From: crosby@ucsu.Colorado.EDU (Matthew Crosby)
Subject: Re: RESULT: comp.society.folklore unmoderation fails 729: 151
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 09:24:00 GMT

In article <1992Dec17.051051.337@news.columbia.edu> lasner@watsun.cc.columbia.edu (Charles Lasner) writes:
>In article <BzD7GH.865@polaris.async.vt.edu> jfurr@polaris.async.vt.edu (Joel K. Furr) writes:
>>ib.tmc.edu>
>>Organization: Escape from Blacksburg, VA
>>
>>In article <8145@lib.tmc.edu> jmaynard@oac.hsc.uth.tmc.edu (Jay Maynard) writes:
>relative term:
>
>nyx wants you to log on to a pre-functioning account now.  From said account
>is given all information and invitation to become a full-fledged user.  What
>is required on your part is to send them some reasonable personal documentation
>so you can prove that you really are yourself, and consists of mailing them
>something, including some personal info that you can be challenged with on
>the net, as proof of your personal youness, etc.  Alternatively, you can send
>them a personal check for any amount, including $0.00 but having a name and
>address pre-printed on the check, or a notarized statement or stuff like that,
>etc.  Again, the purpose is security, and it was brought on by the immature
>abuse of others.

Just to clarify things, you can actually still read news on Nyx even with a 
limited account.  Of course, you have to use this REALLY hideous shell-script
news reader program thingy...but it is there.  And it really isn't a big deal to
register.

>
>The first incarnation of nyx was an open free account.  They asked that
>people stop doing things unreasonable to be done; those jokesters didn't
>pay attention.  The second incarnation was that in 5 minutes everyone was

Not QUITE true.  The first incarnation of Nyx was on a PDP/11, which wasn't
connected to the net, so we all got shell access whether we wanted it or not.
Also, it was just restricted to us modem users.  When Nyx moved up to the
Pyramid, it was almost immediately shut down by DU due to worries about what
may have occured.

>allowed non-shell access to a menu system that did all you could want
>for news including posting, and a little personal storage, and an invitation
>to do the security checkout to get shell access, etc. to extend your privileges
>back to the former state.  Now, newcomers can only access the pre-account stuff
>and must follow through to get full access back.

All because some !$@# got root and overwrote the password file.  

>
>In any case, there are people who have difficulties in reaching netnews in 
>*any* form, and would kill to have access so "expensive" or with "difficult
>registration requirements" or "severe access limits" as nyx ever had o
>presently has.

No kidding.  For many years, Nyx was my only access to Unix, and I feel I owe
Nyx an enourmous debt for that.  Andrew, the sysadmin, is a truly great person
for his vision and his willingness to put it into action.

Interestingly enough, despite requiring validation Nyx is as popular as ever,
and people have suddenly donated a LOT of money to the current fund drive
(for new modems and a new hard drive).  Compared to how slow the last fund drive
went, to upgrade to a Sun, it seems that validation requirements definately has
it's advantages!

-- 
-Matt
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the net!!!!
mcrosby@nyx.cs.du.edu     or     crosby@cs.colorado.edu
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