Yeah, Bluejammer. I wholeheartedly agree that filters of child abuse in any form should be heavily clamped down on and known ports of this activity blocked at the source of the connection.
However, what disturbs me is denial of access to other 'normal' things (like which you mentioned) that may be 'deemed' illegal or 'immoral' or 'shocking' and tried tried to be swept under the carpet for 'neatness' of society and whatever political and propoganda agenda is currently sweeping the nations decisionmakers.
Things are reigning in real tight, and we seem to be just accepting it as either 'progress', 'nothing we can do about it' or have been brainwashed into thinking it will somehow magically solve the worlds troubles by keeping tabs on us all and knowing what we are all doing, which political stances we have, sexuality preferences, religious preferences, status and wealth, also the fututre posibility of genetics and probable implications that genetic 'forsights' as well as general 'probing' will bring for discrimination in the future. You think it wont happen like that? Think again.
Its just like identity cards (which will carry this information) which another topic that I am fully against. There was talk about them being 'voluntary' - and therefore not legislted as a 'necessity' by law to keep civil libertarians from hampering the concept.....however, what will happen is that banks, insurance, medical care and general 'everyday' life processes will (by thier own terms and conditions to protect themselves) 'require' you produce one to sort anything out.....so therefore life will become impossible without one and the government hasnt had to get thier fingers dirty.
Back on the internet topic, as thats just reminded me to whats on the original post, WHO is it that judges what is acceptable and unacceptable material for people to access?
Its obvious there is no argument about child abuse related sites, however, general content like access to renouned 'warez' rings and newsgroups or 'extremist' websites which may have a particular bias of some sort are being filtered out by organisations which have no authority by law to do so and we are forced to accept this fact in a 'licence agreement' which you HAVE to accept to be able to get on the internet in the first place!. Surely the legality of a website or activity is for the courts to decide and not ISP's on our behalf!. If somebody wants to look at warez sites, 'adult' pornography sites with severe fetish tendancies, to look at bombmaking equipment or wants to form a political party against poeple with blue eyes making decisions or whatever other wacko scenario is out there, then in a free society that is what we should be able to do.
lol. Its illegal to put fake 50p's size washers in pay heating machinery or whatever - but it should be a right to a choice to do that, and if you are found guilty, delt with as such! Same applies for other things in general. I really feel that we need to be more vigilant on the impact that whim decisions will bring, even if its not in whats left of our lifetime. Its like the mentality of some people regarding fossil fuels and materials - "Well, Ill be dead and burried before oil and aluminium ore runs out, stick that heater up and lets waste some more aluminium too".....as though thats gonna be of comfort to future generations!.
It seems funny to me how in one hand people are jubilant about the removal of a police state and 'regime' of any suppressed country, yet in the other hand, we are turning ourselves into one!!!
The only difference is in perception and what we are 'informed' and our own 'above everyone else in the world' attitude as to what is deemed acceptable 'suppression' for the 'apparent' benifit of us all - ie 'in our best interest' - whether we say so or not!.
Anyway, theres not many biting this week!. I got my fishing rod out for nowt
Perhaps Id better find a more controversial topic next time! hahahaa.
Cheerio
Sirius.