This is not about forcing blocks at ISPs or on your PC. It's mainly about libraries. Should public funds go to distributing porn?
the filtering programs also block sites on politics, health, science and other non-pornographic topics
Anybody reading slashdot should know that this is pure spin. Think about it: any filtering software has customizable exception lists for authorized personel. Can't get to www.libraries.ex? Ask the librarian to unblock it.
It's the parent's responsibility.
Ultimately, yes. But it's not irresponsible to let your child go to the library. It's the librarian's responsibility to help people find information. Despite what the ALA and ACLU say, porn is not information. Nor is it "art" or "speech".
Should public money be used for building nuclear bombs? Should public money be used to perform painful and life-threatening experiments on animals? Should public money be used to create lasers that can blind hundreds of people at once? Public money gets used to pay for lots of things I don't like. That's one of the prices you pay for living in a society where not everyone has the same set of values.
Anybody reading slashdot should know that this is pure spin.
Anyone reading/. knows that is false. Filter software (all of it) has a long and sordid history of blocking all kinds of things that should not be blocked. And why should the librarian be forced to unlock your site for you? He/She's got enough to do as it is.
But it's not irresponsible to let your child go to the library.
It is if you are not supervising them and they are not of an age where you trust them to do The Right Thing(TM). You (and your wife/partner/whatever) are ultimately responcible for your child. No one else. If you do not take the responcibility to keep your child safe then you have failed in your job as a parent. The library is not a free babysitting service and many have rules against unsupervised children. Thankfully they ignore that rule so your precious child does not have to stand outside in the freezing rain because you can't be bothered to take the time out of your oh so busy day and do your job as a parent.
Despite what the ALA and ACLU say, porn is not information. Nor is it "art" or "speech".
To you, this is true. But this is not true for everyone else and I resent you forcing your view down my thraot.
Should public money be used for building nuclear bombs?
If the presence those bombs can protect the public, and the public supports it, yes.
Public money gets used to pay for lots of things I don't like.
I'm sorry to hear that. Why don't you use public venues to make your opinion known, and if the public agrees with you then legislation can be enacted to take care of that? It's ironic how your view is actually the one that boils down to censorship. "Not everybody has the same values, therefore nobody can have values."
Filter software (all of it) has a long and sordid history of blocking all kinds of things This is a technically inaccurate generalization. There are plenty of fully customizable filtering programs available.
why should the librarian be forced to unlock your site for you?
The same reason she has to help me look up a book or find an article. Because it's her job to help people find information. I do have some sympathy when it comes to embarrassing but legitimate topics, but it's not unreasonable to think that librarians would think to unblock webmd.com. Strange you disregard the embarassment of a mother when her child points to the screen you left up and says "what are those guys doing, mommy?"
It is if you are not supervising them
Suppose it's not my kid, but the perv next to him who then decides to feel up my kid. Of course, I suppose you would call that "freedom of expression", too?
The library is not a free babysitting service Neither is it a place to look up porn. This isn't asking anyone to babysit- it's saying some things belong in a library and some things do not. Newspapers do. Hamsters do not. Popular Science does. Playboy does not. Informational websites do, pornographic ones do not.
If you do not take the responcibility to keep your child safe then you have failed in your job as a parent.
No disagreement here. One way of keeping my children safe is to participate in my government and support legislation that helps me to do so. For example, legislation against kidnaping, drunk driving, pedophilia, and porn in public view. By your logic, if someone teaches a child not to talk to strangers, watches him, and takes all precautions, but the child is kidnapped, it's the parent's fault.
To you, this is true. But this is not true for everyone else and I resent you forcing your view down my thraot.
Relativism defined. "Everyone else" does not think porn is art. Your argument boils down to "if you disagree with me and say so, then you are forcing your view down my throat." You don't have ground to stand on, though, because you are doing the exact same as I am: registering your opinion.
