It is clearly evident the Internet is the latest battleground where free speech and censorship advocates are duking it out over what can be viewed by whom. Advocates for censoring or tagging Web sites for dubious content, such as pornographic sites or pages devoted to bomb-making, have their hearts in the right place. Children need and deserve protection from such influences. Unfortunately, the library is not the place to institute these restrictions. Sorry, Mom, but I have the right to look at XXX sites, and that access should not be denied to me.
People have the right, but the discretion to view the information is up to the user.
Media Metrix, a company that measures World Wide Web traffic, said that 32.3 percent of the 56.8 million people who logged on to the Web viewed adult-themed sites. Censorship advocates cannot legislate the morality of the citizens of this country. Information is there for us to look at and make a valid decision on our own as to whether or not we agree, like or are disgusted with whatever it is we see. AOL's decision to remove bomb-making pages and chat groups from its service is its own business. AOL owns the hardware and the network.