Mailing List Archive Mailing List Archive
w wittman[SMTP:wwittman@we*.co*] said on Saturday, December 30, 1995 = 11:40 PM Hi William, >> it is incredible to me that Germany can dictate policy as to what = those of us in other countries may or may not have access to << Actually, as you may know, Germany does NOT dictate policy in other = countries. In Germany, prostitution is not illegal, female are permitted = to sunbathe topless in their very own backyard (for which the local = police will visit you in the U.S.), and you don't need a nude-beach just = to bath naked. And yes, public TV is allowed to show any human body part = - can you imagine a bare breast on ABC? But Germany also prohibits delivery of sexual explicit materials to = minors. Since CompuServe was not able to restrict access to adult = newsgroups to ADULTS, I see nothing wrong with them complying with what = I consider reasonable laws in any country. Furthermore, Germany does NOT = permit pedophelia and bestiality (sex with children and sex with = animals) out of a concern to protect those who are forced (or otherwise = "made") to participate in such sexual activity. Any service that = provides access to such material violates what, again, I consider = reasonable laws for any country. >> this is simply ridiculous..one option they CLEARLY had was to just = cancel all of their German subscribers...but of course THAT would cost = them revenue << The other option would have been to include parental control features so = that only adults ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD have access to adult material. = This is NOT a German problem, which allows its citizens far greater = liberties as far as pornography, nudity and sexuality is concerned.=20 (Believe me, you wouldn't want your AMERICAN children to be exposed to = half the material that German children consider quite natural.) >> it is just not acceptable for one country to impose its standards of = acceptablility in free speech on the REST of the world new world order = indeed << Germany did not impose anything. It has laws that protect those who = cannot fend for themselves, such as minors and animals. Actually, given = the fact that similar laws exist in the U.S., I am quite amazed that = Germany beat the U.S. to the punch. (Need I remind you of the case = against an national BBS operator who was found guilty for violating the = decency laws of a State half way across the continent?) >> some of us might still prefer freedom << So do we. In order to protect freedom for all, we need to have policies = that make sure that our freedoms don't injure other living things. (Try = to exercise your "freedom" to kill a humpback whale - and I'll visit you = in prison.) The online services need to get their act together and = include effective parental controls to protect minors ANYWHERE in the = world. Andy
Navigate by Author:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Subject Search Index]
[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]
[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]