On Tue, 02 Aug 2005 17:06:25 GMT, SMS in message
<news:lKNHe.6986$p%3.33858@typhoon.sonic.net> wrote:

> Roderick Stewart wrote:
>
> > I think there should be a presumption that someone else's property, be
> > it a physical object, access to premises, or access to a service of some
> > kind, is NOT offered freely to all and sundry unless there is a clear
> > indication that it is.
>
> > The mere absence of active prevention should not
> > be taken as such an indication.
>
> In this case, the type of property is often offered freely to all,
> without indication.
>
> When a certain type of product is often given away for free, an owner of
> the product that decides to not give it away, needs to make it clear
> that they are not giving it away, either with a sign, or with some sort
> of security.
>


Rubbish.

If you decide to use something that doesn't belong to you, then it is
*your* responsibility to ensure that the owner is happy for you to do so.

It is NOT the responsibility of the owner to make sure it is obvious they
don't want you to use it.

> Analogies are tough on this one. Maybe air and water from a gas station.
> Many stations give it away free, even to non-customers. If free use got
> out of hand, then the gas station would secure the air and water
> station, and require a token to activate it, as some gas stations have
> done. But normally the gas station that does give it away to anyone,
> does not post a big sign that says "free air and water," they just leave
> it available for anyone that wants it, because it's more trouble than
> it's worth to secure it. Everyone just knows that unless it's secured,
> or unless their is a sign that says "customers only" that it's okay to
> use it.
>

Here in the UK (I hadn't noticed till now that the thread is alos in a
non-uk group), that is a very bad analogy, because the majority of filling
stations that don't charge DO have signs saying "Free air and water".





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