[brlug-general] Blocking port 25 does not cure spam problems.

[-ray]

On Sun, 23 Sep 2007, willhill wrote:

> The US could eliminate 80% of the world's spam by outlawing Windows.

Why don't we just outlaw spam?  Cause that's gonna work.

> Freedom is not the root of the spam problem and blocking port 25 has not
> solved it.  There is a technical solution and this list exists to promote it.

Now you're talking, but what is the technical solution?  Fix the windows 
machines?  Replace the windows monoculture with a linux monoculture? 
These solutions cost billions.

What if DirecTV called me and said they were turning off my service cause 
i accidentally changed to channel 25 one day.  I shouldn't have done that, 
and now i'm causing problems on the network.  They'll turn my service back 
on if i pay $200+ to repair my receiver or take it to BestBuy to get it 
repaired.  I'd kindly tell them to piss off.  Then i'd call DishNetwork or 
Charter (yes, i have that choice).  No ISP is going to do that to their 
customers.  The ISP's aren't going to band together to get rid of Windows 
on their networks.  There are laws against that (collusion and 
racketeering).

> commercial interests and then we'd all have fewer choices.  Choices come with
> freedom and freedom is a principle not something that can be made into a
> grocery list.  I'm paying for my bandwith and should be allowed to use it.

True freedom is anarchy and probably not what you want.  Choices come with 
freedom and freedom comes with sacrifices.  I'm willing to sacrifice my 
port 25 freedom for the greater good.  I'm also willing to stop at stop 
signs and pay taxes, though i'd much rather run them all while shooting 
the bird at the IRS.  I'm not willing to give up my freedom of speech, or 
right to bear arms.  You draw a line in the sand and decide how much 
freedom you're willing to give up.  Obviously Will draws his line a little 
farther back than mine.  But ya know, that's fine with me.

ray
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Ray DeJean  				       	 http://www.r-a-y.org
Systems Engineer                    Southeastern Louisiana University
IBM Certified Specialist  	      AIX Administration, AIX Support
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