Quite Possibly The Most Useless Piece Of Legislation, 2006

[Morpheus]

[URL=http://news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20060801/bs_nf/45024;_ylt=Avoi90fFkOpKTpCWh539PpcjtBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTA0cDJlYmhvBHNlYwM-]Link.[/URL]

Not that I don't agree with the purpose that they are aiming at. I do. This just won't help one little bit. If kids can't get onto myspace at school, [I]then they'll just get on at home. [/I] If they must, they'll find new sites. This isn't something that Congress should deal with. If you are a teacher or a parent, [B]do your job.[/B] Problem solved.

[QUOTE]DOPA would instruct the FCC to ban commercial sites with personal profiles, personal journals and direct communication between users. [B]Some estimates indicate that the number of sites fitting this description could easily be in the hundreds, [I]possibly[/I] more.[/B][/QUOTE]
Hundreds? Someone obviously hasn't a clue what they are talking about.

[Albert Flasher]

[COLOR=Sienna]Wow... what the hell? What the hell is the point of having the internet if you can't interact with people? This is an example of the stupid hurting the majority. If you're stupid enough to fall victim to an online child predator, well, ****, that's your fault, not MySpace's.

And you made a good point... this won't do ****. If someone can't get on at school they just go on at home... what the hell is banning it at school supposed to do but infringe on Internet Rights? It's really funny how disconnected the Politicians are from the real world.

I bet you'll see a report in the next couple days about how Steven Harper agrees with his buddy Bush and the bill passes in Canada too...[/COLOR]

[Sangome]

[size=1][font=arial]Ugh.

Will these people EVER learn?

I too understand what they're going for, and I too wish for a day that online predators could be eliminated. But this isn't going to do it. They could just do it at home, as said, or at a friend's house, whatever. This bill will do squat.

What's the point of being online if you can't interact with others? Not much. I tried going for a week without forums or YIM...was so freakishly boring and drab. If a chick is going to go onto Myspace and show herself off, then she's bringing it upon herself. Pedophiles THRIVE on that sort of thing. Who where thinks MySpace should be changed to PedophileLand becuase of the endless reports about pedophiles contacting teens online?

Anyway, to stop rambling about MySpace, this definately will be the most useless piece of legislation of '06, if not the decade. What are they gonna do next, ban MySpace, Xanga, etc from homes? Oi.[/size][/font]

[TheShinje]

[color=crimson] Our schools have always stopped students from visiting all websites that aren't in some way or form, educational, despite having to pay for that net access and using it in your lunchtime. School net access is pathetic and restrictive, so why even bother?

I would have to doubt those kids sending suggestive messages and pictures are doing it from school, this ilk must surely come from home in the first place!

Most useless peice of legislation in 2006? You bet.[/color]

[Japan]

[COLOR=Navy]If they want to pass that, good bye Halo and other games like that. Good bye first person shooters and hello role playing games

That's what will happen if they take away those sites. They will get rid of those sites, and eventually those games too. Yeah[/COLOR]

[Retribution]

[size=1]If this applied to all points of internet access, I would be outraged. Since it's just applying to public libraries and other Federal buildings, I can't say I'm too upset.

But yes, it's a pointless exercise of power. Great job, Dubya.[/size]

[Aberinkula]

I've also herd they are trying to ban anime as well. There is a petition started though. Or so I've heard. The gov. is just a sack of idiots. I don't care if they are reading this either. It is not myspace's fault for what happens to kids. it's theirs. oh but blame the internet for it. Screw the gov. I hope in the future the government will stop being stupid and ACT HUMANE. taking away human rights is against the law. So they are only breaking their OWN laws.

I have a gaia account and I have a journal on there as well. But if they took that away why does the internet even exist.

The gov. is the idiot that supports all idiots. If they can't make the net safer, then they should. i mean it has nothing to do with this but. it is the parents fault that Michael Jacson slept with them. I mean hello? Do you have brains?

This is stupid legastration.

[PaganAngel]

I'm not one to be politically incorrect, but this is retarded. Let's jump into our dear government's point of view for a moment: "Oh, so we failed to scapegoat the gays, so what can we ruin now? I know, the Internet!"

My school already blocks MySpace. Good schools already block MySpace. Why the government needs to enforce it is beyond me... if you'd ask me, a kid would be eight times as likely to fall victim to a predator in the privacy her own home than at school. I mean, come on...

[quote name='"Split Keyblader"']I've also herd they are trying to ban anime as well.[/quote]
Just a hoax; don't take that one seriously.

