🚀 go-pugleaf

Gunter Bergman <bergman@solvangpastries.com> wrote:

> On 29 Oct 1998 04:02:27 GMT, ccaputo@tofu.alt.net (Chris Caputo) wrote:
> 
> (crossposted to a troll group)
> 
> )The following was just posted to http://www.altopia.com/polfaq.htm:
> )
> )Q: What is your policy on cross-posting? (NEW as of 10/28/98)
> )
> )A: We expect customers to be responsible when they cross-post. 
> )   Cross-posting ability is not to be used by customers for the purpose of
> )   "trolling" or "cascading" or other forms of abuse. We may disable the
> )   cross-posting ability of a customer if we believe they are
> )   cross-posting irresponsibly. 
> 
> I don't like this at all.  Trolling is a time honored usenet tradition.
> Cascades are a form of Usenet Performance Art.  This policy
> is both stricter than almost all ISPs and restricts creativity.
> 
> Network abuse on the other hand should be against the rules.
> When I was a  Zippo customer, the policy was no crossposts
> to more than 15 groups.  This is an objective measure which
> could be administered fairly and objectively.  The policy as it
> stands relies upon undefined subjective criteria which places
> Altopia in the position of having administrative decisions
> subject to second guessing because no objective criteria
> is established.
> 
> I would suggest that if a crossposting policy is deemed
> to be necessary that it be a limit on the number of
> newsgroups.  The new policy is in direct opposition
> to traditional Altopia policies supporting free speech; it
> defines abuse by content of messages.  
> 
> Please reverse this new policy.  It is wrong.
> 

New Altopia subscriber here. This is just my opinion. I don't presume to
speak for the whole of Meow, I can only speak for myself. Anyway:

From where I stand, Meow is far from being the massive threat it's been
made out to be. To me, things like the Hipcrime and Baby Bladeface bots
(and clones thereof) are the real problem, run by people whose only aim
seems to be to cause as much ill-feeling as possible. I would believe
Chris when he says these things are not run from Altopia.

Meow is for fun above all else. In my experience, the Meow regulars are
creative, intelligent and puckishly perverse, but never actively
obnoxious. Several people in newsgroups "invaded" by Meow have fallen in
love with it and joined the party (I started subscribing to the Nose
while they were tearing through alt.discordia). 

There are those who don't like it. Of those, some act with due respect
and politely ask for their groups to be left out. From what I've seen
lately, those requests are usually honoured. Some immediately launch in
with the verbal abuse. Those people tend to get what they give. 

And I know it's been said before, but if those who don't like it would
only learn to use their killfiles, everyone would be a lot happier.

:::::::::::: medicineman at pavilion dot co dot you kay :::::::::::::
::::::: Pope, Bishop, Vicar and Tea Lady of the Church of One :::::::