Much of my experience in higher education has revolved around humans and how they manage the technology that they've created. From the first smelly cave-individual to the rocket scientists of today, we've created tools that are ever more complicated and difficult to use - then complained about how hard it is to make them do our bidding.

"Must use stick, Urrrrgh, to get tasty grubs. Poke in stump and dinner come out now!" Primitive man found that tools, however basic, made the quest for food easier and more successful. But you've got to believe that there was one member of the tribe (probably a little bit skinnier than the others) who refused to use this new "magic stick" to pry his dinner from the tree.

"No way, Glrrrrgh! I not use stick, it too complicated. Which end to use? What if break when digging grub? Why not just use finger like always?" And he would, too. Eventually he'd get something tasty to eat, without using the new technology. A proud smile on his face, with a feeling of accomplishment for not having used the tool of the devil. (Ok, ok -- there was no Devil until several thousand years later. So sue me!)

The pattern continued, as the wheel rolled into the developing civilization. Then fire. And telephones. And eventually the Internet. All just extensions of the human need to multiply the available power of ten digits and one brain and to better supply the creature comforts required by the (still) primitive beasties.

The Genie was out of the bottle, and the best efforts of those who questioned the value of these wishes couldn't get the damn thing back inside. Once we'd tasted of cooked beast, it was hard to put the fire out.

So how do we decide if this new "Internet" thing is a goodness? We all know that it promotes kiddie-porn, dangerous militia kooks, and Scientology, right? It allows people to transport all kinds of damaging information across the street and across the world. We've got to stop it before our society collapses!

Pretty fragile society we've got here, if we can't stand the flow of a little information. There was porn before there was an Internet - and kooks, and even Scientologists. And if you believe that some (or all) of these are Bad Things, then you should work to eliminate them from the earth. Legally, peacefully, and without trampling on the rights of anyone else.

Communication is a Good Thing. We live in a country founded on that as a basic principle, and we've fought some pretty costly battles just to ensure that we've got the right to say what we want, without danger of somebody who knows better making us hush up. Just 'cause the words are dancing up the screen of my computer, don't think I'm going to let you ride herd on what they say - unless and until you can show me how they violate the rights of the guy in the cave next door.

Pass me a little more of that roast beast, please.