please help me see any sense here

[oldman420]

I live in Santa Ana California and as I do not have an internet hookup" live in a rooming house with no phone". I have to go to my local public library to get online.
It is the policy of this library to use "web sense" filtering technology http://www.websense.com/global/en/
they not only block my space and that form of site but the also block any music download sites such as itunes and magnatune and get this now they have added clubs and message boards to the list of blocked content.
heatware is even blocked as the director of the library has determined that the computers here at the public library be used for non commercial purposes.

Ok here is where I personally draw the line: what is the law exactly as to what content a library my block that they feel to be inappropriate.
I am all for public safety but this is a little like censorship to me and the last time I checked this computer was paid for with my tax dollars so, I could get unfiltered access to the internet.
Am I totally out of line here?

 

[TruePaige]

No, actually, it's not out of line.

A lot of self-righteous moral agenda mothers and fathers on your local and county boards probably steer it differently though.

 

[waggy]

yes you are out of line.

you don't like it pay for your own fvcking hookup.


Is it just me or is anyone else getting tired of this foul mouthed, tool?
AnandTech Moderator

 

[ViRGE]

You're an adult, you should be able to use the library computers to look up whatever you want(within the limits of the law, of course). If libraries must filter, they must also give adult patrons the option of disabling the filter.

 

[Colt45]

steal wireless?

problem solved

 

[TruePaige]

Originally posted by: waggy
yes you are out of line.

you don't like it pay for your own fvcking hookup.

He already pays for the library hookup. Tax money. =p

 

[oldman420]

Originally posted by: TruePaige

Originally posted by: waggy
yes you are out of line.

you don't like it pay for your own fvcking hookup.

He already pays for the library hookup. Tax money. =p

thank you

 

[spidey07]

Internet is not a right. Their network, their rules.

 

[Schfifty Five]

haahahahahahha

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: TruePaige

Originally posted by: waggy
yes you are out of line.

you don't like it pay for your own fvcking hookup.

He already pays for the library hookup. Tax money. =p

no. he pays for access to a hookup. same as he has acces to the books.

nothing is his to control. he wants control he can pay for it himself.

 

[TruePaige]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: TruePaige

Originally posted by: waggy
yes you are out of line.

you don't like it pay for your own fvcking hookup.

He already pays for the library hookup. Tax money. =p

no. he pays for access to a hookup. same as he has acces to the books.

nothing is his to control. he wants control he can pay for it himself.

It's all under the control of the people. He could petition for change in library management.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Internet is not a right. Their network, their rules.

The only reason they have that rule is because filters are tied with Federal funding.

If anything, they should block certain sites for children and leave it open for adults. If they are afraid of adults surfing places where children should be seeing, then have two separate computer labs.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: TruePaige

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: TruePaige

Originally posted by: waggy
yes you are out of line.

you don't like it pay for your own fvcking hookup.

He already pays for the library hookup. Tax money. =p

no. he pays for access to a hookup. same as he has acces to the books.

nothing is his to control. he wants control he can pay for it himself.

It's all under the control of the people. He could petition for change in library management.

yeap.

but instead he chose ot come on here and complain.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: spidey07
Internet is not a right. Their network, their rules.

The only reason they have that rule is because filters are tied with Federal funding.

If anything, they should block certain sites for children and leave it open for adults. If they are afraid of adults surfing places where children should be seeing, then have two separate computer labs.

considering how little funding they get as it is they wont/cant do that.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: spidey07
Internet is not a right. Their network, their rules.

The only reason they have that rule is because filters are tied with Federal funding.

If anything, they should block certain sites for children and leave it open for adults. If they are afraid of adults surfing places where children should be seeing, then have two separate computer labs.

14 year old is picked up by 30 year man on the Internet. She used Library computers to setup the meeting so her parents wouldn't find out.

Yeah, that's gonna go over REAL well. People need to get it through their head that Internet is NOT a right. The owner/operator of that network can do whatever they like. Don't like it, find another operator.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: spidey07
Internet is not a right. Their network, their rules.

The only reason they have that rule is because filters are tied with Federal funding.

If anything, they should block certain sites for children and leave it open for adults. If they are afraid of adults surfing places where children should be seeing, then have two separate computer labs.

14 year old is picked up by 30 year man on the Internet. She used Library computers to setup the meeting so her parents wouldn't find out.

Yeah, that's gonna go over REAL well. People need to get it through their head that Internet is NOT a right. The owner/operator of that network can do whatever they like. Don't like it, find another operator.

I didn't say leave the internet wide open for kids, only adults.

 

[uberman]

I believe internet access should be removed from all libraries as long as censorship and other policies continue as they do.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
I didn't say leave the internet wide open for kids, only adults.

You still don't understand that Internet isn't a right. It's a privelege.

On your own property you can drive as fast as you want and do basically whatever you want. When using public infrastructure there are rules and restrictions. No difference here.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Tax-funded public internet access should be strictly restricted. I don't want some old man using my tax dollars for commercial purposes, viewing porn, or discussing current events with other old men on internet chatrooms/forums/bbs.

I have no problem with tax-funded public internet access being used for the purpose of research or any activity directly with government sites.

 

[Kappo]

Originally posted by: uberman
I believe internet access should be removed from all libraries as long as censorship and other policies continue as they do.

Look up "censorship" then use it correctly. Last I checked, the local library doesn't tell you what you can view, just what you can view using THIER dime.

Also, you cant download music (duh, piracy, bandwidth costs money too), pick up chicks, wank your yang to porn, socialize and other things like that because that access is for things like finding jobs, researching papers, and LEARNING. You know, things you would do (gasp!), in the library? Not for your personal convienence to do whatever you want.

If you dont like what they are offering, go somewhere else or write your congressman and see if he will give you your $6 per year back. Just because you pay taxes does NOT mean that your personal viewpoint should be the rule.

 

[IronWing]

My take:

The librarians should be entrusted to set the rules, just as they should be entrusted to select the books the library carries. It is their job, and in locales that can afford professional librarians, their profession. The "public approval" scheme should only be used at the highest level, "Is this librarian doing a good job overall", not on the book-by-book level, "She put 'My Mother, My Turnip' on the shelf, fire her!". That being said, librarians should be charged with detailing the types of sites they will filter, and not rely on a third party to select the catagories to be filtered. Filtering discussion groups based on the fact that they are discussion groups is a disservice to the library users. Along with the ATOTs of the world, there are also the useful discussion groups where folks can obtain good info about just about any topic.

 

[doze]

Last time I checked the library was for checking out books.

Library internet access should be limited educational websites and news, weather, sports.

 

[oldman420]

Originally posted by: uberman
I believe internet access should be removed from all libraries as long as censorship and other policies continue as they do.

I agree with you completely

 

[tranceport]

What sad here is.... Websense is very expensive.

 

[James Bond]

Last time I was at the library I saw a guy (probably in his 50s) looking up girls on escort service websites. He had a piece of paper where he would right down their name, number, and a rating.

He was married. I wanted to walk up to him and say something to the affect of, "does your wife know you're here?"