[Doublehex]

Personally, I think its a good thing. I think the [I]real[/I] reason that they are blocking the social sites is because most kids are wasting their time goofing around in the school's computer labs instead of doing their work! Now, I love the internet as much as the next guy, but you don't socialize in class when doing a test, do you? No, you work on the test. I think the same philosphy should apply to the computer labs. I won't tell you how many times some of my computer lab neighbors would go on mySpace or whatever community site out there instead of doing research.

[AzureWolf]

[COLOR=maroon]I agree. It's a good move. Why are kids in schools and library wasting time on such websites in the first place? If you are in the library or school, you aren't really using your time there to it's full potential.

Those types of sites are for leisure, stuff you do when you don't have stuff to do (or are procrastinating). I know how weird it sounds since we're talking about the internet here, but those sites just don't have a place in the library or school especially. Besides, wouldn't you RATHER NOT be in school or the library? So don't spend more time there than you need to and enjoy the sites when you are home.

If you are at the library and school because you can't go there at home, well, that speaks volumes, and something is wrong with you or what you are doing. Plain and simple.[/COLOR]

[Morpheus]

My whole point was for the personel in libraries to actually do their jobs and monitor kids. This may be something that could help in some minimal, statistical way, but congress has much better things to do than vote on this.

[Albert Flasher]

[quote name='Doublehex]Personally, I think its a good thing. I think the [I]real[/I'] reason that they are blocking the social sites is because most kids are wasting their time goofing around in the school's computer labs instead of doing their work! Now, I love the internet as much as the next guy, but you don't socialize in class when doing a test, do you? No, you work on the test. I think the same philosphy should apply to the computer labs. I won't tell you how many times some of my computer lab neighbors would go on mySpace or whatever community site out there instead of doing research.[/quote]
[COLOR=Sienna]
If they go on MySpace when they should be studying and fail as a result, that's their own damn fault. What about people who finish everything and than sit around for an hour because they have nothing to do? Why should a bunch of procrastinators ruin it for the people who actually earn some leisure time during school? The whole problem would be avoided if teachers just did their damn jobs anyways.[/COLOR]

[Retribution]

[QUOTE=AzureWolf][COLOR=maroon]I agree. It's a good move. Why are kids in schools and library wasting time on such websites in the first place? If you are in the library or school, you aren't really using your time there to it's full potential.

Those types of sites are for leisure, stuff you do when you don't have stuff to do (or are procrastinating). I know how weird it sounds since we're talking about the internet here, but those sites just don't have a place in the library or school especially. Besides, wouldn't you RATHER NOT be in school or the library? So don't spend more time there than you need to and enjoy the sites when you are home.

If you are at the library and school because you can't go there at home, well, that speaks volumes, and something is wrong with you or what you are doing. Plain and simple.[/COLOR][/QUOTE]
[size=1]You see, some foks don't have internet access at home, so they go to their public library to do so. They go to non-educational sites (gasp!), just as we do when we're at home.

Yes, it's stuff you do when you have leisure time. And if you have leisure time, no computer, but your library does, what's the logical move? Public libraries allow you to get on sites like MySpace or OB -- it's not like it's some shady move you're making when you access such a site. Granted, they also have separate computers solely for educational purposes so that if someone needs to do research, they're not hampered by a MySpace addict.

What do you mean it "speaks volumes"? That if you don't have internet access, you're somehow a second-class citizen? That if you can't go to MySpace at home, you're obviously some ruffian who should be studying more anyway?

The government is wasting their time here. While our economy continues to slide and conflicts rage abroad, Congress is voting on whether we should let schools and libraries access certain sites.

Absolutely ridiculous.[/size]

[Ezekiel]

[SIZE=1]My school has banned Google. Yup. Along with the OtakuBoards, personal e-mail accounts and a host of other things. We have to go to google.ca to get anything (yay, Canadians!).

As other people have said, this is pretty useless and a waste of time, so I'm not going into that, but I just thought I'd give an example of what happens in my school:

My friend used the Image search on Yahoo. com, because that's the only one that works properly. We're Graphic students, so we need images to work with. She typed in 'Angel', and what comes up? Porn. So....why isn't that banned?

I agree when people say that staff should just do their damn job and monitor the systems that are being used.[/SIZE]

[sakurasuka]

[size=1]

I completely and totally agree with Retribution.

I'm as much of a book-lover as anyone else here, but after I finish picking out some random books and things for research, I always used to check my myspace mail, my email, and Otakuboards on the computers.

Mainly because I didn't have a working computer at the time. Actually, right now, I'm using my mother's computer. My new one should get here today :D

Anyways. The point is, libraries are public places. I can understand why to block such sites in schools, but I mean, c'mon. Let's be serious.

