i'm tired. but now i get to start studying for finals. or rather, continue the half-assed start i got last week.
in other news, a Texas House Bill is seeking to filter obscene content out of the wireless internet connections the state provides on "public property," which means anything from highway rest stops to prisons. i'm all for free speech and whatnot, but let's take an objective approach here.
cons of the ban:
-1st amendment argument: free speech.
-floodgates argument: if they ban this, it would open the floodgates. they could ban anything.
-enforcement argument: how are they going to enforce this? websites come and go, and you can't catch everything, and some things will get blocked that shouldn't.
-economic argument (relates to free speech): why should we pay for the government to regulate our free speech?
-addendum, couresy of John: this is bullshit. spend money on things that matter, not preventing pubescent teens from getting some digital action.
pros of the ban:
-morality argument: do we want kids at rest stops surfing porn? do we want ANYONE at rest stops surfing porn?
-economic argument: why should we pay so people can surf porn at a rest stop?
-consistency argument: if a library can block porn (and the Supreme Court said it was const'l), why can't the same be said of other state-funded internet connections?
-addendum, courtesy of Sam: they don't have to offer us anything, so we really can't complain. so long as they offer it devoid of any equality problems, they've got a green light.
any other ideas? notice i haven't taken a side, i'm only here to facilitate discussion.
Comments (12)
URL: http://
you heard it here first. if you don't want your kids to end up like ben stiller in something about mary, take them to highway rest stops.
Posted by p-man | February 10, 2007 8:15 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 20:15
URL: http://skwatra.com
haven't you seen something about mary? if you (in general) don't want your kids watching porn at rest stops, maybe you should parent them. wifi at rest stops news release
Posted by sunny | February 10, 2007 8:15 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 20:15
URL: http://
geez, could my post possibly have anymore weird errors? "problem" instead of "probably," "that's goes on." i need more sleep! makes me really worried about my brief.
Posted by heather | February 10, 2007 8:15 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 20:15
Which is why we should have gay marriage: if people are going to be doing it, at least let them do it monogamously and in the privacy of their homes (sorry, I know gay marriage is off topic, but I need to press my liberal agenda on the world).
Posted by Sam | February 10, 2007 8:15 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 20:15
URL: http://
strange shit problem means gay sex. everyone knows that's the true porn that's goes on at rest stops.
Posted by heather | February 10, 2007 8:15 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 20:15
URL: http://
as long as they don't block access to reststophookup.com then i don't think you'll get too many complaints.
Posted by skorloff | February 10, 2007 8:15 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 20:15
URL: http://
strange shit? i wasn't aware of any strange shit. do you want to give us the low down on this strange shit?...
Posted by p-man | February 10, 2007 8:15 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 20:15
i think government should take an active interest about all the strange shit that actually goes on at highway rest stops instead of blocking porn. with the influence of truckers and crazy stuff that i assume goes on there... that is a bigger cause of concern than some horny 15 year old seeing some digital boobs online.
Posted by john | February 10, 2007 8:15 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 20:15
URL: http://
actually, sam, it's not free. taxes, hello?
Posted by p-man | February 10, 2007 8:15 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 20:15
URL: http://
you've got a point there, spanky. they don't have to offer us anything at all. h - yeah, it's news to me too. and i can't disagree with you on your 1st point.
Posted by p-man | February 10, 2007 8:15 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 20:15
URL: http://
While ardently pro-porn in all respects, I think that if the government wants to give me a g-rated internet for free, I can't complain. If they want to block out competition by not allowing me to access the New Jersey state website, that’s ok. Once they start censoring the internet on private ISPs, I'll start throwing the hissy fit.
Posted by Sam | February 10, 2007 8:15 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 20:15
i fully support accessing porn in any location. wait! how behind the times am i? they have wifi at rest stops??
Posted by heather | February 10, 2007 8:15 PM
Posted on February 10, 2007 20:15