RichWalk

I realise this is a massive topic(s) but in the light of (many) recent events would we be better of without the internet? I am not naive enough to start blaming new tech for problems that have existed as long as we have, however the seamingly unregulated aspects of new tech are consistently being sited as both symptamatic and causal to these two serious social deficiencies.

Is a total ban feasable? or can the mass of highly intellegent peeps who both legally and illegally inhabit the IT sector come up with a preventative form of technology to counter this problem, rather than designing programs/ creating virus's and hacking into others software?

Sbradley

Hmm.

Presumably we should also ban public libraries because after all there is material freely available there that shouldn't be seen by the impressionable or ill intentioned.

Then there's newspapers. Lots of stuff appears in there that could well have abad effect on the weak willed fools who suddenly decide to copycat. Best ban those then. Or at least heavily censor them.

TV and radio? There's a minefield of sedition if ever there was one. No problem, though. Draconian censorship should see it right.

Films? BBFC is far too easy going - bring back 50's levels of censorship and we'll be fine.

Then there's mobile phones. In fact all phones. Hey - we could use all the people who have lost their jobs from the safety measures we've already put in (see above) to monitor every single conversation and censor anything inappropriate. Or we could just ban automated exchanges instead.

See my point?

The internet doesn't actually provide anything that doesn't already exist. In reality, it doesn't even make it easier to access the information - the WWW is like the largest library in the world, for sure, but it was catalogued by Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder stacked the shelves.

E-mail may make it easier for people to keep in touch, but it's no easier than the phone and it is easier to intercept. Plus it often leaves an audit trail for use by the authorities in a prosecution - something a phone call will never do.

It's an interesting idea and I can see where it comes from but it's a slippery slope and it wouldn't actually achieve anything anyway.

SB

RichWalk

SB the question is/was open ended; if you read it properly I am not advocating anything other than the possibility of solutions from within the media led socierty we inhabit. You are correct about the information flow in todays climate of 'fast data' but new tech is 'facilitating' and widening the ways people can enter a world of unheathly thoughts. Comments made y'day by specialists in the police are saying that anyone who even inadvertly views this type of matter is regarded as a risk- may be a bit extreme, but the human mind is inquizative and if you are (anonomously) allowed to trawl through material that is highly dangerous who knows what affect that is having?? Unquantifiable as blaming Rambo films for violence or is it??

Geezer

This information is freely available in libraries, but you have to get off your **** and actually go there. And then there is the embarrasment factor. It's alot easier to go to http://www.lotsofpicciesofpeopleshag...rsuchstuff.com than it is to go and buy a razz mag.

Also, animal or child **** is illegal, so you cannot get it from the library or local newsagents.

The same is true of stuff for terrorists, or criminals who want access to information.

I'm not blaming the internet for these problems, they have always been there, but it does make things alot easier for people.

Geezer

Duck_Pond

You could also look at it from the other side...

The internet allows people to look and perhaps get all they need in order to satisfy their fantasies (whatever they may be), and it stops there. Sure, in the case of child abuse, it is terrible in that children's images etc. are posted.

However, it does make you wonder what actions these people would do if the images weren't available. Would they be compelled to find other, more real ways of satisfying their needs?

The authorities also need to make it easier, and more widely known amongst internet users, what can be done to report such sites if stumbled upon accidentally.

RichWalk

DP; good argument, again like previous points its impossible to put any hard facts to whether or not this is true.
One of the points I am trying to air, is that a large proportion of people who access internet etc are aware that **** etc exists and (child **** asside) is very easy to find- then from fairly standard staright **** u get a miriad of adverts/ pop-ups some of which are very disturbing; 'simulated rape/ incest' for example, these in my view are not a subjects people should even be able to fantisize about let alone start considering any action further than thought!

there exists in any individuals mind the 'darker elements' of life, to have provocation of any form made so easy to access is not a heathly aspect of socierty. the virtuous amongst us will say, "well just dont look then" but how many of us have that level of discipline when natural instinct to learn/experience (even virtually) is right in front of you?

Duck_Pond

It all comes down to the individual. Can they differentiate between real life and fantasy? If they cannot, then they won't see the consequences of their actions in reality, won't care who they hurt or worse, and are likely to be affected by any medium, whether it be films that involve say rape (like The Accused), books or internet sites that deal with the subject.

Let's face it, the world is full of weirdos and the internet seems to cater for most of them, whether they be acceptable ideas to society, bizarre, or illegal.

