Re: [Bug-gne]Ideologies vs. Practicality in GNE

[Hook]

Tom Chance wrote:
> I was just wondering where everybody stands on this
> issue of being idelogically sound whilst still being
> in line with laws and societal "expectations".
> Personally, I would love to see GNE try to make a
> precedent by rising above petty differences and try to
> host as much as is possible in the best way possible.
> If in the future we find we a forced to back down, we
> do so, but I don't think we should be shutting too
> many doors now when we don't yet have any _need_ (only
> in some people's eyes a want). What do others think?

In an ideal world, I'd agree with you, publish and be damned.  However, I
really *do* believe that GNE has to be aware of the effect on others that
some material may have. For me, it isn't an issue of "petty differences" at
all, it's considerably more fundamental and important than that. I think
that there's a world of difference between a government persecuting holders
of a view that they don't like (China over things like Falungong or Tianemen
Square), and individuals being hurt as a result of published material
("howto" articles about date rape, pedophilia etc).

We've come up with plenty of examples here in past weeks of subjects which
*are* extreme, and the project may never have submissions in these areas at
all. But I think it's useful for GNE to have a philosophy explaining what
happens if such articles appear. It's particularly important to cover those
areas which are illegal in one country or another. Regardless of how any of
us feel about another countries laws (or our own for that matter), they do
exist, can and often are enforced, and can have an effect on the reality and
the public perception of a project like GNE.

I think that there are some subjects which shouldn't be published at all.

Paul