[Prev|Next|Index] 2/22/96, vngolveo@uci.edu,Irvine, CA USA

[Image] Freedom of Expression on the Internet

     By Vince Golveo,
     http://art.fin.uci.edu/individuals/vince/vince.htm,
     vngolveo@uci.edu.

     Freedom for me is the opportunity to meet and exhange my dreams,
     visions, desires with like-minded individuals. Freedom allows one
     to have a sense of community even if the community may be between
     two people typing messages over telecommunication wires. This
     impulse to create a bond, a sense of community, is what I think
     "freedom of expression" is all about. The internet has grown and
     has become such a rich part of our culture because it has always
     been open to freedom of expression.

     Unlike any other social space, the internet allows for even the
     smallest communities (e.g. newsgroup fans of Hong Kong popstars,
     Filipinos in Africa, Gay and Lesbian Teenagers, etc.) to create
     virtual public spaces for friendship, discussions, community. I'd
     like to know that if some day I lose a leg, develop a penchant
     for cross-dressing, need advice from other parents on changing a
     baby's diaper, whatever, that there is a highly accessible and
     content-rich space where I can conveniently access and meet
     others like me without feeling threatened. I also like knowing
     that there is a place that is safe for dreamers and visionaries
     to offer their insights, however odd or offensive they might be,
     because unchecked and sublimated desires are I think more
     threatening to society than those that are made visible in public
     spaces like the internet.

     As a multimedia professional, a university graduate student, and
     a community volunteer, I use the internet frequently for
     gathering information and resources for my work and education.
     That the content of the internet is so rich, vast, and
     far-ranging is its greatest asset; it would be a pity to
     prematurely limit the internet's information explosion from
     reaching its potential.

     Before the sudden conservative fear, loathing and attention
     focused on the internet, which has led to the recent revision of
     the Telecommuications Act, I really believed that the internet
     had the potential for establishing freedom of expression as a
     functional social reality and not just a pipe dream of America's
     forefathers.

     Thanks for taking time to read.

     Vince

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