No point in another "censorware summit"
[Written for a discussion about the ALA's canceled meeting with censorware companies]
Folks, the basic practical reason for not having a "censorware summit" is as follows:
THERE IS NO POINT TO THE MEETING
It is understandable that some people have a deep-seated wish to believe that we can all get along, that everything can be worked out in the end, some accommodation can be reached, etc.
But the censorware companies are not walking around thinking "Gee, if librarians would only have a meeting with us, we'd be able to serve them so-o-o-o much better ... Oh, librarians, speak to us, please, please, pretty please with chocolate sprinkles on top ..."
They are not going to open their blacklists. They've sued over that topic. They've HEARD the arguments. They don't care.
The only thing that could come out of such a meeting would be PR spin by the censorware companies, about how they are now working with the ALA. That's it. That's all that could happen.
And that is the very practical (not ideological) reason NOT to have such a meeting.
By Seth Finkelstein | posted in censorware | on July 20, 2003 11:59 PM (Infothought permalink) | Followups
