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Re: Censorship in Debian



Hi Philip,

On Fri, Jan 4, 2019 at 3:45 PM Philip Hands <phil@hands.com> wrote:
>
> Christian Kastner <ckk@kvr.at> writes:
>
> > We agree on this: Debian's is a (very!) limited form of government.
> > However, I argue that censorship is within these limits.
>
> Debian doesn't even have enough legal existence to open a bank account,
> let alone apply even the lightest form of coercion to someone.
<snip>

If you value your status as a Debian Developer (which the project _can_
take away), then the Debian project _does_ have some ability to coerce
you.  What would you be willing to do to keep your status as a DD?

> Alleging that removal of such privileges amounts to an infringement of
> rights[1] simply makes no sense.
<snip>
> [1] using the word "censorship" suggests a belief in a right to demand
> syndication for one's blog, which is not a right I'm aware of.

In regards to the use of the word 'censorship', looking at the
definition[1][2][3] of the word seems to support its use in regards to
a-h removing feeds from planet for being objectionable (and does not
imply any infringement on rights).  Whether that form of censorship is
good or bad or rights-infringing is a separate argument.

[1] https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/censorship
      1: "The suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films,
      news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable,
      or a threat to security."
[2] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/censorship
      1b: "the actions or practices of censors"
[3] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/censor
      1a: "an official who examines materials (such as publications or
      films) for objectionable matter"

-- 
Eldon Koyle


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