[509] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: Networked Access for Databases
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Steve Cisler)
Wed Jun 17 12:27:46 1992
Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1992 11:15:02 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
From: Steve Cisler <sac@apple.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Judith Turner asks what is advertising on the Internet?
I think there are three pieces to each message: who sends
it, that person's employer, and the content.
I think it would be wrong for Steve Cisler of Apple Computer
to send a message offering Newton personal digital assistants
to librarians at a special discount of only $499.
However, I can imagine an exchange where someone says,
"Has anyone heard about the newly announced Newton devices from
Apple?"
And various people respond with what they read in the trade pubs,
saw at the Consumer Electronics Show including a rumor that
librarians can buy the PDAs for $200.
I think I would be within PACS-L or Internet etiquette to
correct the price, but I could not raise the issue.
We have seen advertisements for sessions and training from OCLC,
Syracuse University. OCLC is in a funny position of being a
non-profit that works in many ways like a for-profit. The lines
blur between entrepreneurship and just getting the word out to
interested parties.
I think there is a good chance that accepting advertising may allow
different parties lower fees for accessing information that is not
advertising. It might be a little like Prodigy or perhaps Whittle's
Channel 1 (free AV equipment for schools who require the kids to
watch TV news and youth-oriented ads).
So to answer Judith Turner more directly, yes, information posted
by Nancy Nelson would be 'tainted' just as it would be if you
posted info about new Chronical Information Services. That's not
to say the messages should not be delivered in some way to PACS-L
readers, but perhaps other people have some ideas.
By the way, the Newton example was only theoretical.
Steve Cisler
Apple Library
