Pseudo-law on the list and libel (fwd)

[Peter Hendrickson]

At 11:21 AM 11/9/1996, Jim Choate wrote:
> The real issue here is that folks on the net want the protection of the 1st
> Amendment but they don't want the responsibility that goes along with it.
> This list qualifies as a press. As a result it has a responsibility relating
> to what it distributes.

I don't find the word "responsibility" in the First Amendment.

You and the courts may decide John has a responsibility to let other
people use his computer, but the source of this idea is not the
First Amendment.

Peter Hendrickson
ph at netcom.com