[clug] [OT] Broadband clangers

[steve jenkin]

Sam Couter wrote on 13/08/10 2:22 PM:
> Ben Nizette <bn at niasdigital.com> wrote:

<snip>

>> Well that's just the thing, a major part of RC relates to the
>> incitement of violence or other indecent acts against others. Sure fewer
>> than 99.99% of people who do see this stuff aren't going to act upon it
>> but when one is too many, how do you make sure? Similar argument to gun
>> laws..
> 
> Who says one is too many? I could ban cars based on the statement
> that one death on the road is too many. Peanuts, going to the beach
> or pool, bathrooms with hard surfaces, kitchens with sharp knives,
> etc.

Sam/Ben,

Thanks for both your PoV and agreeing to debate, not slang off at each
other. One of the great things I enjoy about the people who are this list.

For me, this post in particular suggests a question I've never heard in
the 5+ years of this debate:

	Given that there is deep passion in the community over this
	issue, just *how* do we (The Voters):
	- define the question,
	- debate the issue and
	- decide the issue?

The ALP/Conroy/FedGovt saying "we have a mandate for this" is flat-out
wrong. [Proof is this thread.]

It makes this a partisan issue where the only stance available for the
Conservatives (in this political climate) is "No, you're wrong", which
serves nobody.

The EFA et al saying "It's a Bad Bad Thing" is similarly uninforming and
doesn't take us towards a Solution, or even A Good Question...

The current approach is demonstrably not taking us (our community) to
consensus or clarity.
Debates like ours don't create much 'light' and usually a lot of 'heat'.
Even if CLUG did come to a new, insightful understanding of the problem
and its solution, what then?? Talk amongst ourselves and decry the
partisan politics and outrageous lobbying of vested interests?

How do we get this Democracy we call Home to come up with a decent
process that leads to not just an adequate Solution, but a Great one?

A Solution that everyone can live with for 50 years...

Not Rhetoric, but a real question...
CLUG isn't your average group or mug-punters, nor is Canberra 'just
anywhere'. We could make a difference, should we choose.

[One young guy with a packet sniffer and a question changed the world of
software with SAMBA... I'm not suggesting we *will* change this, but we
might :-)]

cheers
steve

-- 
Steve Jenkin, Info Tech, Systems and Design Specialist.
0412 786 915 (+61 412 786 915)
PO Box 48, Kippax ACT 2615, AUSTRALIA

sjenkin at canb.auug.org.au http://members.tip.net.au/~sjenkin