From: dalew@twiki.PDX.COM (Dale Weber)
Newsgroups: alt.bbs.ads,alt.bbs.internet,alt.bbs.waffle,alt.bbs,comp.bbs.waffle
Subject: Re: Free Internet/Usenet Access (was Re: Modem Madness)
Date: 10 Nov 92 20:19:07 GMT
Article-I.D.: twiki.kai2TB1w165w
Organization: Wafflemania Unlimited - Portland, OR USA

bill@unixland.natick.ma.us (Bill Heiser) writes:

> What would be the use of the system then?

  If I have to restrict users from sending off-site e-mail, then this part
of my system wouldn't be useful to anyone but myself.  However, I don't run
my system for those that call it and never have. All my users know this
when they first login new.

> I suppose there may be a few systems (like yours?) that provide local
> services sufficient to draw people, without having connectivity to the
> outside world.  But I would imagine that is a pretty limited market.

  I'm not even attempting to market my system in any way or to attract new
callers to the Waffle portion of it.  I have three other parts to my BBS
that different users have access to and each one runs a different BBS
package.  None of the things I make available on any part of my BBS is
designed to draw more users to it, but those that find it useful do find
it and like it.

> I don't think I even need to comment on this.  There is nothing wrong
> with this.  However you can't compare this "take what you get, we're
> not guaranteeing anything" approach to "we charge a fee, but provide
> services x, y, and z."

  I'm not taking exception to anyone charging for access to any part or all
of their BBS or site.  That is entirely their perogative.  I was just
taking exception with the attitude that free access systems don't or can't
provide the same level of service on a feature by feature basis that a pay
system might provide.

  I freely share what I have on my BBS with anyone that chooses to call it,
but won't subsidize off-site mail IF it costs me to pick up the replies it
generates.  I've had a few problems with users subscribing to mailing lists
that generate over 1 Meg of mail per week and don't think it would be
reasonable for these folks to expect me to pay to pick that up if my mail
feed isn't free.

> Yes, the intrigue is there.  But not for people who seek long-term email
> and usenet connectivity (or other long-term stable things).

  I never told any of my users that they would be guaranteed any long-term
e-mail privledges or that they would be guaranteed to find any given
feature here from call to call.  As long as I don't have to pay to have a
feature online and accessible to all here, my users will have access to it.

> Well I guess it all depends on your level of disposable income.  If 
> you have earnings sufficient to fund a FREE system, all the power to
> you.  

  I have been considering the various ways I might go with my system, but
can't justify charging users for anything here since any given feature
might not be here the next time they call.  I don't think it would be a
fair or proper thing to do.

  I have been considering a charge for access to certain part(s) of my
system though, but doing that would require me to also pay business rates
for any phone line(s) my BBS uses now or might use in the future.  Charging
users for access to any particular feature would mean I would have to keep
those feature(s) constant.  UUCP and Usenet access will always be here in
some form, which is currently Waffle, so at least that will remain
constant.  I just don't care to do the accounting I would have to do if I
started charging for access to any part of my system.

> But of course you can't compare a 1 (or 2) line system to a system 
> with 5, 10, or more lines.

  I wasn't trying to make any such comparison.

--
Internet: dalew@pdx.com  (Waffle Beta Site)  [  HST  ]  P r a i s e   t h e
Home BBS: +1(503)335-9600 at 2400 - 9600 Bps [v.32bis]        L o r d !
Newsgroups: alt.bbs.ads