🚀 go-pugleaf

In theoretical ethics, the principle of nonmaleficence (do no harm) is
generally considered stronger than beneficence (prevent harm: remove harm:
do good).  Nonmaleficence is why only very nasty people spam.  

Current information-ethics theory (Severson, Jonson, Spinello, Forester,
Mason)  holds that the computer or information professional has the
following obligations: 
  - Nonmaleficence -- don't cause damage, don't hurt a system or person.
So, no trojan horses or viruses; no selling damaged goods; and no
spamming!

  - Respect for privacy -- this one covers simple hacking for curiosity's
sake.  People have the right to keep information secret.  Cookies, re-use
of data for purposes other than those the information was collected for,
and using email addresses from Usenet are other examples of ethically
debatable actions.

  - Respect for intellectual property -- don't steal code or software, and
don't post copies of Dilbert cartoons or Dave Barry articles on Web pages
without permission. Fair use, citation (linking), and other reasonable
uses are also respected, if proper credit is given. 

  - Fair representation -- be honest about your work.  If the system is
going to be down, or you don't have enough modems for users, or the Web
page project isn't going well, then you have the obligation to tell your
clients.  Intel's reaction to the flaws in its pentium chip was a classic
example of unfair representation.  

The obligation to beneficence is (generally) non-obligatory.  In medicine,
if I have the same tissue type as another person who is dying for lack of
a kidney or bone marrow graft or blood transfusion -- I am not obligated
by law or ethics to provide that tissue.  On the other hand, a physician
is obliged to provide medical care in some circumstances even at risk to
her own health or life because they do have an obligation to beneficence
in life threatening situations.  Hostmasters, ISP owners, and other
systems types may have an obligation to beneficence in a life-threatening
case, but spam is not life threatening. Even if you do have high blood
pressure!


In article <33773b50.847743@news.primenet.com>,
Mario1- <Mario1@PrimeNet.Com> wrote:
>"Hostmaster" <hostmaster@azinternet.spam-block.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>I agree, this is silly. And I do report the spammers that cause problems
>>for my users. But I do not have to to *go after* spammers by inviting them
>>to send me spam so I can track them down, nor do I have the time. I am busy
>>enough getting the ones bugging my users now to stop. Sorry, but I'm not
>>(and have no desire to be) Mr "Net Cop".
>>
>
>It has nothing to do with being a "Net Cop", but has everything to do
>with being a responsible "Net Citizen". People that bury their heads
>in the sand will assure that the spammers are allowed to continue. 
>The amount of spam I get has dropped considerably, since I go after
>each and every one. Besides, how long does it take to trace an address
>and send an email to their provider?
>
>
>Regards,
>--
>[Mario1-]
>Mario1@PrimeNet.Com
>Mario1@Eskimo.Com     http://www.eskimo.com/~mario1


-- 
Mari Stoddard                   stoddard@u.arizona.edu
Arizona Health Sciences Library, University of Arizona
520 / 626-2925 (voice)              520 626-2922 (fax)
 URL: http://amber.medlib.arizona.edu/homepage.html