The way some of you anwsers others, I would guess not. Everybody has a right to their thoughts, know matter how different from yours.

-- ET (bneville@zebra.net), March 04, 2000

Answers

ET,

Below is the amendments to the bill of rights, however, I think it is a moot point in cyberspace.

What is important is the life of a bulletin board, the psyches of people who are banned, and how sysops can reduce problems that force chatrooms to become online police states like TimeBomb.

"THE BILL OF RIGHTS Amendments 1-10 of the Constitution

| Search the Constitution | Browse Constitution + Other Amendments | About the Constitution |

The Conventions of a number of the States having, at the time of adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added, and as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution;

Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two-thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States; all or any of which articles, when ratified by three-fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the said Constitution, namely:

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Amendment VII

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

Prepared by Gerald Murphy (Cleveland Free-Net - aa300). Distributed by the Cybercasting Services Division of the National Public Telecomputing Network (NPTN). Permission is hereby granted to download, reprint, and/or otherwise redistribute this file, provided appropriate point of origin credit is given to the preparer(s) and the National Public Telecomputing Network. "

-- (Ladylogic46@aol.com), March 04, 2000.

It is time for people to start using them, don't you think? I live by them myself, I would hope ours would start to use them. It is our foundation after all.

-- ET (bneville@zebra.net), March 04, 2000.

Right to bear arms. I know that one. Hey LL, supposedly from Hell, you are being real civil. I never got the chance to Thank You for the words of comfort (and your phone number, over a year ago). Thank you for that. Are you really the one behind all those barrage from Hell multiple postings? If so, Damn, you are one smart puter lady.

-- Woman (towom@n.com), March 04, 2000.

And of course for all those who didn't get what the Bill of Rights is about there is always the The Bill of No Rights

by Lewis Napper*

We, the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid any more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some commonsense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt-ridden, delusional and other liberal, bedwetters. We hold these truths to be self-evident: that a whole lot of people were confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim that they require a Bill of No Rights.

ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.

ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone - not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc., but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.

ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful, do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.

ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes.

ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care.

ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.

ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big-screen color TV or a life of leisure.

ARTICLE VIII: You don't have the right to demand that our children risk their lives in foreign wars to soothe your aching conscience. We hate oppressive governments and won't lift a finger to stop you from going to fight if you'd like. However, we do not enjoy parenting the entire world and do not want to spend so much of our time battling each and every little tyrant with a military uniform and a funny hat.

ARTICLE IX: You don't have the right to a job. All of us sure want all of you to have one, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful.

ARTICLE X: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to pursue happiness -which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights."

*Lewis Napper, a self-described "amateur philosopher and professional geek" was driving home for lunch in 1993 listening to the radio report about Clinton's proposed national health-care plan. As he listened to the chatter about "this right and that right" it hit him that all those misguided defenders of big government had perverted the intent of the founding fathers. Napper then composed the following addendum to the Bill of Rights just for those folks. He called it "The Bill of No Rights." If you wish to check out more of Mr. Napper's thoughts, see his website: www.bServer.com

-- Lucy (lifeisgoodhere@webtv.net), March 04, 2000.

"Right to bear arms. I know that one."

Me too, Woman. It's liberating to know that if the need ever arises, we're not at the mercy of any Tom, Dick, or Harry that wants to mess with us, isn't it? (Especially since there are a few people that might want to show up at my door, thanks to Diane the *Sigh*er.)

"I never got the chance to Thank You for the words of comfort (and your phone number, over a year ago). Thank you for that."

The number's still the same, and I think you're still the same smart woman I thought you were then. (Deb, right?)

"Are you really the one behind all those barrage from Hell multiple postings? If so, Damn, you are one smart puter lady."

Naw, I'm not so smart. I just enjoy learning new things and discovering how things work. I guess you're the same, or you wouldn't be online stuffing that brain full of info! (However, I'm sure you've realized by now, we have to be careful what sources to believe.)

Later, Woman. It was a pleasure to hear from you again, whoever you are.

~*~

-- laura (Ladylogic46@aol.com), March 04, 2000.

If anyone can point out exactly where in the Bill of Rights it says ANYTHING about ANYONE other than Congress abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, I'd be happy to agree with you about "censorship" as practiced on the new TB2000 at ezboard. Of course, you can't.

-- none (none@none.none), March 04, 2000.

None,

Don't you get it? It is the spirit of free speech! A VERY american thing!

BTW...If I were a socialistic liberal with enough money and under the current PC mindset,I would sue and make you let anyone post,regardless.

BUT.... I'm a doomer libertarian.

-- capnfun (capnfun1@excite.com), March 05, 2000.

Don't you get it? It is the spirit of free speech! A VERY american thing!

That's very nice, but it has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the Bill of Rights, which (supposedly) guarantees our rights AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. What part of that don't y'all understand?

-- none (none@none.none), March 05, 2000.

Actually, None -- if you want to be entirely correct, the Bill of Rights was only to protect states from the Federal Government; i.e., it granted rights to the States from Federal interference. The Bill of Rights was, in large part, "federalized" by the post-civil war 14th Amendement, which now makes some of the Bill of Rights binding on the states as well (the exact reach of the 14th Amendment is still a matter of legal dispute to this day).

Prior to the Civil War, States had a right to ban speach, religion, the whole thing. It was just the Feds that couldn't do it for them.

I've always thought this is one of the least understood yet most significant aspects of U.S. Constitutional history.

-- E.H. Porter (E.H.Porter@just.wondering), March 05, 2000.