Dear Ms de Lille,
Up to now you have impressed me as being more clear-headed and honest than almost all other politicians in our country. Up to now you seem to have avoided the kind of 50's-era, Stalinist, top-down, control-freak thinking displayed by so many of your colleagues in parliament -- on all sides of the floor. This sort of muddle-headedness stems from a profound misunderstanding of this "Internet" thing, and leads to some very funny stuff, like idiot American senators who think the 'net is like a bunch of pipes. It's not.
1. The Network Routes Around Censorship
Not even the most repressive regimes in the world have managed to stop critical commentators blogging about them. If you were to succeed in getting this dung-headed notion of licensing bloggers legislated, I guarantee you that it would take about ten minutes for dozens of anonymising proxy services to spring into being, enabling people to continue blogging, unlicensed, saying exactly what they please. At least one of them will be implemented by me.
PS: At least one of my blogs is blocked by the Great Firewall of China, for no fathomable reason. It contains nothing offensive, sexual or revolutionary. Perhaps they fear its advocacy of self-reliance? Do you think that no Chinese people read it? I assure you that some do, despite the obstacles placed in their way by their government.
2. Slander and Defame with Impunity?
I think not! What on Earth makes you think that the existing laws of the land have been suspended for the 'net?
If I, or anyone, slanders some other person, or defames their good reputation without facts in evidence, then I am liable to the exact same laws protecting them, without regard for the medium I use to publish in.
Or perhaps you don't care for some opinions that might get written. Opinions that might be written in strong language or may perhaps rip mercilessly into the cherished hobby-horses of politicians with too much time on their hands. I believe that Article 16 of our Bill of Rights protects such expression, so you might have quite an uphill battle on this one...
3. Online Sexual Predators: Facts Not In Evidence
You sound like a thousand other self-serving hacks when you play the "Save the Young Children from Paedophiles" card. Not a tone of voice we're used to hearing from you, and it serves you ill.
Scientific study shows, in fact, that children are not at any particular risk from sexual predators during online interactions. Some of the findings are:
In Conclusion
Ms de Lille, please find another cause. This one will have us all laughing out loud at its pathetic me-too futility. The Internet is possibly the very best thing for helping us build our nascent democracy, for giving voice to the masses. Let us rather together find ways to get 'net access to those who lack it, so that their voices can also be heard, rather than trying to stand, Nero-like on the beach, trying to stop a tsunami.
Peace and light,
Mike
Up to now you have impressed me as being more clear-headed and honest than almost all other politicians in our country. Up to now you seem to have avoided the kind of 50's-era, Stalinist, top-down, control-freak thinking displayed by so many of your colleagues in parliament -- on all sides of the floor. This sort of muddle-headedness stems from a profound misunderstanding of this "Internet" thing, and leads to some very funny stuff, like idiot American senators who think the 'net is like a bunch of pipes. It's not.
1. The Network Routes Around Censorship
Not even the most repressive regimes in the world have managed to stop critical commentators blogging about them. If you were to succeed in getting this dung-headed notion of licensing bloggers legislated, I guarantee you that it would take about ten minutes for dozens of anonymising proxy services to spring into being, enabling people to continue blogging, unlicensed, saying exactly what they please. At least one of them will be implemented by me.
PS: At least one of my blogs is blocked by the Great Firewall of China, for no fathomable reason. It contains nothing offensive, sexual or revolutionary. Perhaps they fear its advocacy of self-reliance? Do you think that no Chinese people read it? I assure you that some do, despite the obstacles placed in their way by their government.
2. Slander and Defame with Impunity?
I think not! What on Earth makes you think that the existing laws of the land have been suspended for the 'net?
If I, or anyone, slanders some other person, or defames their good reputation without facts in evidence, then I am liable to the exact same laws protecting them, without regard for the medium I use to publish in.
Or perhaps you don't care for some opinions that might get written. Opinions that might be written in strong language or may perhaps rip mercilessly into the cherished hobby-horses of politicians with too much time on their hands. I believe that Article 16 of our Bill of Rights protects such expression, so you might have quite an uphill battle on this one...
3. Online Sexual Predators: Facts Not In Evidence
You sound like a thousand other self-serving hacks when you play the "Save the Young Children from Paedophiles" card. Not a tone of voice we're used to hearing from you, and it serves you ill.
Scientific study shows, in fact, that children are not at any particular risk from sexual predators during online interactions. Some of the findings are:
- Only 7% of those teens interviewed were ever approached by anyone with a sexual intent and nearly all of them simply ignored the person and blocked him from their page.
- Two-thirds of the parents were sure that there were many sexual predators on MySpace, while only one-third of the teenagers shared this concern.
- When asked about media coverage, 66% of the parents felt that it was either understated or close to the truth.
- Conversely, 58% of the teens felt it was vastly overblown.
In Conclusion
Ms de Lille, please find another cause. This one will have us all laughing out loud at its pathetic me-too futility. The Internet is possibly the very best thing for helping us build our nascent democracy, for giving voice to the masses. Let us rather together find ways to get 'net access to those who lack it, so that their voices can also be heard, rather than trying to stand, Nero-like on the beach, trying to stop a tsunami.
Peace and light,
Mike
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