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VK4PKT > INFO 21.06.03 20:35l 92 Lines 4516 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 2A0065VK4PKT
Read: DB0FHN GUEST
Subj: Re: VK4PKT & PACKET CENSORSHIP
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RGB<DB0FSG<I4UKI<IW5CWB<IK5CKL<IK1ZNW<RZ6HXA<SP7MGD<VK7AX<
VK4TX<VK4WIG<VK4DGQ<VK4WIE
Sent: 030619/0309Z @:VK4WIE.#BNE.QLD.AUS.OC #:53358 [Brisbane] FBB7.00g
From: VK4PKT@VK4WIE.#BNE.QLD.AUS.OC
To : INFO@WW
Hi Warren and Readers
"Was that ascerbic enough for you?" <---- Warren asked
No mate, I thought it was a pretty reasonable response all things
considered although a tad wide of the mark as to absolute accuracy
and there for the title and accusation really does deny me natural justice
to some degree. I'm hoping that after reading this reply you will
understand that I do NOT censor in the manner in which you were inferring,
I am infact a strong believer in free speech so much so that during the
time I spent with the WIAQ and other Amateur Radio related clubs etc I
picked up the tag of being a bit of a "dangerous progressive radical" I
think ;0). I will always try to follow the line of reason and sense to the
point of even turning a blind eye to the regs and proceedure in some
cases. I believe the spirit of the law to be all important where the
letter of the law is often down right stupid.
So back to the "am I a censor" debate. First the "caveat". As I said in my
last bull I've only renewed my licence recently, the following MAY have
changed to some extent since I was last sysoping 4 years ago but I have
not heard anything to that effect.
So, censorship.. This is a two edged sword without a handle here in
Australia and here is why. Unlike in most other countries it seems, Packet
radio BBS's are NOT given the staus of a "public telecommunications
carrier" here. Now I'm not sure what that would be called in the U.S. or
other countries but what it means here is that while television and radio
stations and other carriers may print, carry or report comments by others
and not be held legally liable for the content, BBS's do not enjoy the
same legal protection. If you were to call someone a "retarded idiot" or
some such endearment in a message and it was considered defamatory the
SysOp of every BBS in Australia who allows the message to pass is under
the letter of the law legally as liable as the person who wrote the
message. Understand why I get a little twitchy when you really start to
toast someone now Warren?
This HAS already resulted in some degree of paranoia (understandable)in
SysOp's here, 2 legal cases that I am aware of in Australia and is
responsible for the closure of many BBS's over the last 5 years as this
has become an issue. The remaining BBS's have often resorted to measures
like password authentication of users and other means to try and limit
their liability. We don't rely on that (thin at best) protection here on
this BBS, we simply keep a very close eye on the bulletins and what we do
is this...
Anyone who is involved in "controversial" debates is placed (usually only
for a time) in the reject.sys file but they are NOT placed in reject
status they ARE placed on "HOLD". This means the message is held until one
of the SysOp's gets a chance to read it. If there is nothing that will get
our arse sued then it is released onto the system. Whether we like what it
says or not I might add. The name of the file to be edited to do this
"reject.sys" is unfortunate but it can be (and is by most all BBS's I know
here) configured to simply "hold" mail for review.
Unlike the U.S. which has a robust constitution The Australian
Constitution guarentee's freedom in matters of faith but little alse.
Freedom of speech is poorly and the right to bear arms not at all
ensrhined within it's text.
I can tell you as fact that once read your messages (except honestly in
about 1 case, which one I can't remember, you write so many) have all been
allowed to pass. The one titled "VK4PKT and PACKET Censorship" is there
right now to be donwloaded and read by all. Oh and before you ask, NO
messages tagged "P" for personal are not held or reviewed in any way.
Bulletins only.
I hope now you may understand a little better my viewpoint and position.
Also as I really don't appreciate having a @WW bulletin titled with my
callsign and the word CENSORSHIP in capital letters cricle the globe
perhaps you might conceed to the point of titling your next bull something
like "VK4PKT <-- Cautious old woman maybe but not a CENSOR" because while
I may be a hard arsed S.O.B. I try to be an ethical hard arsed S.O.B. and
I would not liked to labled as a Censor. Mud Sticks.
Yours in Amateur Radio
Ari Laver
(This message sent both as Bull and Personal just to be sure Warren.)
73 - Ari, VK4PKT @ VK4WIE-1
ax25 :- vk4pkt@vk4wie.#bne.qld.aus.oc
email :- vk4pkt@optusnet.com.au
Message timed: 12:56 on 2003-Jun-19
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