Blocking porn
The cabinet in Malaysia wants mobile phone operators and Internet providers to install software to block porn from being accessible.
While it might seem like a good idea, it does not necessarily make much sense since it is nearly impossible to block porn. There are always ways around it - just ask spammers on how to get around firewalls or Microsoft, why they still have holes in their software security. May be the comparison is not that valid, but I hope it makes the point clear.
May be, what is needed, is better education - much above what is currently needed. To make porn a hush, hush affair raises curiosity. What is forbidden is tempting. To make sex a little less exciting and a secret by really, really explaining to children (and it starts here) is one way forward. Children are exposed to erotica and sex anyway - from the day they are born - and they talk about it openly and innocently. What do you prefer, hoenstly: Do you want them to learn "wrong things" from their friends with whom they talk, or do you want them to be knowledgeable about what is all around them anyway, in one way or another?
Only when a discussion, such as the one about this Singaporean blogger who exposed herself a bit on her blog won't raise much attention can we say that the goal of an open-minded society has been achieved. And by open-minded, I don't mean promiscuity, or sex that is all around us. By open-mindedness, I mean tolerance and the ability to talk about issues that so far are kicked under the table.
So do we need software to block porn? No, I don't think so. Where there is a will, there is a way anyway. One way or another, those that want to access porn, will find it.
(By Asia Business Consulting)
While it might seem like a good idea, it does not necessarily make much sense since it is nearly impossible to block porn. There are always ways around it - just ask spammers on how to get around firewalls or Microsoft, why they still have holes in their software security. May be the comparison is not that valid, but I hope it makes the point clear.
May be, what is needed, is better education - much above what is currently needed. To make porn a hush, hush affair raises curiosity. What is forbidden is tempting. To make sex a little less exciting and a secret by really, really explaining to children (and it starts here) is one way forward. Children are exposed to erotica and sex anyway - from the day they are born - and they talk about it openly and innocently. What do you prefer, hoenstly: Do you want them to learn "wrong things" from their friends with whom they talk, or do you want them to be knowledgeable about what is all around them anyway, in one way or another?
Only when a discussion, such as the one about this Singaporean blogger who exposed herself a bit on her blog won't raise much attention can we say that the goal of an open-minded society has been achieved. And by open-minded, I don't mean promiscuity, or sex that is all around us. By open-mindedness, I mean tolerance and the ability to talk about issues that so far are kicked under the table.
So do we need software to block porn? No, I don't think so. Where there is a will, there is a way anyway. One way or another, those that want to access porn, will find it.
(By Asia Business Consulting)
posted by Andreas @ 8:46 am
<< Home