[LINK] What's Wrong with Copy Protection

[Danny Yee]

Bruce Arnold wrote:
> The demonisation, for want of a better word, that affects much discussion
> about 'online' issues - whether it's "the information hoarders" and their
> "revolution", the dark forces that are often described as determining ICANN
> and DNS policy, Richard Alston (the particular bete noire of some LINKers)
> - isn't productive of discourse.
 
How are we supposed to have "productive discourse" with someone who
responded to criticisms, mostly carefully reasoned, from a range of
groups including ISOC-AU, EFA, the ACS, IIA, and others by implying
we were supporting paedophilia?

The problem is not disagreement over policies.  I find it quite
possible to talk to most ABA and OFLC staff, even if there's no
meeting of minds, because they're prepared to accept the existence
of alternative viewpoints and ways of looking at the world.  Some
politicians and their staffers, in contrast, just will not listen to
anyone who disagrees with them.  (And in Alston's case, if _reality_
doesn't agree with him, then he'll happily disregard it, witness any
number of media releases with absolutely no contact with reality.)

Danny.