----- Original Message ----- "Russ Johnson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> If they crack down on the botnets, what's to stop them from deciding > (arbitrarily) that some other tcp/ip traffic is "bad"? I like the fact that > most ISPs have taken the attitude that they are just a piece of wire >in the circuit. I didn't ask them to protect me from myself, and > I appreciate the fact that they aren't acting like big brother. Why not let everyone drive 100MPH on I-5? Myself I am glad there are rules enforced to help keep the traffic flowing for everyone and to help keep people safe. Certainly there are risks and opportunity costs to everythng. As with all rules designed to protect society there is always the underlying desire to balance the liberties of one with the common good. The potential impact of the botnets on the internet (e.g. on civilization) are too great to ignore. If we let "market forces" control everything (or turn the cheek to certain issues) then nothing much will be accomplished for the common good. I'm with Ben on this. It will take a "collective" effort to both educate and deal with the technicalities surrounding this issue. Hopefully the service providers, large internet companies and all the other stakeholders (government, business, developers, common internet citizens, etc) can come to a common understanding soon on this. I have been not following to closely on what ideas are are on the table to deal with manging botnets and their effect on the internet, but it appears to me the leaders are avoiding this subject (possibly becasue they don't have a grip on the underlying technical aspects of the issue) and are hoping the situation will just magically get better on it's own. So educating our leaders should be the immediate initiative. Hopefully we can avoid another CAN SPAM law. What was Wyden thinking anyway? Woody _______________________________________________ EUGLUG mailing list [email protected] http://www.euglug.org/mailman/listinfo/euglug
