[Kamikaze]

Another retarded law from the US Congress: http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-6099414.html?part=rss&tag=6099414&subj=news

By a 410-15 vote on Thursday, politicians approved a bill that would effectively require that "chat rooms" and "social networking sites" be rendered inaccessible to minors, an age group that includes some of the Internet's most ardent users. Adults can ask for permission to access the sites.

"Social networking sites such as MySpace and chat rooms have allowed sexual predators to sneak into homes and solicit kids," said Rep. Ted Poe, a Texas Republican and co-founder of the Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus. "This bill requires schools and libraries to establish (important) protections."Social networking sites such as MySpace and chat rooms have allowed sexual predators to sneak into homes and solicit kids," said Rep. Ted Poe, a Texas Republican and co-founder of the Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus. "This bill requires schools and libraries to establish (important) protections."

[aldo_14]

By a 410-15 vote on Thursday, politicians approved a bill that would effectively require that ""outside" and "open spaces" be rendered inaccessible to minors, an age group that includes some of the outsides' most ardent users. Adults can ask for permission to access the sites.

"Outside places and wide open public places have allowed sexual predators to observe and solicit kids," said Rep. Ted Poe, a Texas Republican and co-founder of the Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus. "This bill requires schools and libraries to establish (important) protections; no longer shall children be forced to face the perils of the real world, a place which I know many Congressmen find confusing and puzzling."

In other news, congress voted 405-20 to approve the ordering of 12 million acres of bubble wrap under the Protection of Parents From Responsibility and Reality Bill.

[Kosh]

How exactly do they plan on enforcing this?

[Mefustae]

They don't, it's just so that when people complain, they can point to this bill and say 'see that? that means you shut the hell up."

[Getter Robo G]

I don't care if you are a Republican or a Democrat. People who allow these idiots to tie up our legislature with this nonsence need to be slapped.  (TRUE) Some people are stupid enough that they need to have their children taken away from them, but still, government is not and CANNOT take the place of an actual parent.

  If you are going to take the time and make the effort to have kids (or just forgot to use a rubber) it's YOUR responsability to know and monitor WHAT they do, especially online.

  It all boils down to ONE thing people, be a F-ing Parent!

You don't have to worry about you little boy or girl stripping down in front of a webcam for perverts at the local library (my library's computers are located in the middle of the area in plain site, no webcams either) or casually start conversations with people they know they shouldn't. It's gonna happen in the privacy of YOUR OWN HOMES...

This is why I hate news.

Oh and btw, when I am in Anime Chat or Computer Chat on Yahoo, please tell your snot-nosed teen son to stop trying to pick up chicks (Women). Some people actually try to use those applications for what they were intended for.

Ok my middle-aged rant is over. (For now...)

[Nuclear1]

How exactly do they plan on enforcing this?

Having libraries and other public places simply block sites like MySpace. It's not as if schools and libraries are organizations that particularly try to sneak around the law or cut corners when it comes to this.

I mean, really, this isn't closing the border--it's just as simple as having library computers use filters to block websites that are deemed inappropriate. It's not without reason either--people who need to use library computers should be using them for study and research, not forum browsing/Myspace. My school already does this sort of thing anyway.

The list of sites is a little absurd, sure, but overall I don't see what the problem is.

[Harbinger of DOOM]

By a 410-15 vote on Thursday, politicians approved a bill that would effectively require that "chat rooms" and "social networking sites" be rendered inaccessible to minors, an age group that includes some of the Internet's most ardent users. Adults can ask for permission to access the sites.

"Social networking sites such as MySpace and chat rooms have allowed sexual predators to sneak into homes and solicit kids," said Rep. Ted Poe, a Texas Republican and co-founder of the Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus. "This bill requires schools and libraries to establish (important) protections."Social networking sites such as MySpace and chat rooms have allowed sexual predators to sneak into homes and solicit kids," said Rep. Ted Poe, a Texas Republican and co-founder of the Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus. "This bill requires schools and libraries to establish (important) protections."

*sniff* *sniff*
Poo..........

[Descenterace]

I don't care if you are a Republican or a Democrat. People who allow these idiots to tie up our legislature with this nonsence need to be slapped.  (TRUE) Some people are stupid enough that they need to have their children taken away from them, but still, government is not and CANNOT take the place of an actual parent.

  If you are going to take the time and make the effort to have kids (or just forgot to use a rubber) it's YOUR responsability to know and monitor WHAT they do, especially online.

  It all boils down to ONE thing people, be a F-ing Parent!

You don't have to worry about you little boy or girl stripping down in front of a webcam for perverts at the local library (my library's computers are located in the middle of the area in plain site, no webcams either) or casually start conversations with people they know they shouldn't. It's gonna happen in the privacy of YOUR OWN HOMES...

