>> Hardly anyone sees that in with the existence of the Internet it >> is going to imposable to control the flow of information, period. >> The only way to stop this flow of information is to ban people all >> together from the Internet. Any sort of censorship and copy >> protection is going to be defeated, plain and simple.
There's one major factor that will determine the outcome of the 'War Against Internet Freedom' - the mass user. In the 60s through 80s, geekiness was a social stigma - personified by 'nerds' with their pocket-protectors, thick-rimmed glasses and programmable calculators, never ever getting the girls. Interestingly, in the 90s, geekiness started to become quite hip, even to the extent that the main character of the 90s' most significant movie, The Matrix, is the geekiest of the geek. IMO, what will determine the outcome of this war is whether the mass users will take it on themselves to gain even just a slightly deeper understanding of what the Internet is from a technical point of view, and not regard the 'under the hood' matters as the realm of social outcasts. Linux by its very nature strongly encourages technical learning, but for every Linux box on the desktop, there are 50 W--dows boxes, with an operating system that increasingly encourages technical ignorance. So it's up to everyone with even an ounce of technical know-how to educate everyone they can, to the best of their ability, to start comprehending the issues involved, and making purchasing decisions that encourage, rather than discourage, internet freedom. For instance, * Prefer Linux * If one *must* have windows, then *don't* buy XP * Learn how to determine if any new hardware has any copy restrictions, and don't buy it * Boycott ISPs that impose restrictions of any kind * Set up blacklists of ISPs and web hosts that cave in to threats (eg from Church of Scientology) * Stop buying CDs and DVDs, especially from labels that deploy copy-protection * Attend more live gigs and other performances * Don't buy VCRs or hire videos that resist copying If the masses vote with their wallets, and reject any technology that compromises the free exchange of material, the War will become a foregone conclusion. -- Regards, David mailto:david at rebirthing.co.nz Windows XP XP = eXterminating your Privacy Please don't use Windows XP! Defend your online freedom http://www.eff.org http://www.freenetproject.org http://freeweb.sf.net -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- Version: 2.6 mQCPAzvXs9kBbgEEANHr7tHODruDgqTDPjODXSaq2I+EGsGvyZR3g+s5VyrlF2fH ftChHHhsQUK5nDzafSLvDg5ctMnIb/aeEN3HT2URfc2s3zyHHCvcWU0BKhiFjxl5 1mVm2ihf6Ld5koX8ECvXhVvWjP8vXqw4B0IUZ8nODlSExx7JsEsMt0+QelfBABEB AAG0JERhdmlkIE1jTmFiIDxkYXZpZEByZWJpcnRoaW5nLmNvLm56PokAlQMFEDvX s9lLDLdPkHpXwQEBCeAD/RVJ9nxGPDTSxaQLvDclN+N78aJFTxIlehc/XOK3QMgT CnrUjdi42xwKIGvWMD4Mfd3K4SNj50QfvvddrE8MYpMPDYIWLB31/bisVWja7QXT 3zMLh2dj2n52GjGM9xFtJoXGM8oOxrODteBSh5fx5PNqvMpj5Zq9J7jC23WZKDj0 =VHBU -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- _______________________________________________ Chat mailing list Chat at freenetproject.org http://lists.freenetproject.org/mailman/listinfo/chat
