Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site looking.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!looking!brad
From: brad@looking.UUCP (Brad Templeton)
Newsgroups: net.religion,net.legal,net.misc
Subject: Autodialing Falwell - a different perspective
Message-ID: <487@looking.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 18-Jan-86 20:53:08 EST
Article-I.D.: looking.487
Posted: Sat Jan 18 20:53:08 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 19-Jan-86 05:32:33 EST
References: <1225@mtuxo.UUCP> <11434@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>
Reply-To: brad@looking.UUCP (Brad Templeton)
Organization: Looking Glass Software Ltd. Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 35
Xref: watmath net.religion:8899 net.legal:2734 net.misc:9144
Summary: 

While I think Falwell and his moral majority are something we could well
do without, it's clear to see how this autodialing is a violation of
his liberties that no member of the ACLU should feel justified in doing.

People seem to be confusing "it's possible to do it" and "it's legal
to do it" with "it's moral to do it."  They are not the same thing.

In this case, the Moral Majority has set up an 800 number, with an
invitation that those who wish to call in support may do so free of charge.

Under no circumstances has he said that anybody can call free, the
invitation is quite specific.  The fact that the only service the phone
company provides is the general 800 number has *NOTHING* to do with it.

Just because you *can*  listen in on a cordless phone call doesn't make it
a good thing to do.  Just because you can call Jerry toll-free at
his expense doesn't make it a good thing to do.

In these issues, the best way I know to make a moral judgement is this.
Pretend that any technical solution possible exists.  Then act as though
this were the case.  If you are to make use of somebody else's 'property'
or services, you should only make use of them according to the wishes
of the owner.  The fact that I don't have a fence is not an invitation to
walk on my land.

Those who fight from the "do whatever you can get away with" stance
will only encourage stricter laws and more expensive technical solutions
to problems involving violations of people's rights.  Think of the world
you are building.

Apply the golden rule.  If you had an 800 number for abortion information,
would you want Mr. Falwell's supporters calling it with their autodialers?

-- 
Brad Templeton, Looking Glass Software Ltd. - Waterloo, Ontario 519/884-7473