more on dot "ex-ex-ex" domain boondoggle, err, proposal, back again -- so much for ambiguity

David Farber <[email protected]> Sun, 7 Jan 2007 09:14:41 -0500
Newsgroups gmane.culture.people.interesting-people
Message-ID <[email protected]>

Begin forwarded message:

From: Bob Frankston <[email protected]>
Date: January 6, 2007 8:36:33 PM EST
To: [email protected], [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: RE: [IP] dot "ex-ex-ex" domain boondoggle, err, proposal,=20=20
back again -- so much for ambiguity

It's encouraging to read http://forum.icann.org/lists/xxx-tld-=20
agreement/ and see strong negative the response was. But, alas, no=20=20
surprise that it has recurred. I see that once again the comments are=20=20
uniformly negative 1 for and 15 against. That=92s encouraging.



.XXX makes sense if you don't have the concept of ambiguity or even=20=20
of different points of view. The problem of ambiguity should be=20=20
reason enough to avoid confusing the DNS with a directory but .XXX=20=20
has unique social consequences.



The idea of .XXX is seductive -- you can promise to protect those=20=20
kids from whatever and people will vote for it. When it doesn't work,=20=20
you redouble your efforts to enforce it or blame someone. But in=20=20
either case you've got the moral high ground.



It goes well with the Theory of Censorship -- an alternative to the=20=20
theory of evolution. If you protect people from "bad" ideas and=20=20
sounds then when they turn 18 are supposed to automatically have the=20=20
knowledge to protect themselves from those sexual predators. No need=20=20
for vaccines.



While there may be a financial benefit the real cost is in feeding=20=20
into political platforms based in specious theories. This can have=20=20
serious consequence when it determines who gets elected to decide on=20=20
the complex issues we face in today's world.



BTW, I noticed that censorship was presented as a major feature of=20=20
the M2Z "wireless broadband" proposal. It is seductive.


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