re: Aggression and the Net
Topics: FreeSpeech
09 Jun 1993
From: ervan
> A higher level of aggression is customarily tolerated on the Internet,
|> [... some] messages are on the level of the obscene telephone call or
|> hate mail, [...]
|> (2) Is the level of aggression tolerated on the Internet too high?
|> How high is high enough?
I don't even understand why you think there is a problem. One of the
good things about the net is that you can say what you want without
fear of retribution and if you don't like what you read, you are only
an 'unsubscribe' or 'delete' button away from fixing the problem.
This is totally unlike the case for face to face harassment where it
may be difficult to avoid the harasser, quid pro quo arrangemnts are
being suggested, and there is some concern for physical safety.
After spending a day in a speech controlled world (e.g. cable TV
channel content requirements, the 7 dirty words, zoning being used to
eliminate adult book stores, libel law run amok, and anti-harassment
codes in many places), the anarchy of the net is a pleasant change.
First, I think 'aggression' is a presumptous word here. It tends to
blur the distinction between physical action or threat and the speech
content (I know that some people don't believe in that distinction,
but while it's an open issue it be worth respecting the difference).
Is the level of harassment too high? No.
How high is high enough? In so far as only content is in question,
it's never high enough to merit censorship. Hit the delete button and
go on. If a harasser uses the phone or physical mail then the
harassment would be actionable as appropriate under the laws covering
those media. Assaults on a machine either via malicious hacking or
mail queue bombs are also too far, for the reason that something
beyond content of the message is then at issue.
> How do we know when someone has gone too far?
This is a very good question. I always ask it when someone proposes
an anti-harassment rule or law. It never has a good answer.
|> (3) Could the personal vendettas which sometimes arise be considered a
|> form of stalking harrassment and therefore be actionable in a court of
|> law?
I hope not.
Home