Public Library Internet Filtering

[Alcon]

jfern, could that have to do with bulletin boards being on one and not the other?  I don't know, because for some reason the RNC site isn't loading for me.

You think that's it? The DNC blog allows comments. The RNC blog doesn't seem to.  You're missing out on some real high quality stuff.

Yeah, I'd bet that's why.  A lot of library systems ban any message boards and MySpace-type sites.

EDIT: Which is identical to what Inks.LWC said, which I didn't see.  Anyway.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

jfern, could that have to do with bulletin boards being on one and not the other?  I don't know, because for some reason the RNC site isn't loading for me.

You think that's it? The DNC blog allows comments. The RNC blog doesn't seem to.  You're missing out on some real high quality stuff.

Yeah, I'd bet that's why.  A lot of library systems ban any message boards and MySpace-type sites.

EDIT: Which is identical to what Inks.LWC said, which I didn't see.  Anyway.

Did you ever get the RNC site to load?

[Alcon]

jfern, could that have to do with bulletin boards being on one and not the other?  I don't know, because for some reason the RNC site isn't loading for me.

You think that's it? The DNC blog allows comments. The RNC blog doesn't seem to.  You're missing out on some real high quality stuff.

Yeah, I'd bet that's why.  A lot of library systems ban any message boards and MySpace-type sites.

EDIT: Which is identical to what Inks.LWC said, which I didn't see.  Anyway.

Did you ever get the RNC site to load?

It works OK now.

[opebo]

One of the greatest acheivements of the internet is freeing youths from censorship.  Youths naturally want to view porn.  Why, as a tender stripling of 12 I can remember hoarding old Playboys, and I can recall in the relatively free days of the early 1980's renting a porn at about 15 year of age!

In this modern era of prudery and theocracy, the internet offers perhaps the only escape for normal youths with healthy sexual interests. 

[MaC]

I have to say, one of the reasons I do like the internet is because it's the last bastion for free speech.  In as far as filters they should be implemented by the schools, and if parents so choose, but filtering sites for children by the government should be a big no-no.

[MODU]

Yes.  A public library must meet the needs of all their users, including children.  With that in mind, their systems need to ensure that inappropriate material does not display when they do a search.

[John Dibble]

One of the greatest acheivements of the internet is freeing youths from censorship.  Youths naturally want to view porn.  Why, as a tender stripling of 12 I can remember hoarding old Playboys, and I can recall in the relatively free days of the early 1980's renting a porn at about 15 year of age!

In this modern era of prudery and theocracy, the internet offers perhaps the only escape for normal youths with healthy sexual interests. 

I doubt most youths would be interested in jacking off in a public library in front of all the other patrons, so I don't see much of a point here.

[MODU]

One of the greatest acheivements of the internet is freeing youths from censorship.  Youths naturally want to view porn.  Why, as a tender stripling of 12 I can remember hoarding old Playboys, and I can recall in the relatively free days of the early 1980's renting a porn at about 15 year of age!

In this modern era of prudery and theocracy, the internet offers perhaps the only escape for normal youths with healthy sexual interests. 

I doubt most youths would be interested in jacking off in a public library in front of all the other patrons, so I don't see much of a point here.

All pre-teens are exhibitionists!  The evil oppression of society forces them to hide in shame . . . fearing to show their true selves in public at the risk of being branded a deviant.  Man, don't you care?  Are you a religious or just a fascist?  [/opie-ism]

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I have to say, one of the reasons I do like the internet is because it's the last bastion for free speech.  In as far as filters they should be implemented by the schools, and if parents so choose, but filtering sites for children by the government should be a big no-no.

So a 10-yr-old should just be able to go look at whatever he wants @ a public library?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Funny ironic fact:

When I was in high school, I found outthat my high school had blocked www.freespeech.org

[MaC]

I have to say, one of the reasons I do like the internet is because it's the last bastion for free speech.  In as far as filters they should be implemented by the schools, and if parents so choose, but filtering sites for children by the government should be a big no-no.

So a 10-yr-old should just be able to go look at whatever he wants @ a public library?

What's that particular library's policy?  (of course this is coming from the hope that someday libraries will be privatised)

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

No. Its the duty of the people supervising/watching the kids to deal with any content not the goverment's.

[Bono]

How about NO filtering software, since it's obviously run by partisan Republican hacks?

Well, obviously...

[J. J.]

If it's key word blocking, why would "I support gay marraige," and "I oppose gay marraige," both be blocked?

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I have to say, one of the reasons I do like the internet is because it's the last bastion for free speech.  In as far as filters they should be implemented by the schools, and if parents so choose, but filtering sites for children by the government should be a big no-no.

So a 10-yr-old should just be able to go look at whatever he wants @ a public library?

What's that particular library's policy?  (of course this is coming from the hope that someday libraries will be privatised)

Which particular library?

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

No. Its the duty of the people supervising/watching the kids to deal with any content not the goverment's.

