Ban the Internet

[ravage]

@picoico

They could, but then a million and a half red necked bubbas would cry out “the terrorists have won!!!”. Google would have to do what makes good business sense.

The same argument applies to facebook.

No, there’s no single thing called “the Internet”. The internet is simply a medium through which several smaller networks interconnect. It’s a distributed system in the very true sense of the word. The internet plays a role similar to air in speech.

Please do not explain to me what “the Internet” is. All my three degrees have been in computing, and I am pretty familiar with the mechanics of computing.

To be more specific when I say “the Internet” I refer to domains outside of the direct control of Pakistan. To be more specific I refer to some of the few big names that comprise or are a part of most of internet usage. Thus my emphasis on google. It is my contention that were I to shut off a few key domains, “the Internet” as the term is understood would cease to exist for Pakistanies.

It may be seemingly arbitrary where the line is drawn, but the fact is, most people can distinguish between content, those that distribute the content for profit, and the medium through which it is distributed.

as can I.

It’s a classical slippery slope argument. The causal chain is broken, as it presumes the penultimate goal is perfection.

Not really. Im not trying to make a causal argument that banning facebook will lead to banning the internet. I can apply it, Im not arguing that they will.

The intent may well be to set precedent, and bring key corporations under compliance. Yes, the small fish may get away with it…nice and arbitrary…so what?

So you dont dispute that most internet access could be arbitrarily denied, merely that it need not be. Fine. I dont think courts should have the authority to take arbitrary, unprincipled action, you do. I think precedents matter, you dont. We just have very different takes on what the function of courts should be. For me, its the provision of justice and uniform enforcement of law, for you its strategic fencing with multinational corporations.

@picoico

There are local backbones. Pakistan cannot shut off the Internet worldwide.

Having said that, it may not be such a bad thing for local talent if such sites were eliminated…gives them room to expand. Presuming such talent hasn’t migrated yet…

how is that relevant? Pakistan cannot shut off facebook worldwide either, obviously the context is what Pakistan can shut off.

so you’re saying its not a bad thing for ‘such’ sites to be eliminated. may I ask if you are in a profession related to the field?

No it’s not. Pirate Bay is being shut down. Oh oh, pirate bay is “hosted” on the internet…and in fact you can use google to get to sites like rapidshare which pretty much serve the same purpose. Applying the same slippery slope argument, we’re now in danger of having the whole internet shut down. That line of reasoning doesn’t work.

I have already explained why a) I am not arguing against the banning of sites in principle, but the reasons given, and b) why Im not saying what this will happen, therefore its not a causal argument at all.