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Username: allens
Date/Time: Wed, November 15, 2000 at 10:54 PM GMT (Wed, November 15, 2000 at 5:54 PM EST)
Browser: Netscape Communicator V4.7 using XWindows/IRIX64 6.4
Score: 5
Subject: Status quo changes + publication

Message:
 

 
Generally speaking, in ethics there is a difference between leaving
something the status quo and making a change. That there are no
TLDs making it easier to do censorship is the status quo. Deciding
to change this status quo would indeed be a social policy choice. In
other words, creating a .kids TLD would be deciding to assist a
specific viewpoint, instead of leaving that viewpoint in the same
situation as everyone else. (A setup making it more difficult to
do censorship has been a part of the Internet from very close to
its beginnings (albeit not in the ARPA days); I've been a part of
that, directly or indirectly, since 1988.)

Moreover, I sometimes publish material that I wish children to see,
that others may deem inappropriate for children. (Examples include
on polyamory and paganism.) If children (or anyone else) is being
restricted in what information that I (or groups that I support) wish
to make available to them, then we are indeed being harmed. Otherwise,
one could have freedom of the press to _print_ information but it
could then be blocked from being _read_ - which would be no freedom at
all. In other words, I (or groups that I support) would be harmed if
we are not able to publish material (material directed at children) on
the .kids TLD. (I would still be arguing against the .kids TLD even
if this weren't the case, BTW.)

-Allen
     
     

 


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