According to the state of MI it IS the govt's duty.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

If it's key word blocking, why would "I support gay marraige," and "I oppose gay marraige," both be blocked?

I don't know that gay marriage would be blocked--if you were referring to my earlier statement, it was just an example.  I don't know specifics on the filters--when I tried to get them, the libraries wouldn't tell me--I think they thought I was going to hack into their system or something b/c they gave me bogus statements about the settings are constantly changing.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

No. Its the duty of the people supervising/watching the kids to deal with any content not the goverment's.

According to the state of MI it IS the govt's duty.

Then the state of MI needs to f**ck off.

[J. J.]

If it's key word blocking, why would "I support gay marriage," and "I oppose gay marriage," both be blocked?

I don't know that gay marriage would be blocked--if you were referring to my earlier statement, it was just an example.  I don't know specifics on the filters--when I tried to get them, the libraries wouldn't tell me--I think they thought I was going to hack into their system or something b/c they gave me bogus statements about the settings are constantly changing.

I was using that as an example.  It would still seem that if it's word blocked, opposition sites would also be blocked.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

If it's key word blocking, why would "I support gay marriage," and "I oppose gay marriage," both be blocked?

I don't know that gay marriage would be blocked--if you were referring to my earlier statement, it was just an example.  I don't know specifics on the filters--when I tried to get them, the libraries wouldn't tell me--I think they thought I was going to hack into their system or something b/c they gave me bogus statements about the settings are constantly changing.

I was using that as an example.  It would still seem that if it's word blocked, opposition sites would also be blocked.

And you are right, but there is always an un-filtered computer (required by law), so if you're doing a report on gay marriage bans, just have your parents look it up.

[J. J.]

I was using that as an example.  It would still seem that if it's word blocked, opposition sites would also be blocked.

And you are right, but there is always an un-filtered computer (required by law), so if you're doing a report on gay marriage bans, just have your parents look it up.

Well, I'm trying to figure out how the Democratic site would be blocked, but not the GOP site.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I was using that as an example.  It would still seem that if it's word blocked, opposition sites would also be blocked.

And you are right, but there is always an un-filtered computer (required by law), so if you're doing a report on gay marriage bans, just have your parents look it up.

Well, I'm trying to figure out how the Democratic site would be blocked, but not the GOP site.

Contact the filter companies.  I'll try to find some info for you.

[MaC]

I have to say, one of the reasons I do like the internet is because it's the last bastion for free speech.  In as far as filters they should be implemented by the schools, and if parents so choose, but filtering sites for children by the government should be a big no-no.

So a 10-yr-old should just be able to go look at whatever he wants @ a public library?

What's that particular library's policy?  (of course this is coming from the hope that someday libraries will be privatised)

Which particular library?

Libraries should have the ability to filter their information as each of them sees fit.  You can't shelter children forever-most of them are going to see things they aren't meant to before their time. 

But aside from that you do have to remember that a lot of these 'filters' don't only block out porn, but other information that might be useful.  For example-say a household doesn't have internet and the child's only choice is to go to the library.  Let's say they're going through puberty and want to learn about reproductive systems-but they can't because the nanny state won't let them.  Filters filter out way too much and are inefficient.  I say the best way to deal is to let the library owner set their own policy.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I have to say, one of the reasons I do like the internet is because it's the last bastion for free speech.  In as far as filters they should be implemented by the schools, and if parents so choose, but filtering sites for children by the government should be a big no-no.

So a 10-yr-old should just be able to go look at whatever he wants @ a public library?

What's that particular library's policy?  (of course this is coming from the hope that someday libraries will be privatised)

Which particular library?

Libraries should have the ability to filter their information as each of them sees fit.  You can't shelter children forever-most of them are going to see things they aren't meant to before their time. 

But aside from that you do have to remember that a lot of these 'filters' don't only block out porn, but other information that might be useful.  For example-say a household doesn't have internet and the child's only choice is to go to the library.  Let's say they're going through puberty and want to learn about reproductive systems-but they can't because the nanny state won't let them.  Filters filter out way too much and are inefficient.  I say the best way to deal is to let the library owner set their own policy.

The library can--at this point.  The law doesn't say use x filter set at y standard--in fact they aren't even made to use filters (however I think this is a violatoin of the law).  Anyway, what do they need to be looking tht up on the internet for?  Can't their parents talk to them?  Don't schools have sex-ed (which I am against as well--that's the parent's job, not the govt's--but that's beside the point)?  So what's the need to look that up @ a library, when he can just look down?

[J. J.]

I was using that as an example.  It would still seem that if it's word blocked, opposition sites would also be blocked.

And you are right, but there is always an un-filtered computer (required by law), so if you're doing a report on gay marriage bans, just have your parents look it up.

Well, I'm trying to figure out how the Democratic site would be blocked, but not the GOP site.

Contact the filter companies.  I'll try to find some info for you.

What are they?