Sunday, July 17, 2005
What's Wrong With Rights?
Here is a quote from an article on the release of the latest Harry Potter volume, from someone concerned about "spoilers" published on the Internet.
"While free speech is important, Amazon should put a warning on this set of comments so that the rights of others are not trampled upon," he wrote. "At the very least, reviews here should be moderated for the next few days. That way I wouldn't have an inconsolable 14-year-old sister to deal with right now."
Now, really. "Rights" being "trampled on?" I there a right, in the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, or body of case law built up since the Magna Carta not to be disappointed? How about you teach your 14 year old sister to be careful what she reads? I haven't read the book yet but if I had and I felt like it I'd publish whatever details I wanted to in a review. Nobody forces your sister, or you, or anyone else, to read anything, or watch anything, or go anywhere in particular. So, lay off about "rights" that have never existed and never will in a rational world.
Great googley Moogley!
"While free speech is important, Amazon should put a warning on this set of comments so that the rights of others are not trampled upon," he wrote. "At the very least, reviews here should be moderated for the next few days. That way I wouldn't have an inconsolable 14-year-old sister to deal with right now."
Now, really. "Rights" being "trampled on?" I there a right, in the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, or body of case law built up since the Magna Carta not to be disappointed? How about you teach your 14 year old sister to be careful what she reads? I haven't read the book yet but if I had and I felt like it I'd publish whatever details I wanted to in a review. Nobody forces your sister, or you, or anyone else, to read anything, or watch anything, or go anywhere in particular. So, lay off about "rights" that have never existed and never will in a rational world.
Great googley Moogley!
