(Greensboro, NC) OK, let's get real. If, as has been asserted, the reason for putting filters that block access to "porn" websites on public library computers is to create a safe and welcoming environment, especially for children -- to protect their and sensitive adults' wandering eyes from the inadvertent viewing of harmful or upsetting material, then shouldn't we also block access to extreme videos?
Here is a video that shows people being burned alive in Kenya as punishment for "witchcraft." (Take this warning seriously, it is extremely graphic.)
Here is a video of people holding up freshly severed human heads. (Very graphic.)
Here is a video of a mentally unstable man electrocuting himself on a power line. (Very graphic.)
Here is a video of the bloody corpses of a family on the road after an accident, including a child lying in his own blood. (Very graphic)
Here is a video that shows abortions. (Very graphic)
All of these are greatly disturbing, even to adults. If we are going to block access to porn to protect people, is not this kind of stuff even more injurious to children and adults alike? Should we not also block these kinds of extreme videos?
Roch your right it's all BAD stuff, but at least lets start cleaning up the BAD stuff with filtering the porn and then move on to this other crap. Beau
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting, Beau. We do not have to wait. A "porn" filter can filter an array of other kinds of content with the flick of a button. Shouldn't we go ahead and block all bad content at once if it means no delay on blocking the porn?
ReplyDeleteAn extremly weak arguement Roch. Sex is an activity that children will eventually enjoy when they become adults. The shock children receive when they see people dying is extremly disturbing but nothing like the shock of seeing graphic sex and then processing it as something cruel, violent and horrible. A child's mind cannot handle video sex, nevermind extremly graphic or violent porn sex that's created to sell. Porn is altogether different than death and dying which are never intended for enjoyment. An innocent mind may never forget an early dose of graphic sex.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting, Mike. I don't know what age your talking about, but the notion that human copulation will be seen by a child as more horrible than seeing someone getting burned alive or getting his head chopped off doesn't seem plausible to me.
ReplyDelete