🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <841051669snz@sandwell.demon.co.uk>, Keith Matthews
<kam@sandwell.demon.co.uk> writes
>In article <841008791snz@grazeley.demon.co.uk>
>           jeremy@grazeley.demon.co.uk "JeremyBrowne" writes:
>
>> What I am FOR, in this instance, is a VERY summary and extremely 
>> uncomfortable justice for anyone proved to have been involved in this 
>> unpleasant business.
>
>I think that no one will dispute this, but that the question of whether
>of not this includes the ISPs is the stumbling block. Without repeating 
>all that I said in another thread last week I'll just say that attack on
>Demon should not come as a surprise. Most of us who post here are 
>effectively preaching to the converted, but the  position of an ISP with
>respect to the extreme forms of net porn in the eyes of the Law or the man
>in the street (sorry  if that sounds patronising) is not going to be easy
>to defend, and the journos (and polititicians!) know this.
>
>Imagine the scene in court. Prosecution brief says "Now Mr ISP. Do you
>agree that Inspector Knacker here was able to download this porn image and 
>others from your news server?" ISP replies "Yes, but.." Brief says "No
>further questions your Honour!". 
>
>
snip---

I think demon are in a very difficult position. I agree that freedom to
acces information is very important but I also think that some of the
stuff that is posted is very very offensive.

I wonder if everyone discussing this has had a look at what is available
on the net. I have had a look. Most of the stuff I have seen could be
got in magazines that are freely available over the counter. However, I
have also seen things that I have found to be disgusting. (eg. an AVI of
a man having sex with his 8 year old daughter).

I may be making a stupid suggestion, I don`t know enough about how
demons newsfeed works, but I have an idea that may be acceptable to
everyone.

Could demon filter out all news from anon sources?

Advantages-

1. you will not see any posting that the sender was not prepared to put
thier name on.

This would allow demon to put the blame for any dodgy postings onto the
sender.

2. Demon would not have to blanket ban any newsgroup.

3. If an individual wanted an uncensored feed, it is possible to use
`nntp addserver`.

Disadvantages-

1. It is still censorship.

2. It would make life difficult for people who wanted to use anon
services, eg self help groups, Sally Ann, Samaritans, Political
statements from more oppressed people.

3. It is relativly easy to fake a header to say more or less what you
want.


I do think that the anon mail servers do play an important part in
usenet but on the other hand, there are people who abuse the service by
using it to send material that is illegal in most parts of the world.

-- 
Steve Price