Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!husc6!bloom-beacon!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sm.unisys.com!csun!srhqla!mml
From: mml@srhqla.UUCP (Michael Levin)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: I'm pro Russian
Keywords: Soviet, UUCP network
Message-ID: <301@srhqla.UUCP>
Date: 29 Nov 88 18:30:19 GMT
References: <192@s1.sys.uea.ac.uk> <2326@cbnews.ATT.COM> <208@twwells.uucp>
Reply-To: mml@srhqla.UUCP (Michael Levin)
Organization: Silent Radio, Los Angeles
Lines: 60

In article <208@twwells.uucp> bill@twwells.UUCP (T. William Wells) writes:
>
>This is balanced against the fact that *any* information sent into
>the USSR is destabilizing. One of the things holding the empire
>together is its tight control of information.
>
	That's their problem, not ours.

>Consider the effect on some Soviet scientist of say, my casual
>discussion of the '386 machine *that I own and have complete freedom
>to use*. I can sense the drools already. :-)
>
	That's how I used to feel when I was 13, and my (older) friends
talked about their cars.  Again, that's their problem, not ours.

>Consider the comparison that any intelligent mind will make between
>the censorship that is routine in the USSR vs. the anarchic nature of
>the USENET.
>
	That's their problem, not ours.

>Consider having repeatedly rubbed in one's face the fact that one's
>country, through its own folly, is somewhere between five and ten
>years behind, technologically.
>
>Consider the possible countering of Soviet propaganda.
>
	Yeah.

>All of this depends on the USSR's not censoring the USENET feed.
>Might I suggest that the feed ought to be made contingent on the lack
>of censorship?
>
	
Isn't that a form of censorship?  I'll show you mine, but only if...

That isn't the right spirit.  Our decision as to whether or not to allow
our 'comrades' in the USSR to participate should be purely motivated on our
own selfish (or altruistic, if you prefer) reasons.  Why do you want to even
occupy your mind thinking about all the things that their government is
doing wrong, right, or whatever??  The Soviets are people, as are the French,
the Americans, the Italians, or whatever.  I don't see the issue!!  If some-
one over there can set up a UUCP connection, or whatever, then let them.  If
a site that connects to the rest of the net is willing to give someone a
feed, so be it.  Just like that.  The way *WE* (anarchistically) like to do
things.  After all, anything on USENET isn't exactly a *secret*.  Somebody
once said, if three people know something it isn't a secret anymore.  I
happen to agree.  If 100,000 people have access to something, you may as
well put it on the 6:00 news, or the front page of the paper.  Or on the
Soviet hookup to USENET.

				Enough said,

				Mike Levin

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