YOUR INTERNET IS ABOUT TO BE CENSORED - And you dont get a say
October 29th 2008 05:01
Its only a small snippet on the edge of the column, but it damn sure caught my attention. By lovely coincidence, The Pete Burner Experiment on Sydney's Triple M is discussing the topic right now, so I wasnt the only one. I read the brief paragraph, took a deep breath, and re read it, unable to believe what I was seeing. Upon the re read none of the shocking words had changed themselves. It still said clearly that by the end of the year Australias internet would be under mandatory censorship.
You are on a site with a person who cried when she found out she couldnt smoke in her favourite pub anymore (and railed like a madwoman for the CHOICE and the RIGHT to smoke at outdoor cafes) who got angry when she found out Americans are so free they dont even have to wear seatbelts, and literally spits in disgust when she hears yet another movie or game has been branded unsuitable for Australian audiences. All along Ive been asking - Who are they, these people who think to violate our rights? By what law do they think they can determine what we watch, what we play, and what we listen to?
Now, the one place, the ONE salvation Australia had left has been ripped away like a carpet from under a belly dancer, leaving us poor Auzzies shimmying to an extinct beat on a hardwood floor. Kman has often said of a long awaited game - "Ah, its been banned again, the bastards. I'll have to get it online" and thus I have done the same for books music and movies. But for so long now I have relied upon the internet to supply me, to be able to put any topic I like into the search engine and read ten articles from ten different viewpoints. I have revelled in the fact that I can get any news from any country and the opinions of the locals in the area.
And now no more. The internet, the last place, my one last place to be free and unfettered is now cringing under the bearing down, clanking chains of the nervous nellies and the sub intelligent, those who enjoy banning things just on principle. Surely, it must be the principle, as these nellies claim to have never read/listened to/played/watched the offending material. They have no idea what its about. But they know no one should be looking at it. And since they are so well versed in the ways of the world they have decided that they can make my decision for me.
You know what, I think I had this argument with my mother this morning. And even she backed down.
So....What exactly, are we not allowed to look at? What is going to be unceremoniosly cut from our screens? They are being very vague. So far articles in refrence to anorexia and euthanasia have been targeted. Great. Both are subjects I am interested in. By limiting my access to information and not allowing me to see the issue from all of its angles, are they not breeding fear? Through lack of knowledge? Its very disturbing that this is supposed to happen by the end of the year and yet they still arent sure WHAT they are cutting. Apparently this is all the Minister for communications had to say....
Does this mean if one of us writes a satirical blog on anorexia we will continously get 'This page cannot be displayed' as we have just violated our own censoring? If I type 'euthanasia' into a search engine will it say Nil results?
Be assured of this. I put my head into my hands and fought despair. We are in the hands of blinded frieght trains, who think we can fix a financial crises by throwing money at it and inventing 50% taxes for the millionares. Let me tell ya, it aint how they do it in Singapore, and they arent having a crises.(Thats another post)
Every year I find less reasons to stay alive. Every year life is less worth living. Without choice, without freedom of information, we have nothing. The ongoing and never failing aspect of the human condition is curiosity, and without the tools with which to satisfy it, humans tend to rebel, revert and evolve backwards.....
Why did we bother to come this far - provide all the worlds information to all the worlds people - if we are just going to turn around and go back?
You are on a site with a person who cried when she found out she couldnt smoke in her favourite pub anymore (and railed like a madwoman for the CHOICE and the RIGHT to smoke at outdoor cafes) who got angry when she found out Americans are so free they dont even have to wear seatbelts, and literally spits in disgust when she hears yet another movie or game has been branded unsuitable for Australian audiences. All along Ive been asking - Who are they, these people who think to violate our rights? By what law do they think they can determine what we watch, what we play, and what we listen to?
Now, the one place, the ONE salvation Australia had left has been ripped away like a carpet from under a belly dancer, leaving us poor Auzzies shimmying to an extinct beat on a hardwood floor. Kman has often said of a long awaited game - "Ah, its been banned again, the bastards. I'll have to get it online" and thus I have done the same for books music and movies. But for so long now I have relied upon the internet to supply me, to be able to put any topic I like into the search engine and read ten articles from ten different viewpoints. I have revelled in the fact that I can get any news from any country and the opinions of the locals in the area.
And now no more. The internet, the last place, my one last place to be free and unfettered is now cringing under the bearing down, clanking chains of the nervous nellies and the sub intelligent, those who enjoy banning things just on principle. Surely, it must be the principle, as these nellies claim to have never read/listened to/played/watched the offending material. They have no idea what its about. But they know no one should be looking at it. And since they are so well versed in the ways of the world they have decided that they can make my decision for me.
You know what, I think I had this argument with my mother this morning. And even she backed down.
