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free speech and privacy; or, if you eat your cake, it is gone....
Topic Started: Feb 22 2007, 09:48 PM (299 Views)
Dominic Guglieme
the human MICROscope!!



This article is largely inspired by an article by GREG LUKIANOFF AND WILL CREELEY in the current issue of "The Boston Phoenix." (www.thephoenix.com, on/around 2/22/07)

The article describes a number of incidents where students have gotten into trouble with colleges for things they have published on-line.

While some of the examples did in fact demonstrate schools going too far, the basic principle of the article was foolish.

As Lukianoff and Creely tell it, schools are going too far in monitoring what their students are publishing on-line. What the writers seem to forget is that the students are publishing what they are publishing in public forums.

While students, like anyone in this country, have a right to freedom of speech, there is no guarantee (legal or moral) that one will not face consequences for what they sayprint in a public forum. Reading one's public statements, and scrutinizing one's public behavior is not an infringement on privacy nor freedom of speech.

While some of the penalties handed out by schools have been unreasonable, (as in the case when a student posted a bit of invective, on an off-campus forum, about a candidate for student government), the schools really are not violating any rule (legal or moral) by perusing a public document.

If somebody wants to post something foolish, be it picture or text, they should be open to the idea of being called on it. If somebody wants to be able to spout off with impunity, they would do well to lock themselves in a closet and talk to themselves. (I talk to myself all the time. I also occasionally sing in the shower. I do not do this publicly however, as I prefer such conversations and displays to be private.)

Frankly, if students, or anybody, are going to post on-line, (the most public of all venues, as the display will probably outlast the interest of the one posting it and remain available for anyone who blunders past), they should be more amazed if nobody sees it.

And, if you really want to post/speak with impunity, avoid an audience. Do you have private conversations on your front stairs? No. You likely go inside. The same principles apply on-line. One forum I frequent, (newhood.ufafed.org, where you may be reading this article), is primarily an open forum. Anybody can wander on and read what they like. But, like most forums, "newhood" has a private message function. This allows members to discuss what they like in private.

Of course, even in an open forums, one can preserve their anonymity. Anyone who posts their real name, and other information on-line is, put simply, a boob. Honestly, is it really so hard to cook up an alias? I use them myself. I do not do anything nefarious (in most cases), but they do allow for a certain distance. (Aliases also have a use in keeping one type of writing or venue seperate from another, which many professional writers such as Ralph "Owen Parry" Peters use aliases for. Peters has publics said he is Parry, but maintains the two names for business reasons.)

So, what does this leave privacy and speech? Well, frankly, if you are in public, "they" probably are watching you. If nothing, else, you are line of sight from "them." If you are going to post/ay something in a public place, expect an audience. If you do not want an audience, do not make yourself obvious.

Dom
-has a few aliases, and darned if he is gonna reveal 'em here.








Keep it local.


The healthiest leper in the colony is still very very sick.

www.theanimalrescuesite.com
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zartan015
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people need to understand freedom of expression and freedom of offense cannot co-exist. And only one is guarunteed.
 
Dominic Guglieme
the human MICROscope!!



I see what you are saying about freedom of expressioin, v/s freedom from offense.

The real thing here though is that some people want freedom to speak, without the worry of censure.

Freedom of expression works pretty well here (on this board, whatever we call it this week), because all of us are mature enough to use it. Really, aside from the occasional cuss for humourous effect, nobody really goes out of there way to be nasty.
Keep it local.


The healthiest leper in the colony is still very very sick.

www.theanimalrescuesite.com
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