Well said Euwe.
On Mon, Nov 22, 2010 at 5:43 PM, euwe <[email protected]> wrote: > A petulant immaturity seems to beg the question of whether or not > "free speech" should cover even the destruction of the medium that > provides the persistence of information. I would like to submit the > idea that there are certain expectations concerning the medium of the > marketplace of ideas which similar to management of the commons. When > you go to the park - which is something that everyone may use - if you > find the trash of previous park users overrun with ants, flies and > maggots - you might think that the previous users had ruined the > infrastructure of the park, so that the pleasure of the experience is > no longer available to those who come along afterwards. > > The infrastructure of the commons is basically policed with modest > rules like no littering, no consumption of alcohol, no selling, no > naked sunbathing, limits on the loudness of music, and so forth. It is > a long-standing tradition that there are limits which are set for the > people who want to use the parks for their stated purposes - to gather > for family activities, to grill a hot dog, to read, to listen to the > leaves blowing in the wind - to play a game of chess with a neighbor - > to enjoy the company of friends and relatives while children are free > to play games that don't involve throwing food at strangers. > > The institution of the idea of "the peace" helped to identify and > convey the idea that the space is supposed to be for everyone, not for > any one individual. > > In the same way, the medium of the forum - the threads, the available > space on the first page... and the "peace" which is preserved for all, > so that the forum may be used for its stated purpose - for the free > exchange of ideas relating to the topics in the forum, created by the > members.. all designed to fit within the definition of "politics" or > "religion" or "pets" or whatever... an expansive berth is provided for > the discussion of ideas, but by no means does any adult person really > believe that "no limits" would provide a better environment for the > exchange of ideas, than one that is "moderated." > > No mature adult, anyway. > > -- > Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. > For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum > > * Visit our other community at > http://www.PoliticalForum.com/<http://www.politicalforum.com/> > * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. > * Read the latest breaking news, and more. -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more.
