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Grex > Coop8 > #64: Cyberspace Communications, Inc., finances through 4/30/96 |  |
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| Author |
Message |
| 25 new of 134 responses total. |
danr
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response 75 of 134:
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May 26 01:05 UTC 1996 |
We talked about sponsorships early in our illustrious history. Then,
donations picked up enough, and we discarded the idea. I don't think Grex
is ready for sponsorships.
Re: mission statements. We've bandied those ideas around, too, but we never
could agree on what our mission should be.
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adbarr
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response 76 of 134:
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May 26 01:19 UTC 1996 |
Well, you never have to worry about accomplishing the "mission". That
could be a plus, I guess? Dan, why is Grex not ready for a sponsor?
Curious.
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rcurl
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response 77 of 134:
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May 26 06:33 UTC 1996 |
Crass materialism; selling one's soul; beholdenness......
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ajax
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response 78 of 134:
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May 26 17:17 UTC 1996 |
Yeah, let's get rid of our IC-Net connection and login plug, pronto!! ;-)
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danr
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response 79 of 134:
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May 26 19:17 UTC 1996 |
Well, you'r right. We do already have one. But , what I meant to say is
not that we're not ready for it, but that accepting other sponsorships
would not be widely supported.
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adbarr
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response 80 of 134:
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May 27 14:57 UTC 1996 |
Would it not depend on the sponsor? And would it not depend on the terms
of the deal? Scenario: Romanchik Enterprises, Inc. becomes filthy with
excess cash. Founder still enjoys flying in and taking the Grexwalk with
his old buddies at Grex. Out of sentiment sponsors Grex to the tune of
a Sparc Ultra and a T-3. Stranger things have happend. :-)
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danr
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response 81 of 134:
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May 27 15:05 UTC 1996 |
Good question, but Romanchik Enterprises isn't that flush yet.
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janc
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response 82 of 134:
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May 27 16:14 UTC 1996 |
It would definitely depend on the sponsor. I wouldn't reject the idea of
having a sponsor. I would reject some specific arrangements.
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nephi
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response 83 of 134:
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May 28 00:42 UTC 1996 |
Same here. I wonder how we would go about finding an sponsor?
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adbarr
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response 84 of 134:
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May 28 01:24 UTC 1996 |
Well, you just go around and beg, and plead, and ask, and beg and plead,
and explain, ** Bulletin -- 5/2 Detroit** Go Wings! ** you just have to be
a little agreessive if you believe in your mission. Do you?
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danr
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response 85 of 134:
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May 28 11:46 UTC 1996 |
Ahhh, there you go. You've got to go pleading and begging. Grex
doesn't even like to beg from its users, so who's going to beg from
strangers?
And Grex has steadfastly refused to have a mission.
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chelsea
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response 86 of 134:
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May 28 13:33 UTC 1996 |
I think it's just fine that Grex doesn't have a Mission
Statement, doesn't beg it's users for money, doesn't have
a superfast connection, and is doing a real good job with
what's it presently has.
I'd rather Grex end up being free to 9 out of 10 people
than a service to 5 out of 10. I'd rather it be smallish
with character than big and bland. My 2 cents.
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chelsea
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response 87 of 134:
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May 28 13:34 UTC 1996 |
s/its/it's & what/what's
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rcurl
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response 88 of 134:
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May 28 16:48 UTC 1996 |
One of those it's should be an it's, the other an its.
Are you saying, *character* is its mission?
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aruba
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response 89 of 134:
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May 28 18:17 UTC 1996 |
(Just a note: currently Grex is free to 99 out of a hundred people. That is,
we have about 10,000 users and 100 members, so only 1% of users support
the system financially.)
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nephi
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response 90 of 134:
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May 28 18:43 UTC 1996 |
(I would love to see Grex free to 9 out of 10 people! 8^)
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chelsea
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response 91 of 134:
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May 28 21:58 UTC 1996 |
Character is Grex's mission to a great degree. Grex should
reflect what the users want it to be. That will change
with our mix of users, depend on what else is going down
in telecommunications, and on the stamina of our die hard
techie volunteers. If it makes you feel better to make
a Mission Statement and wave it around, go for it. I
don't see it as being useful. Grex is and will be what
the users want it to be unless apathy takes over. In which
case none of this will matter.
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adbarr
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response 92 of 134:
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May 28 23:02 UTC 1996 |
Mary, are you being elitist?
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srw
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response 93 of 134:
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May 29 00:43 UTC 1996 |
I agree with Mary that a mission statement does not seem to suit us. I
disagree with the idea that growing will change us in a bad way. I'd really
like to see more people support us (2% would be a good goal) because I don't
that the improvements we could make with that extra cash would make us bland.
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nephi
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response 94 of 134:
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May 29 00:44 UTC 1996 |
(You've confused me, Arnold. Can you explain what you mean?)
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chelsea
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response 95 of 134:
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May 29 00:58 UTC 1996 |
I too would like to see 2% of our users finacially support Grex.
But not in exchange for perks or expected services in return for
the donation. If folks are looking for a service provider they
really should look elsewhere. If they're looking to be a part
of a neat community where you give if you want to but you're still
welcome even if you don't, you've found a home.
And I can hear folks saying, "Hey, that's naive and will never ever
work." And I'll respond it already has worked better than we every
anticipated. If we are flailing at our next set of goals maybe it's
the goals that are the problem and not the concept that has served us
so well, so far.
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srw
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response 96 of 134:
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May 29 01:29 UTC 1996 |
I believe to the contrary, that a few features can be reserved to
members as an inducement to get a higher rate of support. I believe this can
be done without even remotely resembling a service provider. I am not talking
about putting a price on party, conferences, lynx, or e-mail. I am talking
about putting it on personalized party channels, personalized web sites, and
maybe one or two other things.
This would in no way diminish our sense of community.
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popcorn
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response 97 of 134:
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May 29 14:34 UTC 1996 |
This response has been erased.
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kerouac
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response 98 of 134:
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May 29 15:26 UTC 1996 |
but this wouldnt be growth for the sake of growth, it would be growth
for the sake of being able to afford a decent place for grex to live.
I am sure the grex would love to have a window or two and air-conditioning!
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rcurl
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response 99 of 134:
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May 29 20:08 UTC 1996 |
It seems to me that "growth for the sake of growth" is the policy. All
plans for the future are lists of improvements to the system, and the
discussions are all about the economic way to gain each new improvement
in the system. There is little discussion, much less planning, of limits
to growth. Therefore the only policy I see being implemented is "growth
for the sake of growth" (though with frequent denial).
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