The Bloggers With The Most To Say
Farewell everyone. I won't be around much longer.
Hey guys. Just a quick note to let you all know that it's been a lot of fun, but sadly I won't be around any more after mid-May. The same goes for the other Aussies on 20sb as well.*
This is because our infinitely wise and wonderful federal government** has decided to implement mandatory ISP level filtering for all Australians. (if you're unsure where Australia is, look for the big red splodge at the bottom right of the map.)
If you would like to send me a postcard once Senator Conroy starts censoring my internet, please message me and I will send you a list of code words we will use to replace contentious words like "freedom" and "democracy".
It's been a joy. Thank you for the laughter.***
Mel.
* Ok, fine. I am being melodramatic. It's probably not quite as bad as all that. But I'm a drama queen. Sue me.
** Yes, I am being sarcastic.
*** In case you can't tell, this is me being political. I actually forgot to write an appeal for your opinion on this matter into the discussion, so.... let's discuss!!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kris on -
Haha. That will get attention. And you used the Wikipedia link. I feel famous.
I don't know how much discussion there will be, since I doubt this idea will have many supporters in a blogging forum. But being informed is always a good idea.
So, more serious replies, commence...
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Permalink Reply by Ella Unread on -
It would be cool if they censored things like porn with animals or pictures of naked kids...idk.
It would be good if all governments did...
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Permalink Reply by Mel Cotton on -
That's what they gov't says they're filtering. And that stuff is evil. It's just that 1) the method they're using will be all but completely ineffective for fighting that stuff, and 2) they've been found to be blocking so much more than just that in this filter.
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Permalink Reply by Ella Unread on
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hmmm ....idk then... Mr Conroy, give Aussies the freedom they deserve!!
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Permalink Reply by R...RAWR on -
As bile inducing an image as the junk Ella Unread referred to is; I don't think that censoring such stuff is the solution. I think if that's what the *idea* behind it is (and it usually isn't- just uses pithy excuses of 'protecting' people), then they need to tackle the issue at its root. Not get all Big Brother on you and control what someone else thinks is unsavoury content.
Who decides what is acceptable and what is not? What are these parameters that push things to one side of the line? Who gives anybody the right to decide these things for me? Especially as it's not something you can voluntarily sign up to? I'm uncomfortable with my access to information being controlled- even the idea of it is completely repulsive.
As I was telling Mel and some of the others; I grew up in a country which has extremely strict censorship about things that they deem culturally, morally and religiously contradicting their own beliefs. Things are arbitrarily blocked- you don't even get an explanation, save for a generic 'this violates the moral, cultural, religious beliefs of the country' page. They've blocked Flickr for years. I just tried to watch a Russell Peters sketch on Homosexuality- aaaand, blocked! This is someone else deciding on what my moral values are, this is the state infringing on my basic right to information.
Yes, it's a Middle Eastern country and everyone shrugs their shoulders to talk about the oppressive; backward regimes that run these countries.. but basic fact is that it isn't *just* these countries. It's everywhere that the government monitors the kind of content you have access to. It'll shut down things that go against its interests- whether they are infringing cultural boundaries; or as we've seen lately.. their political boundaries. This isn't just an issue of totalitarian governments, it's crippling the very fabric of democratic societies.
p.s: here's more ridiculousness re: control. Skype's blocked in the UAE. There's only one ISP+Telephone provider in the country: Etisalat. They block Skype so you're obliged to use the telephone to ring people. Greater profits.
I wish I were joking.
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Permalink Reply by Anthony Licari on -
Personally I'm not a hardcore conservative by any means so this sort of stuff always cracks me up.
You live in a republic and you elect individuals to represent you and then you oppose the policy they push because it's misrepresenting you. I love it.
The only reason people are opposed to ISP level filtering is because they're not used to having it filtered. Look at television or radio, you don't see people storming those gates with pitchforks and that's way way way more censored than the internet will ever be.
I'm not for censoring I'm just saying its not like they're taking away your right to vote or pray to your Gods. It's pretty mild actually in comparison to other policy the state pushes through but no one cares about that because they don't see the direct impact in front of their face when they try to do something on their computer.
I wish people would stop comparing everything to the third reicht. Germany had just come out of having kings and shit in the 19th century and it was very easy to use these types of policies to gain control for an extreme political group in a country that was divided into a bunch of mini states. A bunch of old geasers in kangaroo land aren't planning on taking over the world and turning you into slaves via blocking animal porn.
But seriously I'm not for filtering but it wouldn't bother me if it happened as my ISP already filters and I still download torrents and do whatever I want.
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Permalink Reply by Susie Q on -
Our whole world comes to us, filtered to the requirements of government/media/whatever. The news that you see on tv/read on the papers have been carefully selected and edited.
So how's this different? You won't know what you're missing. Unless they go in he way of blocking popular websites and telling the people about it.. Like if I use my university's proxies, I cannot enter isohunt,etc. and it comes up with the message "blocked by University of Suchandsuch". But I suppose the government wouldn't do that.
People in China toddle on happily with their modern lives despite the blatant censorship, and some of my Chinese friends were flabbergasted, absolutely appalled at some of the stuff that's online that I've just got used to (enhance your manhood adverts etc.).. So as much as I'm against censorship, I can also see that they're trying to get rid of the illegal stuff, however wrong that may be. And in the end, how are you going to miss what you don't know you're missing?
© 2012 Created by Lisa.
