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Comment #1 posted on 2020-03-09 07:51:28 by Ken Fallon

I disagree

Hi Ahuka,

As you know I am enjoying the series.

I don't think that charging for messaging, however small is the answer. It is socially unfair as it imposes a financial barrier that many may not be able to afford. To quote my mother, "It's not a lot to have, but it's a lot to want". I had to send 100 applications before I got my first job, that would amount to $1 in your proposal. Now put that into context when your income is $41/month, and you see it excludes the poorest nations.
https://www.worlddata.info/average-income.php

In any event it was tried with email back in the 1990/2000's and failed.
https://www.geek.com/news/yahoo-introduces-paid-for-e-mail-service-called-centmail-872762/

However it didn't stop companies in using the idea for profit.
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2006/02/aol-yahoo-and-goodmail-taxing-your-email-fun-and-profit

I also have concerns on any solution that requires a verified identity in order to participate. As soon as you do, you stop been federated, and start been walled gardens. Not to mention the registration process that would be needed, and then would need to be taxed, and surely limited to authorized providers, etc etc.

I'm glad of the chance to think about this, so please keep them coming.

Comment #2 posted on 2020-03-09 15:23:33 by Ahuka

Further discussion

To place Serge's ideas in context, it should be pointed out first that he intended that the price paid on en e-mail would go to the recipient, which is why he said it would be a wash for most people. As a recovering economist, I do believe that anything that is provided with no charge at all is likely to be abused, and that is what we are talking about. And it is also worth noting that Serge's proposal about charging was a way to get around the only other feasible way to control abuse, which is to sharply limit who can send messages. I can, right now, write a rule that says anyone not already in my address book cannot successfully send me e-mail. I just delete on sight any e-mail from someone not in the book.

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