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From: rajeev@sftri.UUCP (S.Rajeev)
Newsgroups: net.movies,net.flame,net.nlang.india
Subject: Re: Re: A Passage to India (worst movie), FLAME
Message-ID: <412@sftri.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 21-Apr-85 08:50:20 EST
Article-I.D.: sftri.412
Posted: Sun Apr 21 08:50:20 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 22-Apr-85 00:32:15 EST
References: <1610@ut-ngp.UUCP> <322@olivee.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Summit N.J.
Lines: 46
Xref: watmath net.movies:6142 net.flame:9422 net.nlang.india:338

> >      In conclusion I can only hope that Mr. Friedman's comments
> >  will not dissuade anyone from seeing "A Passage to India". I also
> >  hope that in future members of this network community will refrain
> >  from posting irresponsible comments on net.movies.
> 
> 	I didn't agree with the opinions expressed in the original
> article either, but I'm not about to suggest that people with
> strong opinions which conflict with mine should refrain from posting
> them.  How do you define "irresponsible" in this case?  Are posters
> to the net "responsible" for anything beyond the expression of their
> ideas?  A paid critic in a major publication has to weigh his words
> carefully because, particularly in this case of young or "unknown"
> performers, careers can be made or destroyed based on such reviews.
> I hardly think that's the case with regard to the net.
> 
> 	If you disagree with something, fine - post your argument.
> Just remember that preserving your right and freedom to post your
> feelings, however wrong, offensive, racist, stupid, or whatever
> they might be to someone else, is only done by allowing the other
> guy the same right.
> 
> 	- Greg Paley

I agree that theoretically speaking everybody has the right to say
anything they want on the net. Freedom of the press, no censorship
and all that. However, along with the right comes the responsibility
to use the net wisely. For instance, I am perfectly capable of
making a virulent and vituperative attack on Herr Friedman (the poster
of the original attack); to which he'd feel obliged to respond in
kind; to which I'd reply even more strongly; and so on ad nauseaum.
The rest of the net community will be innocent and incensed witness
to this exercise in tastelessness; to say nothing of the thousands
of dollars wasted by the various machines in forwarding this nonsense.
Eventually some person in authority will feel obligated to censor
both of the perpetrators. (This is not hypothetical: if you read
net.singles, there's been a similar scenario recently -- the moderator
of the group is trying to remove a Mr. Williams from the net!) 
A certain amount of self-censorship (or "responsibility" or tact) would
thus prevent considerable grief to all concerned.

Furthermore, "your rights end where my nose begins", as one of my
anti-smoking friends used to say :-)
-- 
...ihnp4!attunix!rajeev   -- usenet
ihnp4!attunix!rajeev@BERKELEY   -- arpanet
Sri Rajeev, SF 1-342, Bell Labs, Summit, NJ 07901. (201)-522-6330.