[/size]

[Claire]

[FONT=Arial]It maybe that I'm somewhat cynical, but the first reason that came to mind for this is so that if a kid gets kidnapped or raped because of myspace or any of the other websites banned, the libraries and schools can't take any blame for it or have to pay any charges because any exchange between the victim and the predator most certainly did not happen on their premises.

My school all ready banned myspace anyway, as a part of their internet block. Some computers were still able to get on it, though, which is rather bizarre. You can't do a google image search, or play games, or check email. I was able to get on the OB once from school, and I used to update myOtaku from my second period class when I was in eighth grade. Now I used Livejournal more, but I can't get on LJ from school. I think I was really close to getting into my email once, by going to the Japanese Yahoo! page, but I don't think I made it in. Anyway, since all these things were already unavailable at school, it doesn't really bother me that much.

But one of my best friends doesn't have a computer at home, and she's going to a completely different school than I am. She would go to the library to get on myspace so she could communicate with me and our other friends. If they take this away, I'm hardly ever going to be able to talk to her, aside from the phone (which I don't really like using all that much). Myspace was great, because I could leave her a comment about something and wait for her to see it. Now that's not going to happen.

FTW.

[COLOR=White][SIZE=1](not "for the win" by the way).[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[AzureWolf]

[COLOR=maroon][QUOTE=Retribution][SIZE=1]Yes, it's stuff you do when you have leisure time. And if you have leisure time, no computer, but your library does, what's the logical move?

What do you mean it "speaks volumes"? That if you don't have internet access, you're somehow a second-class citizen? That if you can't go to MySpace at home, you're obviously some ruffian who should be studying more anyway?[/SIZE][/QUOTE]Net cafe. If you have a library and not a net cafe, you are most certainly living in a "second-class" area. No offense, but some people have to settle with second-class stuff. If you just like the thrill of "making out" or "hanging out" at a place you shouldn't be - only virtually because it's easier, then follow my advice below.

Also, I think in 2006, it's safe to say if you don't have a computer or internet access at home, you are definitely "second-class" in the sense that you canot afford something so affordable. I honestly did not consider that group of people when I said that - only people who were avoiding going on at home - because last time I checked back in like 1999 (give or take a year), 67% of households had a computer. So, not factoring the hobo down the street who should be thinking about how to meet up with his friends instead of getting food, read my statement again and see what I really meant (i.e., why are you avoiding going to those sites at home? Are you doing something you shouldn't be and so have to hide it?) [quote name='Retribution][SIZE=1']Absolutely ridiculous.[/SIZE][/quote]Grow up. Learn to accept other people's opinion and respond more maturely. You will always find people who will differ from you, so I ask for a little more courtesy.[/COLOR]

[Shinmaru]

[quote name='AzureWolf][COLOR=maroon']Grow up. Learn to accept other people's opinion and respond more maturely. You will always find people who will differ from you, so I ask for a little more courtesy.[/COLOR][/quote]

Um, it seems to me that Retribution is commenting on the actions of Congress rather than your opinion on the matter. I agree with him too. It's an absolutely pointless display of power... if schools and libraries wish to prevent children from going to 'social sites,' [b]then they can do it themselves[/b]. I suppose that the bill is well intentioned, but it's something that's much better handled at the local level. There's no reason at all for the federal government to have their hand in this.

[Billy Shears]

[COLOR=DarkRed][SIZE=1]Oh no![/sarcasm]

My high school has all those sites blocked with their security systems to begin with. I think most other school do too. It isn't a big deal since I don't have any of those "social site" webpages, but like several others said, what is going to stop poeple from using it at home or any where else? Plus it should be a teacher's responsibility to monitor the students when they are at school, as should the library. Have those sites blocked already. Don't waste Congress's already wasted time.

But it cant be the most useless bill, at least they're trying...

God knows that the Bush administration is good at trying...[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Kira93]

wow I am [U]SO[/U] glad the Gov is spending there time on this! :D I mean there are no more pressing issues in the world other then blocking MySpace in schools! I love my government so much and I never want to move out of the USA ever! :animesmil haha haha *coughs* NOT. :animeangr my school [I]already[/I] blocked those sites! We can't even use google! ( I found a way in though!) I do update MyO though during my lunch period ocasionally or when I finnish my work in math class early. (I just have to make sure my teachers don't see!) I think the Gov has better things o do then handle **** like this :rolleyes:

[Retribution]

[quote name='AzureWolf][COLOR=maroon']Net cafe. If you have a library and not a net cafe, you are most certainly living in a "second-class" area. No offense, but some people have to settle with second-class stuff. If you just like the thrill of "making out" or "hanging out" at a place you shouldn't be - only virtually because it's easier, then follow my advice below.[/COLOR][/quote]
[size=1]I do not have access to a Net cafe, but a library is within 5 minutes of my house. My house is upper-middle class in size and value; my neighborhood is nice. I am not living in a "second-class" area -- your blanket statement is not only ignorant, but blind to the fact that maybe folks who don't live within range of a Net cafe are just as well off as everyone else.

