🚀 go-pugleaf

Wendy Guy (cq915@torfree.net) wrote:

: Actually I can see Dmytri's point. It may be splitting hairs but they're 
: very consequential hairs.

: If we state that someone must break the law before we take action, we put 
: ourselves in the position of second-guessing the judicial system's 
: handling of such a case. While I don't see this in quite the extreme way 
: that Dmytri does, I do see problems with it.

: On the other hand, if we create a set of guidelines which mirror and 
: reflect key points in our justice system that apply to our little corner 
: of the world, and call them our own policies, then we have drawn a 
: boundary around what is acceptable within our walls without necessarily 
: linking ourselves to any outside legal process.

I think this makes sense.

: This does not mean that seeking outside legal action is not an option --
: on the contrary. TFN can choose to refer a complaint to the greater legal
: system, or to handle it regardless within its own organisational
: boundaries, or both. By creating a set of guidelines (called whatever you
: want) that reflect Canadian laws, we draw our organisational boundaries in
: a way that is in sync with our containing community, which makes a lot of
: sense to me. 

: Drawing up our own set of guidelines also enables TFN to more easily and
: fairly take action when deemed necessary by our Board according to the
: circumstances, rather than waiting to find out what the outside legal
: system decides -- something you told me you support. 

That's right. I think it makes good sense for TFN to be able to restrict
posters who are extremely offensive or obnoxious, or who post possibly
illegal material. A fair warning should be issued of course. 

My only suggestion is that TFN should be neither more nor less restrictive
in its AUP than most ISPs. TFN mandate should be to provide Internet
access to those who otherwise would not be able to have it. This is
fighting for social justice. But those who endanger or discredit TFN
because of their inappropriate postings only threaten to impede the
ability of TFN to further social justice. 

Regards,
                                                              
Yuri.                                                         
                                                              
Yuri Kuchinsky -=O=- http://www.globalserve.net/~yuku  UPDATED
                                                              
Most of the evils of life arise from man's being              
unable to sit still in a room    ||    B. Pascal              
-- 
Yuri Kuchinsky          | "Where there is the Tree of Knowledge, there
------------------------| is always Paradise: so say the most ancient 
Toronto ... the Earth	| and the most modern serpents."  F. Nietzsche
  --- my webpage is (for now?) back at: http://www.io.org/~yuku ---