Protecting the minors (was: ACS PR condemns ABC's search hacker)

[Rhys Weatherley]

On Thu, 15 Jun 1995, Kerry Webb wrote:

> I'm not sure that they would not cooperate.  Some are making a point, but
> I doubt if too many would go into the trenches for the right to provide all
> sorts of objectionable material to everyone.

I think you underestimate the will of some people on the net.  Witness the
cryptography debate.  If anything, the threat of encryption being banned
has spurred more and more people to get and use cryptographic products
so that when the crunch really comes, it will be next to impossible to
enforce the ban.  So a few porn sites will move to the Netherlands?  The
providers won't bat an eyelid.

> The reality is that the forces
> of Right are going to pursue the Net community to make it a "safer place"
> and if we do not provide some sensible guidance to content in some
> we risk losing a hell of a lot.

But does the Right really want guideance?  Make no mistake about it.  They
are more interested in eliminating what they don't like entirely.

> >Ratings are also against free speech.  How can speech be truly free when
> >you are required to write in a style that has a rating in the top
> >right-hand corner?  That is a limitation on how you are allowed to speak. 
> 
> Not at all.  You write first and then assess it.  What's the problem?

If you assess it and find it does not fall within any of the categories,
or that it may be offensive to some, but not necessarily all, people,
what do you do?  Stick to your principles or be chilled and change it?

Ratings have their place, but so do unrated things.

Cheers,

Rhys.