Q&A

[catsidhe]

“Oh no, you're talking historical falsehoods, my father emigrated here from Europe, and my experience is that there wasn't the anti-immigrant atmosphere you're talking about,” froths Andrew Bolt on Q&A getting more and more outraged that anyone, anyone dares disagree with him.

I'm sorry, exactly when was that wave of anti-Dutch hysteria running through Australian society again, Andrew? When were Dutch people demonised in the streets and newspaper editorials merely for being from that country? When did the Dutch have good reason to fear walking the streets?


“We can't possibly publish The List, because then people would go and look at those sites!” obfuscates Senator Conroy. Ahh, if the filter is effective, then it shouldn't matter if you publish the list, surely? If you won't publish the list for fear of attracting traffic to those sites, then is that not a bald admission that the filter is completely pointless?

Moreover, where is the oversight? Where is the accountability? If my business gets labelled a paedophilia site by accident, how do I know besides having traffic (and business) vanish without warning? How do I get it unbanned? How can I blame? Where comes my recompense?

And the thing about freedom of speech is, this isn't about the freedom of speech, it's about the freedom to listen. I'm not writing Incest Porn (which Sen Conroy and Mr Bolt seem to spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about), and if it is illegal to publish same, then go and charge the publishers! Child porn is already illegal, and the best way of making sure I never get to see any is to make sure that there isn't any to see. That way you might actually help children, instead of a secret blacklist without appeal.

They won't respond to that last concern though. They might be forced to admit that this isn't about helping children, but of treating the population of Australia like children.

Comments

[flinthart.livejournal.com]

Ah, but I was right: it was fun watching the dopey bastard squirm, wasn't it? The Great Dentist Saga... "It was the Russian Mob! The Russian Mob did it! Really!"

I think the message has been made clear enough. Nobody f--king wants the filter except Andrew Bolt. And if the Labor chumps can't read writing on the wall that size, then maybe somebody needs to explain to Elmer Rudd the meaning of the phrase "one-term Prime Minister."

I'll be happy to help.

[catsidhe.livejournal.com]

But but but I explained about the Dentist! I told you that the Russian Mob did it! Why are you still using that example as if you think it makes me and the whole concept look foolish?

I mean, thanks for not pointing out that this seems to be the only example of a site being banned for Russian Mob infiltration, and that there is no indication if that site is still officially blocked even after it was cleaned up, but why mention it at all I've already explained it and it hurts my feelings!

[pearl]

“We can't possibly publish The List, because then people would go and look at those sites!” obfuscates Senator Conroy. Ahh, if the filter is effective, then it shouldn't matter if you publish the list, surely? If you won't publish the list for fear of attracting traffic to those sites, then is that not a bald admission that the filter is completely pointless?

I thought it was just me who was confused.

Unless the idea is that these websites are so terrible and so vile that they would turn vaguely curious websurfers into vicious kiddie-porn producing maniacs, so we need protection from ourselves?

[catsidhe.livejournal.com]

But the things on this list are so evil that merely knowing where they are, or at any point ever were, will turn you into a child-raping incest fiend!

And the secret secret list is so secret you're not even allowed to know that it exists! Or that it has the Necronomicon on it ... it's full of that much evil!

Aren't you glad we're so diligently protecting you from knowing what it is that you're not allowed to know about?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_zombiemonkey/]

The question of how you appeal a black-balling is of immense interest to me. With some friends we're about to start a horror podcast. We will be discussing with immense regularity scenes of murder, torture, dismemberment, gross sexual abuses, cannibalism, grave-robbing, vivisection, human sacrifice, cult and satanic ritual, mutilation including self-mutilation and other such things of immense amusement to horror fans.

Considering all of these things happen in fictional environments in products that are commercially available, and that we stress that much of our discussion is for over-18's, I am still worried that the Concerned Mothers of Australia and Elmer Rudd McCarthy will black-ball us, and there is no immediately discernible method to appeal the decision.

Still, remember what happened to Joe McCarthy? Good night and good luck Conroy...

The scary madness of Andrew Bolt

[http://users.livejournal.com/_zombiemonkey/]

Leaving out the whole thing of having a Dutch background not really being comparable to coming from much more denigrated immigrant cultures, AB commits the same mistake he does with almost everything he says;

"My barely substantiated belief in a theory concerning A, is equal to or indeed more valid than an evidentiary thesis concerning A". In layman's terms he sticks his fingers in his ears and loudly shouts "I'M RIGHT, YOU'RE WRONG LALALALALALALALALALALA!!!"

The widely documented experiences of people who have experienced racism, violence, or prejudicial treatment is not in question, but Bolt seems to think that because he believes the contrary, it simply is not true. Maybe he should listen to himself when he opens his fat mouth and belts on about Sudanese immigrants.