Distinguishing Between “Lice and Fleas�

Turner writes “Article about Anti Filter activists by Bob Turner at Sparkpod.

http://www.sparkpod.com/Turner

“Anti-Filter activists, each in their moment of time had a significant hand in providing “a definition of the situationâ€? about Internet filtering and they contributed to the perception that created its nickname, Censoreware. However, as time flew and ideas technologically and culturally evolved it doesn’t necessary follow they did. The problem is they were unable or unwilling to distinguish between “lice and fleas.â€?……..”

June 14, 2004 by Uncategorized 4

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4 Responses

  1. Seth Finkelstein says:
    June 14, 2004 at 8:04 pm

    Flea Circus
    Well, I’m more amused than anything else.

    “This was not necessarily a happy harmonious community …”

    Yeah

    As noted, and in
    my blog, I’ve
    quit
    censorware decryption research, it’s
    not worth it,

    However, the “lice vs fleas” issues was extensively discussed, as

    supporting censorware itself     was originally extensively advocated as a

    lesser evil     than government censorship law.

    My view on this was, contrary to myth, not
    ideological, but in fact purely pragmatic. I saw no evidence
    that the lice-vs-fleas’ers were actually correct in terms of likely
    censorship outcome, and much to indicate that they were engaging in
    wishful thinking. And people who went down that path tended to get
    very attached to their pet flea circus.

    It’s akin to dictatorship. All dictators are not equivalent. However,
    trying to find a “good” dictator to replace a “bad” one, rarely works
    in practice.

    But in retrospect, I certainly would have been better off personally
    if I had gone into the cockroach-wrangling business. 🙁

    — Seth Finkelstein

    Reply
  2. Fang-Face says:
    June 15, 2004 at 3:37 am

    Re:Flea Circus
    Somebody should tell poor Bob Turner that spelling, punctuation, grammar, and neatness all count. I’d do it, but knowing enough about the differences between lice and fleas myself — Bob’s concensus of reality to the contrary — I’m pretty sure he isn’t going to listen to me. Besides, I like to laugh at the way he writes.

    Bob’s illiteracy skills aside, I have to say, judging by various remarks he made there and elsewhere, that he still thinks his software is going to be some kind of panacea. I’d like to see Bob and the other filter advocates explain to me exactly how it is that the ultra-conservatives are still trying to get draconian filters installed on all public computers when the Supreme Court has said you can only filter computers dedicated to use by children and only in those libraries that are getting federal funding.

    Or why such people insist on surfing the internet when they know what’s on it.

    Reply
  3. Turner says:
    June 18, 2004 at 1:40 am

    Re:Flea Circus
    Well Seth

    If lists were transparent you would not have had to quit because you wouldn’t have had to start…

    there is a difference between secret encrypted lists and transparent lists….

    Reply
  4. Turner says:
    June 18, 2004 at 2:03 am

    Re:Flea Circus
    Fang Face you myth-underestimate me….

    CIPA requires all computers to be filtered …even the staff’s computers…I’m not saying my software is the panacea. I’m saying “Librarians can demand transparency and a click through feature from all
    software companies”… the software companies will yield…

    I don’t know what “draconian “software you are referring to but if it is draconian I would guesses what that means is it has a secret encrypted list and no click through feature….that is what “draconian ” is.

    It’s a simple but important point.

      Many libraries that need the money are experiencing this need to filter as a problem. It is not my problem and it is not your problem. It is their problem. Transparency and click through solves the “intellectual freedomâ€? component of the problem.

    As to whether they ought to be in this position….well thats an other story.

     

    Reply

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