People don't "make out" or "hang out" in libraries -- they go there, use the computers (for a time-span limited by the librarians, usually only half an hour), and leave. You make it sound like children living in poverty go to the library and raise hell, and that they should instead be in a Net cafe.

[quote name='AzureWolf][COLOR=maroon']Also, I think in 2006, it's safe to say if you don't have a computer or internet access at home, you are definitely "second-class" in the sense that you canot afford something so affordable. I honestly did not consider that group of people when I said that - only people who were avoiding going on at home - because last time I checked back in like 1999 (give or take a year), 67% of households had a computer. So, not factoring the hobo down the street who should be thinking about how to meet up with his friends instead of getting food, read my statement again and see what I really meant (i.e., why are you avoiding going to those sites at home? Are you doing something you shouldn't be and so have to hide it?)[/COLOR][/quote]

Before you start calling people without internet second-class, you might want to completely understand what the term entails... the dictionary definition is rather limited in scope. I'm pretty sure you don't mean that they're actually worth less than any other person, more that they're not as priviledged.

Yes, it's true that 67% of households had a computer, but that certainly does not mean that 100% of those 67 had internet access. That being said, it's ignorant of you to lump in those without internet access with the "hobo down the street" who wants to use MySpace. The fact that you don't have internet, or simply don't want to spend money on internet, does not make you "the hobo down the street". In addition, people who use the library's internet [i]probably do not have it at home.[/i] They're not circumventing parental authority, they're not doing anything shady, they're just using the internet.

[quote name='AzureWolf][COLOR=maroon']Grow up. Learn to accept other people's opinion and respond more maturely. You will always find people who will differ from you, so I ask for a little more courtesy.[/COLOR][/quote]
How about you re-read what I said and get back to me on it.[/size]

[Anakoni Stark]

I can understand school blocking myspace, cos everyone's heard of it, and they head out to the library during study hall to check it. thank goodness it's banned, I'm glad I'm not hearing, "gosh, leon you should get a myspace" or "*insert person's name here* did you see *inert other person's name here*'s pictures?!"...As much as I used to....On the public library note, I can understand them banning myspace, I honestly am in utter disgust of seeing airmen using that server, I mean there are better things to do during your down time, instead of becoming lazy and mooching off the library's comps and posting pictures.

I can also understand why they would block personal email sites [hotmail, yahoo, etc] I mean by opening an email you could crash the entire school's network.

but I cant see them banning it [emails] in library's cos the airmen have homes to write to, I know I'd get pretty axious if my girlfriend didnt write back from overseas.

If this goes into effect....."Wow, what a waste of money, time, and paper. Good thing I moved out of the states."

I swear there are better things to enforce than this.

- Fury

Now: Hand 0f Blood
Artist: Bullet For My Valentine
Album: Need for Speed Most Wanted Soundtrack

[AzureWolf]

[QUOTE=Retribution][size=1]I do not have access to a Net cafe, but a library is within 5 minutes of my house. My house is upper-middle class in size and value; my neighborhood is nice. I am not living in a "second-class" area -- your blanket statement is not only ignorant, but blind to the fact that maybe folks who don't live within range of a Net cafe are just as well off as everyone else.

People don't "make out" or "hang out" in libraries -- they go there, use the computers (for a time-span limited by the librarians, usually only half an hour), and leave. You make it sound like children living in poverty go to the library and raise hell, and that they should instead be in a Net cafe.[/size][/QUOTE][COLOR=maroon]The world doesn't revolve around you. The public buses don't stop only for you. The library is not five minutes away from everyone. Your personal situation is an absolutely useless example. I don't mean to be rude, but the way you present yourself as an example, it sounds like you only are annoyed by this legislation simply because it makes it inconvenient for you, failing to look at the greater good/bigger picture of the matter, because your 5 minutes will turn into... umm... more minutes.

I'm not going to even bother with the second paragraph because it makes no sense with respect to what I said. [QUOTE][size=1]Before you start calling people without internet second-class, you might want to completely understand what the term entails... the dictionary definition is rather limited in scope. I'm pretty sure you don't mean that they're actually worth less than any other person, more that they're not as priviledged.

