[8909] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: What Will It Take To Educate TV About the Net?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Ed Tully)
Sat Dec 11 14:51:02 1993
From: tully@cscns.com (Ed Tully)
To: carlson@mhd1.moorhead.msus.edu (Scott J. Carlson)
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 93 12:48:47 MST
Cc: postman@lists.psi.com, com-priv@psi.com
In-Reply-To: <9312111930.AA02407@mhd1.moorhead.msus.edu>; from "Scott J. Carlson" at Dec 11, 93 1:30 pm
>
> 'Ed Tully'
> >
> > While I basically agree with you, Dave, I think you must admit there is a
> > dark side to the net for 6-10 year olds. Access providers should begin
> > offering access only to 18 year olds on some of the newsgroups. And
> > further require access to them by anybody with a written request and
> > feedback verification.
> This would be very nice, but who would keep track of this. Surely someone
> wouldn't want to be responsible for say
> alt.sex There must be about 5000 posts on there a day from probably
> 10,000 people. That would be some big job keeping track of which of those
> were 18, and which of those had sent in thier forms.etc.etc.etc.
>
Why does it have to be complicated. All it takes is a conscience. I am not
even suggesting regulation. I don't want big brother to help me any more
than he already is. We stop ad violators on the net by flaing the hell out
of them and not doing business with them. this is comerce. do the same
with those who put up the material for any kid to read.
> If there were some electronic way of screening or something, then it would
> be another story. Say some IP Checking system that actually checked userid
> as well.
>
The access provider can button hole the newsgroups electronically. again
no laws - just self regulating.
>
> I am not a prude, but I certainly am concerned about
> > school children, particularly the younger ones, reading some of the
> > raunchier news groups. I do a lot of work with schools, as I know you do,
> > and that is a seriuos holdup of universal application in many school
> > districts. I don't have an answer, but I certainly recognize the problem -
> > as did Prime Time - and as big a fan as I am of the Net, one kid is worth
> > 10 nets - especially if the kid was mine or my grandchild. Our society has
> > a majority of latchkey kids. parents cannot watch them 24 hours a day.
> > Could be a real trouble spot. And please, no flames on censorship or
> > yellow journalism advocate junk mail. If we want universal access to the
> > little kids, recognize the problem and solve it. We won't do business on
> > the net with people who advertise a legitimate business - yet we turn our
> > heads and ignore this problem. That strikes me as strange as the front page
> > of a local newspaer depicting the Hubbel Rescue on one half the page and the
> > dying homeless on the other half - and I don't think anyone noticed the
> > stark contrast!
>
>
> It is really funny how all of the bad things about a certain issue always
> seem to be in the spotlight.
>
and you are never going to change that. ...unless you find another world
for us to go to.
> Sure if I knew what I was doing, and was under 18, I could as quickly
> download a very X rated Image, as I could the documents of the last
> congressional meeting, or maybe an updated weather image.
>
> It really would help, if someone who knew the net pretty much 'inside and
> out' took all of these journalists on a weekend venture through 'cyberspace'.
>
Again you are blaoming the journalists. they did not bring that stuff to
the net. we did. they just report on it. it is a negative aspect, and most
of us don't want to face that. we hide it. any reason why? that is not
asked facetiously or nastily. just a question.
>
> Scott Carlson
>
>
> --
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> This Message Compliments of:
>
> Scott J. Carlson
> Computer Science LAN Supervisor
> Moorhead State University
> Carlson@mhd1.moorhead.msus.edu
> Carlson@mhdcs.moorhead.msus.edu
>
> ** Never Put off Till Tomorrow What you can avoid All Together **
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
--
Edward J. Tully
Network Training & Consulting
Community News Service
Colorado Springs, CO
719-592-1241 719-592-1204 fax xx
