Re: (Fwd) BBC Online: Gagging the Net in 3 Easy Steps

[SRPatterso@aol.com]

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Thank goodness we have given chronic complainers control of the internet.  
Personally, I rank anti-spammers in this same group.  They cause far more 
damage to small businesses than someone who has sent me an email I don't 
want...hmm...I just delete it!  What a concept.

Note:  I am NOT involved in any type of emailing endeavor.  I am purely 
objective on this issue.  I am, however, tired of people attempting to 
legislate their own pet peeves into misdemeanors and felonies.

I also firmly believe now, and will always believe, that it is MY 
responsibility to delete a mail I don't want to read; throw away an envelope 
I receive in my mail box if it looks lilke junk; change the channel if 
something is on television I don't want to watch; not buy or check out books 
I don't want to read; surf away from a web site I don't want to experience; 
own a handgun if I want to own a handgun (I fully recognize that my RIGHT to 
swing my fist stops where YOUR nose starts, and not after); and NOT spill hot 
coffee in my own lap.

I would sooner receive "unsolicited" email, and put up with ludicrous 
web-sites on the 'net, than lose the RIGHT to exercise my mature judgement 
and sense of responsibility as I pursue "life, liberty and happiness".

If someone is truly slandered, than certainly they should have recourse to 
have the issue justly resolved.  Legal constructs currently exist to 
facilitate this process.  It is not up to an ISP, AOL, UUNET or some other 
"big brother" to make this decision.  If they make the decision out of fear 
for their own financial well-being, than the system is broken, and we ALL 
suffer.  Judges should exercise COMMON SENSE and throw out cases that have 
absolutely no merit, thereby alleviating this broken situation.  Better yet, 
penalize the initiator of any frivolous lawsuit, INCLUDING the lawyers that 
bring them to court!

Then McDonald's won't have to worry if I spill coffee in my lap, and AOL 
won't have to worry if I called the Spice Girls musical light-weights or 
claimed Sean Connery is balding on my web site.

Note:  I do think the Spice Girls were musical light-weights, and I do think 
Sean Connery is a brilliant actor.


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