Re: [Bug-gne]the problem of illegal content vs. freedom

[Hook]

Mike Warren wrote:
> Jean-Daniel Fekete <address@hidden> writes:
>
> > I think there is an ethic problem here.  There are good social
> > reasons to forbid some articles.
>
> No there aren't.
>
> > Think about children reading articles on necrophilia or negationism.
> > They can be hurt or "inspired".
>
> That's not our fault.

In your opinion, maybe.  However, it ought to take a little more than that
for a policy decision by GNE to be enacted. In a number of countries GNE
would share legal responsibility for publishing material which assists in
the comitting of a crime. In those places, it doesn't matter what *any* GNE
supporters believe, the countries legal system will take precedence.
Realistically, we have to expect this to happen more and more as the various
legal systems begin to catch up with the internet.

I get the distinct impression that the only responsibility that some members
of this list are interested in is "freedom to publish", and that for them
there is nothing else which even comes close in importance. Regardless of
whether or not I think of this as wrong, it's dangerous, and borders on the
fanatical, to have such a narrow view. I don't believe that something as
potentially beneficial as GNE can afford to completely ignore the potential
for damage that completely open publishing can have.

> > There is a true responsibility in publishing "dangerous" material.
> > I don't mean GNE should not do it but I wonder who will bear the
> > responsibility when somebody gets hurt.  Probably RMS will, since he
> > inspired the project.
>
> Probably the person who did the hurting will, since they are at fault.
Thousands
> of people read all about bombs and never actually make one...

Quite right. However that's not always relevant.

Paul