Scope. That's the difference. When a corporation yanks an article for whatever reason, there's nothing stopping another corporation, perhaps a competitor, or consumer group from posting it. When a totalitarian government censors something, it's censored and that's that. No one else can post the information. If they do, they risk imprisonment, or worse. Now, if you post something that's offensive to a corporation, what happens? At worst you loose your job. But if you're not an employee of that company, nothing will happen. If something does happen, you'd have legal recourse. If I were to say something nasty about Microsoft in a public forum, I wouldn't suffer even the slightest worry. On the other hand, if I were subject to the rules of a totalitarian society, and decided to go against the government, I'd have something to worry about. I'll take corporate censorship any day!
Slashdot Mirror
Scope. That's the difference. When a corporation yanks an article for whatever reason, there's nothing stopping another corporation, perhaps a competitor, or consumer group from posting it. When a totalitarian government censors something, it's censored and that's that. No one else can post the information. If they do, they risk imprisonment, or worse. Now, if you post something that's offensive to a corporation, what happens? At worst you loose your job. But if you're not an employee of that company, nothing will happen. If something does happen, you'd have legal recourse. If I were to say something nasty about Microsoft in a public forum, I wouldn't suffer even the slightest worry. On the other hand, if I were subject to the rules of a totalitarian society, and decided to go against the government, I'd have something to worry about. I'll take corporate censorship any day!