Yes, it's true that 67% of households had a computer, but that certainly does not mean that 100% of those 67 had internet access. That being said, it's ignorant of you to lump in those without internet access with the "hobo down the street" who wants to use MySpace. The fact that you don't have internet, or simply don't want to spend money on internet, does not make you "the hobo down the street". In addition, people who use the library's internet [i]probably do not have it at home.[/i] They're not circumventing parental authority, they're not doing anything shady, they're just using the internet.[/size][/QUOTE] I'm glad you understand why I use your own term of "second-class" in quotes instead of saying it outright. Remember, I never said second-class or even implied it - although you seemed to think so, which is why I started to use your phrase in quotes. (And I already elaborated what I meant last time *whines*)

You are ignoring that we don't need to talk about 100% of the 67%, but rather those 67% that 1. use other sources for net access and 2. are kids-young adult. In that thingy I read ever so long ago, it said two things of interest. First, that these values were increasing, the increase being exponential. Second, that those households that had kids MOST LIKELY had internet access. So, basically, if you have a computer and there's a kid about, chances are, you have internet access.

I think everything I say, you are taking the wrong way because somehow you are focusing too much on the words that I use to be colorful and not the meaning behind them. With my hobo example, I'm saying that if you don't have internet access, something that can come by for simply 5 dollars a month now, perhaps you should be focusing on something other than trying to myspace your balls out. Seriously, five dollars. I'm not trying to be rude, but if you can't spare five dollars, c'mon, you gotta admit, there's something "hobo-esque" about that.

Lastly, your statement says that most people who use the internet in the library probably don't have access at home is ridiculously ignorant. There are online library databases available solely through library accounts, that means stuff like a PDF journal of an exclusively-British-published magazine can only be obtained if you connect through the library. Also, there are other crazy and wacky types of things that you can only access via x's internet access. Consider as well, sometimes the library connection is faster than a person's home one (most true if you are 56ker or even some high speeders).

To give you an example, it's not uncommon to see Hobokenites (people in Hoboken) sit at their laptops, go to the library computers, send stuff to themselves, and go back to their laptops. Still other people, go online with their laptops using the library's internet access and handle things like that. Still others, use the library to access porn anonymously, and send it to themselves. Not trying to be gross, but it's true all the same.

To clarify any misunderstandings: I like this legislation because it doesn't make people waste time in public terminals (yes, this legislation does NOT affect private schools or libraries). Yay productivity and getting people off computers to let others on! There are A TON of other resources to access the internet, and unless you have a REALLY REALLY REALLY outdated computer, chances are that the computer comes with a modem. There are internet cards available, and then there are even free access sites popping up day by day. The options and diversity to access the internet only grows. The library/school is NOT the only place in the world to get free access, contrary to popular belief.[QUOTE][size=1]How about you re-read what I said and get back to me on it.[/size][/QUOTE] What the hell? Seriously, be a little bit more respectful, please.[/COLOR]

[Retribution]

[size=1]Well, I'll make this reply short since our responses are growing more and more lengthy.

My example of my house and neighborhood was just there to provide an example where your blanket statement didn't work. You said that if you don't live near a Net cafe, you were somehow poor or some such thing, and that's where you should be "hanging out."

I am well aware that some people do access the internet to use library-exclusive databases. Please understand that [i]there are separate terminals for people who want to access these databases.[/i] People using computers for recreationally are not allowed on said terminals, and so there's no compromise in efficiency here. You seem to think there is. There are also computers for recreational use. If they're all occupied, but you really do need to use one for research, [i]librarians will boot people off so you can use them.[/i] Correct me if I misunderstood you, but that's the meat of your argument there.

There's no advantage to passing this bill aside from Congress saying "Because we can!" I would like it if my government's time was used more for issues of national and global concern as opposed to this negligible issue.

[QUOTE][COLOR=maroon]...be a little bit more respectful, please.[/COLOR][/QUOTE][QUOTE][COLOR=maroon]Grow up.[/COLOR][/QUOTE]
I don't think I cast the first stone.[/size]

[Andy]

[QUOTE=Red 6][COLOR=Sienna]Wow... what the hell? What the hell is the point of having the internet if you can't interact with people? This is an example of the stupid hurting the majority. If you're stupid enough to fall victim to an online child predator, well, ****, that's your fault, not MySpace's.
COLOR][/QUOTE]

[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed]Exactly, I couldn't have said it better myself. I mean, myspace even suggests not giving out information and such about yourself, and as you can always see, it says OPTIONAL. The person should limit the information they give out to other people. Now, my opinion on this useless piece of legislation is that I do not agree with it. But as other people have said, I also think that this subject should be handeled on a local level.[/COLOR][/SIZE]