ham & eggs (ala Monty Python)

[SCN User]

Re: all of the recent attention concerning scn's inadvertently assisting
the spread of "spam".

In this society, we are told to "do something".  All too often, we apply
our "something" to what is bothering us, not necessarily, to what *causes*
the problem.

The internet provides free e-mail services.  I believe that most of us
want to keep the censors off of the net.  Like it or not, the internet is
being used for commerce, commercial uses.  People are going to do "bulk
mailings" whether anyone likes it or not.

As with other parts of this society, we could spend untold billions of
dollars creating crime an underground buinesses, or we could recognize the
futility of that proposition, and put up some guidelines.

I personally *do not* want any person or group of people deciding who
may/may not use the internet and e-mail, in particular.

If people want to be on mailing lists, there are going to be bulk
mailings.

If scn invests in insecticide for ridding itself of these cockaroaches,
spammers, just like roaches have done for millions of years, they'll go
next door, invade another isp.

I've been told that scn is on good terms with commercial isp's.

Let's join forces with them, and approach the w3 consortium, or whoever
is responsible for internet guidelines, and set up guidelines for bulk
mailings.  Any software developed will be available, for free use by all
isps.

Perhaps these guidelines will require a limit of 1000, 5000 mailings in an
hour period, or that they be held until there is a more feasible time
(dependent upon the isp).  Maybe, for anything over 1000, the user must
notify the isp.

Those are just basic suggestions.  Whatever, scn is not going to be able
to stop bulk mailings, and as long as there is a market for it, noone will
be able to stop it.

We *can* make it easy for bulk mailors to be a part of the internet
community.

Thomas


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