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From: dcole@ua.d.umn.edu (david cole)
Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom
Subject: Commercialism on internet defended
Date: 26 Feb 1994 08:55:26 -0600
Organization: University of Minnesota, Duluth
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Distribution: na
Message-ID: <2knnsuINN10d@ua.d.umn.edu>
NNTP-Posting-Host: ua.d.umn.edu

Most of us read and contribute to the newsgroups because we gain information,
we want to provide information or opinions others want, or both.  That is we
attempt to swap info and opinions and arguments.  We barter these.  We
experience personal gain from this activity.
I fail to see any principled distinction between the informal personal
trading that goes on and the more formalized gain experienced by commercial
entities -- except that more organizational effort has generally gone into
the commercial efforts.  Some of the most valuable information that any
organism can get, from bees to humans, is information about best sources for
things the organism needs.  Postings from sources of things we need are
valuable.  If commercial sources of information are willing to post
information about their offerings, they should be encouraged to do so.  This
information has value, especially as compared to many of the other postings
(flames, misinformation, repeated requests for information that was just
posted, etc.) that clutter the net.  

Cheers,

Dave