On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 20:41:56 -0500, Bill Putney >
wrote:

>Big Bill wrote:
>> On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 15:39:24 -0500, Bill Putney >
>> wrote:
>
>>>Huh! Since when is simply giving you information a violation of anything?
>>>
>>>You can't force an ISP to use their resources to provide you the means
>>>to express yourself any more than you can force yourself onto my
>>>property to say or do anything that you want.
>>
>>
>> Sur e he can - he has a contract with the ISP.
>
>His "contract" with the ISP says they can terminate the "contract" if he
>violates the TOS - that's part of the "contract" that he agreed to when
>he signed up. So - no - he can't force an ISP to provide the service,
>especially if he is in violation of the agreement, which includes the TOS.

If one stays within the TOS, the ISP is required to continue to
provide a forum.
Remember what I responded to; it's just above, there.
"You can't force an ISP to use their resources to provide you the
means to express yourself any more than you can force yourself onto my
property to say or do anything that you want. "
I said that's wrong, and I stand by what I said.
>
>>>But - yes - you have the
>>>right to freedom of speech - but I (that's the generic "I" - I am not an
>>>ISP) am not required to provide you the tools to do it. Get mad at me
>>>if you want. Ever heard the expression "Don't shoot the messenger"?
>>
>>
>> The right to freedom of speech has to do with governments in the US,
>> not ISPs.
>> It's rather amazing how many people invoke or try to explain the
>> Freedom of Speech thing while knowing so little about it.
>> ISPs are *not* required to provide a forum for anyone.
>
>How is that different than what I said? Read what I wrote again. I
>essentially said that, although, yes, he has freedom of speech, ISP's
>are not required to provide the tools/resources for him to excercise it.

And I said (rightly) that if they contract to do so (and the TOS is
part of the contract), you *can* force them to do so.
>
>To reiterate, if he violates the contract, they can terminate his
>service. The contract itself says so.

Ah, "if he violates the contract." Indeed, but that wasn't in what you
said earlier.
>
>Bill Putney
>(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
>adddress with the letter 'x')

--
Bill Funk
Change "g" to "a"