Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!bellcore!wind!tr From: tr@wind.UUCP Newsgroups: misc.legal,alt.drugs,alt.flame Subject: Re: Rosen + Wiener = Mading? Message-ID: <3615@bellcore.bellcore.com> Date: Wed, 18-Nov-87 08:40:19 EST Article-I.D.: bellcore.3615 Posted: Wed Nov 18 08:40:19 1987 Date-Received: Sat, 21-Nov-87 07:43:13 EST References: <19013@amdcad.AMD.COM> <1232@puff.wisc.edu> <7368@eddie.MIT.EDU> <1843@chinet.UUCP> Sender: news@bellcore.bellcore.com Reply-To: tr@wind.UUCP (tom reingold) Organization: Bellcore, Morristown, Noo Joizy Lines: 36 Xref: utgpu misc.legal:2918 junk:6422 alt.flame:556 In article <1843@chinet.UUCP> rhonda@chinet.UUCP writes: $ [...] $ Some people say that closing down Mading's account is "bad" because $ it means "controversial" posters can be canned at any time. Bull. $ There's a difference between "controversial" and "obnoxious." $ People who express political or personal opinions about the world $ that grate against the norm are controversial and should be protected $ under first amendment rules. People who chase people around and $ harrass them with stupid childish name calling are obnoxious and $ shouldn't be so protected. $ [...] In principle, maybe. But in practice, NO WAY! Whose job is it to distinguish between controversial and obnoxious? What method works reliably? Nobody; none. That's why freedom of speech means the freedom to word what you want to say any way you want goes along with the freedom to say what you want. I find Eric offensive too. Nothing he has said has been constructive or insightful, or good in any way. I also think that he is baiting us and that annoys me. His remark about Jews, even if it was a joke, was really uncalled for. But your delineation between the obnoxious and the controversial is useless, Rhonda. There is a difference between the two but there is no justification in silencing someone for either reason, unless you don't really believe in the right of free speech. If you want to argue against free speech go ahead. But free speech is free speech, and it is not a censor's job to make your delineation. Tom Reingold INTERNET: tr@bellcore.bellcore.com Bell Communications Research UUCP: !bellcore!tr 435 South St room 2L350 SOUNDNET: (201) 829-4622 [work] Morristown, NJ 07960 (201) 287-2345 [home]