response 25 of 48:

Nov 23 14:40 UTC 1994

Klaus, lucky must have gotten his info from newuser . I haven't read that
for some time (how does one read it anyway, without running it and opening
a new account?). Perhaps newuser is written in the halcyon days when
almost everything was up and running most of the time? Perhaps it doesn't
explain well enough the volunteer nature of the system, and the
possibilities of things crashing, or being hacked, or just needing repair.
Perhaps it puts too "professional" a face on Grex, because it would be
very nice to appear professional, and friendly. Perhaps it implies that
joining Grex gives you something more than the right to vote for directors
of the corporation, and implies a "guarantee" of Internet access? Perhaps
newuser needs to be amended, so that no one joins with false expectations. 

response 27 of 48:

Nov 23 23:59 UTC 1994

Sure, I expressed interest in this, and am still interested.  

response 29 of 48:

Nov 25 06:01 UTC 1994

   YEs, and I actaully have an outline of what I want to
do, done.  I'll enter that maybe this weekend.

response 31 of 48:

Dec 2 19:43 UTC 1994

suggestion - have the machine comply witht he listing ....

response 33 of 48:

Feb 9 05:58 UTC 1995

That's a good idea, Rane (and thanks for entering the postage item in
the consumer cf!  I have a feeling I'll be referring to it quite
often).

response 35 of 48:

Mar 4 07:33 UTC 1995

  Since Grex's phone lines are usually filled up, and its internet
connections aren't usually maxxed out, how about asking dial-in
users, when they log in, to telnet to Grex if they know how and
it's not too much trouble?  That could free up dial-ins for folks
who aren't telnet-enabled.  I'm thinking it would be a temporary
(few days) message like motd messages, but if it does some good,
maybe repeat it every few months.
 
Example login message, displayed only when people connect via modem:
 
 Internet users: Our phone lines have been very busy lately.  If you
 can telnet to Grex instead of dialing in without much trouble, it
 could free up a line for somebody else.  See /blah/blah for info.

response 37 of 48:

Mar 4 14:41 UTC 1995

I have to differ with that.  A *lot* of people know how to dial in
directly but have no idea how to navigate Merit's various gopher
programs to get to Grex, and they don't know the option exists.

response 39 of 48:

Mar 4 19:29 UTC 1995

#36 - I hadn't thought of it that way.  But I still think the message would
      have some benefit.  If people optimize for personal convenience,
      because they didn't consider the courtesy aspect, they'll probably
      give a dial-in at least one try before using the internet.  If they get
      in, they may tie up a line while all the others are tied up.  So by
      encuraging folks to try the internet first, it might help alleviate
      *some* dial-in congestion.
 
#37 - Good point, though not really contradictory of #36.  I was suggesting
      steering current internet-aware folks to telnet, but I think expanding
      that group by teaching non-aware people is a good idea.  The days of
      free Merit telnets may be numbered, but we could still suggest it until
      they're gone.
 
#38 - Sounds good, if for no other reason than to see what effect it
      has independent of other variables (like asking people to telnet).

response 41 of 48:

Mar 4 22:45 UTC 1995

I've found it easier to get into Grex' dialins in the evenings than to get
I've found it easier to get into Grex's dialin lines than to get in to
Merit's NAS lines recently, in the evenings, but I prefer the NAS since I
can do PPP there.  The courteous thing for epople to do might be to use
Grex's lines, if they are less congested.

response 43 of 48:

Mar 5 12:55 UTC 1995

I'm one of those people who could get in any number of ways but will
always try direct dialin first and usually attack dial until I get on if
the lines are busy.  Telnet connections are flakier and slower in general. 
Shifting users from one means of connecting to another is just going to
put the bottleneck somewhere else. 

response 45 of 48:

Mar 9 19:05 UTC 1995

        I don't know, i think Ajax's concept is worth implementing.
I rarely dialin <long-distance>, so i personally don't know what kind
of a log jam you have there, but if one can telnet EASILY, why attack dial?
        Ajax's suggestion may actually help people in the long run, who
are just set in their ways, as far as dialins are concerned.

response 47 of 48:

Mar 10 04:30 UTC 1995

And sometimes now, all the telnet prots are busy here, too!