Usenet is nearly a modern miracle. Millions of people have access to it in one form or another, and hundreds of thousands actively read and contribute. They can carry on discussion and debate with people across the world in a printed forum with worldwide distribution. Yet most pay little or nothing to do so, aside from a flat monthly access fee to a service provider. It started as a completely voluntary effort started by pioneers in computer networking, mainly as a way to serve the needs of computer specialists to share up-to-date technical information. It has grown to include people with a wide range of interests, and newsgroups covering an astounding galaxy of subjects. But lately some have predicted its demise in the foreseeable future.
How could this come about? Usenet is currently a system under great pressures. What will happen if the volume of posts rises far faster
than the number of users or the system's ability to assimilate them?
What will happen if the number of people trying to improperly "cash
in" on Usenet for free advertising, even in places not designated
for advertising, grows by leaps and bounds, such as some unscrupulous
individuals have promoted? Here are the possibilities:
1.) More and more newsgroups will seek moderation and more active
editorial control to cope with undisciplined users.
2.) With surging volume, growing much faster than the user base, Usenet
sites, commercial or otherwise, will require stiffer barriers to entry.
More of them will charge fees by the line, by number of posts, or both,
to contribute.
3.) Governmental and educational sites may have to further restrict their
propagation of news, as formerly noncommercial newsgroups become swamped
with "get-rick-quick" artists placing ads where they don't belong.
4.) Usenet may evolve into a lookalike of the highpriced online services
like Compu$erve and Prodigy.
Some people might welcome such an outcome. But trends like this would be a tragedy for those who value the Usenet system now, which allows the humblest of us, without censorship, to express his thoughts on most newsgroups and practically any subject. The dream of "broadcast journalism" for the masses that Usenet represents will be crushed. Some might say that the death of Usenet is inevitable, that greed and folly will deal such a good thing an early death. But, despite the considerable user population, Usenet has seemed to get along pretty well for many years now. I believe there is reason to hope that our darkest fears may be averted. If the great majority of users who enjoy Usenet and earnestly want to see it continue and even improve and evolve into something better are willing to take a stand, and recognize the threats that Usenet faces, we will stop the degeneration or disintegration of this resource.
Guy Berliner <berliner@netcom.com>
