🚀 go-pugleaf

snicoud@Boeing.com (Stephen L Nicoud) writes:

> In article <1991May29.222406.26060@herald.usask.ca> lowey@herald.usask.ca (Ke
> >If anyone has a RIGHT here, it is the right of the owner of a computer to
> >control how his computer is used.  Its exactly the same as the bus driver wh
> >has the right to kick anyone off the bus if they are causing a problem.  
> >Claiming that the USERS have rights to get electronic mail, no matter how
> >badly they act, is similar to saying that bus riders have the right to steal
> >the bus, and use it to rob a bank.  If someone is trying to use MY equipment
> >in a way *I* consider is improper, then *I* have every right to kick those
> >people off *MY* computer.
> 
> And how about the bus driver/owner who makes black people sit in the
> back of the bus.  Clearly it is not *always* up to the owner's notion
> of what is "improper".  You cannot restrict the activities based upon
> sex, race, religion, creed, etc...

        And in the case of a University computer system?

        I could see the logic developing:
        The owner is in control -> the computer is owned by the university
        the university is owned by the taxpayers -> the taxpayers have
        control over the computer -> students are taxpayers ->
        students control what use the computers are put to.

        Obviously, we need a more refined model somewhere between 
        "I run the system & make all decisions regarding it" &
        "The users can do anything they want on the system."

        How do large universitys balance student rights & their
        responsibility to make efficient use of computing resources?

        As more students go "on-line," problems of this nature will only
        become more vexing.



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Steven S. Brack     sbrack@bluemoon.uucp        The Ohio State University
sbrack%bluemoon@nstar.rn.com                        sbrack@isis.cs.du.edu
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