3 ms·

Curious: Aren't ISPs and payment processing companies also private organizations? Are DNS "name servers"? I don't disagree with PG's stance here and I don't t

Curious: Aren't ISPs and payment processing companies also private organizations? Are DNS "name servers"? I don't disagree with PG's stance here and I don't think it is censorship, but you must admit that these are "just business decisions" for these parties as well (possibly even Congress)

marshray 15y ago
The term for large ISPs and DNS systems is "common carriers". They are qualitatively different than a Y Combinator.
- thebigshane 15y ago
  I think you might be wrong. According to wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_carrier https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_carrier Internet Service Providers have argued against being classified as a "common carrier" and, so far, have managed to do so [...] Because ISPs are no longer prohibited from discriminating among different types of content under common carrier law [...]
  - marshray 15y ago
    That's maybe an interesting discussion in its own right, but I think the fact that they're "arguing against" it means it was at least a relevant example. A much better example would have been "The Power Company", a formally-regulated utility. The phone, electric, or gas utility is not allowed to refuse you service simply because they don't like your politics or your business judgment the way a Y Combinator can.
drcube 15y ago
Sure, the difference is that if Congress mandates it, it IS censorship. Until then, it's just a bunch of different people advocating censorship and a bunch of other people opposing it. For "business" reasons. I could use emotional terms like "freedom" and "tyranny", but in the end my opposition to censorship and advocacy for freedom come down to personal interest. I like to think it would be better for everyone else too, but yeah, I advocate for freedom because I WANT freedom. It's just business.

3 ms·

Curious: Aren't ISPs and payment processing companies also private organizations? Are DNS "name servers"? I don't disagree with PG's stance here and I don't t

by thebigshane 15y ago

marshray 15y ago
The term for large ISPs and DNS systems is "common carriers". They are qualitatively different than a Y Combinator.
- thebigshane 15y ago
  I think you might be wrong. According to wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_carrier https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_carrier Internet Service Providers have argued against being classified as a "common carrier" and, so far, have managed to do so [...] Because ISPs are no longer prohibited from discriminating among different types of content under common carrier law [...]
  - marshray 15y ago
    That's maybe an interesting discussion in its own right, but I think the fact that they're "arguing against" it means it was at least a relevant example. A much better example would have been "The Power Company", a formally-regulated utility. The phone, electric, or gas utility is not allowed to refuse you service simply because they don't like your politics or your business judgment the way a Y Combinator can.
drcube 15y ago
Sure, the difference is that if Congress mandates it, it IS censorship. Until then, it's just a bunch of different people advocating censorship and a bunch of other people opposing it. For "business" reasons. I could use emotional terms like "freedom" and "tyranny", but in the end my opposition to censorship and advocacy for freedom come down to personal interest. I like to think it would be better for everyone else too, but yeah, I advocate for freedom because I WANT freedom. It's just business.