@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Date: Sat, 13 Jan 1996 Sender: David Cloutman <•••@••.•••> Subject: Hate Online (fwd) After reading about the Wiesenthal Centers recent campaign, calling for the censorship of hate groups by ISPs, I visited their sight and left some commentary. I think the basic mission of this group is good, but their tactics leave something to be desired. I suggest that subscribers to the list visit the page (http://www.wiesenthal.com), and let their opinions be known, if they are so inclined. Here is an excerpt of my message. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 13 Jan 1996 From: David Cloutman <•••@••.•••> To: •••@••.••• Subject: Hate Online Your page was brought to my attention by a recent posting on the Cyber-Rights mailing list, and quite frankly your position on online hate grous is disturbing at best, and possibly dangerous. The ability for anybody with a certain amount of technical knowledge to publish on the internet is one of the great powers of modern telecommunications, particularly in relation to the World Wide Web. Until recently ISPs have, for the most part, kept a hands off approach to the information provided by their subscribers through the Web, and for the most part, that relationship has been successful. Although it is not law as of yet, ISPs have behaved as common carriers. This is the way most Web publishers would like to see the internet evolve. When providers begin contolling content, it will have an incredible centralizing effect on the internet, and will ultimately put control of information in the hands of business, negating the very thing that the internet has been moving against for the past decade. The idea of an ISP viewing pages and censoring offensive material is much like the idea of the phone compampany listening in on conversations and cutting connections if the topic ventures into anything the company finds taboo. If ISPs begin controlling content, no matter how repugnent, the Web will become as democratic as television is today. In other words, not at all. Censorship, by any authority is dangerous, particularly when dealing with extreamists, because it only serves to strengthen their resolution. Because they feel that there views are importent, and that there is a conspiracy against them, an attempt to censor their propaganda will mearly confirm this viewpoint. Further, this legitimizes their beliefs in such a way, that it can be used as an anecdote in illustrating their views, which can be of great benefit when attemping to recruit new members. There is an added psychological phenomenah that censorship gives extreamists. It is something that is deeply embedded in human nature, and that is the fact that when something is forbidden it is made all the more attractive. An air of mystery and wonder veils the forbidden object... By shrouding hate propaganda in a veil of mystery, we run the risk of making something that might easily ignored for all its vileness attractive, which is certainly not your orginiztion's intention. In conclusion, I am glad to see that your orginization is concerned about online hate. Certainly the rise of extreamist groups of all ethnicities is a problem that we must face in an increasingly connected world. I would however ask that you take into consideration my points, and possibly reformulate your orginization's plan of action. David Cloutman _____________________________________________________________________ |"The great danger... in beliving yourself | | | especially chosen is that it becomes easy to | David Cloutman | | view those who are not your people as God's |--------------------| | especially unchosen" -Bishop John Shelby Spong | •••@••.••• | |________________________________________________|____________________| | Ask the Philostopher Homepage: http://www.ccnet.com/~felixm | |_____________________________________________________________________| @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ ~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~--~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~ Posted by Richard K. Moore (•••@••.•••) Wexford, Ireland Cyber-Rights: http://www.cpsr.org/cpsr/nii/cyber-rights/ CyberLib: http://www.internet-eireann.ie/cyberlib Materials may be reposted in their entirety for non-commercial use. ~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~--~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~
