usenet nostalgia (was: Aztec C (was: more eBay stuff))

[Richard]

In article <465FF9DB.31795.5C6534B at cclist.sydex.com>,
    "Chuck Guzis" <cclist at sydex.com>  writes:

> Or, in my case, in 1982.

I was reading usenet in the 82-86 range, but didn't really participate
in a big way until '88.

> But "trolls" weren't nearly as common then 
> as they are today. 

Proportionately speaking, yes, they were.  There were just fewer
in absolute numbers because the user base was smaller.

Usenet and to a certain extent the protocols of the internet like
mail, are predicated upon most people following the honor system.  The
honor system doesn't scale.  Its the same reason why we need cops and
jails.  Once you achieve a certain critical mass in the population,
there's a chunk of people who psychologically feel that they can
behave like assholes because they are essentially strangers.  Noone's
going to be banging on the front door of their house and giving them
shit about their usenet post.  In a smaller community where everyone
knows each other, the peer pressure keeps you from acting like a jerk.
You feel more secure acting like a jerk in a large crowd or in a
community where noone knows you.
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