Law Introduced To Ban Social Networks And IM From Schools And Libraries

from the for-the-children,-of-course... dept

Wed, May 10th 2006 8:01pm — Mike Masnick

We've been talking about the recent rash of bad moves by government officials where the rationale is always "to protect the children," and today we have yet another one. It's no secret that some schools have chosen to ban social networks like MySpace out of a misplaced fear concerning what the site is being used for. However, the new legislation introduced today would specifically require any schools and libraries that receive federal money to completely ban social networking and instant messaging offerings from their computers. It's an extension of the controversial law that required libraries to put web surfing filters in place. Except, this time, instead of just blocking supposed pornography, they need to block social networking sites and chat sites. Reading the description in the bill of social networking sites, it appears that many blogging sites could be included as well ("a commercially operated website that allows users to create web pages or profiles that provide information about themselves and are available to other users.") That's pretty broad language, and would basically ban a number of perfectly legitimate and educational websites. Of course, this is all to "protect the children," because of a few fear mongering stories about bad people who have used these systems to prey on children. No one is denying that those people are out there and have used these systems. But, banning the sites in schools and libraries not only isn't the answer, it actually is likely to make the situation worse. In schools and libraries, at least, adults can monitor the students while helping to educate them about the dangers online, rather than pretending they don't exist. This law doesn't protect the children -- it takes away the responsibility of teaching them how to be safe online.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

107 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Taylor, 10 May 2006 @ 8:54pm

Yeah right.
Have you seen how fast these kids can take out filters? This wont matter in the slightest to any kid who is good with computers-- the people who are safest online anyway, because they know how to hide their identity. However, this will drive those who are most at risk off of myspace at these places, which could be good or bad.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Alucardbsm, 10 May 2006 @ 9:10pm

Really, why?
They don't understand that all of this is stupid and pointless. I myself go to a school where they use the "Dreded" Websense. It's a joke how easy it is to get around. At first we used one of our friend's cgi-proxy to bypass it. When the teachers started to complain he took it down and I did a google for "proxy list". Although they blocked a large amount of them, I found a list and an Ip that I could use.

Tools -> Internet Options -> Connenction Settings -> manual proxy and insert IP.

Plus, it's not like we're trying to bypass the system to look at porn or *OMGOSH* look at criminal myspace pages. It's just that we have an internet system that isn't being used and when we're not doing anything (all the time) we just wanna surf. How is it that different from being at home? Will we somehow become incapable of correct judgement because we're at school? I don't think so. Pull your head out of your ass and respect us kids. We probably know more about computers than these silly politicians.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
you are amoran, 10 May 2006 @ 9:21pm

Re: Really, why?
Acording to your brilliant logic, when your car is parked and you are not using it, I could just borrow it as long as i bring it back. After all, I'm just driving it like you would ? Someone should put a politician's head up your ass. Your an aragont ignorant kid who doesn't realize that you are at school to learn and not be entertained. Try doing some learning instead of surfing. Myspace is just a bunch of people that feel they are so great that the rest of the world really cares about what they are doing, or how they look in their picture or what kind of music they like.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
TriZzz, 10 May 2006 @ 9:22pm

Kids
...they don't take into account how the kids will react to this. It might not be violently (like a riot) but, the kids will try to find ways around it, or over compensate with it when they get home.

If these children don't know what they're doing - they could do some damage to the machines that they're trying to access from. Not permanent, but I certainly think that changing the internet settings on IE would stump MOST librarians.

They'll over compensate when they get home - they'll forget their homework because they have to catch up on all the messages/comments received while away.

...this is bad. But, in all fairness - if these are government computers, then they are more than able to block whichever sites they chose - they are their computers.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
revere, 10 May 2006 @ 9:28pm

this whole idea is just stupid. if this passes i'll seriously doubt government officials to make rational decisions, not that i dont already. the only hint of anything good this idea has is the fact that a lot of blogs such as myspace are noisy, and noise in a library is generally not a good thing.

just one of those things i can't believe is even being considered.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
revere, 10 May 2006 @ 9:30pm

Re:
also gives kids in dorms just another reason to buy faster, better, internet from a local service rather than using the generally crappy school connections that are usually provided..
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Alucardbsm, 10 May 2006 @ 9:40pm

Re: Re: Really, why?
I'm sorry, but I fail to see any point you're attempting to make. I don't recall saying anything about borrowing cars and your example was horribly produced. Maybe you could make your username "You are a moron" instead of "you are amoran" because you sir, are a moron.

