rick@seismo pulled net.flame and the flamers
are going to get mad.
I think that the turnover on this net is something fierce since only a small
portion of the people working with the net remember its origins. Many
people "came online" long after things got started. Now they feel that
the net's existence is like the first ammendment; Something that they would
rather die than do without.
I think that all persons using the net should go without for
a few days so that people can understand the size and complexity of the
net. At the same time people would understand how much you like something
when you don't have it.
Too many people have become entrenched in posting to the net and don't
realize that behind that glass screen are thousands of individuals who
literally ARE THE NET. If only people would realize that by pushing and
being inconsiderate that someone will pull the plug. If someone does, many
will follow and eventually USENET will become a memory.
Please don't push your luck. The net
has existed because of the sweat and generousity of many people and
companies. Now the traffic has grown until it is getting out of
control, and something has to be done!
I suggest that USENET as a whole shutdown for an entire business week so
people can see how much we DESIRE to use it. Then after people see how
things were before(and could possibly be again) then they may think
about how they can better their "netiquette" before
they get upset over the administration of the net. The administrators
try to stay out of the picture. They only come online in order to preserve
the nets usefullness.
I hope that the "powers to be" read this and seriously think about it.
Please think...
Peter Barada
{ihnp4 | yale!cca | decvax}!ima!spastic!peterb
{ihnp4!inmet|{harvard|yale!ccaZdecvax}!ima}!pbear!peterb