Anyone that advocates BBS sysops [system operators] should act as deputy marshals in Dodge City is preposterous.
Predictor: Rickard, Jack
Prediction, in context:Jack Rickard made the following statement in a panel presentation titled “Electronic Speech, Press & Assembly” at the 1991 Conference on Computers, Freedom and Privacy, sponsored by Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility. He is responding to a question about whether the government should have the right to ask bulletin board operators to report to law-enforcement officials about content on their systems: ”My position on that – I don’t even know how to go into any detail – I think the concept is ridiculous [and] that anyone that advocates BBS sysops [system operators] should act as deputy marshals in Dodge City is preposterous. And I really don’t have any further thoughts on it.”
Biography:Jack Rickard, the editor/publisher of Boardwatch Magazine, the magazine of the 1990s home-grown BBS industry, was also co-founder of the Online Networking Exposition and BBS Convention (ONE BBSCON). (Pioneer/Originator.)
Date of prediction: March 28, 1991
Topic of prediction: Controversial Issues
Subtopic: Jurisdiction/Control
Name of publication: Proceedings of the First Conference on Computers, Freedom & Privacy
Title, headline, chapter name: Electronic Speech, Press & Assembly
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Page 169
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Schmidt, Nicholas