Be kind - this is my first diary. And apologies in advance to non-techies for the techno-babble...
I'm outraged! How dare they!
The right wing has infiltrated the ranks of those that define and build the protocols that make up this infrastructure we call the internet. And they want to force their morality requirements into the internet itself.
I'm probably close to breaking the rules, but I wanted to highlight a few "important" snippets from this internet RFC.
Adrian Farrel just brought us RFC 4041 dated 1-April-2005. It proposes additions to all Internet-Drafts to include a "Morality Considerations" section. It provides guidance to those that define the protocol standards underpinning the internet on how they should include mechanisms in the protocols to prevent their use in activities that degrade the moral fiber of the internet.
He leads with this premise:
It is well accepted by popular opinion and other reliable metrics that moral values are declining and that degeneracy is increasing. Young people are particularly at risk from the rising depravity in society and much of the blame can be squarely placed at the door of the Internet. If you do not feel safe on the streets at night, what do you think it is like on the Information Superhighway?
While this may be a valid point, he further surmises that the liberals in this community do not do enough to protect our society from harm:
Recognising that moral issues are fundamental to the utility and success of protocols designed within the IETF, and that simply making a wishy-washy liberal-minded statement does not necessarily provide adequate guarantees of a correct and proper outcome for society, this document defines requirements for the inclusion of Morality Considerations sections in all Internet-Drafts produced within the Routing Area.
And just because everyone doesn't have their morals doesn't mean that they don't have any morals. There's this pointed attack:
It may be the case that the authors of Internet-Drafts have no or few morals. This does not relieve them of their duty to understand the consequences of their actions."
It's an interesting/scary read.
Now before responding to this diary, please be sure to go back and check the date on this RFC.
I'm a geek - I know it - I found it topical and funny...