That's true, but everytime each one of us posts to the newsgroup,
or the list, it is (in effect) a mass mailing.  The whole purpose
of reading 'comp.sys.hp.mpe', or joining HP3000-L was to have a
place where people with a common interest (HP3000's) could get together
and share experiences and knowledge.  That the same reason tens of
thousands of other newsgroups/listserves exist today.  As long as
the posting is "topical" for that area (and an appropriate 'subject'
is given), then I think the goal (for both the sender and receiver)
has been met.
  The recent examples of 'SAP Training' and 'Iprof Registration' are
great.  'SAP' has nothing (directly) to do with the HP3000, whereas
Iprof *is* the "HP MPE Programmers Forum" put on by Interex.  The
key word in that title is "MPE".  I personally don't think you can
get more "topical" for this group then that.

Sidenote: I've attended Iprof for the last couple of years and have
enjoyed it immensely.  I will be there again this year as well.

Regards,
Michael L Gueterman
Easy Does It Technologies
Allaire Alliance Partner
email: [log in to unmask]
http://www.editcorp.com
voice: (888) 858-EDIT -or- (509) 943-5108
fax:   (509) 946-1170

> -----Original Message-----
> From: HP-3000 Systems Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of RON HORNER
> Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 1998 7:06 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [HP3000-L] PROF '99 - Register Now!
>
>
> But even if is HP, not everyone wants to read about IPROF.  I
> think that
> we are jumping on this bandwagon way too much.  Let define what SPAM
> really is and then jump on the people who send the stuff.
> You can't say
> that one form of mass emailing is spam and another form is not.
>
> Just from the heart
>
>         -----Original Message-----
>         From:   Jerry Fochtman [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>         Sent:   Wednesday, December 02, 1998 7:39 AM
>         To:     [log in to unmask]
>         Subject:        Re: PROF '99 - Register Now!
>
>         At 12:59 PM 12/2/98 +0000, Tracy Johnson wrote:
>         >Is PROF any better or worse than SAP?
>
>         It's HP3000 related...
>
>         /jf
<snip>