@miki Thanks for the reply. There's definitely something about the internet originating in academia (and from there via NGOs like APC / #GreenNet according to Peter Willets). But I still suspect the federated #newsgroup as a medium had certain self-regulatory mechanics, not merely self-restraint in seeking status for its own end. IMHO 30 years of commercialisation have added few significant features to the essential nature of communication.

https://mastodon.social/@hamishcampbell/109329819592063766