Newsgroups: comp.admin.policy Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!n8emr!bluemoon!sbrack From: sbrack@bluemoon.uucp (Steven S. Brack) Subject: Re: Canceling someone else's article Message-ID: Sender: bbs@bluemoon.uucp (BBS Login) Organization: Blue Moon BBS ((614) 868-998[0][2][4]) References: <48330@bcsaic.UUCP> Date: Sat, 01 Jun 91 04:49:49 EDT snicoud@Boeing.com (Stephen L Nicoud) writes: > In article <1991May29.222406.26060@herald.usask.ca> lowey@herald.usask.ca (Ke > >If anyone has a RIGHT here, it is the right of the owner of a computer to > >control how his computer is used. Its exactly the same as the bus driver wh > >has the right to kick anyone off the bus if they are causing a problem. > >Claiming that the USERS have rights to get electronic mail, no matter how > >badly they act, is similar to saying that bus riders have the right to steal > >the bus, and use it to rob a bank. If someone is trying to use MY equipment > >in a way *I* consider is improper, then *I* have every right to kick those > >people off *MY* computer. > > And how about the bus driver/owner who makes black people sit in the > back of the bus. Clearly it is not *always* up to the owner's notion > of what is "improper". You cannot restrict the activities based upon > sex, race, religion, creed, etc... And in the case of a University computer system? I could see the logic developing: The owner is in control -> the computer is owned by the university the university is owned by the taxpayers -> the taxpayers have control over the computer -> students are taxpayers -> students control what use the computers are put to. Obviously, we need a more refined model somewhere between "I run the system & make all decisions regarding it" & "The users can do anything they want on the system." How do large universitys balance student rights & their responsibility to make efficient use of computing resources? As more students go "on-line," problems of this nature will only become more vexing. =========================================================================== Steven S. Brack sbrack@bluemoon.uucp The Ohio State University sbrack%bluemoon@nstar.rn.com sbrack@isis.cs.du.edu ===========================================================================