Why the 'Net Seethed

[David Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

To: letters () boardwatch com (Jack Rickard, editor, Boardwatch)
From: rothman () clark net (David H. Rothman)


Dear Jack:


Your Editor's Notes in the July issue asked why Laurence Canter was
"pilloried in such a bitter and venomous fashion" after he advertised on
Usenet. Hey, the guy spammed more than 5,000 newsgroups. Imagine if others
could follow Canter's example with impunity and splatter ads helter-skelter
from Bonn to Melborne. No one else has spammed the way he did or bragged
about it to the New York Times. While Usenet carries ads, most by far are in
the right areas.


Yes, Usenet may seem wild, but it houses many cohesive communities built
around common interests. The denizens seethed when a virtual blockbuster
invaded their neighborhoods with "Green Card Lottery" ads and promised more
of the same.


This sense of community is evident in other ways on the Internet itself.
PSI, now providing 'Net services to Canter, has taken note of Internauts'
reactions and has worked hard to educate Laurence Canter about the economics
of Usenet. He, in turn, has promised to call off the spam campaign he was
planning. I find such give-and-take to be far, far better than a series of
court battles. Certainly some editorials in Boardwatch, one of my favorite
magazines, could help the efforts of companies such as PSI.


Meanwhile peace just might be at hand now that PSI has educated Canter. I
myself, at least, believe that he has a right to be on the Internet as long
as he doesn't abuse it. For a positive example of 'Net commerce in action,
see the June 19 New York Times story about the florist who advertised in the
right area, and who was flooded with orders from as far off as Japan.


In the future, many more BBS owners will be offering full 'Net access--and
perhaps ad-related services such as the one that benefitted the florist.
This model will serve us much better than ads distributed just by
megaconglomerates. Nothing beats the potential of the Internet as a whole
for BBS folks and other small business people seeking global markets. So,
please, Jack, protect the 'Net and Usenet, which, of course, is also a
staple in BBSland.


Such vigilance would be plain good business for you and your sysop readers,
especially those charging by the minute. Most folks don't want to pay to
read spammed ads.


-David Rothman
 rothman () clark net
 Former editor,
 High-Tech Export & Import
 703-370-6540