Mathematics is the only science where one never knows what
one is talking about nor whether what is said is true.
-- Russell
Not a free speech issue (Score:1)
the filtering programs also block sites on politics, health, science and other non-pornographic topics
Anybody reading slashdot should know that this is pure spin. Think about it: any filtering software has customizable exception lists for authorized personel. Can't get to www.libraries.ex? Ask the librarian to unblock it.
It's the parent's responsibility. Ultimately, yes. But it's not irresponsible to let your child go to the library. It's the librarian's responsibility to help people find information. Despite what the ALA and ACLU say, porn is not information. Nor is it "art" or "speech".
Re:Not a free speech issue (Score:3, Insightful)
Should public money be used for building nuclear bombs? Should public money be used to perform painful and life-threatening experiments on animals? Should public money be used to create lasers that can blind hundreds of people at once? Public money gets used to pay for lots of things I don't like. That's one of the prices you pay for living in a society where not everyone has the same set of values.
Anybody reading slashdot should know that this is pure spin.
Anyone reading /. knows that is false. Filter software (all of it) has a long and sordid history of blocking all kinds of things that should not be blocked. And why should the librarian be forced to unlock your site for you? He/She's got enough to do as it is.
But it's not irresponsible to let your child go to the library.
It is if you are not supervising them and they are not of an age where you trust them to do The Right Thing(TM). You (and your wife/partner/whatever) are ultimately responcible for your child. No one else. If you do not take the responcibility to keep your child safe then you have failed in your job as a parent. The library is not a free babysitting service and many have rules against unsupervised children. Thankfully they ignore that rule so your precious child does not have to stand outside in the freezing rain because you can't be bothered to take the time out of your oh so busy day and do your job as a parent.
Despite what the ALA and ACLU say, porn is not information. Nor is it "art" or "speech".
To you, this is true. But this is not true for everyone else and I resent you forcing your view down my thraot.
Re:Not a free speech issue (Score:1)
If the presence those bombs can protect the public, and the public supports it, yes.
Public money gets used to pay for lots of things I don't like.
I'm sorry to hear that. Why don't you use public venues to make your opinion known, and if the public agrees with you then legislation can be enacted to take care of that? It's ironic how your view is actually the one that boils down to censorship. "Not everybody has the same values, therefore nobody can have values."
Filter software (all of it) has a long and sordid history of blocking all kinds of things
This is a technically inaccurate generalization. There are plenty of fully customizable filtering programs available.
why should the librarian be forced to unlock your site for you?
The same reason she has to help me look up a book or find an article. Because it's her job to help people find information. I do have some sympathy when it comes to embarrassing but legitimate topics, but it's not unreasonable to think that librarians would think to unblock webmd.com. Strange you disregard the embarassment of a mother when her child points to the screen you left up and says "what are those guys doing, mommy?"
It is if you are not supervising them
Suppose it's not my kid, but the perv next to him who then decides to feel up my kid. Of course, I suppose you would call that "freedom of expression", too?
The library is not a free babysitting service
Neither is it a place to look up porn. This isn't asking anyone to babysit- it's saying some things belong in a library and some things do not. Newspapers do. Hamsters do not. Popular Science does. Playboy does not. Informational websites do, pornographic ones do not.
If you do not take the responcibility to keep your child safe then you have failed in your job as a parent.
No disagreement here. One way of keeping my children safe is to participate in my government and support legislation that helps me to do so. For example, legislation against kidnaping, drunk driving, pedophilia, and porn in public view. By your logic, if someone teaches a child not to talk to strangers, watches him, and takes all precautions, but the child is kidnapped, it's the parent's fault.
To you, this is true. But this is not true for everyone else and I resent you forcing your view down my thraot.
Relativism defined. "Everyone else" does not think porn is art. Your argument boils down to "if you disagree with me and say so, then you are forcing your view down my throat." You don't have ground to stand on, though, because you are doing the exact same as I am: registering your opinion.