Dave Merriman explains:
One thing did occur to me after reading the ECT proposal: it would seem to be ideal for mailing lists and moderated newsgroups. Someone wanting to post an article/message pays (say) C|10 for the privelege; if others like it, they send the author C|1. Flamers don't make much (if any) money, and good stuff increases wealth.
You don't need any Testbed Administration to do that. You can start such a mailing list right now, based on "silly name" NetCash/NetBank. They have the advantage of being right here, right now, and they are real money (so far :-). The fact that they receive their funds only through 900 numbers does not even necessarily limit them to USA residents: others can easily buy and sell "credits" through said USA residents. After all, people have been selling software and T-shirts internationally for a while. AMIX was based on such a system, albeit somehow considering they didn't need internet access, and building a pricing schedule more in line with Dialog than with internet (read "out of this world" :-). Pierre. pierre@shell.portal.com