Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/02/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Brian I dissent from your view, as I AM a supporter of Free Speech. I have never attempted to limit what my son watches, reads, or listens to, as my own parents did not, and I cannot imagine a time when I would do so. It is a TOUGH universe out here in Reality Land, and the quicker kids develop thick hides and an understanding of how yucky some folks can be, the better off they will be in the great competition of life. Trying to shield folks from what goes on is counter-productive and ultimately produces incompetents incapable of resisting the harshness of the world we all inhabit. There are several issues here. First, I don't WANT the gummit intruding into my decisions as to what to watch or read, nor do I trust them to do so in my 'best interests'. Rather, I will be responsible for my own son's moral development, and want the government to keep its Big Hands out of it. It sounds, Brian, like you have done what a responsible citizen ought to do - -- take charge of their own child's life, in your case by blocking the Newsgroup he has access to. It doesn't take the Government to do this! We tend to want Big Brother to do all sorts of things which, ultimately, are best done through self-help and individual responsibility. Second, "porn" is something which is offensive to the watcher, not "offensive in general" as no such thing exists. There is a LOT out there in Cyberland that I do not choose to look at or to read, but I do not wish it limited, in any way. Third, the Internet is international by its structure and scope, and your suggestion, Brian, that it can be controlled by local law is sadly out of touch with how International Law functions. Look at the German fiasco for a prime example of this. Fourth, I shudder at the thought of any single government, or any group of governments, trying to censor the 'Net. I want the individual responsibility of being in charge of my life. Period. Censorship is evil. Period. Marc msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315 Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!