[log in to unmask] wrote in a message to All: MS> On Tue, 26 Sep 1995 10:01:43 CST, Katherine Villyard wrote: >I'm sure AOL is reluctant to do anything to this guy since he's a paying >customer. MS> Fortunately, AOL has several million customers--one more or less MS> has negligible impact on the bottom line. I know many Internet MS> users regard AOL subscribers as less than pond scum, but that MS> attitude is seriously misplaced (once upon a time we were ALL MS> beginners, and many AOL accounts are owned by Internet users who MS> graduated from their .edu accounts, changed employers and MS> whatnot--they ARE US!). Yes, you are correct... I have even just now gotten my company going on the internet... after 1 year of harping. Being in the Travel business.. we travel alot.. and we now all have AOL accounts to communicate through while we are on the road, local access numbers is a MUST. I never thought I would have an AOL account.. but the little I use it.. I have enjoyed very much. As moderator/listowner for JewishGen, I just used the Reference Library and scanned the newspaper section for my surnames.. I have about a meg of data to go through.. so there are benefits abounding for many of us. MS> AOL management has been EXTREMELY cooperative and responsible about MS> problem users. Those of us who managed lists in the old days (1986 MS> :-) love and appreciate David O'Donnell and his overworked staff. MS> We remember having to deal with postmasters who were busy system MS> programmers "volunteered" for the job by their boss who responed to MS> inquiries with "what's a list?" or "What's an RFC" or "Oh yes, we MS> know our mail software doesn't conform to Internet specifications MS> and we're working with our vendor to correct it--we'll have it MS> taken care of in six months or so...maybe" and even sometimes MS> "tough ****" (when they answered at all). Having over 200+ AOL subscribers to our list.. and having gone through the latest software upgrade hassle with them and the way subscribers got the digests has been an horrendous experience. Once the AOL folks realized the problem they have bent over backwards to work through the problem and have taken the time to deal with the disgruntled subscribers. On the whole, in my case specifically, the AOL subscribers are first time computer users.. but long time genealogists... many elderly.... why I have several women who are in their 70's who have called me at home to tell me how much their involvement with this one particular list has changed their lives. Personally, I am proud to be involved in something which has touched so many lives. So, the major services do provide a service to those who would not naturally be a part of this new world we are all involved in. MS> How long has it been since awaking to discover over 1,000 MS> undelivered mail messages from some host (usually in the UK over a MS> holiday) mailing back to the list and cycling through loop after MS> loop? It would have been much worse, but in those days the MS> host-to-host speed was only 9.6 kbps. My how things have changed. MS> Today's hassles are comparatively trivial. Yes, today's problems are different. I much prefer helping the 70 year old's wade through this new technical world than dealing with SPAMMER's and in our case who are sending Anti-Semitic posts to many of our subscribers. After the problems at many Jewish sites several months ago, this list was set to "by owner" but the mail still keeps coming. There is no doubt, they are getting the addresses from the s.g.jewish newsgroup posts. The origination of these messages are not from the major services.. but from those who know how to manipulate the address so you can't figure out where they are coming from! I, for one, am really tired of this!!! Give me the first time AOL subscriber whose life is being changed by their ability to access the "superhighway" any day over those who "abuse" the unwritten rules of the road!!! MS> /s Murphy A. Sewall <[log in to unmask]> (860) 486-2489 MS> voice Professor of Marketing (860) MS> 456-7725 fax http://mktg.sba.uconn.edu/MKT/Faculty/Sewall.html MS> ___ MS> - Origin: (1:106/270.6) MS> @EEN-BY: 106/270 MS> @ATH: 106/270 Susan ---