Letters

you, the reader

     I picked up a copy of Oblivion #6 at the Zine Fiend Festival, good work! I especially dug the article on blocking software. As an old-school punk (class of '77, retired undefeated) and parent, I've had to think long and hard about what is the most responsible policy for kids accessing the net. I decided to make sure my kids have unlimited access to information, not because to do otherwise is a violation of their rights ("rights" are a legal and social construct only valid in an authoritarian system, only the ruled have rights, the unruled have freedom), but because it would be a grave disservice to the furtherance of their education. They sure as hell aren't getting a balanced picture of the world and its possibilities from the public schools. The main objection people have to uncensored access is that kids might decide to check out some porn, but I can't see how pictures of people screwing could be anywhere near as damaging to someone's psyche as the pornography of greed that pours from the t.v. day and night. "Protecting" people from information doesn't make them safe, it keeps them ignorant. I figure this world already has enough idiots.

Damian Carr
Editor, Disgrunt Webzine

     You're damn right I'm paranoid of Big Brother! Every one of the filthy bastards is trying to kill me, and for all I know, you're in cahoots with the Mafia, the CIA, and The Man Upstairs, whoever he is. But in any case, I thought you might want to consider exchanging permission for displaying links.

     With your relatively high distribution network, you should stop writing this crap about friggin' high school. We must focus our efforts on the real enemy, and avenge the unlawful actions of this country's resident institution. There are more pressing issues at hand, such as the high-grade plutonium in orbit above our heads this minute. Nuclear weapons are banned in outer-space, but if one of these satellites were to fall on a large city, it would be devestated. I think, technically, that this counts as a nuclear weapon since the radiation originates from the nuclear segment of the atoms.

BJKing

     I think you're totally right. The teachers and Principal at school need to be taught a lesson. They are totally clueless when it comes to teens and what goes on in our heads. Sometimes all I want to do is stand up in class and deck a teacher really hard. I just don't see how they think they have the power to punish us like they are our parents or something. I really hate it when a teacher comes off on this attitude or something. And I have had a teacher like the one you described. We teased him constantly! We'd write things about him on the board and when he read them and asked who wrote them, we'd all just sit there and not pay any attention.

     Well, good luck on the zine!!!

Genus

     Someone asked about Teenage Liberation Handbook in Oblivion #6. For your info: Genius Tribe is a catalog/newsletter of materials for "unschoolers" and homeschoolers, put together by Teenage Liberation Handbook author Grace Llewelyn and her partner.

Box 1014
Eugene, OR 97440-1014
541-686-2315
FAX: 541-686-2315
http://home.aol.com/GTcatalog

     Solidarity,

Chris D.

     A few opinions on blocking software. I'm 15, I'm allowed to use my computer and the Internet freely, my parents trust me.

1. The V-Chip is blocking hardware not blocking software, and as I remember it's meant for TV.
2. Internet access @ school, anywhere, is a privilege not a right. If the school wants to use blocking software then they can. It's their computers and their connection.
3. Blocking software is the way to go, maybe you forget but blocking software is made by independent companies, not the government. And as was demonstrated by the CDA, the government seems to want to destroy any "inappropriate" material. The blocking software for now is the only answer, second to parental monitoring, to keep the government from having to do something.

     For closing, I would just like to say, we don't need Internet censorship we need Internet responsibility.

Adam
http://www.yippi.com/

Hi,

     I would very much appreciate a copy of your zine. I only wish I knew more zines with similar content. If you know of any, please send me all the information you have on them. I wish you the best of luck in doing what you want to do.

     Thanks,

Andrea

     P.S. I'm telling everyone I can about your zine.

Hey there,

     Yes, people are interested in the shit people put up w/ in high school. Saw the review in PP and I figured this is a zine we should support. I'm starting up a small scale zine distro + might be interested in your zine. Please send all the relevant info when sending me my copy. I'm looking forward to reading it!

     Take Care,

Greg

To the good folks at Oblivion,

     Hi. I got in the mail an issue #6 and a request for copies of my zine. I’ll send you copies of some of my older ones cuz I think you might like some of the subjects. If you like them, I’ll send you more. Issue #10 will be done soon--- I hand-print them all so it takes me a couple of weeks just to print ‘em. I’m also recording a record version of issues 8 & 9.

     I really dig your zine. I expecially liked the last essay, the one on graduations, oh and the youth news in the beginning. If you ever have 10 bucks you should get a subsc. to The Match, a killer zine with a “Who the Cops Beat” section. Pricey but worth it. (PO Box 3012, Tucson, AZ 85702).

     Well I hope you enjoy the zines, and I also hope you’ll keep me on your mailing list. I’ll keep trading as long as I get stuff to trade. Thanks,

Karen (artnoose.)