From Newsgroup: alt.culture.usenet
[This followup was posted to alt.folklore.computers and a copy was sent to the cited author.]
The privatization and commercialization of the Net
thattook place during a period in the 1990?s when
aol users came online and I have come across analyses
that attribute the decline of Usenet to the actions of
these aol users. Instead I would argue that it was the
privatization and commercialization of the US portion
of the Internet during this period that caused the
trouble for Usenet with the aol users being subjected
to not only hourly fees for access until I think 1996
but also to bad interfaces from aol and other problems
caused by aol?s activity.
My co-author of the Netizens book, Michael Hauben,
warned against the privatization and commercialization
of the Net in numerous things he wrote.
For example, in the chapter on ?The Net and Netizens?
Michael writes: ?This evidence is exactly why it is a
problem for the Net to come under the control of
commercial entities. Once commercial interests gain
control, the Net will be much less powerful for the
ordinary person than it is currently. The interests
of commercial entities are different from those of
the common person. Those pursuing commercial objectives
are only interested in making a profit.? As an example
Michael described how compuserve charged for access by
the hour. So people wanting to help others would have
a price tag attached."
Michael explains, ?The Net had only developed because
of the hard work and voluntary dedication of many people.
It has grown because the Net is in the control and power
of the people at the grassroots level, and because these
people developed it. People?s posts and contributions to
the Net have been the developing forces.?
In my Chapter 12 ?Imminent Death of the Net Predicted?
there is an account of how the plan to privatize the Net
was decided at an invitation only meeting at Harvard
University held from March 1-3 1990.
I recently saw a reference to an article by Edward Reid
posted to alt.best.of.internet by Ron Newman,
The reference explained some of the ways the poor quality
of aol software etc caused many of the problems on Usenet.
It would be good to find Edward Reid?s article. The
reference I recently saw to this article by Edward Reid
was in Amy Grossman?s book ?Net Wars?. I didn?t find the
date of Ron Newman?s post in the section of Grossman?s
book that I was able to read.
I wonder if anyone can help locate that post by Edward
Reid that Ron Newman put on alt.best.of.Internet .
Thanks for any help on this
Ronda
?Netizens: On the History and Impact of Usenet and the
Internet?
http://www.columbia.edu/~rh120/
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