“Civil rights in Cyberland” – what were your first thoughts, when you read this?
- are there any?
- should there be any?
- why should there be any?
- is there actually any contradiction?
I have obviously no idea, what your (professional) background is, my dear reader. Mine is 30 years I.T., and like 20 years in Cyberland, i.e. the Usenet, mailing lists, forums.
Everybody in Cyberland did experience bashing at one stage, either you simply observed it, or you were the victim, or you were an acting party.
My experience is, it was taken for granted during these last 20 years, that there simply aren’t any civil rights in Cyberland. Moderators are usually not staff trained in law, and don’t you ask them about their point of view regarding relevant issues of their society, the environment, education, raising children! Either no answers or just horrible answers.
My point of view is, this is going to change in the near future. It must change.
My point of view is, this is going to change in the near future. It must change.
Right now, I am collecting your thoughts, so please don’t be shy and please start commenting heavily!
As I was born in Germany, holding a German citizenship, and living all over Europe, my special area of interest is Fascism in Germany. Of course, Fascism and Cyberland is not entirely disjoint, especially in Germany, and especially in Berlin. So I am very curious to hear of your experiences in this area. I heard particularly bad things about the Berlin P3rl Mongers, but that needs further research – and your help! (P3rl is a typo on purpose, suggested by a dear friend.)
Usually people being bashed, deprived of their civil right, and simply put “victimized” in Cyberspace lose their “family”, their “living space”, and very bad: the place, where they were able to articulate in their past. So after their “strike” you usually don’t hear of them any more. They experienced a deep cut in their lives, and they are condemned to stay silent. This must change.
Obviously this reminds you of fundamental, religious communities, where people get treated in a pretty similar way.
I don’t want to leave you without hope for a change though.
I have no statistical figures at hand, but I guess, after the take-over of Dejanews Google has been #1 as hoster of web forums and mailing lists, the relevant place in Cyberspace is Google Groups.
So if you get Google to act in a positive way, other places and their system of rules will get compared to Google’s style.
Now we should start collecting bits and pieces for a civil rights system in Cyberland. I suggest we use the best parts from the democracies on this planet. But don’t you exaggerate! Stay earthed, feet on ground!
Please return soon with your contributions!
Your brave historian Jochen Hayek
Update / 2010-08-19:
I actually think, the issue is very serious and very urgent.
I kept thinking about a way of how to join efforts.
Maybe setting up a wiki on a domain at “.org” is the right thing.
I started enquiries and activities into that direction.
I still need your advise and your comments, and I seriously welcome and appreciate your support.
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