To use your toll highway analogy, we're not talking about suing the owners of the toll highway for people rear-ending others - we're talking about suing the owners of the toll highway for failing to paint lines on the road, put up traffic signs and install safety barricades.

I happen to subscribe to an ISP that proactively blocks certain traffic. The odd time, their proaction has gotten a bit out of hand at times(once they entirely blocked ICMP traffic for several weeks) but at least they're making the effort. If an ISP actually makes it their business model (and there are those that do!) that they will permit certain types of network traffic that more community minded ISP's will not, then they should be held accountable using the mechanisms in place to protect the majority.

As for suing or fining Joe Public - what? You want them to get a CS degree or an Internet Operator's license too? Try being a bit realistic. Even the RIAA can't sue enough of the little guys to make the smallest dent in their problem. They too need to take a good hard look at the big picture - what's needed is a change in their business model. That's for another rant, though. ;-)

To change this model (our 'toll highway') we need to make the highway owners (the ISP's) and the auto manufacturers (M$) take responsibility for ensuring public safety by installing safety barricades, seat belts and air bags. There are already laws in place for the 1337 haX0r kiddies that slash people's tires or spray paint the signs. Those need to be enforced dramatically.

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