Poll
Question:
Should the Internet be regulated?
Option 1: Yes
votes: 6
Option 2: Some limited control
votes: 31
Option 3: No
votes: 50
Option 4: Don't know
votes: 8
Poll Expries 10-24-25
Voted "Don't know" because I am not sure what 'regulated' means. I think it is regulated now, to some extent by some basic procedural rules and policies.
If regulated means like the Forestry Forum is regulated, I would say 'no'. The whole internet might then be regulated in a way we don't fit, and would be regulated out (for example, if we type the word 'prayer' and the regulators have decided that it will be removed for pc reasons. Or we suggest cutting a tree down, and the huggers in control of regulation have decided we can't suggest cutting a tree down).
I don't know what 'regulated' means, so answer would be 'don't know'.
Are there things on the internet I think should be 'regulated'? -- for sure, 'yes' but don't know how that could work.
the less the government has to do with anything productive, the better off we all are...
it's only a matter of time before it's taxed as bad as phones are.
I voted no.
They do not control the mail so why the internet? There are things that are illegal with both already and they can take a look sees with a court order(or not), but they cannot tell you what you should do and that is the way it should stay. :P
Farmerdoug
I am going to say yes, for this reason. Our peice of the internet. The Forestry Forum is regulated to keep it the type of place we need it to be. Other places can be regulated by those that create them. If not for the ability to regulate the Forestry Forum, others would dictate what it is. Lots of ways to answer this question as Ron does not state "Governmental Regulation" So who is "They?" In the case of this chunk of the internet, "we" are "they". :)
I voted no also. The reason the internet has grown so much and is such a great tool is the government hasn't gotten its tentacles in it yet. If it had, it wouldn't be a tenth what it is today, if it even existed at all. Plus, the internet is a global thing, crossing international lines. Who, and how would they regulate that?
I voted "limited control" in deference to Jeff's reasoning. I like the way the ForestryForum is regulated, because it makes me feel comfortable here. I wouldn't be offended by an unregulated setting, but would feel uncomfortable if I knew that others would. The controls that individual site owners impose are right and just, in my opinion, and I'm thankful that these sites exist. I wouldn't want to see an attempt at governmental control, or the establishment of the "Internet PC police", however.
My question is why does regulation automatically mean government to so many? I refuse to let the government make that my mind set.
I voted No. Two reasons, as Jeff has already said, there are many self-regulating sites and that makes "official" regulation redundant. and Secondly I heard on one our morning newscasts that the United Nations wants to take control over the internet and I can think of few things worse than UN involvement in anything.
I voted no, until I read Jeff's comments. Yes Jeff, I automatically thought government regulation. I suppose because I'm so against it. As for as the owners or creators of the individual sites regulating themselves, I am fine with that. So other than I voted no, well DanG I agree with Dang. ::)
I voted no. I believe that you have the same control over your computer and where it goes on the internet that you have on your TV. If it's not for you, change the channel....click the mouse. I hang out here for a reason. This is my kind of place, where I learn something new every day, and laugh along with some of the best wit you can find. :)
Ron, the question needs some clarification. As it stands it is just too broad.
I voted limited control, because I think they(FCC?) need to have control over child pornography, but as for everything else like this forum, let it be.
I voted no.
This site is not the internet, the internet is the path to get to this site. FF is a private entity owned and operated by the Big Guy, to run as he sees fit. Child pornagraphy is already illegal, doesn't matter if it is bought at the newsstand or over the internet still illegal.
my .029.
Brian
I voted no. I dont have a problem with someone controlling thier own net site but I feel the net is like tv. Dont like whats on then just change the channel. The last thing I want is someone trying to protect me from myself.
There is a need for limited control of the internet. If the Internet is allowed to run totally free this will just give the governments a reason to totally control it.
There are plenty of things that are already controlled without the internet users knowing.
Most Internet traffic is monitored by the various governments and will be controlled if you give them any opportunities.
Although global the structure is still very much country based. You may find that even now there are internet sites that you just cannot get to because they are already blocked in your country but can be looked at when in another country. Just because you are on the internet does not mean that you can connect to everything that is there. How many times do you try to get a page that appears to not be there. That link may have been deleted or restricted you will never know.
