pubs-lab@utcs.UUCP (Taras Pryjma) (01/16/85)
Another way of looking at moderated news groups, instead of having the moderator elected, is that the moderated news group could be provided as paid for service in combination with other facilities. It seems only a matter of time before somebody is going to come out with the idea of providing a backbone site for usenet to which they charge money for. The reason for this will be that the backbone site will probably institute some method of reducing telecommunication costs and as a sidenote might also be able to hire someone to act as editor for some moderated news groups in a similar fashion that editors edit magazines. If you do not like the way a particular editor edits his magazine, you always have the choice of not reading that magazine or reading another one. I do not see why the same logic cannot be applied to Usenet. The current concern over whether censorship is going to be applied is currently unfounded. There is nothing to prevent someone from starting another news or mail net using the current uucp software that supports Usenet. This fact should be recognized anytime anyone starts talking about censorship on the net. Another factor that should also be recognized is that the people footing the bill for the net might be easily convinced that paying some service that would help them lower their telecommunications costs might be a valuable service. They might also be convinced that paying a service to edit a moderated news group or selection of news groups combined with other services might be of some value, in the same way that many corporations matain corporate libraries and do subscribe to periodicals and newsletters. And if you think about it, a moderated new group on usenet is nothing more than an electronic newsletter or gossip sheet. Currently, the whole venture is a cooperative venture, but as others have said, it is questinable how long this can continue for. Taras Pryjma.