| From: | Robert Link <link@*****.PHYSICS.FSU.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Chain letter posted 15 Apr, 1993 |
| Date: | Fri, 16 Apr 1993 20:30:39 EDT |
> back at the jerk that sent it but I lost the address. It was something
> like skeptic@******* something or another. If someone could send me the
> address (not the entire letter, thank you) of the sender I could send my 20
> copies back at them.
> I encourage you to send 20 copies to the sender also. That should
> teach them.
>
Ok, people, everyone take a break from the moral outrage motiff for just
one second and take a look at the reply-to address on that chain letter.
Notice that it is a discussion group/mailing list address, the "Skeptic"
mailing list, which, I suspect probably carries gated articles from
sci.skeptic.
Now, let's exercise a little brain power here; I know we can do it.
1) This guy probably wasn't trying to propagate this chain letter, but
rather was inviting us to join in on the discussion on it. Ok, so he didn't
do a very good job of making his intent clear, and he vastly overestimated
our interest in discussing the matter. Nevertheless, that does not justify
flying off the handle.
2) What's this garbage about sending 20 copies back to him anyway. First off,
there's a reasonably good chance that he can just write a script to kill the
letters wholesale, and never be bothered by them. Second, and more important,
if you send the letters to the mailing list, as I mentioned before, there's
a good chance they'll be gated to usenet and distributed to *every* site in
the US, and possibly the world--20 times each. And you thought *his* post
was a waste of bandwidth? Come on, people.
3) Any disruption that the chain letter post caused is far and away over
shadowed by the disruption caused by seeing 100 posts to this list saying
"String the bastard up and light him on fire and show the spectacle on CNN!"
Again, more bandwidth down the tubes.
4) If each and every one of us sent a letter to the offender's postmaster,
take a moment to think about the result: the sysadmin at that site has to
read a zillion letters saying "This guy's a fiend. Kill him, now." Now,
what did this sysadmin (who is undoubtedly a very busy person) do to deserve
this treatment. Someone (I forget who) suggested that in a situation like
this, you should check your system time, and mail a complaint to the sysadmin
*only* if the seconds field reads `:00'. It sounds like sound advice to me;
take it to heart.
Remember, folks, just because you and I don't pay for our network
transmissions doesn't mean they're free, and our flames (which the offender
probably doesn't ever read anyhow) are just as much an annoyance as the
original post. Let it slide. . .
Robert Link (soapbox mode)--terminate.
-rpl
"No one holds command over me. No man. No god. No Prince.
What is a claim of age for ones who are immortal? What is a
claim of power for ones who defy death? Call your damnable
hunt. We shall see whom I drag screaming to hell with me."
