Thread: Banned Book Week starts Saturday
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Old 09-25-2009, 11:46 AM   #82
WT Sharpe
Bah, humbug!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nekokami View Post
There is a world of difference between the delaying of the release of time-sensitive information, and the attempt to suppress such information indefinitely. Among other reasons, the latter is impossible. Any idea which has been thought of can be thought of again. (I recall a few years back reading the published journal of a graduate student who worked out, from public documents, how to construct a fission bomb.) I firmly believe that all "classified" documents should have a mandatory declassification date, probably of 20 years or less.
That sounds reasonable. I agree that no book should be banned for ideas (no matter how distasteful), and classified information should have a shelf life - unless an extremely compelling reason can offered otherwise.

Detailed plans on how to make a nuclear bomb in your basement would be a good example of what I consider an extremely compelling reason to withhold publication.
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