The net is a terrifying place to some people... especially
parents. Due to the sudden influx of inexperienced individuals who use the
net without any true understanding of it (especially those who are members
of America Online,) people have suddenly realized that there are both positive
and negative aspects to something as powerful as a world-wide computer network.
Its implications continue to astound both experienced and inexperienced
users. Whenever it is widely believed that the net's limit has been reached,
a whole new world opens up with the release of newer, more powerful technology
and software. This begins to hint at the dangers of such a place.
Originally, the Internet was simply a system of government
computers networked around the country so that they could easily transport
information. It steadily grew and eventually entered the public sector.
Now, nearly everyone has become able to access the net in some way or another,
be it a local freenet or the ever-despised AOL. There are very large numbers
of knowledgeable users who are upset by the users of commercial online services.
The users of such services did not have to work in order to gain access
to what they use; they simply picked up the phone and everything was handed
to them on a silver platter. The majority of them have no concept of what
the net is. The net's basic purpose is the transfer of information. The
people on AOL have not grasped this concept judging by their actions on
online news discussion groups (aka Usenet). The majority of them (presumably,
young teenage males) are in search of pirated software and pornography.
The latter is one of the most obvious faults of the net.
Virtually anything on the net is available to anyone that
knows how to find it... pornography included. This has led political figures
such as Senator Exon to stand on their pulpit and ramble about how they
will censor the net so it is "safe" for everyone. There are two
basic problems with this ideology. The first amendment is supposed to allow
free speech for everyone, even individuals such as myself. Second, it is
impossible to enforce. The individuals on the net who understand it are
not working for the government. They are the individuals who are making
it possible for people to transfer ideas... regardless of what they may
be. Due to the design of the entire system, it is impossible to control
what is transferred. I've seen newsgroups shut down because of what they
transmit, but their users only move to other newsgroups and continue business
as usual. Basically, the people running the stuff the government dislikes
are the same people who control the net. If the government tried to physically
enforce any legislation they create (such as arresting misusers), it would
have to arrest the majority of the Internet community. That is why censorship
of the net is an impossibility. There are far too many individuals such
as myself who believe in the Constitution and have the ability to enforce
it regardless of what the government thinks.
- Mighty Taco
dg003e@uhura.cc.rochester.edu