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From: dyer@wivax.UUCP (Stephen Dyer)
Newsgroups: net.jokes.d
Subject: Re: Freedom of speech
Message-ID: <19504@wivax.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 13-May-84 22:21:44 EDT
Article-I.D.: wivax.19504
Posted: Sun May 13 22:21:44 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 14-May-84 04:16:54 EDT
References: <733@avsdT.UUCP>, <325@kpno.UUCP> <19501@wivax.UUCP>, <120@ut-sally.UUCP>
Organization: Wang Institute, Tyngsboro, Ma.  01879
Lines: 28

>Freedom of speech and freedom from criticism are indeed not the same,
>but hounding an entire organization off USENET because of what one
>person posted one time is something else again.  This has happened.
>It started pretty much the same way as all this "gay blade" hassle.

Foo.  Straw man.  John, I defy you to show that the minor complaints
seen after the "Gay Blade" episode resemble anything at all like
"hounding an entire organization off USENET," and it's a weak argument
for suggesting that those who would take public issue with other public
comments should defer in the best interests of free speech.  To suggest
that is simply alarmist; I am more persuaded by the "fuck 'em if they
can't take a joke" school.

I submit that in the case of BLKTRAN, which I assume you are referring to,
the organization took ITSELF off the net because of the many sensibilities
inside and outside the company which were offended by the joke.  Whether that
action was in the best interest for all concerned is arguable, but to describe
the company as "hounded" is misleading.  In the case of BLKTRAN, the company
had a number of options: doing nothing, issuing a public apology, having the
poster issue a public apology, denying further net access to the poster,
leaving the net, and probably even a few I haven't thought of.
The decision they took is their responsibility alone, and to redirect that
responsibility back onto those who complained about the posting misrepresents
the nature of autonomous, voluntary action.
-- 
/Steve Dyer
decvax!bbncca!sdyer
sdyer@bbncca