XPost: fa.freebsd.cvs-all, alt.usenet.reposts, tw.bbs.comp.xml   
   XPost: soc.senior.issues   
      
   Despite an orchestrated campaign of attempted censorship by UK-resident   
   newsgroup readers, TFN did not bow   
   to demands for a suppression of freedom of speech. TFN general policy on the   
   matter is as follows;   
      
   Draft Policy on Account Deactivations due to News Group Postings   
   ================================================================   
      
   News group postings occasionally take the form of a message which goes against   
   the "topic" of the conference.   
   For example, a derogatory message about Canadians in the soc.culture.canada.   
      
   Members of such news groups then may send a message to the system   
   administrators asking that a user's account   
   be terminated because of such posting.   
      
   The Toronto Free-Net Board of Directors has taken the position that the only   
   postings that will get a person's   
   account terminated is material that is illegal under Canadian law. Otherwise,   
   the Toronto Free-Net will not   
   take any action.   
      
   Freenet Executive Director Mike Anderson had this to say regarding the   
   continued attempts of a minority of usenet   
   participants to have my account on his system deactivated;   
      
   The TFN's policy is not to take action against members unless they contravene   
   the Criminal Code of Canada, or   
   engage in practices such as forgery, attacks against other computer systems or   
   mailbombing.   
      
   Mr. Corley, while possibly being very annoying, has not contravened the TFN's   
   policies. The TFN believes strongly   
   in freedom of expression, while recognizing that the price for such freedom   
   may be a high signal-to-noise ratio in Usenet.   
      
   If Mr. Corley breaks the law, we will take action -- until then, he has the   
   same rights as any TFN member to post   
   to Usenet newsgroups. Actions such as mailbombing the TFN in protest will be   
   met by strong complaints to the   
   originating site's postmaster. The best defense against unwanted postings may   
   be simply be to ignore them and deny   
   the poster an audience.   
      
   TFN Executive Director Toronto, Ont CANADA   
      
   Personally, I find it gratifying that my contributions to usenet discussion   
   are recognized as being conducive   
   to a high signal-to-noise ratio by their quality and thoughtfulness.   
      
   155   
      
      
   --   
   Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)