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

[Tim Fournet]

I think the difference here is that you advocate freedom based on 
competition in a free market, whereas Will believes in 
government-mandated freedom. ;)


-ray wrote:
> 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
>