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First they came for Craiglist's adult section where some member submitted content were objectionable. Next they come for the gun forum where some member submit

by ww520 16y ago

First they came for Craiglist's adult section where some member submitted content were objectionable. Next they come for the gun forum where some member submitted content are objectionable. Next they come for Reddit where some member submitted pictures are objectionable. Next they come for Hacker News because someone posts detail in hacking into DOD. Craiglist has broken no law. The politicians are going on a moral crusade for their benefit. They pick on the geeks because well back in school they were the easy targets.

tptacek 16y ago
These aren't objectionable pictures. These aren't objectionable message board posts. These are advertisements for overtly criminal activities. You have to make a real argument. And speaking as one of the geekier people on HN, please spare me the geek exceptionalism.
- jacquesm 16y ago
  > These are advertisements for overtly criminal activities. Robbing a bank is an 'overtly criminal activity', so is murder. Prostitution is a different matter altogether and even if I can't fathom why someone would go to visit a prostitute I completely support the prostitutes in their position and the customers in theirs as well. As long as everybody agrees to it and is 'of age' I really can't find any reason whatsoever that would cause me to think this is criminal. To quote George Carlin: "Selling is legal, fucking is legal. Why shouldn't selling fucking be legal?".
  - tptacek 16y ago
    It's a strange definition of "criminal" that ignores the law.
    - jacquesm 16y ago
      It's a strange law that ignores reality on the ground and that makes things criminal that consenting adults can engage in without causing any harm to third parties or themselves. It's like a replay of prohibition and a whole slew of other things including 'sodomy' (being gay is criminal?), smoking pot (I don't but I completely respect the right of others to smoke and drink what they please as long as they do it in a way that does not affect others) and so on. I'm pro-euthanasia for much the same reason, people should be free to do as they please while respecting the rights of others. If you like to have a very large number of people in jail you should create a society where lots of ordinary behaviour is illegal.
    - kareemm 16y ago
      are hosting the ads actually criminal? (serious question)
      - tptacek 16y ago
        Probably not, but it's not so certainly legal that it's crazy to challenge craigslist. It is illegal to advertise prostitution in many (most?) states, owing to pandering laws. To the extend that craigslist is a common carrier under the CDA, they for the most part aren't liable for what people who use their service post. The extent to which the CDA applies and does or doesn't shield them is a (somewhat) open question, as I understand it. It is certainly fair to point out that the law leans significantly towards craigslist's side of the argument.

by ww520 16y ago

tptacek 16y ago

These aren't objectionable pictures. These aren't objectionable message board posts. These are advertisements for overtly criminal activities. You have to make a real argument. And speaking as one of the geekier people on HN, please spare me the geek exceptionalism.

jacquesm 16y ago
> These are advertisements for overtly criminal activities. Robbing a bank is an 'overtly criminal activity', so is murder. Prostitution is a different matter altogether and even if I can't fathom why someone would go to visit a prostitute I completely support the prostitutes in their position and the customers in theirs as well. As long as everybody agrees to it and is 'of age' I really can't find any reason whatsoever that would cause me to think this is criminal. To quote George Carlin: "Selling is legal, fucking is legal. Why shouldn't selling fucking be legal?".
- tptacek 16y ago
  It's a strange definition of "criminal" that ignores the law.
  - jacquesm 16y ago
    It's a strange law that ignores reality on the ground and that makes things criminal that consenting adults can engage in without causing any harm to third parties or themselves. It's like a replay of prohibition and a whole slew of other things including 'sodomy' (being gay is criminal?), smoking pot (I don't but I completely respect the right of others to smoke and drink what they please as long as they do it in a way that does not affect others) and so on. I'm pro-euthanasia for much the same reason, people should be free to do as they please while respecting the rights of others. If you like to have a very large number of people in jail you should create a society where lots of ordinary behaviour is illegal.
  - kareemm 16y ago
    are hosting the ads actually criminal? (serious question)
    - tptacek 16y ago
      Probably not, but it's not so certainly legal that it's crazy to challenge craigslist. It is illegal to advertise prostitution in many (most?) states, owing to pandering laws. To the extend that craigslist is a common carrier under the CDA, they for the most part aren't liable for what people who use their service post. The extent to which the CDA applies and does or doesn't shield them is a (somewhat) open question, as I understand it. It is certainly fair to point out that the law leans significantly towards craigslist's side of the argument.