<messaging> Since Usenet first got off the ground in
1980-81, it has grown exponentially, approximately doubling in
size every year. On the other hand, most people feel the
signal-to-noise ratio of Usenet has dropped steadily.
These trends led, as far back as mid-1983, to predictions of
the imminent collapse (or death) of the net. Ten years and
numerous doublings later, enough of these gloomy
prognostications have been confounded that the phrase
"Imminent Death Of The Net Predicted!" has become a running
joke, hauled out any time someone grumbles about the S/N
ratio or the huge and steadily increasing volume, or the
possible loss of a key node or link, or the potential for
lawsuits when ignoramuses post copyrighted material etc.
[Jargon File]
(1998-09-24)
Nearby terms:
IMHO « IML « immediate version « Imminent Death Of The Net Predicted! » IMNSHO » IMO » IMP
