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