Computers and Academic Freedom News

[KWR] "UW to probe offensive images in computer network"

Newsgroups: news.admin.policy,alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk,alt.censorship,soc.culture.canada
Subject:  [KWR] "UW to probe offensive images in computer network"
Date: 26 Jul 1993 13:31:04 -0400
Message-ID: <2314co$62n@eff.org>
[Here are fair-use excerpts from the Kitchener Waterloo (Canada)
Record of Tuesday, July 20, 1993. - Carl]

UW to probe offensive images in computer network
by Barbar Aggerholm
Record staff

A University of Waterloo offical is looking into concerns that the
computer bulletin boards on campus are circulating violent sexual
images.  
[...]
Last week, Sonia Prevost-Derbecker, co-ordinator of the university's
Women's Centre, called on the university to stop transmission of
pornography through its computer network.

On Monday, Prevost-Derbecker said she found university newsgroups
over the weekend that included a picture of a boy engaged in oral sex
with a donkey and a woman with a dog.  There were other examples of
child pornography, she said.

Prevost-Derbecker said she will be satisfied with nothing less than
the elimination of all sex files from computer bulletin boards at the
University of Waterloo to get rid of child pornography, bestiality
and violence found on the system today.

"This is not a censorship issue," she said, "this is an issue of
harassment and human rights."

[...]
Prevost-Derbecker said she wants to meet with University of Waterloo
president James Downey and the associate provost of computer services
to propose ways of dealing with computer pornography.

The only solution, she said, is to eliminate all sex newsgroups.  Even
if the newsgroup name sounds innocent, such as "Alt Sex ABC", child
pornography or violence may be hidden there, she said.
[...]
-- 
Carl Kadie -- I do not represent EFF; this is just me.
 =kadie@eff.org, kadie@cs.uiuc.edu =

Newsgroups: news.admin.policy,alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk,alt.censorship,soc.culture.canada
Subject:  Re: [KWR] "UW to probe offensive images in computer network"
Date: 26 Jul 1993 23:31:32 GMT
Message-ID: <231pgk$8o3@senator-bedfellow.MIT.EDU>
>In article <2314co$62n@eff.org> kadie@eff.org (Carl M. Kadie) writes:
>>[Here are fair-use excerpts from the Kitchener Waterloo (Canada)
>>Record of Tuesday, July 20, 1993. - Carl]
>>
>>UW to probe offensive images in computer network
>>by Barbar Aggerholm
>>Record staff

Some of the pieces that were omitted are also very frightening:

	"And if eroticism is eliminated at the same time as pornography, so be
	it, Prevost-Derbecker said.  There are plenty of other places where
	users can get both, she said."

Fascinating logic. I suppose by the same reasoning it also wouldn't be
a problem to 'eliminate' any article on a widely discussed topic.

	"Prevost-Derbecker also wants a staff person to be assigned to each of
	the university's 50 computer rooms to monitor the use of computers, as
	well as to ensure users' safety."

Sigh. Every time I think something is too far-out to happen, reality shows
itself to be even more extreme. Here we have someone in power explicitly
advocating massive invasion of privacy by university staff. Note
computer rooms are generally the safest common places around, since they
typically have tough locks on their doors to keep out unauthorized
people and don't have a lot of outside visitors. In the above context,
this makes me suspect the safety reason is a blind for a political monitor.

--
Seth Finkelstein  				sethf@athena.mit.edu
Disclaimer : I am not the Lorax. I speak only for myself.
(and certainly not for Project Athena, MIT, or anyone else).

Newsgroups: news.admin.policy,alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk,alt.censorship,soc.culture.canada
Subject:  Re: [KWR] "UW to probe offensive images in computer network"
Date: 27 Jul 1993 01:37:37 GMT
Message-ID: <2320t1$am1@senator-bedfellow.MIT.EDU>
In article <23197c$j94@elxr.jpl.nasa.gov>, dave@elxr.jpl.nasa.gov (Dave Hayes) writes:
|> kadie@eff.org (Carl M. Kadie) writes:
|> >The only solution, she said, is to eliminate all sex newsgroups.  Even
|> >if the newsgroup name sounds innocent, such as "Alt Sex ABC", child
|> >pornography or violence may be hidden there, she said.
|> 
|> Gee, alt.binaries.pictures.erotica hasn't any mention of "sex" in it's
|> newsgroup name. 
|> -- 
|> Dave Hayes - Institutional Network & Communications - JPL/NASA - Pasadena CA
|> dave@elxr.jpl.nasa.gov       dave@jato.jpl.nasa.gov         ...usc!elroy!dxh
|> 
|>           To the ignorant, a pearl seems a mere stone.

