The FCC
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Bob's Big Date
Member # 3151
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written Sunday, August 3 2003 23:19
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Yeah, and you'll have nothing to hide until the government, buoyed by that kind of logic, decides that something you've been doing in the open shouldn't be done, either. And before you know it, even if you haven't done anything wrong, you do have something to hide. -------------------- In a word, gay. --Bob the Impaler Posts: 2367 | Registered: Friday, June 27 2003 07:00 |
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...b10010b...
Member # 869
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written Sunday, August 3 2003 23:42
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I don't deny that the government's likely to abuse its power. If and when it does, then there's nothing to do but accept it. Isn't surveillance worth any constraints on our freedom, even unreasonable ones, if it prevents crime? The world would be a better place if more people would learn to just shut up and do as they're told anyway. -------------------- I believe there are 15 747 724 136 275 002 577 105 653 961 181 555 468 044 717 914 527 116 709 366 231 425 076 185 631 031 296 protons in the universe, and the same number of electrons. -- Sir Arthur Eddington Posts: 9973 | Registered: Saturday, March 30 2002 08:00 |
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Shock Trooper
Member # 18
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written Monday, August 4 2003 03:09
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I've always held the opinion that the first amendment is a little out-dated. When it was written, a stack of dudes were trying to be very idealistic, and, in the long run, had very little idea that future generations would use it as an excuse to slander ethnic groups (or whatever). In Australia, our constitution uses the expression "with just cause" all through it, hell, there was even a movie made about it. In the case of our somewhat more laid-back version of free speech, there are a lot of allowances made for this kind of thing. You have to remember though, that our country just had it's 100th birthday 2 years ago, so it's laws are still relatively fresh. One of our "centenary of federation" actions was to basically re-vamp our constitution - bring it up to date with modern language. It now has the word "mateship" in it _files/biggrin.gif) .Hmmm, I feel like I'm posting to Slashdot. Posts: 304 | Registered: Monday, October 1 2001 07:00 |
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Shaper
Member # 496
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written Monday, August 4 2003 07:21
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I suspect Thuryl is not entirely serious! However, I'd add that the US Constitution is written on the assumption that excess concentrations of power lead to its abuse, and even makes provision for a government excessively abusing its power to be dissolved by force of arms. Sort of curious those arguing hardest for increased censorship and state surveillance will also argue strongest against gun control. Irresponsible use of guns is potentially a lot more immediately damaging than irresponsible use of language! On the issue of swearing particularly, it may be ill-mannered or ignorant to swear excessively or, conversely, it may enrich and increasse the range of our language. Regardless, it is not appropriate to limit such expression by force of law when informal enforcement mechanisms (i.e. expressions of social disapproval) are adequate. Posts: 2333 | Registered: Monday, January 7 2002 08:00 |
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Lifecrafter
Member # 87
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written Monday, August 4 2003 08:21
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The problem with 'big brother' type monitoring is that someone may do something privately that while illegal, is not wrong, or vice versa, that while not illegal is wrong. In either case, the authorities or the individual is screwed. Who is the FCC directly under? edit: language: Have you ever watched a comedian? they use profanity as a climax to make the audience laugh. But generally profanity is used by people who do not want to go to the trouble to fully develop their thoughts before they talk, sometimes leading to misunderstanding. [ Monday, August 04, 2003 08:26: Message edited by: Frod Perfect ] -------------------- Tip of the Day: #13 Stand clear the closing door. That's treason. (THNIK)(Peculiar James, FP productions co, inc) Posts: 816 | Registered: Friday, October 5 2001 07:00 |
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Guardian
Member # 2080
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written Monday, August 4 2003 19:00
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Um, let's see here... One of the more obvious, but for some reason it hasn't already been mentioned, problems is a one about privacy itself. Do you honestly want gov controled cams in your home? In your bathroom while you're taking a shower? I didn't think so. Posts: 1918 | Registered: Sunday, October 13 2002 07:00 |
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...b10010b...
