Re: Slightly OT: We should move linux related channels off of FreeNode
From: Bill Davidsen
Date: Thu Feb 24 2005 - 17:51:11 EST
Patrick McFarland wrote:
Today lilo (the FreeNode network owner) has decided to make one step away in a
direction opposite of freedom, and banned all Tor users from the FreeNode
network.
Tor ( http://tor.eff.org ) is an open source anonymous gateway system. Many
users who are not in the position to be able to use IRC otherwise (such as
those who live in countries who do not believe in free speech) now cannot use
Freenode any longer.
How does tor.eff.org identify the oppressed users who have no other
means of free speech from the flaming assholes who disrupt irc under the
cloak of anonimity? Are you saying that there is no problem on freenode
caused by these users, and this action is just a block for no reason
other than a hatred of anonymous users?
Do we want to use an IRC network that no longer supports freedom? Our only
option is to move to another network, such as irc.noderebellion.net or
irc.oftc.net. Channels such as #kernelnewbies have already moved to oftc due
to lilo's past actions.
In what sense "moved?" There is a channel, there are lots of people
there, they are discussing Linux, they are making sense... If you mean
YOU have moved to a channel of the same name elsewhere, or that people
you think are important, helpful, or whatever have moved, fine. But
unlike some of the other channels which come up with a note saying they
have moved, #kernelnewbies continues to exist and be used. By people
willing to answer a question, even.
Freedom of speech is an odd thing, people think that they have lost it
if a publisher will not publish their material, however you define
publisher and media. I don't personally believe it includes the right to
force me to listen, or disrupt ongoing conversations.
Both USEnet and E-Mail have been flooded by people claiming freedom of
speech. In the battle to keep the Internet useful, there is collateral
damage, and it sounds as if this is what's happening. You would be far
more accurate to say that freenode has made a different balance between
freedom for people willing to identify themselves and freedom for
everyone without regard for their content. Terms like "no longer
supports freedom" are not helpful.
--
-bill davidsen (davidsen@xxxxxxx)
"The secret to procrastination is to put things off until the
last possible moment - but no longer" -me
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