So....What exactly, are we not allowed to look at? What is going to be unceremoniosly cut from our screens? They are being very vague. So far articles in refrence to anorexia and euthanasia have been targeted. Great. Both are subjects I am interested in. By limiting my access to information and not allowing me to see the issue from all of its angles, are they not breeding fear? Through lack of knowledge? Its very disturbing that this is supposed to happen by the end of the year and yet they still arent sure WHAT they are cutting. Apparently this is all the Minister for communications had to say....
"We are talking about mandatory blocking, where possible, of illegal material."
And right there in black and white, it says that it is not known what content would be barred, simply that pro anorexia and euthanasia sites are at the top of the list.Does this mean if one of us writes a satirical blog on anorexia we will continously get 'This page cannot be displayed' as we have just violated our own censoring? If I type 'euthanasia' into a search engine will it say Nil results?
Be assured of this. I put my head into my hands and fought despair. We are in the hands of blinded frieght trains, who think we can fix a financial crises by throwing money at it and inventing 50% taxes for the millionares. Let me tell ya, it aint how they do it in Singapore, and they arent having a crises.(Thats another post)
Every year I find less reasons to stay alive. Every year life is less worth living. Without choice, without freedom of information, we have nothing. The ongoing and never failing aspect of the human condition is curiosity, and without the tools with which to satisfy it, humans tend to rebel, revert and evolve backwards.....
Why did we bother to come this far - provide all the worlds information to all the worlds people - if we are just going to turn around and go back?
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Comment by Lady Henrietta Muddling
Potter in a Harry
There's too many groups who will complain about the censorship of anorexia on the net?
The modelling industry. The fashion industry. The sports industry (no more bringing your girlfriend to awards night?). The list goes on and on.
The sex industry. I can't see politicians ordering fat chicks after a hard day in parliament.
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Blood boiling? I dont think so! ITS ON GODDAMNED FIRE!!
Now, if that were 'Holy Fire' and I threw in a 'Praise Jesus' and 'God is the avenger' would that mean Im one of the Good Guys? Able to suf whatever net I like just for the reasearch? Because Id be a pure christian that didnt get taken in by all that sinful crap?
Rather than a sinner that wont get taken in by the Holy Roller crap?
Australia is on the same page as China and North Korea. Ive lived in Korea. Im not liking the comparison. This frustration is going to put me over the edge man....
Comment by Lady Henrietta Muddling
Potter in a Harry
I can assure you it's not a Jesus thing. It's an anti-Jesus thing. This is where it gets really confusing. It's all in the name of morality, yet they've banned morality from politics?
It's all designed to do your head in. The thing they forget? I did my own head in.
If you didn't laugh, you'd vent? But when you are in a venting mood? I say vent. And Orble is the place. Just pour it out. I'll read it. There's nothing much else to read on this site. There. That's my vent.
Fuck this. I'm having another beer. If I get totally shitfaced tonight, I might eventually vent. Is that where vent came from? E-VENT-ually. YOu bottle it up until it fizzes over the top?
No idea. I'll let you know after another few beers.
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
I started the blog to vent. And this is about the first week Ive actually done it. Some might call it progress.
Comment by Lady Henrietta Muddling
Potter in a Harry
Standing up for what you think is right. It's a lesson I learned long after leaving a job without saying anything.
If you've got a calm, peaceful existence, then sure, don't vent. But if you haven't? I say vent away in order to arrive at a place where you do have one. I don't think there's any other path towards a vent-free existence.
I'm not a big fan of venting. But that's actually a deficiency. I need to vent more.
Ventilator is an interesting word. It's something that draws the bad air out of an environment. Which makes you wonder why they invented air conditioning? Which dehydrates you.
Then there's the Ventolin inhaler for asthmatics. It seems to me the word vent is all about breathing.
Now I'm just dribbling shit.
Comment by KC Hill
World Art
Gear Lover
Daily History
The HOT Report
World Travel
Street Beat
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Kman was relieved when I got a blog. Thought Id vent here instead of at him. Funny, that didnt work out. Im a very angry person, and my psychiatrist told me everyone was just going to have to learn to deal with it.
KC
Thats a great point, because the limiting of information actually makes it harder to make a choice! Ive been needing to dummy spit about this practise in our government for years, my steaming started with Tony Abbott, perfect example of someone in power twisting the rules and abusing power for his own ends. "Hmm. I dont like smoking or abortion. Lets get rid of it" The smoking is still umming and ahhing, but I laughed when he copped it over abortion - only hours after he said it the streets swarmed with pro choicers. Thats the kind of army we need for freedom of speech. I dont think any one is taking this seriously enough!
Comment by Nevar
Is Why
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Comment by Nevar
Is Why