🚀 go-pugleaf

in article slrn94pv33.dj.plew@crane.li-po.edu, Paul Lew  wrote:

> ORBS is still part of the conspiracy.  The driver of a getaway car did not
> rob the bank, he just drove the car.  The "lookout" did not burgle a place,
> he was just was watching if anyone was around.  A person checks to see
> which house is most likely to be worth while robbing and supplies the list
> to another person to use; in this case, I guess that the list supplier is
> not as guilty as he didn't do the burglary since someone else did.
> 
> What is so technical about that??

There is an unfathomable gulf between conspiracy to commit a crime and
people running email servers choosing from the many methods various to
manage their resources.

Would it interest you to know that I have a personal list of IPs that are
denied access to my email servers for the purpose of sending mail? Is that a
crime? Does the fact that the list is "on-line" in the same manner as ORBS'
list constitute a "conspiracy"? I have my own reasons for putting IPs on
that list. Anyone who wants to use that list is free to do so. What is the
difference between that and ORBS? I compel no one to use it; people are free
to use it as they choose. I know that a number of sites ARE using it, but I
am not actively involved. How is this different from ORBS?

Blocking email is not robbing a bank. While a "lookout" operates in concert
with the persons actually doing the robbing, ORBS operates in concert with
no one. You cannot legitimately morph a robbery lookout with a list supplier
who is not in any way affiliated with people in the conduct of lawful
activity. People engaged in lawful activity are not "guilty" of unlawful
acts.

Does that sufficiently blast your uninformed analogy out of the water?

A footnote: I don't use ORBS. I don't like ORBS. I think those who run it
act like spoiled children. But ridiculous, uninformed commentary is hardly
useful, either. Until you make such activity illegal (requiring a slight
trampling of the First Amendment) and can enforce the laws internationally
(ORBS is in New Zealand), lathering about it constantly in newsgroups is
rather pointless.

If you have a specific complaint against an ISP for using ORBS and, further,
causing you concomitant inconvenience, take your tale of woe there.

-- 
John Higdon     | Email Address Valid | http://www.anntec.com/
+1 408 264 4115 |  Silicon Valley, CA | FAX: +1 408 264 4407
         From the Bay Area, call: 415 428-COWS