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From: ken@uswat.uswest.com (Kenny Chaffin)
Newsgroups: comp.society.futures
Subject: Re: Databases and comm channels:  future trends? (Really about Prodigy)
Message-ID: <12858@uswat.UUCP>
Date: 13 Nov 90 16:39:57 GMT
References: <5^&^A6^@rpi.edu-> <90Nov12.154523pst.17170@alpha.xerox.com>
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In article <90Nov12.154523pst.17170@alpha.xerox.com-> Chris_Kent.PARC@XEROX.COM writes:
->
->Isn't this the way it's always been? No. Perhaps it's always been this way for
->computer mail services, but I think that the telephone system is a better
->analogy for the future of electronic messaging systems. The Phone Company has
->no right to censor what I say on the phones (modulo obscenity laws or whatever
->it is that makes it illegal to use scatalogical language on the phones in the
->US), even if I'm using the phone to call my local Utilities Commision. They
->rent me the wires. Period.

	Not really a good analogy. The postal service is better. With a phone
you can only contact a single individual (normally). By electronic bulletin
board, or mail you can send messages to many, sort of like broadcasting or 
publishing. All three of these industries have laws governing content, plus
ethical mores of the the owners or publishers.
KAC

"Anybody want a drink before the war?"
                       Sinead O'Connor
 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Kenny A. Chaffin                      {...boulder}!uswat!ken
U S WEST Advanced Technologies                (303) 930-5356
6200 South Quebec
Englewood, CO 80111
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