Everyone has a dark side; it just comes down to how well you control it.

milo

not a world-wide one, no, because we don't have a world government.

if you're asking could an individual country ban it's people from using the internet? of course. but its not practical and would probably destroy the economy in many countries.

Leslie

If people feel they have to look at child pornography to achieve some kind of gratification or worse then there is certainly something wrong there somewhere.

Banning activities such as the Internet would be no answer I reckon, somehow this sort of thing has to be stopped at source.

Les

fivepint

I know it seems the internet has widened the audience for this stuff, but in one way it has alo brought them out in the open where they can be seen and caught... i think any sort of censorship woiuld send em underground again where they are much more dangerous...

I see your point about pop ups etc providing a stepping stone to darker things... maybe a ban on unsolicted advertising...

jasey

"Ban the Internet" - At least the mods would have an easier job in here .

Banning the Internet aint gonna happen - banning individuals from accessing it - now there's a possibility - just imagine needing a licence to access the Internet - and then we could pay tax on it too ...

Off to speak to Tony & Gordon ...

RichWalk

Jasey- politics becons!!

Fivepint- good counter, thanks!

Dream Weaver

The word ban is a terrible thing. You need to hit the problem at the root, not hit everyday things which are used as vehicles.

dosenöffner

An odd for of media to post your views on.

I mean, questioning the merits of the internet on an internet forum? Perhaps you should try approaching it from a different angle. Maybe ask your question again only this time typed or hand written on paper and posted to each of the 20 thousand members on here you are trying to reach.

Next you'll be blaming video games for violence.

It is a lack of morality and undertsanding of right and wrong that needs to be addressed. Along with the end to unlawful land occupations and oppression. I don't see how the internet fits in there.

RichWalk

[QUOTE=dosenöffner]An odd for of media to post your views on.

I mean, questioning the merits of the internet on an internet forum? Perhaps you should try approaching it from a different angle. Maybe ask your question again only this time typed or hand written on paper and posted to each of the 20 thousand members on here you are trying to reach.

Next you'll be blaming video games for violence.

I would of thought this would be exactly the type of place to ask such a question..... would you poll a group of eskimos on beach wear? The people on here are prime internet users and most likely to have an informed response- which many already have provided, please re-read the other posts so you may gain an insight into whats being said.

regards

Rich

moses

i say ban tv, net and games

kids will be wiser and brainer and less neds out their the better

RichWalk

Cheers Moses- no sitting on the fence for you sir!

moses

lol well i luv my net and news on tv

i was being half carcastic but we shouldnt let tv and movies bring up our children and also net, i dont let my nieces and nephews on the net unless im their with them , when they come to stay with me in the weekend

RichWalk

Moses- I am glad to hear it. Still trying to get over the Dosenoffer' response earlier

dosenöffner

I'm trying to point out that you will not exactly gain an unbiased response from interent users on whether the internet should be banned.

Don't worry. I'm sure you'll get over it and get on with life. As a way of protest maybe you should turn your pc off now and go outside and play.

RichWalk

The question as re-iterated was 'open', not looking for an un-biased response simply a relevant one from peeps who reg use the tech & many of whom are in IT and could look at forms of regulation- cant really see whats particuarlly difficult in understanding this stance- totally agree/ empathise with the other comments on here, however the internet, et al are 'part of the problem' and some form of censorship etc at a technologically high level would be worth consideration. I am sorry even with your obviously superior understanding of life you have failed to understand any of the subtle points raised herein; may actually be an important issue to people with children??

moses

rich, our kids wanna be like eminem or scum bad *** rap stars or tarts dressed up like ******, when they see mtv, its not good

Duck_Pond

I really pity the children nowadays... if they want to be like some albino dwarf who spends his whole time trying to look like a black rapper, while producing records that sound exactly the same, over and over, and whinging about his mum, Lord help 'em!

moses

exactly most of the time their mothers are good coz of what eminem preaches they start noting down everything their mums say and even if their mums are so kind they take it out on them its b-o-l-l-o-c-k-s

and all that same **** yeah yeah yeah , bitches and the riches 5 o crap

im bored of that ****

dosenöffner

So what you are trying to say is remove the internet from children and dodgy people not

.

Maybe we should stop people with criminal records or tendancies from breeding?

If you want someone to do something tell them they can't. Education is the key not removal. You are only treating a symptom and not the cause.

RichWalk

Totally agree! One of many areas to look at I know, but there's always many starting points.

Billbill

Scooby Net has taught me a bit about the internet.

But then I'm no longer very imaginative.

Over here the perverts have to register, If there was a way to FIND them on the net we could flood their email with religious gossip!
Make 'em feel guilty?