Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!unmvax!bbx!bbxsda!scott
From: scott@bbxsda.UUCP (Scott Amspoker)
Newsgroups: news.newusers.questions
Subject: Re: What constitutes abuse of the net?
Message-ID: <451@bbxsda.UUCP>
Date: 13 Dec 89 16:50:40 GMT
References: <379ur-@ames.arc.nasa.gov>
Reply-To: scott@bbxsda.UUCP (Scott Amspoker)
Organization: Basis International,  Albuquerque, NM
Lines: 29

In article <379ur-@ames.arc.nasa.gov> hettinger@krypton.arc.nasa.gov writes:
>	In rec.humor I read a particularly brutal series of
>sadistic jokes dealing with child abuse and pedophilia posted
>by an individual who will go unnamed.
>[...]
>	Am I right or wrong?  What constitutes abuse of the net?
>I have no wish to infringe an individual's rights but on the 
>other hand I feel compelled to take action, particularly when
>dealing with sexual abuse of children.

I understand how you feel.  I read those postings too.  rec.humor has
certainly had its share of disgusting postings but this was the first
time ever the 'n' key didn't help.  However, I'm totally against censorship.
I don't believe jokes like that inspire anyone to go out and rape children.

I am annoyed that there wasn't adequate warning in the subject line.
(The vague warning that was there could mean almost anything).  Then there
is the issue of what is humor.  You can get away with anything if you are
funny enough.  I have laughed at "sick humor" (such as pedophile jokes)
before.  However, these jokes were simply brutal as though humor
really wasn't the main objective.

I don't think censorship is the answer, though.

-- 
Scott Amspoker
Basis International, Albuquerque, NM
(505) 345-5232
unmvax.cs.unm.edu!bbx!bbxsda!scott