🚀 go-pugleaf

Dmytri Kleiner (dmytrik@syntac.net) wrote:
: On Wed, 01 Jul 1998 16:14:47 GMT, fjb@torfree.net (Jim Butterfield)
: wrote:
	...

: >It's clear that other ISPs in the Toronto area would deep-six such a
: >posting FAST.
: 
: Other ISPs are not publicly funded, are not volunteer supported, do
: not posses the status of a charity, their responsibility is to their
: stake holders, *OUR* responsibility is to the greater good of our
: community, and unless we serve as a vanguard of free speech and
: justice, we are *NOT* working in the best interest of our community.

I don't think TFN should necessarily serve as "a vanguard of free speech".
I don't think that there's a big need for this, since Usenet already has
plenty of free speech. 

On the contrary, since TFN is publicly funded, it should aim to maintain
the same or similar level of free speech as other ISPs, which is plenty
already. By providing a convenient forum for especially obnoxious,
offensive, and possibly law-breaking posters, TFN may only enanger its
funding.

As far as "justice" goes, TFN, by providing free services to the poor,
will do well to maintain and improve its level of service. This is
contribution to social justice enough.

Regards,

Yuri.

Yuri Kuchinsky -=O=- http://www.trends.ca/~yuku -=O=- Toronto

There is no substitute for good manners, except, perhaps, 
fast reflexes.