Re: usenet links

[(Per Ahlberg) <pea@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Mon, 16 Jan 1995 19:35:48 GMT,
  Henry Gee writes:

>In response to Una Smith's piece on usenet groups, I'd be very
>much against linking paleonet with a usenet group. The good thing
>about a mailing list is that it can be moderated -- usenet groups
>are not. My experience of the anthropology usenet group (for example)
>is that it tends to get swamped with ill-informed crankiness and is
>generally of little use to professionals. 
>
>It all depends on what you want. Public education is a lofty motive, 
>but access to paleonet is (as far as I am aware) open to all, right 
>now. It should remain a network for professionals. Enthusiasts have
>their own lists such as 'dinosaur' which, I hear, is a source of
>frustration and disk overload to all but the dedicated few.
>
>The great thing about email and the internet is that you can have 
>both, or neither, according to your needs and tastes. You don't have to
>link paleonet with the usenet, which (for me) would be detrimental
>to paleonet. If you want the usenet as well, you can -- there's 
>nothing to stop you subscribing to both, provided that you don't
>force *everyone* to do the same.
>-- 
>Henry Gee
...........................................................................

Amen to that!


Per Erik Ahlberg
Senior Research Fellow
Department of Palaeontology
The Natural History Museum
Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
E-MAIL ADDRESS: pea@nhm.ac.uk