Weblogs ‘need content warnings’

10Apr/070

So the Nannies are back at work making sure that none of us are offended by “crude language” on blogs.

The first problem is to decide who the arbiter is when deciding what “crude language” is. I swear all the time, here and in my normal life, and most people I know also swear in general conversation. If you find what I would call “normal” language offensive then don’t read blogs!

I find this self-appointed moral “majority” offensive. They try to impose their twisted view of life on the rest of us — anyone remember the truly awful Mary Whitehouse and her band of censors? We don’t need them.

On the other hand I certainly don’t agree with the harrassment and bullying that seems to be springing up in blogs. But then harrassment and bullying are bad wherever they manifest and we should be dealing with this kind of cowardice using the laws we currently have.

As I’ve said before, I just don’t understand why people find words offensive. The message can be offensive or threatening but the words themselves are just words.

What I do find offensive is our politicians lying continuously and trying to control our lives.

Anyway this initiative is just more proof that the Great and the Good don’t understand the internet. Recently the Great Buffoon, John Reid, said that sex offenders would have to disclose their online identities to the authorities — like you can’t set up a new identity in a matter of minutes. Fucking moron.

BBC NEWS | Technology | Weblogs ‘need content warnings’