Member # 869
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written Monday, August 4 2003 22:05
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Privacy has only been considered important relatively recently, you know. Centuries ago, everyone in a small town or neighbourhood knew everything that everyone else was doing and unless there was something particularly wrong with it, nobody really cared. I think I prefer things that way. -------------------- I believe there are 15 747 724 136 275 002 577 105 653 961 181 555 468 044 717 914 527 116 709 366 231 425 076 185 631 031 296 protons in the universe, and the same number of electrons. -- Sir Arthur Eddington Posts: 9973 | Registered: Saturday, March 30 2002 08:00 |
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Shock Trooper
Member # 18
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written Tuesday, August 5 2003 02:52
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What's your real name Thuryl? What did you eat for breakfast? Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend? What's their name? Posts: 304 | Registered: Monday, October 1 2001 07:00 |
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Shock Trooper
Member # 18
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written Tuesday, August 5 2003 02:54
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Grumble. Excuse my poor connection - I assumed the post had not went through and reposted. Can some mod whack this? [ Tuesday, August 05, 2003 02:55: Message edited by: Majordomo ] Posts: 304 | Registered: Monday, October 1 2001 07:00 |
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...b10010b...
Member # 869
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written Tuesday, August 5 2003 03:38
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Not your fault - the boards are acting up lately. It's hardly fair of you to ask me those questions if you'd have no intention of providing answers if I asked the same of you, now is it? If you really want to know, feel free to send me a PM or email and we'll come to some agreement. -------------------- I believe there are 15 747 724 136 275 002 577 105 653 961 181 555 468 044 717 914 527 116 709 366 231 425 076 185 631 031 296 protons in the universe, and the same number of electrons. -- Sir Arthur Eddington Posts: 9973 | Registered: Saturday, March 30 2002 08:00 |
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Shaper
Member # 496
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written Tuesday, August 5 2003 03:47
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The question was evidently rhetorical. Why PM though, when we all live in the same 'room' (except possibly re. bandwidth, a technicality)? Back in the days prior to the printing press and mass literacy, the power of private citizens (esp. masses of them) was great compared to the state ('King Mob' etc), certainly not the case today. Privacy means we're at least less dependant on the state's goodwill to preserve our basic liberties. Posts: 2333 | Registered: Monday, January 7 2002 08:00 |
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...b10010b...
Member # 869
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written Tuesday, August 5 2003 04:03
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Very well, then. I had steak for breakfast today; any assumptions you may make about my lifestyle and personality based on this fact are up to you. None of the other information he asked for is secret either; anyone sufficiently observant should be able to find it for themselves by now, possibly by asking around a little. They could even find out what I look like and several places where I live or used to live. I'd imagine they could probably guess a lot about me just from my location and the times at which I post. Does this mean publicly-displayed posting times are a privacy risk? I do see your point about it being unwise to place too much trust in a government's ability to regulate itself -- all the more reason why I'd much rather any privacy-compromising information were accessible to the general public rather than in the hands of the government or of whoever happens to stumble upon them. It's impossible to blackmail someone with what's already public knowledge. -------------------- I believe there are 15 747 724 136 275 002 577 105 653 961 181 555 468 044 717 914 527 116 709 366 231 425 076 185 631 031 296 protons in the universe, and the same number of electrons. -- Sir Arthur Eddington Posts: 9973 | Registered: Saturday, March 30 2002 08:00 |
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Fire! Fire! Fire! Fire!
