[12289] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
C&S Customer Boycott
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Mike Bauer)
Sat May 14 09:16:08 1994
Date: Fri, 13 May 94 15:33:59 EDT
From: bauer@tig.com (Mike Bauer)
To: jim.demmers@oit.gatech.edu
Cc: com-priv@psi.com
I think a boycott can work but only if handled responsibly. If we
started a boycott that used the tactics of some of our more creative
brothers and sisters, we'd be reinforcing the traditional press's view
of the I community as a hangout for hackers and would sink to the same
level as C&S.
We must raise a clear, strong, mature voice that simply states in
polite yet unequivocal terms that, no, Mr. or Ms. Advertiser, we will
not be purchasing this particular product because of the way it was
advertised, that we will make it a point to ask other people in our
community not to purchase this product either and to request that they
inform you of their decision as well. We will state that there are
acceptable ways of bringing commercial messages into our community,
that we recognize there is value in such messages, and that we
encourage them to identify the appropriate alternatives in doing so.
Throughout such a campaign as this, it must be stressed that everyone
act responsibly in delivering their message. I believe there are a
number of assets we might be able to develop to help people do so.
For example, we could draft forms to be sent in whatever way is
appropriate for people to deliver the boycott message. We could
provide an outline for how to deliver those messages. We could
establish a site as a clearinghouse for information on the status of
the boycott. It would be inordinately important that such a campaign
not cause inadvertant damage to a legitimite business concern.
I'd be happy to contribute to such an effort. I might be able to
offer my system as a clearinghouse site. At any rate, I'd like to
discuss this further. I think I've argued some of the pros of such an
action, but not cons and know I'm missing the complete perspective.
___________________________________________________________________________
Michael Bauer
President
The Internet Group
245 Lehigh Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Voice: 412.661.4247
Fax: 412.661.6927
Email: bauer@tig.com
URL: http://tig.com/
