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\title{Punishing Disruptive Users}
\author{Greg Hudson}
\begin{document}
\maketitle

In deciding how to discipline disruptive users of computer networks,
one must often balance the irresponsibility of the user's actions
against the user's genuine lack of malicious intent.  In the past, in
borderline situations like that of Joe L. User's prank, Information
Systems has assigned some substantial number of community service
hours to the offender and not referred the case to the Committee on
Discipline.  This is an appropriate solution to the case at hand.

Joe L. User unquestionably violated Project Athena's principles of
responsible use, by taking advantage of a loophole in the Xwindows
server's security system.  The Athena Rules of Use state that ``All
users of Athena should make sure that their actions do not violate the
privacy of other users, if even unintentionally.''  While Joe intended
his actions only to affect one user, the program he used had the
capability of attacking all of the machines on the network, which
indicates either serious irresponsibility or spectacular negligence.

At the same time, Joe did not intend to inconvenience the users of the
network as he did.  Although he did intend to attack one machine with
his program, in itself contrary to the rules of use, he did so with
the implicit understanding that it would be taken in good humor.  His
program did no actual damage to the machines whose security it
violated.

Assigning Joe community service hours will demonstrate that
Information Systems disapproves of his actions, and hopefully teach
him to to be more responsible in the future, without punishing him
unduly for a genuine mistake.

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