[Mimedefang] Lycos Screensaver that attacks Spammers
David F. Skoll
dfs at roaringpenguin.com
Thu Dec 2 16:16:04 EST 2004
On Thu, 2 Dec 2004, Kenneth Porter wrote:
> > If we are to claim moral superiority to spammers, we can't sink to
> > their level. IMO, the Lycos tactic is unethical. Vigilanteism
> > is never the right answer.
> While most of your arguments make sense, the last sentence is questionable.
> Vigilanteism is no more or less moral than having representatives apply a
> policy democratically.
We differ on that, I guess. I believe in the rule of law, and vigilanteism
weakens the rule of law.
> It's only a problem if the vigilante is unqualified to objectively
> identify the criminal and apply the policy.
Not true. It is wrong for even a supremely qualified person like a
policeman or a judge to punish a criminal without doing it through the
justice system.
> If Lycos is unqualified, then who is?
Microsoft? Hotmail's certainly way larger than Lycos. Hands up everyone
who thinks Microsoft should embark on vigilante action...
> (Every one of us is a vigilante when we run MD, protecting our users
> without the aid of organized law enforcement.)
No. When you run MD, you're not attempting to interfere with systems
you don't control (unless you have a very peculiar filter!)
Regards,
David.
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