Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site bbncca.ARPA
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!bbncca!rrizzo
From: rrizzo@bbncca.ARPA (Ron Rizzo)
Newsgroups: net.motss,net.religion
Subject: net.rights proposal
Message-ID: <1172@bbncca.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 28-Nov-84 13:41:33 EST
Article-I.D.: bbncca.1172
Posted: Wed Nov 28 13:41:33 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 29-Nov-84 05:51:17 EST
Organization: Bolt, Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, Ma.
Lines: 32

Given the overwhelming success of net.abortion & net.origins
in siphoning off abortion & origins debates from other newsgroups,
I propose the creation of net.rights for all discussions of civil 
rights & liberties, including legal & metalegal issues, such as:

	laws & legislation
	what is a right?  how many rights are there? when if ever
		can they be denied, & to whom?  is there a right
		to a job, a right to discriminate, etc.?
	applications of any of the above issues to any groups,
		nations, historical periods, belief systems, etc.

I considered naming the newsgroup "net.soapbox" or "net.libertarian"
but in the end thought the less invidious "net.rights" preferable.

Once such a newsgroup is established, the netiquette ban on facile
posting to multiple newsgroups would of course apply (& hopefully
be observed by participants).

A desirable side-effect of segregating the endless "rights" debates
in net.rights would be to clearly reveal the legal/metalegal content
or lack of it in postings, and discourage posters from padding their
articles with secondary issues (like rambling commentary on a host
of topics about homosexuality marginal to the discussion in exchanges
over "gay rights").

Reactions, comments, & suggestions?

					Ron Rizzo

"I'm mad as hell, & I'm not going to take it anymore!!"
					-- Howard Beal