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AOL Kills Usenet Access
Numair writes "BetaNews is reporting that AOL is about to terminate Usenet access for its users. Now, before everyone starts rejoicing ... where is the Usenet community going to find another large media company to protect it from frivolous copyright lawsuits?"
Is it good because it cleans up Usenet? Or does it just mean there will be an influx of idiocy to everywhere else? I'm scared!
Against stupidity the Gods themselves contend in vain.
...the final nail in the coffin for me. The only reason I've stuck with them is because I've had an account dating back over a dozen years, and didn't want to give up that e-mail address. Between this, and the 33% price increase I saw when they did away with their 2 yr. plan, I see little reason to stay with them anymore...rat bastards.
Just another day in Paradise
Not trolling here, but...
I remember the old days of dialing into my shell account and using my little news reader ('tin' was it?) to read through my favorite groups. I even remember downloading multiple posts, linking them together, and using some archaic app (binhex, maybe) to turn them into little binary apps like hangman. I was a big fan of USENET back then - good discussions, helpful people, uncensored pr0n...
I tried to visit some groups recently and was sad to see more spam than a hotmail account, one-sentence off-topic posts, etc. Does anyone actually know of any more useful groups?
My alma mater shut off their news server a year or so ago. I have the strangest feeling the Usenet is finally dying its rather long-deserved death.
Like everyone else, though, I can't but view the removal of AOL from Usenet except with joy. I don't see how it could really hurt the old newsgroups.
Canthros
I hate the smooth, hi-tech feel to Google's new format for Usenet.
Perhaps, I'm just old, but that's how I feel.
they still have access to Usenet....just use Google....DUH. Also, they likely dropped it because only people who surf Slashdot even know what Usenet is. Besides, as of late, Usenet is just a place for spam.
Gorkman
But without new blood Usenet ages and dies.
What happens if other ISPs decide that maintaining a news server for a handful of Geeks is no longer worth the trouble?
No, it won't. If all the riftraft and other clueless morons leave Usenet then it will become a useful comunications tool for a small but well inteligent group of users again. Small I mean as in 10,000 or 20,000 users. In other words it will return to its roots where people, such as myself, will begin running small and large servers decited to the free exchange of ideals. I think this could be the beginning to a new golden age for Usenet myself.
Supporting World Peace Through Nuclear Pacification
Now I can remember the day they left as well.
W00t!
"It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
I'd put in an ObTasteless here, but I've been out of the loop for so long on account of the spam that I just don't have the heart for it any more. [wipes a wistful tear from his eye]
-paul
Pistol caliber is like religion: everyone has their favourite, and theirs is the only right choice.
It's interesting that AOL gets stigmatized by its users. And that opening up access to the masses is viewed as somehow bad.
While the clueless newbies are a headache, would we be better off shutting them off from internet access or working to educate them on how to become productive internet users.
Maybe AOL did create a huge "September" effect by bringing the internet to the masses, but is that really a bad thing? Is AOL really to blame?
--
otis mofot torpor dium
How will roadrunner users be affected?
I don't know any that get OFF the onramp - they just stay within the little AOL world...
Right. And who's to say if that's right or wrong? If they're happy in their own little world, I say, good for them.
A lot of people seem to exist only in that little world called Slashdot... They get their messages, they have their discussions, and the cute little friend/foe icons.