[951] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Zen II and Exploiting the Market
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Public-Access Computer Systems For)
Mon Aug 10 11:10:51 1992
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1992 10:06:22 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
From: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS%UHUPVM1.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
2 Messages, 81 Lines
*-----
From: Elizabeth Lane <ELANE3@UA1VM>
Subject: Re: Zen II and Exploiting the Market
>I have never heard of computer accounts that can't store the 175K file.
>
Well, now you *have* heard of such accounts. Believe me, they exist, and
are not uncommon. Many schools are limited in the amount of disk space
they can provide, particularly to students. If you know what to ask for,
you can often have your disk space allocation increased--but you *have to
know what to ask for and who to ask.* Not an easy task for a new user at
a large institution.
>Nor have I met anyone who could not find out how to use their email. . .
>sometimes you have to ask a few times to get the right person. . .but an
>easy phone or two call can take care of that.
>
And how many new network users have you met? I've met plenty who've had
trouble learning to use the mailer. Here at UA, I have found *no* documentation
for this mailer. I was lucky enough to know some people here in Systems who
could show me the tricks of this package, but how many students are likely
to have the connections I've made after years in this profession?
>However. . .even if all this were true for some portion of the population,
>our focus is toward the future here at Project Gutenberg, and those who do
>the most complaining seem to have mastered email enough to complain.
>
"Even if"?!? Look, I don't want to start a flame, here, but why don't you
want to believe that there are actually more versions of the "new network
user" than you have currently encountered?
>I don't understand the tone of the messages to which I am responding,
>they are very defensive, as if they think Project Gutenberg is closing
>doors. . .rather than opening them.
The tone of my messages (I can't speak for anyone else's) is a response
*not* to any perceived actions or inactions by Project Gutenberg. I think
it's a wonderful project, and I commend you and your group on its efforts.
It is a response to your tendency to dismiss as either untrue or irrelevant
the very real discrepancies in the resources available to network users (and
would-be network users). The fact that there is an appalling high illiteracy
rate in the country is not a reason to stop publishing books--but it is also
not reasonable for me to say that since none of *my* friends are illiterate,
the problem doesn't exist and shouldn't be addressed.
>Any non-inflamatory reply would be most appreciated, either to the lists,
>or to me personally. Flames will be allowed to incinerate themselves.
Well, if by "non-inflammatory" you mean "not in agreement," I guess this
doesn't count. If you mean not a personal attack, I hope that's not how
you'll perceive this.
| Elizabeth Lane Internet: elane3@ua1vm.ua.edu |
| University of Alabama BITNET: ELANE3@UA1VM |
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From: "Peter Graham, Rutgers U., (908) 932-2741" <GRAHAM@ZODIAC.BITNET>
Subject: Re: Zen II and Exploiting the Market
On 7 Aug M. Hart of the Gutenberg Project says,
>I don't understand the tone of the messages to which I am responding,
they are very defensive, as if they think Project Gutenberg is closing
doors. . .rather than opening them.
Any non-inflamatory reply would be most appreciated, either to the lists,
or to me personally.
PG will attempt a non-inflammatory reply: I think one of the reasons you get
replies in tones that you don't care for is that you have apparently set up
your operation wholly in isolation from what's going on elsewhere. You may
be absolutely right in everything you do, as you suggest; but the history of
lone operations being quite so correct is slim. The result of your apparently
being out of the mainstream is that the mainstream, a bunch of reasonable
people themselves, wonders what you're doing and where you're going. Your
modes of selection and presentation are not the result of any consensus but
rather of your own assertion. The result is that you're going to hear some
counter-assertions.
--pg
