Fahrenheit 451 - Actual Reality?
After much debating and soul-searching, I have decided to leave this entry public. If you choose to link to this, please comment below.
LJ has updated their new Terms of Service. Please, I encourage everyone to carefully read their vague restrictions. Specifically, under Member Content, there is this little gem:
Upload, post or otherwise transmit any Content that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortious, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, invasive to another's privacy (up to, but not excluding any address, email, phone number, or any other contact information without the written consent of the owner of such information), hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable;
As I read it, that means that all content is now subject to a much broader definition of wrong. They also mention the U.S. legal definition of "indecent" but in no way link to it. I was unable, while at the office, to locate that definition. Should anyone find it for me, I'll edit this post with a link to it.
Incidentally, I did check out the infamous website that reported the pedophiles to LJ's abuse team. I have my concerns regarding them and while I approve of the sentiment, I do not approve of the methods.
So, when do the bonfires begin? I'd like to see what goes down in flames next. Actually, no, I don't. There is a fine line between protection and abuse of power. There is a fine line between civil action and vigilante action.
I am concerned that while there are those who do need to be removed from civilization and society, if we make terms such as "obscene" and "offensive" the benchmark and gold standard for what is allowed and not allowed, then we truly have headed down a road we do not want to follow.
I do not advocate child pornography in any context. However, the definition of pornography does not include Michelangelo's David or the statue of Venus. Why? Artistic value. The problem with this is that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". This means that, in the broadest sense of things, which is what now seems to be the order of the day, if what I write isn't considered beautiful or artistic by "those in charge" it is offensive and/or pornographic. Grand. Really. Truly spectacular. Brava Lady Justice, you have handed your scales off to someone who refuses to wear the blindfold.
I understand that some things are not quantifiable. However, at some point things seem to have gotten out of hand. The world is a diverse place and there are going to be people offended by nearly anything. I believe, at least in the states, that Penn&Teller said it best on their Showtime series: Freedom of Speech means that you have the right to be offended also, but you do not have the right to ask me not to offend you (paraphrased).
Censorship is dangerous. Unchecked censorship is downright wrong.
I am a dentist. I am a mother. I am a mandatory reporter of child abuse.
I am also a survivor of: illegal obscene letters (yes, through the U.S. mail), a pedophile's predatory prank call, and emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of an ex-boyfriend.
I also write horror and fiction that is designed to make you wonder, make you question, and in some cases, make it difficult for you to sleep. This has apparently become objectional content. My writing journal is now friends-only as of today, until I can reliably converse with LJ regarding their new ToS.
ETA DO NOT PUT THE NAME OF THE "GROUP" OR THEIR URL ON THIS JOURNAL.
ETA From what I could read at fandom_lawyers, and other places, this was an attempt to avoid proper censorship. I am still disturbed, but not nearly as angry. However, I have unlocked my writing journal. I will also leave this post up because I feel it relevant. Thank you. (12:30pm Mountain time 5/30/07)
LJ has updated their new Terms of Service. Please, I encourage everyone to carefully read their vague restrictions. Specifically, under Member Content, there is this little gem:
Upload, post or otherwise transmit any Content that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortious, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, invasive to another's privacy (up to, but not excluding any address, email, phone number, or any other contact information without the written consent of the owner of such information), hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable;
As I read it, that means that all content is now subject to a much broader definition of wrong. They also mention the U.S. legal definition of "indecent" but in no way link to it. I was unable, while at the office, to locate that definition. Should anyone find it for me, I'll edit this post with a link to it.
Incidentally, I did check out the infamous website that reported the pedophiles to LJ's abuse team. I have my concerns regarding them and while I approve of the sentiment, I do not approve of the methods.
So, when do the bonfires begin? I'd like to see what goes down in flames next. Actually, no, I don't. There is a fine line between protection and abuse of power. There is a fine line between civil action and vigilante action.
I am concerned that while there are those who do need to be removed from civilization and society, if we make terms such as "obscene" and "offensive" the benchmark and gold standard for what is allowed and not allowed, then we truly have headed down a road we do not want to follow.
I do not advocate child pornography in any context. However, the definition of pornography does not include Michelangelo's David or the statue of Venus. Why? Artistic value. The problem with this is that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". This means that, in the broadest sense of things, which is what now seems to be the order of the day, if what I write isn't considered beautiful or artistic by "those in charge" it is offensive and/or pornographic. Grand. Really. Truly spectacular. Brava Lady Justice, you have handed your scales off to someone who refuses to wear the blindfold.
I understand that some things are not quantifiable. However, at some point things seem to have gotten out of hand. The world is a diverse place and there are going to be people offended by nearly anything. I believe, at least in the states, that Penn&Teller said it best on their Showtime series: Freedom of Speech means that you have the right to be offended also, but you do not have the right to ask me not to offend you (paraphrased).
Censorship is dangerous. Unchecked censorship is downright wrong.
I am a dentist. I am a mother. I am a mandatory reporter of child abuse.
I am also a survivor of: illegal obscene letters (yes, through the U.S. mail), a pedophile's predatory prank call, and emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of an ex-boyfriend.
I also write horror and fiction that is designed to make you wonder, make you question, and in some cases, make it difficult for you to sleep. This has apparently become objectional content. My writing journal is now friends-only as of today, until I can reliably converse with LJ regarding their new ToS.
ETA DO NOT PUT THE NAME OF THE "GROUP" OR THEIR URL ON THIS JOURNAL.
ETA From what I could read at fandom_lawyers, and other places, this was an attempt to avoid proper censorship. I am still disturbed, but not nearly as angry. However, I have unlocked my writing journal. I will also leave this post up because I feel it relevant. Thank you. (12:30pm Mountain time 5/30/07)