Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!cis.ohio-state.edu!sei.cmu.edu!fs7.ece.cmu.edu!o.gp.cs.cmu.edu!andrew.cmu.edu!jb3o+ From: jb3o+@andrew.cmu.edu (Jon Allen Boone) Newsgroups: comp.admin.policy Subject: Re: Sysop Authority and Liability Message-ID: Date: 4 Jun 91 14:41:12 GMT References: <1991May30.222230.12898@jato.jpl.nasa.gov> <1991May31.052055.7000@herald.usask.ca>, <1991Jun1.175017.6373@rock.concert.net> Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA Lines: 27 In-Reply-To: <1991Jun1.175017.6373@rock.concert.net> Look, the real issue is: Are you providing a PUBLIC service (and are thereby subject to laws, rules and regulations regarding public services, but also, perhaps, can receive monetary subsidies to help pay for it)? or Are you providing a PRIVATE service available to those who YOU decide to allow? You CAN run a PRIVATE service if you choose to do so. Also, you can make your bulletin board system INVITATION only - you can make it any way you want. As long as you don't let EVERYONE log on and use the system (ie., you have some sort of registering service which DOES NOT include a GUEST account), you're probably ok discriminating against whoever you choose, provided you set it down as a written policy. Certainly, the KKK doesn't have a bylaw that says they are, of course, allowing blacks to join if they want, as they can't discriminate due to federal statutes. ----------------------------------|++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ | "He divines remedies against injuries; | "Words are drugs." | | he knows how to turn serious accidents | -Antero Alli | | to his own advantage; whatever does not | | | kill him makes him stronger." | "Culture is for bacteria." | | - Friedrich Nietzsche | - Christopher Hyatt | -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-