This is a typical radical feminist effort.  She makes an extreme demand --
ban all sex groups -- so that the final result -- banning all groups she
finds ideologically offensive -- will seem like a "compromise."

Newsgroups: news.admin.policy,alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk,alt.censorship,soc.culture.canada
Subject:  Re: [KWR] "UW to probe offensive images in computer network"
Date: 27 Jul 1993 11:56:22 +0100
Message-ID: <2331kn$gg9@news.mantis.co.uk>
russotto@eng.umd.edu (Matthew T. Russotto) writes:
>Child pornography and violence could also be hidden in any of the
>following newsgroups:
>news.admin.policy,alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk,alt.censorship,soc.culture.canada

>That's just a sample-- the full list is posted regularly to
>news.announce.newsgroups.  (which is itself on the list)

In fact, one of the "offensive" GIF files mentioned in the article was
posted to alt.flame.  So cutting the sex newsgroups clearly won't stop
the problem.


mathew

Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk,alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk,alt.culture.usenet
From: kadie@cs.uiuc.edu (Carl M Kadie)
Subject:  Wanted: Assertiveness Training for Cyberspace
Message-ID: 
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 15:49:33 GMT
Short version:

I would like to see an on-line "seminar" in assertiveness training for
Cyberspace. I think it would help make computer media:
  1. Less intimidating for newcomers,
  2. More polite and effective, and
  3. Less likely be the target of authorities trying to outlaw rudeness.

If this sounds like a good idea to you, how can we create such as
"seminar"? (A good EFF project?)

Long version:

This weekend I made a mistake typical of newcomers. A few days after
joining a new mailing list, I posted terse critical response. What I
hadn't noticed was that this mailing list tries to be supportive.
Although my criticism was meant to be constructive, it was so terse
that it was read by many as a verbal attack. As a result I received
(what I perceived as) four harsh flames. If I had been a newcomer to
computer media, the incident likely would motivated me to quit that
list. It might have stopped me from posting to other lists and
newsgroups. It might have caused me to leave Cyberspace.

Instead, I replied to each flame as though it were constructive
criticism. Each reply was very polite. In each reply, I apologized for
writing a note that could easily be read as a verbal attack. I
explained that that was not my intent and explained my constructive
intent. All the "flamers" accepted my explanation. I believe that most
of the readers of the list have, too.

The other thing I avoided was flaming back. Rather than apologizing for
writing an ambiguous note, I could have just said:
  "All the criticism in my note is valid. If you and the mailing list
  are too paranoid and sensitive to accept valid criticism, it's your
  problem not mine."
Who knows, I might even have "won" ensuing flame debate. But I would
have lost my original goal, namely to have my constructive criticism
taken seriously by the list.

I believe I responded effectively because years and years ago I took a
half-day on-the-job seminar in assertiveness training. I believe
others would benefit from such training. Would anyone be interested in
putting an "assertiveness training (AT) for Cyberspace" document
together?

I've tried to remember what I've learned, but my recollection is poor.
Here are some of the strategies I do use everyday (some of which
probably come AT, some of which I have made up on my own):

* One non-confrontational way to accept criticism X is to reply
  "Perhaps I did X".

* Try do distance the issue or problem from people. For example, don't
  say "*your* argument is stupid", say "the argument could be
  improved by ...."

* Use phrases such as "I believe", "it seems to me", "in my opinion",
  etc. to show that you are open to the possibility that you might be
  wrong.

* Assume the best, not the worst. When you receive criticism,
  generally assume that it is constructive.

* If a note of yours is misinterpreted (someone assumes the worst
  rather than the best), apologize for writing an ambiguous note.

* When you make a mistake, admit it right away. This 1) helps everyone
  get to the truth faster 2) gives people confidence that you can be
  trusted not to argue for a position that you know is wrong 3) shows
  that you are open minded 4) means that the discussion can quickly
  move past your mistake.

* Never let a public "slander" go unchallenged. To challenge a "slander"
  minimizes the damage it causes. To let it go, maximize the damage it
  causes.

* Sandwich criticism between compliments.

* It is impolite to tell people they are impolite.

* Don't reply right away. Give yourself time to cool down.

* Before you send note, read it again.

* Before you reply to a note, read it again.

* Try to end discussions on good terms with everyone, even those who
  (you perceived as) flaming you. This usually means replying,
  very politely, to flames.

* Don't try to debate irrelevant personal insults. Either 1) ignore them or
  2) just quote them in a reply and then ignore them.

* Many people don't understand debating terms such as "_ad homin_",
  "strawman", "nonsequester", "fallacy" etc. so don't use them in
  replies. Instead, explain the fallacy from first principles or by
  analogy.

