Re: [9fans] ISP filtering - update

[Jim Choate <ravage@einstein.ssz.com>]

On Thu, 25 Sep 2003, Douglas A. Gwyn wrote:

> Jim Choate wrote:
> > Spam is speech, people have a right to try to talk to you.
>
> Not unless you invite them to.

Wrong, and it's demostrated many times before why this is wrong.

If they don't have a right to try to contact you then how do they get your
permission? The fundamental flaw in the 'unsolicted email' approach. It's
called a "Catch 22".

There is a deeper philosophical problem with respect to what is meant by
democracy, individualism, and privacy. I suggest the following,

Individualism and Economic Order
F.A. Hayek
ISBN 0-226-3209306

In particular read chapter 1, "Individualism: True or False", as it
addresses this supposition head on, and demolishes it.

If you withdraw from society, you lose your say in that society. You have
no right to reap the benefits of a society if you don't participate.
Otherwise it is simply theft. There are two types of activity in a
democratic society, passive and active. In a democratic society the active
options are left to your personal choice (ala Zamyatkins "We"), however
the passive components are what -you owe others- as a member of that
society.

Freedom is not free.

 -- --

God exists because mathematics is consistent, and the Devil exist because we
can't prove it.
                          Andre Weil, in H. Eves, Mathematical Circles Adieu

      ravage@ssz.com                            jchoate@open-forge.com
      www.ssz.com                               www.open-forge.com