This is why I hate news.

Oh and btw, when I am in Anime Chat or Computer Chat on Yahoo, please tell your snot-nosed teen son to stop trying to pick up chicks (Women). Some people actually try to use those applications for what they were intended for.

Ok my middle-aged rant is over. (For now...)

I fully endorse this opinion.

And LOL at aldo...

[Kamikaze]

I mean, really, this isn't closing the border--it's just as simple as having library computers use filters to block websites that are deemed inappropriate. It's not without reason either--people who need to use library computers should be using them for study and research, not forum browsing/Myspace. My school already does this sort of thing anyway.

Why should the federal government determine what websites are inappropriate for libraries and schools? For that matter, if we allow Congress to arbitrarily ban websites because they are "social" then what happens to, say, Wikipedia? Wikipedia is a great study resource, but it is also a heavily social website with its own forums and user profiles. What about Google Groups? Sometimes it's really nice to be able to access comp.lang.scheme or talk.origins instead of browsing Google for relevant stuff.

In addition, think of the effect this will have on poor kids who cannot afford computers. Here's a /. post that I think sums it up pretty well:

Post #15799018

"Sorry little poor kid, you can't access myspace on the library computer. Maybe if your mom hadn't pawned your computer for crack, you could be popular too."

Why not just kick them in the face while you're at it?

-Eric (former poor kid)

You could replace "myspace" and "be popular" there with "Wikipedia" and "research".

[karajorma]

Surely the 1st amendment applies here anyway.

[Harbinger of DOOM]

But of course it does!
Damn Bush, and his constitution-violating clowns!
I hope he burns in HELL!
If only people who had common-sense (plus a brain, sense of dignity/duty) were president.
People likes us, perhaps?
*thinks*
.....................
Nah....

[Ford Prefect]

Surely the 1st amendment applies here anyway.

1st Amendment LOL!!1

[Nuclear1]

Surely the 1st amendment applies here anyway.

It shouldn't. My school's blocked MySpace and other similar websites for some time already; it's all a matter of what takes priority at the school/library. Typically, that would be study, and I personally know how frustrating it is to wait in line at a library's computer lab while my comp was in the repair shop waiting to write a paper while some kids mess around with MySpace and the like.

Social blogs and the like are nice, yes, but they're not a God-given right. One does not need MySpace to be popular; one needs social skills for that.

Why should the federal government determine what websites are inappropriate for libraries and schools? For that matter, if we allow Congress to arbitrarily ban websites because they are "social" then what happens to, say, Wikipedia? Wikipedia is a great study resource, but it is also a heavily social website with its own forums and user profiles. What about Google Groups? Sometimes it's really nice to be able to access comp.lang.scheme or talk.origins instead of browsing Google for relevant stuff.

I agree that the list of websites needs to be reevaluated. There should be no need to ban Wikipedia, especially since people can access it and view it without an account. Google Groups, on the other hand, is primarily composed of forums, and most of the credible information presented there should be easily found at other resources such as Wikipedia or any other online encyclopedia.

[karajorma]

It shouldn't.

Of course it should. If you want to say minors haven't got access to myspace that's one thing but to filter it out and thereby prevent adults from reaching the site is basically government censorship of the net.

[Roanoke]

well if my kid went to libaries to surf the net I'd want some parental-style controls in place. It's like anything tho. It can be twisted to suit other purposes.

[Getter Robo G]

MMmm Bubblewrap, good stuff. We use a lot of it at work to pack CD's.

I fully endorse that bill, finally, they proved SOME sense can come out of congress!

I got an idea! (Shamelessly stolen from "Dude where's my car") Instead of just one layre of bubblewrap, make like 50 layred clothing like parka snow suits!

  "A (blank) year old girl avoided sexual attack today becuase her assailant was apprehended trying to get through the bubblewrap clothing! The additional half hour of popping alerted authorities to the alley near the school."

(Runs off to design and manufacture new line of "BubbleWear"(TM) - Eat your heart out Puffy!)

 

[Harbinger of DOOM]

I think u 4got <sarcasm> tags...........

[vyper]

Surely the 1st amendment applies here anyway.

It shouldn't. My school's blocked MySpace and other similar websites for some time already; it's all a matter of what takes priority at the school/library. Typically, that would be study, and I personally know how frustrating it is to wait in line at a library's computer lab while my comp was in the repair shop waiting to write a paper while some kids mess around with MySpace and the like.

Then have the balls to tell them to get off, and if they don't get a member of staff to chuck them off. We had a few ding dongs in uni about this, but in the end we always sorted the problem out.