🚀 go-pugleaf

dick wrote:
> 
> There is a fine line between free speech and anarchy,and our challenge
> is to draw that line carefully.

No, there's not, and no, it isn't. Free speech and anarchy have very little to
do with one another. The sole linkage that I can find is that under anarchy,
no regulations prohibit your expressions - however, there is also nothing to
prevent one who has more power from shutting you up forcibly. 

Free speech exists most pervasively under a framework of legal protections,
which protections solely limit the powers of those who wish to restrict free
speech, as under the US Constitution.

> 
> I believe that usenet is about like-minded people discussing matters of
> mutual interest.

The history of UseNet clearly indicates that this concept does not in any way
correspond with reality. Indeed, UseNet is a marketplace of ideas which is
characterized, not by concord, but by conflict, ranging from polite debates to
caustic flame-wars. What you describe above is not UseNet, but the sort of
meeting where a political party (or religion) sets their platform. One must
expect that in the market of ideas there will be wildly opposing views. Also
you may wish to ponder that if one sufficiently restricts the purview of
argument, one traipses down a path towards idiocy, since quite-commonly when
one delves deeply into a matter, one discovers linkages which are not
readily-apparent on the surface of a matter. Topics will drift to discover
these linkages, be they of importance or trivial happenstance.

> Outsiders are always welcome, but only on condition
> that they respect the charter of the group and the sensibilities of the
> the participants. Cross postings and others that don't relate to the DC
> area are, to me, an insult and totally out of keeping with the spirit of
> usenet.

Again, your concept of UseNet evidently differs from the reality of UseNet.
Had you said that you thought that off-topic crosspostings were totally out of
keeping with the dc.* heirarchy _charter_ I might tend to agree. 

I must also take issue with your usage of the term "sensibilities". The only
way to fail to offend, on UseNet, is to never post. Politeness and
consideration are laudable, however, if one is to express one's-self here, no
matter how politely-stated one's position may be, inevitably there will be
conflict. 

> 
> For those who wish to speak, go for it as long as your topic relates to
> this group. If it doesn't, you are an unwelcome intruder, so don't
> expect much respect or sympathy.

And here's the basis of the problem, what "relates" to this group? The
District is unique in that it's not only a locality, a city in its own right,
but it's also the Nation's Capital, and as goes Washington, so goes the
Nation. The tentacles of Federal power and National responsibilities are
inextricably entertwined about the very arteries of local politics and
commerce and to fail to heed this is to dance along the edge of the precipice. 

-- 
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