It's VERY simple Stanton. Look at the difference. BBSs are still relatively small standalone "islands", even when they are hooked up to Fido, RIME, etc. networks. They are a LOT easier to pick on. The "net" however is essentially many seperate systems and one HUGE system all at the same time. They realize that to tackle one particular site or even many sites, really doesn't do anything. The net is like a funhouse with too many "mirrors." The only way to have any effect would be to change the rules of the net itself, saying that, for example, "pornography" is not allowed. This, as we all know, along with all the other rules they would likely impose, would kill the net DEAD("yeah", I know, poor english, but you get my point). Also, the size of the net and the somewhat seemless connection between the numerous networks, would STILL allow people to pass the information around without law enforcement having a clue. In addition, the fact that so much of the net is in some way either owned by, sanctioned by, or located on government or university property(as you mentioned), pretty much precludes law enforcement from doing anything. They can't cut off their own arm. It would be the gov't vs. the gov't. Like a dog chasing it's own tail trying to bite it. Like Internal Affairs. Like "Independant" Internal Investigation. Right! They don't mean a d**n thing. Art On Wed, 19 May 1993, Stanton McCandlish wrote:

I just want to know what it is about BBSing that scares the <insert fecal matter here> out of the govt. Why are porno, crypto, and <gasp> people saying what the want to, somehow more threating on BBSs than about 10x as many people doing the same thing on govt "controlled" <ha ha ha> educational systems? If the govt really really sees these things as dangerous, would it not be wiser to take care of the "cancer" in one's own body than worry about the health of others? Maybe the govt. is just totally irrational, or something. Not saying anyone should put a stop to alt.binaries.pictures.erotica, I could care less if people like spending inorinate amounts of time uudecoding spotty nudie pics. But the whole rationale behind attacking BBSs seems, like I said, ir- rational...