The life of an editor in Cyberspace [and I dont even make money on this :-)

[David Farber <farber@central.cis.upenn.edu>]

As usual my comments are in brackets and in upper case  I now consider this
closed. Dave


From: cook@path.net (Gordon Cook)
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1993 14:58:53 GMT
X-Mailer: Mail User's Shell (7.1.1 5/02/90)
To: farber@central.cis.upenn.edu
Subject:  re the latest problem


Now I *KNOW* the Internet frowns on advertising.  But in the 20 months I have
been doing this to com-priv and 6 months to several library lists I have
encountered perhaps 2 complaints.  Why?  Because as even Dave admits, I offer
something of value in my "advertisements."  Call it like the 30 seconds of ads
you get at the beginning of McNeil Leher News Hour.


It is true that since I post it on com-priv and elsewhere it is in the public
domain and I suppose Dave as editor of his private list can edit it whatever
fashion he chooses.  However, I'd invite him and anyone else with a *regular
paycheck and employer provided benefits* (and concerned about net advertising)
to consider the life of the self employed in this economy and the joys of using
the net for a startup operation while paying 13.5 % social security on top of
income tax and trying to buy medical insurance, and being accountant,
bookkeeper, clerk, office manager, writer, editor, publisher and marketer all
wrapped up into one.  When someone like Dave decides he will not support
"advertising" on the net and it affects *me* -- as you can imagine I don't like
it.  I also am unhappy that he took a private message to him and appended it to
the beginning of my "advertisement" and then posted the both. [ I DID NOT
REALIZE GORDON CONSIDERED HIS PRE NOTE TO BE PRIVATE AND IT DID EXPLAIN TO
INTERESTING PEOPLE WHY I SENT IT OUT UNTRIMMED] That was a
private note and Dave did NOT ask permission to post it. [ IF I HAD KNOWN
HE CONSIDERED IT TO BE PRIVATE I WOULD HAVE SO ASKED. SEE ABOVE] It was
asking him as a COURTESY to me that if he wished to redistribute my
material to please do it without alteration.  [ ACTAULLY IN THIS CASE I
WOULD HAVE SENT IT WITHOUT TRIMMING, IN SOME CASES IN THE PAST I HAVE FELT
THAT SOME OF THE MATERIAL WAS TOO DIRECTLY ADVERTISEMENT OR WAS
"SENSENTIONAL". I AM SORRY BUT I CANNOT COMMITT TO NON TRIMMING AS I SEE
FIT -- NOTE EVERY EDITOR I KNOW RESERVES THIS RIGHT ] If he feels this is
unreasonable then I hope that this
*WILL* be the last COOK Report advert that he publishes. [ IF I SEE A
SUBMISSION TO COM-PRIV I MAY RE-DISTRIBUTE WITH OR WITHOUT TRIMMING UNLESS
THE AUTHOR EXPLICITLY SAYS I MAY NOT DO THAT]  I believe that he *is*
a courteous and ethical person. [ THANKS GORDON, I HAVE IN THE MAIN GIVEN
YOUR MATERIAL BETTER TREATMENT THAN MANY OF MY READERS WOULD HAVE LIKED. I
AM HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND REALLY DONT UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WANT TO
TIE MY HANDS WITH THIS NO EDIT INSISTANCE -- DAVE]