Member # 919
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written Tuesday, August 5 2003 05:04
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My history teacher this year told us that "Government is giving up freedoms in exchange for safety", although she used a different word for safety which I don't remember. Anyway, it is true, if you think about it; anarchy may be freedom, but it is most certainly not safe. Total surveillance may mean less freedom, but you're a lot more safe from crime. Not that I want my house constantly watched; I like to be alone, partially because I don't like being watched, and I'm always paranoid about video cameras in semi-public places. But really, we're better off with the government regulating things, as long as it's not everything. I think protecting children from innappropriate language is a very reasonable goal. -------------------- And though the musicians would die, the music would live on in the imaginations of all who heard it. -The Last Pendragon TEH CONSPIRACY IZ ALL Les forum de la chance. Incaseofemergency,breakglass. Posts: 3351 | Registered: Saturday, April 6 2002 08:00 |
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Infiltrator
Member # 2669
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written Tuesday, August 5 2003 08:09
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It's a little heavy-handed to draw a correlation between the FCC's censorship of obscenities to public surveillance. Times change, as can be seen by George Carlin's "7 words you can't say on television", which is now down to five, and working on four. As for surveillance, public or private, I'm against it. Modern society's obsession with safety (including excessive hygiene) is quite irrational. Government should be as transparent as possible, but individual privacy should be vehemently protected. The internet already allows access to quite enough information to be able to completely ruin someone's life. -------------------- ... Posts: 647 | Registered: Wednesday, February 19 2003 08:00 |
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Shaper
Member # 496
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written Wednesday, August 6 2003 08:52
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Agreed, this 'safety first' thing really stinks. Two cases that particularly galled me recently: 1) Local authorities were banning kids from playgrounds in case they fell off the swings, slide, roundabout, etc and their parents sued. What next? They cut down all the trees so kids potentially don't fall out of them too? Learning about how to take risks is an important part of gaining confidence and growing up. I'd prefer the next generation not to be a bunch of under-exercised, agrophobic, litigious wimps. (And I bet nothing's going to be done about traffic hazards, which is a real killer....) 2) Making landowners liable for people swimming on their land (or in their rivers and lakes, to be more accurate), which basically means a ban on simple, free fun, especially in the current hot weather. If someone wants to chuck themselves in a river and drown--esp. if the landowner doesn't even know they're there--that should be their responsibility alone. It's not like we're talking about a licensed swimming bath here. Keeping people out will turn the countryside into a worse maze of barbed wire and 'no trespassing' signs than it is already, with riverbanks being replaced by 'Berlin Wall' style barriers, no doubt with private security firms doing fine out of yet another new CCTV outlet. I'm with Hect-etc on the excessive hygiene thing too. Hope all this isn't too irrelevant... Posts: 2333 | Registered: Monday, January 7 2002 08:00 |
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Guardian
Member # 2476
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written Wednesday, August 6 2003 12:01
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The ability and willingness to take risks is what triggers creativity. Without risks creativity dies. Who'd want to live if that was taken away? I wouldn't. -------------------- Polaris Posts: 1828 | Registered: Saturday, January 11 2003 08:00 |
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Lifecrafter
Member # 87
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written Wednesday, August 6 2003 13:18
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http://www.fcc.gov/aboutus.html The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent United States government agency, directly responsible to Congress. The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. The FCC's jurisdiction covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions. Organization The FCC is directed by five Commissioners appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for 5-year terms, except when filling an unexpired term. The President designates one of the Commissioners to serve as Chairperson. Only three Commissioners may be members of the same political party. None of them can have a financial interest in any Commission-related business. Just thought someone might want to know. -------------------- Tip of the Day: #13 Stand clear the closing door. That's treason. (THNIK)(Peculiar James, FP productions co, inc) Posts: 816 | Registered: Friday, October 5 2001 07:00 |
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Babelicious
Member # 3149
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written Friday, August 8 2003 05:59
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The FCC is vitally important. Without it or an analogous regulatory organization, broadcasting would be pure anarchy. I'm referring less to their dwindling regulation of content (PPV porn, obscenity, etc.) than to their regulation of bandwidth.l X, Thuryl is entirely serious. He is an absolute utilitarian -- the best action is whatever does the most good for the most people. He doesn't believe in natural rights, for one. I, on the other hand, am a libertarian. The best action is that which restricts one's natural rights the least. Natural rights are defined as the right to do anything that you could normally do outside of the constraints of civilization. These are positive rights, by the way; you have the right to kill, but you don't have the right to not be killed. I don't follow the laws of the United States, because the social contract (the Constitution) is no longer valid, having been repeatedly and continually violated by the Federal Government. Obscene language is not immoral. It obstructs nobody's natural or societal rights. Posts: 999 | Registered: Friday, June 27 2003 07:00 |
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Lifecrafter
Member # 87
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written Saturday, August 9 2003 11:32
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Without bandwidth controls the station with the highest wattage would be heard. -------------------- Tip of the Day: #13 Stand clear the closing door. That's treason. (THNIK)(Peculiar James, FP productions co, inc) Posts: 816 | Registered: Friday, October 5 2001 07:00 |
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