Re: HTTP Futures

Dan Lester (ALILESTE%IDBSU.BITNET@CEARN.BITNET)
Thu, 1 Dec 1994 07:37:19 +0100

In addition to being abhorrent to most of us for all sorts of
reasons related to censorship, if there weren't some centralized
"power" and "control" involved, it wouldn't have a prayer....and not
much of one even then. Just like students always find ways to hack
systems (and not just computer systems), I can guarantee you that
some students would click up pix of mickey and minnie mouse from the
G server at disney.com and get a picture of three men, four women and
a pony doing all sorts of unnatural things. If ratings weren't
centrally controlled, you could also be sure that lots of 'porn
servers' would rate themselves G just for the hell of it.

One more reason that centralized control is less likely to happen
is the current slander/libel case against prodigy.com. Apparently
their reputation and practice for actively censoring postings on
their service make them MUCH more liable for the postings on the
system than others that make a "common carrier" defense with great
success.

cyclops

Dan Lester Internet: alileste@idbsu.idbsu.edu
Network Information Coordinator WWW: http://cyclops.idbsu.edu
Boise State University Library
Boise, Idaho 83725 In the kingdom of the blind, the
208-385-1235 one-eyed man is king. Erasmus. 1523