Verizon Blocks Opt-In Pro-Choice SMS > controversial or unsavory-- how about LEGAL / NORMAL

reply to P Ness

Re: controversial or unsavory-- how about LEGAL / NORMAL

Seriously? Are you really feigning outrage here?

So what if it's legal. That doesn't mean that everyone feels it's morally acceptable.

Are you telling me that Verizon should be forced to give ANY organization access to its network?
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Who wants an orange whip? Orange whip? Orange whip? Three orange whips.

I believe in the constitution and the principles upon which this country was founded. I believe in freedom of speech and as a world leader, I think we are civilized enough to 'agree to disagree' on the topics we may personally feel is against our moral standpoint. Education, not suppression, is the way.
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{Insert Something Witty Here}

reply to Placebo

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reply to pnh102
So? If you opt-in, then the content is irrelevant to Verizon (or should be)

I agree... I should be able to receive messages from whoever I want (assuming they're not terrorists).
Whether its abortion, p0rn, warez, George W. Bush, Hillary Clinton, etc.
If VZW or any carrier decides for me that I shouldn't receive a message that I expect to see, then there is an issue.
What happens if I set up my travel plans with American Airlines (worst airlines out there), to SMS me my flight schedule changes, and Verizon decides to block them.
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Canada = Hollywood North

reply to ropeguru
I want 200 HD channels from Dish Network. In fact, I'm paying them over $100 per month. Give me what I want!!!!

See, doesn't that sound a little ridiculous? It doesn't matter if you are the one "opting in". What matters is the fact that Verizon doesn't want to provide access to their network to NARAL.
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Who wants an orange whip? Orange whip? Orange whip? Three orange whips.

reply to Placebo
My issue with this, and thankfully I am no longer a Verizon customer, is not that they are running their business as they see fit (though I disagree with how they are doing it). My problem is that if I was a customer and I didn't agree with these business practices I cannot terminate my contract without penalty AND if enough businesses (at least the major providers, such as Verizon, Sprint, etc) chose to follow this, I would be left with few options.

This is similar to Walmart not selling products (cds/dvds) that they do not find "fitting" of their image. Spend your money somewhere else, if you can.

reply to Placebo

For NARAL to send the messages, it requires Verizon to provide access to thier network. Verizon chooses not to provide access. Would you expect Verizon to provide access to ANY organization?

I'd argue that I'm not "clueless". Dish Network offers local HD channels throughout the country--I'm pretty sure they offer over 100 channels throughout the country. I can't get all 100. Is my analogy so off base?
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Who wants an orange whip? Orange whip? Orange whip? Three orange whips.

reply to Placebo

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reply to PhoenixDown
Agreed. I'm amazed at how many people forget that little thing called "the Bill of Rights" and think that their own personal 15th-century opinion is law.

reply to Placebo
Of course they should. From the New York Times article on the subject:

"Professor Wu pointed to a historical analogy. In the 19th century, he said, Western Union, the telegraph company, engaged in discrimination, based on the political views of people who sought to send telegrams. “One of the eventual reactions was the common carrier rule,” Professor Wu said, which required telegraph and then phone companies to accept communications from all speakers on all topics."

This is the exact same issue, except now the text is on a cell phone screen instead of a piece of paper.

reply to PhoenixDown
Um, what?

I'm all for our Constitution and agree that our country's population is starting to loose sight of what the country was founded on. One thing people forget and this is probably the worst, as this country was built on Capitalism and the means to gain rewards for hard work and being proud of that. What does this have to do with Verizon filtering service? Well, for starters it's their network, not the peoples network. They paid for it, they built it and they maintain it. So long as they abid by their policy to their customers, they can do whatever they want with their own property whether physical or intellectual as long as it doesn't break any laws.

This is no different than Walmart offering censored only versions of music or choosing not to sell certain types of music.

Please make sure that as a Constitution loving citizen of the US you don't forget that Capitalism drives our country's companies and work ethics. Lets not try to force companies to act like socialist entities of the government because we don't like something. Instead, BUY service from somewhere else and force the market to change.

This is probably not more than a soap box rant but jez, people here so often forget that net neutrality battles will be one with the paying customer's decisions. If at the end of the day you don't like something don't pay for it, suggest an alternative and wait for the company that sees the light to offer the service you want. The worst thing that can happen is any kind of government control, they always fail... the only thing it's been somewhat good at for the last 200 plus years is enforcing our constitutional rights, and I'm ok with that.
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»www.fairtax.org

Lumber Jack:

Our country may have been built on Captialism but it was founded on the notion of freedom and liberty for all.

In regards to your example, if I didn't like the censored version sold by Walmart, i could go to a thousand different stores and buy it elsewhere (Target, K-Mart, Sam Goodies, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Best Buy, buy.com, etc) -- however we have very few telecommunications companies. They wanted to merge and grow in size, then they have to need to be fair and uphold thier end of their agreement to thier customers which is to provide an unfettered service.

reply to Lumberjack

quote:

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Instead, BUY service from somewhere else and force the market to change.

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