[1508] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: So what is the answer?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Janet Murray)
Thu Oct 17 03:19:53 1991
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 91 20:38:23 PDT
From: Janet.Murray@f23.n105.z1.fidonet.org (Janet Murray)
To: com-priv@psi.com
* Original to Uucp @ 1:105/42 in netmail
* Forwarded Wed Oct 16 1991 20:37:59 by Janet Murray @ 1:105/23
To: edtjda@chron.com
Hello, Joe -
* * * * * * * B A C K G R O U N D * * * * * * *
I have been _deeply_ reluctant to post in response
to this thread, but as one of the parties involved
in "the incident", I feel that clarification is
needed. Please note that this is provided as
"background" material, and that I do _not_ expect
to be quoted. You may, however, call me for more
information if you wish.
U>Robert Carlitz writes:
> smear the Texas network, citing what you call a
> "major porno incident."
[Joe Abernathy responds:]
U>That's a direct quote from a user or administrator of the Texas
U>Education Network . . .
U>Let's open discussion on whether this was a "major incident." The
U>statewide Texas educational network shut down usenet access
U>within days of turning it on, because of what was described as "awful,
In _fact_ (and _just_ the facts):
Jack Crawford and I were invited to (and attended) a meeting of the
Consortium for School Networking in Austin, Texas, August 15-16,
1991, because we are co-founders of K12Net, a voluntary collaboration
among <mostly> FidoNet System Operators interested in K-12 education.
K12Net features conferences (called "echoes" on FidoNet) which are
dedicated to curricular issues (in math, science, language arts,
social studies, art, business, etc. education), foreign languages
(French, German, Russian, Spanish), and classroom-to-classroom
projects (in rotating "channels" designated for specified periods
of time). K12Net also offers "chat" areas for elementary, middle
(or junior high), and high school students. The K12Net echoes
are also available as USENET newsgroups in the hierarchy k12.*
Two <pertinent> things happened while we were in Texas: TENET
began collecting the k12.* newsgroups, and a _rogue_ user at the
U of Washington (with a stolen account) transposted a series of
messages from alt.sex to k12.chat.* By the time I arrived home,
the Postmaster at the U of Washington had already been made
aware of "the incident" and closed out the account which
originated the messages.
* * * In _my OPINION_ * * *
The fact that this single incident has become an issue _two months
later_ is a mystery. K12Net has been operating for more than a
year, and this has been the _only_ incident of its kind. The
"coincidence" <"within two days"> was _truly_ a coincidence.
U>The disclaimer that I was gathering material for an article was
U>included as a matter of journalistic ethics. It's revealing to
REMINDER: this is "background" material!!
U>posts did include such a disclaimer, offering him a reminder that
U>he was dealing with a reporter, and offering him a chance to go
U>on background.
REMINDER: this is "background" material!!
> net. In extreme cases, where there is willful abuse of the privilege of
> net access, universities suspend the privilege of access.
Which is _exactly_ what happened in this case.
Quoting Robert Carlitz:
> You should realize that your broadcast of such an aggressive letter of
> inquiry to multiple newsgroups and the personal mailboxes of several
> individuals must be viewed as an aggressive and hostile act by all those
> of us who receive the brunt of its impact.
I intend to transpost this message to cosndisc, com-priv, and
K12.sysop.
U>My query was posted only to the groups pertinent to the
U>discussion;
Quite a few - but it looks like you "missed" eff.talk
U>see my mailbox as a result of the post.)
More for your mailbox.
U>But I don't think there were any "perpetrators" in this thing.
There _was_ a perpetrator - who _deliberately_ used a
stolen account on a University system.
U>That they immediately found material so
U>controversial
U>that entire portions of network access were shut down seems to me
U>to be a topic most worthy of reasoned discussion.
There were _no_ school children on TENET at the time.
U>I'm not trying to get a cheap ride off of sensationalistic
U>material.
_Really?_
U>I'm trying to approach a tough subject that needs to be
U>approached. I've had two directors of regional NSF networks tell
U>me
U>that they consider "appropriate use" to be THE most significant
U>issue
U>facing this community today.
It is a tough subject, and "appropriate use" is a significant issue.
However, I believe that if you scanned _all_ the messages in
_all_ 37 K12Net echo areas, you would discover that significant,
appropriate, educational material _far_ outweighs the occasional
inappropriate message, and that K-12 teachers and students are
enthusiastically using telecommunications to broaden their
educational environment.
U>people always start shouting.
I'm _not_ SHOUTING; but I do believe your focus has been
somewhat narrow.
U>that way, but we're not going to get anywhere by ignoring
U>reality.
The _reality_ is that there are significant attempts to connect
K-12 teachers and students through telecommunications in a _wide_
variety of projects involving a large number of students and
teachers, and an _insignificant_ percentage of inappropriate
messages.
| Janet Murray, Librarian System Operator
| Wilson High School HI TECH TOOLS for Librarians BBS
| 1151 S.W. Vermont St. FidoNet 1:105/23
| Portland, OR 97219 (503) 245-4961
| (503) 280-5280 x450 K12Net Council of Coordinators
| jmurray@psg.com
--
uucp: uunet!m2xenix!puddle!23!Janet.Murray
Internet: Janet.Murray@f23.n105.z1.fidonet.org
