Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!mips!atha!aunro!alberta!herald.usask.ca!lowey
From: lowey@herald.usask.ca (Kevin Lowey)
Newsgroups: comp.admin.policy
Subject: Re: Sysop Authority and Liability
Message-ID: <1991May31.052055.7000@herald.usask.ca>
Date: 31 May 91 05:20:55 GMT
References: <1991May30.222230.12898@jato.jpl.nasa.gov>
Organization: University of Saskatchewan
Lines: 35

From article <1991May30.222230.12898@jato.jpl.nasa.gov>, by dave@jato.jpl.nasa.gov (Dave Hayes):
> afoiani@nmsu.edu (Anthony "Tkil" Foiani) writes:
> 
>>Can I say "I won't let colored people into my house?"  If this is
>>legal, then I see no reason to extend this analogy to my BBS or
>>whatever.
> 
> I think this has problems extending to BBSes and USENET access sites. These
> are not "houses" but those that claim to be "public access sites" would
> definately have problems with that kind of attitude. Especially if said.

My original point was that there is no "RIGHT" for anyone to use my computer
for any reason that I don't want them to use it for.  If I bought the 
computer, and pay for it's operation, then I have the perfect right to say 
only my buddies can use it, and no one else can.  I also have the right to
say that if you DO use it, you have to play by my rules.

I don't agree with the racist bent of this.  I detest the idea of limiting 
access to a BBS or computer simply because of the colour of a person's skin.
HOWEVER, this is the case of "Even though I don't agree with what you are 
saying, I will defend your right to say it".  I don't like the idea of
bigotry among computer sysops, but I defend the right of any sysop to operate
HIS equipment the way HE sees fit, so long as it does not break any laws.

As to the RIGHTS.  If people had RIGHTS to use my machine, then I could not
deny them access to it.  However, at any time, if I don't like what is going
on with the machine, I am free to pull the plug and disconnect from Usenet,
Fidonet, or whatever.  The users have no say in the matter.  In fact, just 
recently, my fees to connect to the fidonet echos went from $60 per year to
well over $250 a year (paid by my own pocket, not the office).  As the owner
of the equipment, I exercised my authority to cut out most of the Fidonet
newsgroups to get my budget back in order.  If people had "Rights" to those
newsgroups, then I wouldn't have been able to take them away.

- Kevin Lowey