Looking for old post by Edward Reid from alt.best.of.internet

[This followup was posted to alt.folklore.computers and a copy was sent to the cited author.]


The privatization and commercialization of the Net 
thattook place during a period in the 1990?s when 
aol users came online and I have come across analyses
that attribute the decline of Usenet to the actions of 
these aol users. Instead I would argue that it was the 
privatization and commercialization of the US portion 
of the Internet during this period that caused the 
trouble for Usenet with the aol users being subjected 
to not only hourly fees for access until I think 1996 
but also to bad interfaces from aol and other problems 
caused by aol?s activity.
My co-author of the Netizens book, Michael Hauben, 
warned against the privatization and commercialization 
of the Net in numerous things he wrote.

For example, in the chapter on ?The Net and Netizens? 
Michael writes: ?This evidence is exactly why it is a 
problem for the Net to come under the control of 
commercial entities. Once commercial interests gain 
control, the Net will be much less powerful for the 
ordinary person than it is currently. The interests 
of commercial entities are different from those of 
the common person. Those pursuing commercial objectives 
are only interested in making a profit.? As an example 
Michael described how compuserve charged for access by 
the hour. So people wanting to help others would have
 a price tag attached." 

Michael explains, ?The Net had only developed because 
of the hard work and voluntary dedication of many people. 
It has grown because the Net is in the control and power 
of the people at the grassroots level, and because these 
people developed it. People?s posts and contributions to 
the Net have been the developing forces.?

In my Chapter 12 ?Imminent Death of the Net Predicted? 
there is an account of how the plan to privatize the Net 
was decided at an invitation only meeting at Harvard 
University held from March 1-3 1990. 

I recently saw a reference to an article by Edward Reid 
posted to alt.best.of.internet by Ron Newman, 

The reference explained some of the ways the poor quality 
of aol software etc caused many of the problems on Usenet.

It would be good to find Edward Reid?s article. The 
reference I recently saw to this article by Edward Reid 
was in Amy Grossman?s book ?Net Wars?. I didn?t find the 
date of Ron Newman?s post in the section of Grossman?s 
book that I was able to read.

I wonder if anyone can help locate that post by Edward 
Reid that Ron Newman put on alt.best.of.Internet .

Thanks for any help on this

Ronda

?Netizens: On the History and Impact of Usenet and the 
Internet? 
http://www.columbia.edu/~rh120/