[WikiEN-l] One concern regarding filters

[Anthere]

--- Erik Moeller <erik_moeller at gmx.de> wrote:
> Practically, there is one problem that has not been
> sufficiently addressed  
> in the previous discussion; Axel touched upon it,
> and I'd like to try to  
> spell it out more clearly.
> 
> F I L T E R S   A R E   B A D.
> 
> OK, here's the complex version. Wikipedia is built
> by persons with a  
> fairly progressive mindset, and I believe most of us
> agree that it's a bad  
> idea to shield young eyes from so-called "dangerous"
> content, *especially*  
> in an encyclopedia, that filters don't work properly
> etc.
> 
> If we, as Wikipedia, offer a convenient filtering
> option for schools and  
> libraries, we effectively endorse the strategy of
> having those filters in  
> place. We say: "Yeah, we know, you have to operate
> under these standards,  
> so, here's a checkbox you have to click to make sure
> they are followed."
> 
> If we, as Wikipedia, refuse to do so, we effectively
> challenge these  
> schools and libraries to ban an encyclopedia. They
> may get away with  
> banning porn sites easily, but an *entire*
> encyclopedia? Just because it  
> discusses sexual content on some of its pages? I bet
> the ACLU would love  
> to challenge that on first amendment grounds.
> 
> If you dislike mandatory filters for schools and
> libraries, not having  
> them as a part of Wikipedia is a very good strategy
> to combat them.  
> Wikipedia is a highly important project that may
> well become the center of  
> a future lawsuit in defense of free speech. I don't
> think we should  
> effectively endorse the use of mandatory filters
> just because of Jimbo's  
> mother.
> 
> And just to be a little more provocative, the same
> goes for fair use (I  
> don't know what Jimbo's mom has to say about that,
> though): By endorsing  
> fair use, we defend this principle. By rejecting it,
> we give the opponents  
> of fair use an opportunity to say: "Oh well, look at
> Wikipedia, they have  
> built a free encyclopedia of 3 million articles
> without stealing any  
> content with that so called fair use thing. So why
> not get rid of it  
> altogether?"
> 
> Our decisions, our rules, affect the world outside
> of Wikipedia.  
> Specifically, our openness and tolerance can make
> the world more open and  
> tolerant. Never for a second believe that we are not
> important enough to  
> have such an effect.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Erik

I support you here Erik

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