Date:         Tue, 19 Jun 2001 12:20:38 EDT
Reply-To:     CMathis227@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chuck Mathis <CMathis227@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: censorship
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

In a message dated Tue, 19 Jun 2001 11:58:41 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Bill Kasper <dragonlist@IPMTS.UCSC.EDU> writes:

<< on 6/19/01 8:44 AM, Bill N at freeholder@STARBAND.NET wrote:
>
> Censorship always starts because some well-meaning person thinks they know
> what is best for the group.  <snip> I know you
> mean well, but your attitude is more dangerous to our >freedoms than anyoutside enemy.
>

i've seen this discussion of "freedom of speech" on many moderated lists.
we must remember, this list is moderated by tom, and there are certain
rights of ownership that go with this moderation.  hell, he has the servers
and the archives, right?  so tom can define porn any way he wants, and
impose his will upon us with nary a second thought.  i think folk who see it
as a free speech issue are driving down the wrong path (with a worn afm,
rvc).

i for one don't care one way or another about porn being posted here.  but
if tom makes the decision that it should not be, i accept that
decision...truthfully, it's his to make, regardless of whether i accept it
or not.  i am so thankful to his hosting of this list, and his moderation of
it, i cannot express how much so.

ultimately, if i don't like tom's methods of moderation, i can go away...or
give tom enough grief so that *he* goes away.  anyone else want the headache
and cost of hosting the vanagon list?

speak up, i can't hear you...

bill
'87 syncro westfalia
http://www.scruznet.com/~kasper/pics/westy/>>

Well said Bill.  I might add though that Tom along with his rights of ownership bears some responsibility for what is posted on the board.  Several years ago in Cincinnati the County Sheriff Simon Leis (same guy that went up against the Flynt brothers twice) bashed in the door and seized a server because some porn had passed through.  The moderator had nothing to do with it but it was there.  Eventually the case was thrown out and all the equipment returned.  The guy was out of business for over a year -- I don't think any of us wants that to happen to Gerry.

What Tom is proposing is censorship in his domain -- similar to the rules posted at a park. If you don't like the rules don't go to the park.

Chuck
'85 wolfsburg Westy - 'Roland the Road Buffalo'