CAPTAIN'S LOG (19 May 96): Sue Matthews Opened a Channel to Gary Hardin
 SM> Regarding off topic posts Gary said:
 > Jeez Sue, how do you keep your sanity?  These kind of post seem
 > to crawl out of the woodwork!  I applaude you for keeping your cool with
 > them!!
 SM> Thanks Gary...it's a skill honed over years of experience. ;D
 > Isn't there some way to put pressure on the sysops that
 > subscribe to this echo to keep people like this out?  How about a "three
 > strikes & your out" sort of thing!  If the sysop has has abusers that
 > exceed a certain number of warnings, they they lose the echo.
 SM> Occasionally I've cut a BBS out of the echo loop, but only because the
 SM> sysop was not willing to be cooperative when one of his members was
 SM> being disruptive. Some sysops have boards that attract troublesome
 SM> people perhaps, or maybe they're located in areas where people are
 SM> more argumentative and brash, but I'd really hate to resort to
 SM> wholesale cutting of feeds if I can avoid it.
I have always migrated to those systems that show a professional sort of
appearance and attitude.  The sysops have always maintained control and
have therefore been good places to interact.  I have been doing this for
nearly 10 years now and have run across many ill mannered, self serving
individuals, both as users and as sysops, but they never seem to last
long.
We are moving into a whole new world of unprecedented access to
cyberspace and it presents a raft of new problems and challenges to
maintain it as a real source of communication and sharing of
information, and a new way of doing business.  As long as there are
people in business, there will be those looking to get something for
nothing.  Maybe changing the name of the echo to something like "HOME
OFFICE RESOURCE" or such would detract from its appeal to the something
for nothing user.  Just a thought!
 SM> That's the real issue. If more people who own modems would realize
 SM> that it is a privelege to be able tocall some guy's BBS and have
 SM> access to all the echos and other features... rather than assuming
 SM> it's their right to do what they please, we'd all be better off.
Or call some gals BBS!  I know a lady in Rochester NY that maintains a
VERY high quality BBS that has its focus on the handicapped and
impaired.  She runs a very tight ship yet is extremely accessable and
active.  It is a fun play to call and has access to tons of related
information and resources.
And she is BLIND to boot!
 SM> Thanks for the good words Gary.. and enjoy the echo.!
 Again, thanks for your support!
Have a nice Summer!
If you ever get to Colorado, look me up!
... ... "Hate you, hate Kansas, taking the dog." --Dorothy
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