Slashdot Mirror
Spaf's Farewell, Ten Years Later
catfood writes "Ten years ago this evening, Usenet legend Gene Spafford posted his farewell to news.announce.newusers, news.misc, and a few other newsgroups. Among other things, spaf wrote: 'People don't seem to think before posting, they are purposely rude, they blatantly violate copyrights, they crosspost everywhere, use 20 line signature files, and do basically every other thing the postings (and common sense and common courtesy) advise not to. Regularly, there are postings of questions that can be answered by the newusers articles, clearly indicating that they aren't being read.' Speaking of his own post, spaf said, 'even if it is perceived as self-indulgent garbage, it will fit right in with the rest of the net.'
Ten years later, we still have all of spaf's complaints plus mounting spammage just barely held in check by auto-canceling volunteers. Is Usenet still useful? Is it worth maintaining? I say yes, but I can feel spaf's pain. It may be too late now, but hey spaf: thanks."
you can get advice...some times....you can search usenet for information on google, and get a quick SN for something on alt.2600.* :-)
I am the Alpha and the Omega-3
[URL=http://www.tubgirl.com]this[/a] epitomizes USENET's current state quite well.
first sentence should read: especially with the advent of dejanews, one of the first and most known public web access to usenet archives, later acquired and integrated by google.
</pedantry>
the lack of memory and precision of IT never stops to amaze me.
Yes, he is right, but he is a cry baby. Thats like some of us saying we aren't going to drive cars anymore because the roads of people that turn without signaling, speed, tail-gate and cut us off. Yes..those things happen..but you don't drive any more? What a baby.... I wouldn't be surprised if he gets mad if someone cuts his sandwhich in 1/2 from cornber to corner versus right down the middle.
http://loudcity.net - Keeping Internet Radio Legal, Afford
So...some guy, that doesn't sound familiar, stopped posting to Usenet 10 years ago...
That's about as exciting as that Knuth guy declaring he doesn't have an e-mail/email addy anymore.
It's a slashdot story that's basically an episode of Seinfeld...all about nothing. Guess I'll go empty a few bit buckets.
Even though I hate government agencies, here's what I propose: Newbies must get an Internet License to be able to log on. You don't let people drive on the road without a license, why should they be allowed to roam free online without one? This would include passing some sort of Netiquette test and of course a road course with an bitter old net user who lost his .COM job who hates your guts.
Will it happen? Probably not. But oh man would that be nice.