Myth: The Net properly belongs to the People
Corollary: Net Admins improperly use their power.

Freedom of speech, surrendering power, the large machines - what are we
talking about? Ever since a brave anthropithecan first grabbed a burning
branch from a naturally caused fire, and paraded around with it, whooping
as he beat the alpha males into beta status with it, it has been this way.

Control implies ownership, and ownership implies control.

The Internet is FAR from being the first place where this has happened.
Seaship passengers routinely surrendered 'the power to punish, the power to
imprison' to the captain of the ship, long before the Internet.

Myth: The Internet was built for, was designed for, exists for, is driven
by, or is supposed to be for, the free, open, uncensored, unrestricted
exchange of information.

The Internet today is an evolving work in progress. The US Government's
interest in maintaining communications after being at the receiving end of
an atomic bomb, contributed to the creation of the Internet, as did Bob
Metcalfe's doctoral thesis on packet-based data transmission.

Of course transmitting data is the whole point of the Internet, but I
submit that its creators placed a higher priority in just getting it to
work, period, than in getting it to work for this or that lofty purpose.

Myth: The Internet encourages long established democratic governments to
turn oppressive and closely control their citizens.

Myth: The Internet prevents long established oppressive regimes from
controlling their citizens.

Logically, it can't be both, yet just as people bemoan the chilling effects
of the CDA, people rejoice when people in <country> get Internet access,
because now they will be FREEEEE!!!!!!

People still get the government they deserve, and the best they can afford,
the Internet notwithstanding.

Myth: The Constitution of the United States of America is the common law of
the Internet, not only granting rights to Netizens, but actually protecting
Netizens from each other.

Myth: The Net is public property.
Myth: Since the Net is public property, I have the right to <whatever>.

The Net is not public property, but even if it was, it's misguided to
assume that one would have the rights people claim to have. On real, actual
public properties, like parks and beaches, people don't have the right to
defecate wherever, light fires, setup businesses, have sex, dispose of
refuse, so why do people assume that they could let their Id go berserk on
the Net, even if it *was* public property?

Myth: Usenet is the Internet.

It's important to remember the distinction. Usenet is carried, most of the
way, on the Internet. Usenet predates the Internet. Usenet exists mostly on
private equipment, and only rarely on equipment belonging to those who
access Usenet. One cannot use ones perceptions about the Internet's purpose
to argue that Usenet should be this or should be that. It's just not
logical.