Re: Re: [SLUG] Australian government to censor your internets

david <[email protected]> Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:35:26 +1100
Newsgroups gmane.org.user-groups.slug.chat
Message-ID <[email protected]>

Dmitry Smirnov wrote:
> Guys, there is no point discussing technical stuff regarding filtering. 
> I think we all agree that there are should be no filtering whatsoever. 
> Let's summarize our arguments:
> 
> Filtering is wrong because
> 
>     * Censorship should never be introduced because of possible misuse
>       for political reasons.
>     * It is immoral to censor adult's access to information without
>       their consent. (No plebiscite planed, they have already decided)
>       Where are people who support the idea? So far I see only neutral
>       people who do not care (or just ignorant and do not understand)
>       and those who think its worthless, stupid and wrong.
>     * It's not the government responsibility to "protect" us from
>       information. Where is the evidence such protection needed? (Excuse
>       me, I've been actively using internet for 14 years and I've never
>       seen child porn. I must admin I've never looked for it but it's
>       certainly not a threat for public. Censorship is.)
>     * There are already examples of censorship. (links to legitimate
>       sites, anti-abortion site, suicide instructions, etc in list of
>       banned URLs on wikileaks) (I didn't know suicide is illegal in
>       Australia. Is there are penalty for this? ;) If I would consider
>       abortion I would like to know everything about it, not only what
>       is nice and approved by government. Who they think they are to
>       decide? 
>     * It is humiliating for public. It's a shame we going to gave this
>       in Australia.
>     * Shouldn't we respect freedom and protect it? Australia
>       is amazingly cross-cultural, why christian fundamentalist took the
>       liberty to decide for everyone?
>     * It is a waste of taxpayer's money. Don't we have better ideas what
>       to spend it for? No other problems? This funding could improve
>       life and/or health of many people. We could spend more for
>       protecting environment, to build wind/solar farms, to invest into
>       research, you name it. Very stupid decision to spend money for the
>       least of all problems.
> 
> Anyone please add something, say it better. I'm obviously lacking 
> eloquence. We need ideas to put on paper and send to our MPs. 


Not so obvious to me. You've summed it up rather nicely. I first got on the net in 1996 and I've yet 
to see any terrorist sites or child porn. I know it's there, but I haven't looked for it.
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