-Caveat Lector- ----- Original Message ----- From: Declan McCullagh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Date: Tue, 08 Jun 1999 08:42:21 -0400 >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >From: "Joseph M. Reagle Jr." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Anarchism and the Net Declan, I thought you might be interested in the following, your comments would be welcome: http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/people/reagle/regulation-19990326.html ABSTRACT Many think the Internet is a good thing because it is unregulatable. The Internet is good, but not because it cannot be regulated. Like anything else, policies are voiced and implemented on the Internet. The true strength of the Internet is that, as an institution, it exhibits characteristics of policy formation that appeal to one's sense of liberty. This is not solely because of maxims like "The Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it," or "No one knows you're a dog on the Internet." Free speech and privacy are laudable characteristics of the early Internet, however they are neither absolute nor guaranteed forever more. In fact, mechanisms of identifying oneself and controlling content can be useful as well as invasive. Instead, what makes the Internet a "good thing" is its anarchical characteristics of policy formation, such as decentralization, consensus, and openness that real world social structures have striven for -- some with more success than others. I examine these characteristics in the context of popular Internet quotations (and anarchist principles) that act as the belief system of the Internet. _______________________ Regards, http://web.mit.edu/reagle/www/ Joseph Reagle E0 D5 B2 05 B6 12 DA 65 BE 4D E3 C1 6A 66 25 4E independent research account -------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- the moderated mailing list of politics and technology To subscribe: send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with this text: subscribe politech More information is at http://www.well.com/~declan/politech/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------- DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
