New American West

by

Now that society is firmly making headway in this new land, what exactly are the rules? We've all heard through the popular media that there are no rules. No one runs the show. No one is in control. There is no Commander-in-Chief of the Internet (Bill Gates, please take notice).

Well..that's not exactly correct. But, it's not wrong either. The Internet is a paradox. There are many rules on the Internet. But these rules follow custom and tradition, as opposed to a rule of law. These many rules are alive. In fact they are more alive than we give them credit for.

We are all taught that our form of government (a republic) is a constantly evolving entity. Our laws are evolving with every court decision. Well, the Internet is a classic example of a democracy in action. The rules on the Internet change every day, as do its breadth of custom and tradition.

So what are examples of these so called rules? As far as the World Wide Web, there are truly no real rules. Content, design, speed of page loading are the deciding factors. Popular Web sites blend these three aspects to obtain a pleasing experience. Unpopular Web pages, do a poor job on one or more of the aspects. Popular Web sites become more popular through Public Relations strategies. The more people who know about a site, and it contains the right mix, the more popular the site.

Most of the rules on the Information Superhighway can be delegated to the E-mail and UseNet (Newsgroups) areas. Here we find prohibitions against improper subject matter (as it relates to where it is posted), insults or personal attacks (flames), multiple posts to multiple Newsgroups (spamming), to name just a few. A new phenomena is junk E-mail (unsolicited solicitations).

The problem with many of the above rules is what I call the objective/subjective syndrome. What you think is appropriate, I don't and what some of us like, some of you don't. There is no consensus and this quandary may never be solved.

So it can be said about the Internet. Once posted, as an E-mail message, there is no way to call it back. E-Mail (electronic mail) moves through the Information Superhighway with the speed and determination of a run-a-way locomotive. Once that SEND button is hit, your message is on its way.

On mailing lists, many an error or omission occur. And it is because this medium is so unforgiving, that we must understand its limitations and live by them and within them. No one computer system, person, and/or program is perfect.

The Information Superhighway is not yet a well founded vessel (completely equipped). The ship is in perpetual sea trials. The result of new inventions being created, causing the older systems to be retired.

Not everything is perfect in this world, and neither is it on the Internet. After you spend a modicum of time on the Internet, you will find this to be the rule, as opposed to the exception. Since the Internet is based on computers, and computers are programmed and run by Homo Sapiens, it is safe to say that all will not be perfect.

If all was perfect, then every time you tried to connect to the Information Superhighway, you'd get right on. Every time you tried to download a file using File Transfer Protocol (FTP) it would work.

Every time you tried to send a message or graphic or file to another person using E-Mail, they would receive the post, intact in and readable form. Every time you used your web browser, you would enter the Web page of your choice, without getting error messages.

But this does not happen. Many a time, the highway is overcrowded at your entry point. That E-mail never quite makes it to its recipient in the correct format, or the file you're downloading gets stuck.

The list server for the mailing list you are on, goes psychotic, and starts spewing hundreds of messages. It's a part of life on the Internet.

The rate at which the Internet is growing is both a blessing and a pariah. A blessing in that millions of programming hours (and dollars) are being spent on new products. A pariah, because not all of the programs work 100% correctly 100% of the time.

Come and experience the Information Superhighway. Come and `Surf' the Internet. Find information of interest to you and explore. There is information on practically every topic, located in Web sites, Newsgroups, Mailing Lists, and Gopher sites. The trick (and half the fun) on the Information Superhighway is finding this information!

Come speak with other citizens of this country, and citizens located all over the globe. Never before has this world been able to provide a communication vehicle, for such a low per person cost!

Come and experience the wave of our new global society! We now have a new train to ride!

E-Mail: WSpivak@sbanetweb.com
Web: http://www.sbanetweb.com - SBA.NET.WEB web server
http://guide.sbanetweb.com - Guide to Computer Vendors

Mr. Spivak is the President of SBA.NET.WEB, an Internet and World Wide Web Consulting firm specializing in C/S Internet applications. SBA.NET.WEB is located in Bellmore, New York (a suburb of NYC). Mr. Spivak, a frequent writer and lecturer on Internet and other topics, is also a faculty member of the Department of Economics and Accounting, Lehman College, City University of New York, Bronx, New York. He can be reach via E-Mail at WSpivak@sbanetweb.com. SBA.NET.WEB maintains the GUIDE TO COMPUTER VENDORS, located at http://guide.sbanetweb.com, an award winning Web reference site.