The LJ Suspension Controversy
Those of you on my f-list know how infrequently I post. I don't. :-) But this...well I've been thinking about it all day and so, I had to put in something.
Banning any form of fiction in my opinion sucks. It's fiction, people, by definition that means it's not about real people. Do I want to read it? Who cares? Someone does even if it's just the author.
But- and here is the sticky part because- LJ suspending accounts due to interest tags or content or anything isn't censorship. Wait a second and read please?
By that I mean it isn't covered under the first amendment. Why? Because LJ is not the federal government (who can screw up just fine on their own mind but that's another point entirely)
The First Amendment of the Constitution declares that: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
What does that mean? Well it means that the federal government can not edit for content. Although the state of Pennsylvania apparently disagrees but that's another issue. (Here if you're interested, http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/search/s_476139.html )
LJ is a public company under private ownership. Therefore, yep it can. Just like any hosting service can boot you under the TOS or an archive can decide your story doesn't fit their guidelines or whatever.
Does it suck? Sure. Are they idiots? Yeah, I think so. Does my opinion matter? Not in the larger scheme of things, no. Do I think it opens all sorts of cans of worms? Yes, and that worries me more because I like being able to write what I want; even if it's something somebody else doesn't want to read. And I like other people being able to write what they want. Even if I don't want to read it.
What fandom in general forgets I think in the wonderful internet age is: We have the legal right to write anything we please (as long as it's fiction anyway. You can't write fiction and pass it as truth and you can't incite violence that's illegal. And you can't promote treason, that's also illegal under the Constitution, but I'm wandering off again)
But nobody has to let you post it. Just like TimeLife doesn't have to publish it.
That's the way it works. Even when it sucks.
Now I'm going to go write a story and if they TOS me...
I'll let you know. ;-)
Cyn
Banning any form of fiction in my opinion sucks. It's fiction, people, by definition that means it's not about real people. Do I want to read it? Who cares? Someone does even if it's just the author.
But- and here is the sticky part because- LJ suspending accounts due to interest tags or content or anything isn't censorship. Wait a second and read please?
By that I mean it isn't covered under the first amendment. Why? Because LJ is not the federal government (who can screw up just fine on their own mind but that's another point entirely)
The First Amendment of the Constitution declares that: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
What does that mean? Well it means that the federal government can not edit for content. Although the state of Pennsylvania apparently disagrees but that's another issue. (Here if you're interested, http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/search/s_476139.html )
LJ is a public company under private ownership. Therefore, yep it can. Just like any hosting service can boot you under the TOS or an archive can decide your story doesn't fit their guidelines or whatever.
Does it suck? Sure. Are they idiots? Yeah, I think so. Does my opinion matter? Not in the larger scheme of things, no. Do I think it opens all sorts of cans of worms? Yes, and that worries me more because I like being able to write what I want; even if it's something somebody else doesn't want to read. And I like other people being able to write what they want. Even if I don't want to read it.
What fandom in general forgets I think in the wonderful internet age is: We have the legal right to write anything we please (as long as it's fiction anyway. You can't write fiction and pass it as truth and you can't incite violence that's illegal. And you can't promote treason, that's also illegal under the Constitution, but I'm wandering off again)
But nobody has to let you post it. Just like TimeLife doesn't have to publish it.
That's the way it works. Even when it sucks.
Now I'm going to go write a story and if they TOS me...
I'll let you know. ;-)
Cyn