October 28, 2003
Idiot software
I have noticed a number of blogs and other websites that are using various collections of characters to suggest the word PORN when discussing the issue (not offering the stuff for sale or rent, mind you, just discussing the abstract of it). I couldn't figure out why: was this some crazy thing where folks are afraid of uttering the word, lest they fall into temptation? Then I realized that there are probably computers that will not load a page with the words PORNOGRAPHY or PORN in them.
I am all for censorship, but this is outlandish. I will not go along with such silliness and will write the word "porn" and "pornography" as well as "smut", "scum-sucking exploiter", "pervert", "deviant", and all those other proper terms for this industry. If your computer cannot handle them, it is time to change the settings to "all growed up" and join the conversation.
This sort of thing is just an example of parents wanting the machines to do the thinking for them. If you want to monitor what junior is looking at on the internet, then monitor it, but to resort to this sort of silliness is only fit for half-wits.
In the words of the General, "Gimme Eat."
Carthago delenda est.
I type p*rn for the same search engine-related reasons. I suppose there is the argument that people searching for p*rn are most in "need" such solid Christian witness as mine, but I tend to think there are probably some steps between actively seeking out Internet p*rn and being converted by the rambling journal of a neurotic Catholic. So I'd just rather not see the referrals in my stats.
Posted by: D's m at October 29, 2003 11:40 AMDear Erik,
What Mr. Bettinelli said. While it might be a marvelous opportunity for evanglization, it is also attracting a crowd that I would prefer seeks its entertainment elsewhere. We use those circumvention mechanisms to avoid the search engines, not out of concern for censorship. Or, at least I do.
Posted by: Steven Riddle at October 29, 2003 10:47 AMAh, I get it! Since the only picture I have on the site is a bullfight poster, I am not so concerned about this. If the perverts and moral idiots come to my site, then I can rant at them as well!
Posted by: Erik Keilholtz at October 28, 2003 11:10 AMErik,
It's not that computers won't load the pages. It's that the moral idiots who search Google for kiddie porn and the like will have my page pop up among the swill. And I choose not to be associated with that. I put family pictures on my site and I'd prefer that someone who's looking for pictures of little boys and girls to satisfy his sick perversion not be presented with them at that time.
Posted by: Domenico Bettinelli at October 28, 2003 10:42 AM