Internet censorship

Rifleman1776 · August 16, 2010, 08:30 AM

A Turkish web site that specializes in selling fancy figured walnut was reported as blocked by a member of a woodworking forum I belong to. Supposedly, it is blocked because the site contains the words "weapon" and "guns". Their speciality is fancy blanks for gunstocks.
Censorship, in any form, is to me highly objectionable and very scary.

**Mike Irwin** · August 16, 2010, 08:33 AM

Well, who is doing the blocking?

Is it blocked by his ISP, his employer?

My employer blocks a LOT of sites; fortunately they don't block this site or most other sites dealing with firearms. They do block most sites that offer streaming radio and video, done as a means of reducing bandwidth usage and keeping people focused on their jobs and not Youtube.

rtpzwms · August 16, 2010, 09:19 AM

Where and when were you surfing? If your ISP is doing it change your ISP. If its your employer get over it. There are so many employees abusing the internet connection at work it has a direct correlation to the bottom line.

Double Naught Spy · August 16, 2010, 10:44 AM

Quote:

A Turkish web site that specializes in selling fancy figured walnut was reported as blocked by a member of a woodworking forum I belong to. Supposedly, it is blocked because the site contains the words "weapon" and "guns". Their speciality is fancy blanks for gunstocks.
Censorship, in any form, is to me highly objectionable and very scary.

Let me see if I understand this. You are complaining to us about an issue of censorship that didn't happen to you, was not confirmed by you, and that happened for reasons also not confirmed by you, plus you didn't provide any information on the site where the report was made, the site supposedly being blocked, or any other salient information that could be used to be helpful to you?

So what is the point of your post?

maestro pistolero · August 16, 2010, 11:39 AM

Yeah, you gotta know who is providing the internet conection to even know the reason for the blocking. Example: the Buffalo NY airport has gun sites blocked for certain keywords they contain.

Sometimes there is filtering software used that has built-in lists of keywords for which to filter. The administrator can edit these lists to add or delete words.

Sometimes gun sites are filtered more due to laziness or inaction in failing to customizing the filters rather than any left wing conspiracy.

So, depending on what wireless network you were on, the provider, especially if it's free, can filter anything they want. If it's happening on your home internet connection, you would probably have an issue.

As already pointed out, you need to provide more information.

Capt. Charlie · August 16, 2010, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Sometimes gun sites are filtered more due to laziness or inaction in failing to customizing the filters rather than any left wing conspiracy.

Yep. A few years back, the City here installed "nanny filters" on all of the city's computers. The built-in list included the terms "weapon, gun, firearm, etc.".

The filter also blocked those terms from.... you guessed it, the police dept., and they never did correct it

.

Glenn E. Meyer · August 16, 2010, 02:20 PM

Yep, lots of medical info was blocked when some places blocked terms like penis or breast.

**Tom Servo** · August 16, 2010, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Yep, lots of medical info was blocked when some places blocked terms like penis or breast.

Yep. A friend ran a site discussing naked-eye astronomy. Early versions of Net Nanny blocked the site based on repeated usage of the word "naked."

August 16, 2010, 08:30 AM	#1
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,309	Internet censorship A Turkish web site that specializes in selling fancy figured walnut was reported as blocked by a member of a woodworking forum I belong to. Supposedly, it is blocked because the site contains the words "weapon" and "guns". Their speciality is fancy blanks for gunstocks. Censorship, in any form, is to me highly objectionable and very scary.

August 16, 2010, 08:33 AM	#2
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Well, who is doing the blocking? Is it blocked by his ISP, his employer? My employer blocks a LOT of sites; fortunately they don't block this site or most other sites dealing with firearms. They do block most sites that offer streaming radio and video, done as a means of reducing bandwidth usage and keeping people focused on their jobs and not Youtube. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

August 16, 2010, 02:20 PM	#7
Glenn E. Meyer Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2000 Posts: 20,064	Yep, lots of medical info was blocked when some places blocked terms like penis or breast. __________________ NRA, TSRA, IDPA, NTI, Polite Soc. - Aux Armes, Citoyens

August 16, 2010, 09:19 AM	#3
rtpzwms Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2010 Location: OTS Posts: 1,035	Where and when were you surfing? If your ISP is doing it change your ISP. If its your employer get over it. There are so many employees abusing the internet connection at work it has a direct correlation to the bottom line.

August 16, 2010, 11:39 AM	#5
maestro pistolero Senior Member Join Date: August 16, 2007 Posts: 2,153	Yeah, you gotta know who is providing the internet conection to even know the reason for the blocking. Example: the Buffalo NY airport has gun sites blocked for certain keywords they contain. Sometimes there is filtering software used that has built-in lists of keywords for which to filter. The administrator can edit these lists to add or delete words. Sometimes gun sites are filtered more due to laziness or inaction in failing to customizing the filters rather than any left wing conspiracy. So, depending on what wireless network you were on, the provider, especially if it's free, can filter anything they want. If it's happening on your home internet connection, you would probably have an issue. As already pointed out, you need to provide more information.