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About this quote

What does it mean?
The author argues the internet lacks formal governance and legal structures so discussions should focus on current reality rather than abstract ideals.
In plain terms
The internet has no government or laws so we should talk about what actually happens.
What can you take from it?
Understanding online dynamics requires focusing on actual user behavior rather than legal concepts.

Where it applies

  • online policy
  • community management

Putting it to work

  • analyzing user trends
  • community guidelines

Questions to consider

  • How do norms replace laws in digital spaces?
  • Is fairness possible without formal structure?

Another view

Informal norms can still create rights and obligations even without formal laws.

More from Paul Vixie

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  2. 'personally i prefer the MX RR and a stylized name, but i was trying to solve the problem rather than create an industry.' (2004)

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  3. 'Fragmentation is like classful addressing -- an interesting early architectural error that shows how much experimentation was going on while IP was being desi…

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