[governance] Google's Fight the ITU/WCIT website

[michael gurstein]

I think there is a need for some multi-cultural balance here... think about the shouting "fire" in the crowded cinema restriction on "free speech"... that is, these things are contextual and while "fire" may be an outer limit of what is (free speech) acceptable in one context, it may be something different in another cultural context and given that we are engaged in a necessarily multicultural context we need to find some balance between contending forces/freedoms... I'm not sure quite how to do that but I know for sure that trying to impose one set of restrictions (or absence of restrictions) unilaterally across cultures is not the way to go.

All that being said, Sala is trying to find that middle ground, perhaps with only human limitations as to a deep knowledge of the various cultural contexts from which we all spring.  

So, rather than criticizing her well meant efforts we might identify what the limits are or should be in our particular multicultural space and recognize that she has the unenviable task of riding herd on stampedes running in multiple directions at the same time some of which unfortunately may be wandering over a cliff or potentially causing damage to one or another of our fellows.

And certainly pointing us back to the already in place rules of procedure as McTim has done is one very useful way to proceed.

M
 
-----Original Message-----
From: governance-request at lists.igcaucus.org [mailto:governance-request at lists.igcaucus.org] On Behalf Of Karl Auerbach
Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2012 12:40 AM
To: governance at lists.igcaucus.org
Subject: Re: [governance] Google's Fight the ITU/WCIT website

On 11/22/2012 08:02 AM, Salanieta T. Tamanikaiwaimaro wrote:
> Dear Suresh,
> 
> Please refrain from using words like "Nazi" on this list. Dialogue on 
> any of the Internet Governance issues and topics. This discussion has 
> escalated off the relevant issues. Any more warnings and I will remove 
> you from the list. Let this serve as a reminder to all to keep the 
> discussions on Internet Governance issues.

Really?  What about words like "Taliban" or "Klu Klux Klan" that describe groups with similar characteristics or goals?

During the late 1930's and early 1940's many of my family members and people bearing my family name suddenly vanished in the areas that are now Poland, Ukraine, and Germany.  The evidence suggests that they died
- were murdered - at the hands of the group that, by your rule, shall not be named.

So I figure that I have a rather strong right to object to the word in question.

Yet I refuse to object to that word when it is used to describe a regime or mode of thinking.

I do, however, object to censorship.

Censorship comes in many colors.

One color is the kind of censorship in which those of delicate sensibilities try to insert a gag into the mouths of those with more robust vocabularies.

In my nearly two decades of wandering through the world of internet governance I have seen this form of censorship taking root.

We Americans tend to use words as hard as canon balls - it is our culture.  We are often rather proud of it.

There are other cultures on this planet that use softer tones and greater indirection.

Neither form is superior to the other - these are simply differences.

Those of us from strong-word cultures do need to respect those who speak more softly or deferentially.  I, as is the case with many Americans, have not always carried my responsibility in that regard.  Hopefully, in time we will learn.

However, the road runs both ways.  Those from cultures with softer modes of expression ought not to use their values as reasons to suppress those of us who chose more colored modes.

	--karl--





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