Ok, so I think it is time that we develop an attitude about LISTSERV
and the BITNET network. If someone wants to have a non-backbone
listserv - then they have to be cut-off from the backbone.
They can't be this pseudo entity wanting to eat cherry pudding
all the time - and then when strawberry comes along - it spits
up and out back at the entire network (or a list). This is a
problem with BITNET in general in that there is the lack
of responsibility to the network. Unfortunately, BITNET is viewed
as a get on cheap and never worry about it ever ever again network.
And this just doesn't fly! We can point fingers - and bitch and
complain all we want - but, when it comes to this kind of thing,
I think that we do have the power to say 'screw the non-backbone
sites' because it causes to many problems. You can't have your cake
and eat it too. However, I should point out that if non-backbone
site wants to be a receiver for DIST stuff - then I think it should,
but it should not be allowed to be a transmitter or a 'participant'
in the activities of the backbone.
 
And here come the after-burners...
 
            - Michael Gettes, Boston University