🚀 go-pugleaf

I REALLY don't mean to start this debate again but my personal
experience have left me with little choice:

The Situation:I am trying to get ahold of a certain virus because it
implements certain features which are of central importance to a paper
I'm writing. (Note:I am trying VERY hard to leave out all details
because I want this to be a discussion of topic and not a hidden
request, something the moderator has made clear he will not stand for
and a request I intend to respect.) The problem is that for all
intents and purposes I am a 'nobody'. I am a Junior at U.C.L.A.'s
school of engineering and getting my degree in computer science and
engineering. In addition just about everybody has a dead on
prohibition against giving anyone their viral code, even though they
got it from someone. So I have been totaly unable to get a copy of
this virus.

Solution:One researcher who shall rename nameless suggested that I
call a virus exchange board in order to get a copy of the virus. In
other words that I go skulk around with the miscreants who keep many
of you employed so I can get the material I need for my paper. However
its not just a matter of dealing with the lowest of the low. Many
viral exchange bbses require you to upload a new virus in order to
access their collection. Should I go out and write some hyper deadly
virus so I can get into their collection in order to look at the
virus that every researcher and his brother already has but is to
scared to give out? Maybe I should just write a moderatly deadly
virus? A dude? What?

Is this how the anti-viral community wants to run itself? Is this
'open and free exchange of information'? 

[Moderator's note: This is obviously a touchy subject.  I stand by my
policy of keeping requests for live viruses off of the group.  At the
same time, I certainly recognize the need to get virus samples to the
appropriate people for analysis purposes.  I welcome thoughts and
discussions on this issue.]

				Yaron (The Jester) Goland
- -- 
"Only the blind see in color."
"Any union based upon pigment is foolish ignorance designed to
give power to those few who enjoy power's taste above the common
welfare."