When networking in IT we regularly segment areas to prevent users from going there. The user thinks thay have total access. So easy to do.
arthur
I haven't voted yet :-[ but my pet peeve is those ***G***D***posters who keep offering me sleaze of one sort or another. lw
I voted no... but like many others I immediately thought "uncle sam"
Without regulation of some sort, everything becomes O.K. There are certainly two things I can think of right away that need to be regulated right off of the internet. Hackers and spammers.
It is already illegal to hack into someone's computer. My son's job is to catch these guys and see that they go to jail for a long time. Same with child porn, this is illegal no matter what form it is in..print or internet. As far as spam, wasn't there some antispam legislature passed awhile back? I view spam as junk mail....just throw it away.
I voted no. Too much regulation is a bad thing. They already are trying to tax all internet sales; this would be a logistical nightmare for retailers who sell online. >:(
well now i voted no. For one reason freedom of speech comes to mind. another is that some countrys have a lock on their Internet so the people are restricted on what they can access.
Now as Jeff has said hackers and Spam need to be controlled. I agree but those are a crime and are controlled as such. We our selves have the control on what we let ourselves see or download and that of our children. Now this goes back to our morality and also what we have taught our children.
But also think of this if you were a victim of say a rape,or child abuse and tryed to find infomation on a subject. and their were restaints in place when you try to seach there would be no knowalge.
Well I'll get off the stump now ;D
I voted "NO" as well. Decent places like this one are already regulated. We need better enforcement of laws that already apply to the internet. The thing that makes the internet so valuble is also its weakness...IMHO anyways ::)
I voted no for the reason that Ernie mentioned: the push by the EU and others to transfer control of the internet from the U.S. to the United Nations.
It would only seem fair to put this question to Al Gore, since he invented the internet. ::)
I ain't so sure he invented the Internet, after all. The only thing I know that he REALLY invented, was the Bush Administration. ;D :D :D :D :D
I have enough communist agencies looking down my neck, now. >:(
I'm leaning towards no but that is conditional on all existing laws being enforced. We have enough laws on the books already but we may need to give some of the regulators some additional $$$$$ in order to do their job.
"may need to give some of the regulators some additional $$$$$ in order to do their job."
Bad idea. It just encourages them.
Just send me all of the money and I'll make sure they do their jobs. ;D
.....see ya in Costa Rica! :D
I voted no. But I disagree with Jeff. The government came regulate (control) . We as private indivuals and businesses can not regulate. We can police ourselves but regulations can only come from an authority that has the power to enforce it's will. Jeff can regulate the FF site ( which he does well) but his only recource for rules violators is to ban them. The government can regulate anything by the stroke of a pen and can have the power of the justice system behind their decisions.
You mean like the speed limit. :D
I voted no because I totally agree with Ron Wenrich's signature! You give any entity authority and you immediately have a large group. Just look at many laws, most often made by a large group who have what sounds like good intentions but the law only too often is bad because all angles were not explored, or this large controlling group just wants to impose their misguided a.genda on everyone else.
I can't post the URL because it is a paid to view site.
WallStreet has an interesting article on this very subject. Titled "e-meddling" The underscore says "The U.N. has a plan to run the Internet. Uh-oh."
I think we all should be paying attention to this and doing whatever we can to keep the web untethered, so to speak.
It never ceases to amaze me, how many people, in their every day walk of life, yearn to be controlled and live by the mandate of others.
Quote from: Tom on October 17, 2005, 11:45:57 AM
It never ceases to amaze me, how many people, in their every day walk of life, yearn to be controlled and live by the mandate of others.
It saves people from having to take responsibility for their own actions >:(
I voted yes .. Without reading any of the above answers . I will go back and read them though .
Regulated to a surten extent , there should be a way somehow to get those Dang pop ups and those agravating junk mail out of here ... ( internet that is ) its a real pain to have to go through all of this to get to the important things . I asked my mail man not to leave any junk mail in my box I dont get any ... how does one go about that on the net ???
Then again there is so much regulations that we have to live with today that it is nice to have some freedum left , just wish there was less hacking and adult intertenmaint on the net that is to easily acsessible to kids .
Marcel, they make a program called "ad block" to prevent the pop-ups and unwanted adverstising. You may want to check it out. We use it, and I like its effectiveness.
Marcel
Try this link for a free program to help with the emails
http://www.mailwasher.net/
With Mozilla Firefox as your browser, you can set it to block popups
http://www.spreadfirefox.com/
Good luck or is it Bonne Chance
I use panic ware's Free edition of Popup Stopper
http://www.panicware.com/