From: owner-eda-thoughts-digest@smoe.org (eda-thoughts-digest) To: eda-thoughts-digest@smoe.org Subject: eda-thoughts-digest V1 #165 Reply-To: eda-thoughts@smoe.org Sender: owner-eda-thoughts-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-eda-thoughts-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk eda-thoughts-digest Tuesday, September 1 1998 Volume 01 : Number 165 Today's Subjects: ----------------- ET: Re: Atittude / Sex taboo ["Kevin Pease" Subject: ET: Re: Atittude / Sex taboo >> Dr. RomeAntic writes: >Anyways... I know this may seem selfish... but since this list is about >everyday people and everyday thoughts... [...] BUT shouldn't we rather make >this list open to all topics and rather restrict the subscription... >like every one who want's to subscribe would be "warned" that anything >goes here. There's always the problem of verifying that the appropriate person is giving permission. I don't know about the rest of you all, but at age 14, or 13, or whatever, I was smart enough to say, "Hmm... mom and dad might not approve, but if I just click the "Yes" button, I'm all set!" :) Unfortunately, being under 18, if my parents didn't approve, legally, they're still my guardians, and they can decide what's appropriate or not for me, whether or not I like it or agree with it. So just sending a warning is no guarantee that the parent will see and approve of the warning, and that could end up with serious legal problems for Jeff & Mike, as the owner of smoe.org & as the moderator of the offending list. The laws probably are pretty stupid, but there's a lot of stupid laws out there that can still cost you a whole lot in fines, legal trouble, and just plain hassle. >but since sex is an everyday topic there is no reason to ban >it, apart from being too young or being uncomfortable with the topic or >something... The problem with this is, if I'm 14, and I decide that I'm not too young to talk about sex on the internet, but my parents decide I am, they're the one's with legal power & responsibility. This is the problem with topics like this, and I can understand Mike's position, and I think he's right... whether or not the laws are stupid doesn't matter - they're still laws, and they still can be enforced, and cause Mike & Jeff a whole world of hurt. Personally, I think if you're old enough to ask about it, you're old enough to have those questions answered, and talk about it... but my personal feelings don't matter much to the government if somebody decides they want to sue. :) >and believe me nobody >would come to this list to for it.... oh but I missed the point right, >we need to protect those who came here to escape from it... well... But, put yourself in a parent's position... if you had a child, and you felt that there were certain things that your child was too young to really be talking about, would you really want them to hop on the internet and go talk about it with a bunch of strangers? I know my parents wouldn't have appreciated it, and I suspect that a lot of people here have parents that would adopt a similar attitude. And really, what it comes down to is this - whether or not we think that parental attitude is stupid or pointless... they can still make Mike & Jeff's lives pretty painful. :) Besides, there's ways to discuss "mature" topics without sending the posts to the general list... if you really want to discuss something of this nature, assemble a list of people who are interested, and if everybody just keeps on hitting "reply to all," you've got yourself a mini mailing list. For Mike & Jeff's sake, if for no other reason, though... I think it's probably a good idea to keep "explicit" discussions off-list, or in a more private forum. Kevin - ----------- Kevin Pease kbpease@boston.crosswinds.net (ICQ UIN: 3106063) (AOL Instant Messenger: kbpease) http://www.crosswinds.net/boston/~kbpease "Sometimes I sing like my life is at stake, 'cause you're only as loud as the noises you make..." ---(Ani DiFranco)--- ------------------------------ End of eda-thoughts-digest V1 #165 **********************************