[1505] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: Use of the Internet
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Elizabeth Lane)
Fri Oct 16 10:50:42 1992
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 09:36:49 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
From: Elizabeth Lane <ELANE3%UA1VM.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
In-Reply-To: Message of Thu,
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
On Thu, 15 Oct 1992 16:28:52 CDT <THENDERSON@Library.MsState.Edu> said:
>I have been a subscriber to pacs-l for two days now and have already
>received a number of interesting messages. But two messages this
>morning have disturbed me: two different network users chose to
>include brief political comments after their addresses.
First point: signatures are rather like what we "wear" when participating
in electronic conversations. Would you likewise require your colleagues
to refrain from wearing political buttons or tshirts at conferences, or
in public? If not, in what way do you see that as being different?
>Ok, I
>believe in free speech and open communication, and all that stuff.
>But I also do not want to see this list, and indeed, Internet, become
>a ping pong table for political and social commentary. I signed on
>for professional reasons. I want to learn from my colleagues. But
>this is not the place for your unrelated opinions. See Lee
Second point: When do we cross the line from "free speech and open
communication," which you endorse, to "all that stuff?" And who is to
determine what constitutes an "unrelated opinion?" Suppose I feel
strongly that one candidate or another is more likely to support the
development of a strong information infrastructure, and the funding
for libraries and schools to connect to that infrastructure? (Gore,
for example, the author of the High Performance Computing Act which
authorizes the development of the NREN.) Is that not germane to this
forum? I would say it was. No, I wouldn't use the conference as a way
to proselytize for a candidate, but I would certainly be interested in
convincing arguments as to the likelihood of any candidate for office
to support the needs of libraries and information consumers.
>librarians. Another writer this morning referred to "cybertrash," an
>appropriate term for the things that clutter the discussion. Let's
>keep the discussion on professional issues for librarians and
>information users. Thanks.
>
Third point: When did restriction of free speech fall out of the range
of "professional issues for librarians and information users?"
Sorry if this comes off as a flame, but I think this is *very* dangerous
ground upon which you're treading...
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