* Generally don't expect anyone to just take your word for something
  because you are an authority. If you are really are an authority,
  you should be able to make the case.

* Don't expect people to do outside reading or research in support of
  *your* argument. If some outside material is key to your argument,
  quote it. (And then save it, so you can quote it again without
  typing it again).

In my experience these strategies are effective 90% of the time in
either creating a meeting of minds or creating a respectful agreement
to disagree. 10% of the cases are just hopeless (because of the other 
person in the discussion, I believe).

So ....

Does this seem like something that could help newcomers?
Anyone interesting to taking charge?
Can you suggest other good aphorisms/strategies?
Are there strategies that I don't know about, for example,
  strategies for responding to the extra attention that women
  on the Net receive?

- Carl Kadie
-- 
Carl Kadie -- I do not represent any organization; this is just me.
 = kadie@cs.uiuc.edu =

Newsgroups: news.admin.policy,alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk,alt.censorship,soc.culture.canada,can.politics
From: morgan@engr.uky.edu (Wes Morgan)
Subject:  Re: [KWR] "UW to probe offensive images in computer network"
Message-ID: 
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 14:28:50 GMT

Readers at Waterloo are welcome to distribute this posting to any
local forum in which this matter is being discussed.  I do, however,
request that the message be distributed *intact* -- please do not
modify it in any way.

>>Last week, Sonia Prevost-Derbecker, co-ordinator of the university's
>>Women's Centre, called on the university to stop transmission of
>>pornography through its computer network.
>>
>>"This is not a censorship issue," she said, "this is an issue of
>>harassment and human rights."



[ Disclaimer #1: I neither view nor collect sexual images.  ]

[ Disclaimer #2: I am a systems administrator for the Uni-  ]
[ versity of Kentucky.  However, the opinions expressed in  ]
[ this posting are NOT to be construed as official Univer-  ]
[ sity positions or policies. I am NOT a spokesman.         ]
 



For those unfamiliar with the transmission, storage and viewing of
such images, here's the procedure which is required to move these
images from a Usenet posting (in alt.binaries.pictures.erotica or
any other newsgroup) to an actual image on a screen.


1) Prologue

   When an image is broadcast via Usenet, it is usually sent in an 
   encoded format known as "uuencode."  This is a necessary step; 
   most network transmission media cannot properly transmit binary 
   data, and computer systems often differ in their organization of
   such data.  There are several program that perform similar func-
   tions; if you use a Macintosh, you're probably familiar with BinHex.
   If you use Cc:mail, a similar process occurs automatically when you 
   include a binary document (such as a WordPerfect file) in your
   electronic mail message(s) to persons who are not running Cc:mail.

2) The image arrives

   When the image arrives via Usenet, it looks something like this:

   begin 644 image.gif
   M1TE&.#=A.0-\ O       /___RP     .0-\ @ "_HR/JZ?;]%^ @ AZ8X((-9L[&?@]>F.&&'7X8
   MXB#=W?8T]2S.-N*,-=Z8XXX?_E9:>CT>F>2233X9Y:ZD4CCEEEU^&>:83699
   F>>>??X9Z*"%'IKHHHU6K   .SX9
    
   end

   This is the *encoded* version of the image; in this form, it
   CANNOT be directly viewed.  Indeed, we would be hard-pressed
   to make *any* subjective analysis of this data.

3) Restoring the image to its original (binary) form

   The prospective viewer must first collect and concatenate all
   parts of this submission.  Some of these submissions are large;
   they are, therefore, split into numerous parts, which the pros-
   pective viewer must recombine and edit into the proper format.
   
   At this point, we still have encoded data; we must decode it in 
   order to restore the original binary format.  This is accomplished, 
   in the common example, with the 'uudecode' program.  When I give 
   this file to uudecode, it will create a file with the name specified 
   in the line marked 'begin'; in my example, the created file would be 
   named "image.gif".
   
   At this point, the data is in binary form.  If we attempted to
   print or view this file in the "regular" manner, we would see
   garbage.  We need a special program in order to view this data.


4) Viewing the image

   One such program is 'xshowgif'; it will accept a file in GIF
   format and display it in a window on my terminal.  Finally, at
   this point, the image may be properly viewed.  Other programs
   in this category include CSHOW, ImageMagick, and ximage.

5) Conclusion

   The transmission and storage of image data in Usenet is achieved
   through means which render the data unviewable.  Specific, *volun-
   tary* action is required to reconstruct and view the image.


========Now, on to the "opinionated" portion of this posting========

Here is my question to Ms. Prevost-Derbecker and those who hold
similar opinions:

How can this:

	begin 644 image.gif
	M1TE&.#=A.0-\ O       /___RP     .0-\ @ "_HR/J