GBNEWBY@SUNRISE.BITNET (Gregory B. Newby) (01/18/90)
On Wed, 17 Jan 90 10:50:00 EDT, BITNET%"TLIMONCE@DREW.BITNET (Tom Limoncelli @ Drew Univ.) writes: >The gripe/solutions ratio is pretty high. Does anyone have any >suggestions on how to prevent this? > >1. "Tell sites to inform their users." > .... Why not educate each user when they first get a computer account? At Syracuse U., they force each student to see a movie on responsibilities etc. before getting a student loan check. Isn't it reasonable to have some sessions at the beginning of each semester, where new users can hear about these important things? The time investment by computer support departments seems fairly minimal. It would even be reasonable to set up a net-wide curriculum for such a course, complete with a few handouts and a "Net User Contract" for new users to sign. If such a program were instituted, we would have clear recourse to remove both offending users (for not upholding their contract obligations to be a responsible user), AND we would have recourse for institutions which repeatedly produce offenders (for not educating their users). > Ah, the old "monthly posting arguement". > .... Listserv'ers produce a message about signing on and off lists whenever you join one. Why not include some brief usage guidelines, and instructions for getting more detailed guidelines, with the "Welcome" message? (Eric, are you listening?) Now, THIS would be e a s y . > >I would like to hear what other people think about this. I think >there is a lot of room for discussion here. Room for cooperation and collective action, too. For the benefit of everyone. -- Greg Newby School of Information Studies Syracuse University gbnewby@sunrise.bitnet gbnewby@rodan.acs.syr.edu