Change of Forum Status - Password Required as of 7/20/1999

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Electric Utilities and Y2K : One Thread

As of tomorrow, 7/20/1999, access to this forum will require password authentication. I'm sorry that it has come to this, but the folks who are legitimately trying to understand Y2k impact on the electric industry are being drowned out by a few individuals trying to push other agendas.

I've been told time and time again that this forum has been a valuable resource for those trying to understand both the technical issues and the corporate political issues behind Y2k in the electric business. It's my sincere desire that the forum maintain this focus.

Beginning tomorrow, in order to access the forum, you will need a password and you must contact me via email for the password. While it is my intent to provide the password to anyone who asks, I certainly resesrve the right to decline any such requests.

I realize that some of you will not wish to participate in a password protected forum where you have to reveal yourself by emailing me a password request (note that you will still be able to post "anonymously"). For that, I apologize. You can rest assured that if you decide to contact me via email for a password, your email address will remain confidential.

I also recognize that in taking this action, the risk exists that this forum may ultimately die from lack of participation. I hope not, but if that is the case, so be it. I am not of the mind or disposition to let any single individual or group hijack this forum for their own purposes, Y2k or non-Y2k. And I am simply too busy to babysit a few wankers who would spoil it for everyone. This is the best compromise that I could come up with, and still leave the forum up and running.

Regards,

Rick

-- Anonymous, July 19, 1999

Answers

Oh, also - when you request a password, please be sure to send it from your home domain. I will not honor password requests from email service providers such as hotmail.com, yahoo.com, deja.com, etc.

-- Anonymous, July 19, 1999

Good move!

I was just about to cancel my subscription! Thank you.

Much less garbage to wade through. I hope it goes well for you and all of us.

Thanks Rick. I appreciate your decision.

Steve

-- Anonymous, July 19, 1999


I realise that many people get OT and that many do not have a lot of expertise on the subject of Power stations, however, I have to wonder why it's so awful that discussion, even at a 'low brow' level is Verboten. After all you have another forum for members of the Electrical community to discuss the more technical aspects of Y2K. Never the less, I like you and your ideas, and I will submit my request for a password.

-- Anonymous, July 19, 1999

Kelly, I don't think it's any form of general Y2K discussion that is the problem. As forum moderator, Rick has access to details that readers do not, insofar as where e-mail may originate, etc.

Here are some examples I have heard about in the past, which general forum participants might be unaware of . First, people using anonymous e-mail postings are sometimes representatives of various lobbying organizations, who press their organization's specific agenda without acknowledging that they work for a certain group. Secondly, there have been cases where the same person, posting with different fake e-mail addresses, has heatedly refuted one of their own postings - why is anybody's guess. However, it seems that a Jekyll and Hyde syndrome does exist sometimes. There are probably other odd situations I don't know about, but I trust that Rick has not taken this step lightly, and has good reasons for doing so.

-- Anonymous, July 19, 1999


Point well taken Bonnie.. But still, I think I like the 'wide open' discourse, even at the risk of of putting up with people who have their own 'agenda'. You never know where a pearl of wisdom may turn up!

-- Anonymous, July 19, 1999


IMHO, the pearls will still be there, provided Rick subscribes to the time honored journalist's practice of "off the record."

If so, this forum could become even better in the months ahead.

So, how about it Rick? Would you be willing to go to jail rather than reveal your sources? :)

-- Anonymous, July 20, 1999


Rick,

Does access to the forum mean one cannot lurk without a password? Or does it simply mean that one cannot post without a password?. This is important for me. I mostly lurk but have occasionally posted. I don't own a home PC. Over here (Denmark) they are quite expensive items and I am now (as of two weeks ago) unemployed. I cannot afford a PC at the present time. I mostly use the local library for access to the Net. Hotmail is my desktop!

Maybe I've misunderstood your message, but could you clarify - do you intend to exclude all lurkers without a home-based e-mail address, as well as posters? I can't see how lurkers can disrupt the forum.

Regards,

-- Anonymous, July 20, 1999


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