Please try and say something that would have made a point, because you saying that I'm ignorant and stupid doesn't make me that. Plus your last two sentences make you biased.

Oh and I'm sorry I go to school to sit on my ass and watch a teacher who knows less about web design than I do explain the most basic things like how to use a . I personally don't like myspace either, but there's not alot of options at school. Unless you don't know what a current high school is like.

And I would love to have a politician's head up my ass, preferrably Bush, so that I may squeeze my buttocks and choke them to death. Have a nice day sir.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
maestro, 10 May 2006 @ 9:44pm

Why does this bill sound so much like "naanaanaanaa! I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!"
Even school kids need to learn that there are dangerous people on the Internet, the same as anywhere else. The Internet is (at least to a limited degree) a reflection of the real world. There's no point in pretending we can make it safe. If we do, not only will the kids hack around the filters or whatever, the predators will move to other places to prey on the computer illiterate kids too.

Sure, there's a problem. But blocking MySpace and similar sites won't solve it. There were Internet predators long before there was MySpace.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
maestro, 10 May 2006 @ 9:47pm

Re: Re: Re: Really, why?
bravo!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
imp, 10 May 2006 @ 9:47pm

Re: Re:
yeah... no one likes a constantly available t3 that they're already paying for....?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
tom, 10 May 2006 @ 9:55pm

@maestro, it will only help. asshole.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Alucardbsm, 10 May 2006 @ 10:03pm

Re: Tom
Oh so a bill that will ban something that is already blocked by filters is going to make it better?

"This law doesn't protect the children -- it takes away the responsibility of teaching them how to be safe online."

Beautiful quote by Mike.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Tom, 10 May 2006 @ 10:13pm

@Alucardbsm you really are the fucking moron. Reality is, the world tries to prevent bad things to happen to good people. I assure you, there is never an answer to any problem. There is an answer to what we know and how to make things less accessible by passing laws and helping kids stay on track for them to grow up and have a better life.

For you to say its pointless, would be like saying, "We can't stop terrorrist so lets do nothign about it.". Would you really like to live in a world like that? Life is a beautiful place. As humans advance and become more in control of their lives, we can start to live a more peacful and fun place to live.

My point is, its people like you that is slowing our progress down. I understand your mentality isn't your fault, and is usually the parents fault. Your parnets probably didn't teach you enough about being considerate to others and appreciate life a little bit more. As for me, I was lucky. My parents were not the greatest parents of all time, but I used my brain and unserstood the world I lived in.

I'm sure you havn't gotten there in your life yet. Rest assure, if you just use your brain to think and be a little more open minded about things, you'll end up being a contributor to having the best life possible.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Alucardbsm, 10 May 2006 @ 10:25pm

Re: Tom
I was hoping we could have tried to keep insults out of this but it seems like we can't. I could very well call you a moron and spout other things that make you look bad but I don't. I would like to say this also. Please stop putting words in my mouth. I have NEVER said: "when your car is parked and you are not using it, I could just borrow it as long as i bring it back" or "We can't stop terrorrist so lets do nothign about it". Please, stop saying things that I obviously said.

On another note, please don't call me a "fucking moron" and question how my parents raised me. I don't recall you being there when I was raised. I'm trying to agree to a point in which Mike has made in that passing laws like this don't fix the problem, they only help make it worse by giving parents a false sense of security. The best way to protect our children is to teach them the proper way to handle themselves. You sound like you want to hold your kids hand through their entire life so that when they are on their own they fall flat on their face. I have seen it too many times.

To disagree on some points you stated. First of all being my mentality. I fail to see how you can tell my mentality through my opinion. I won't go so low as to question your mentality through your posts such as a one liners to call someone an asshole. Another is that terrorism is a whole other topic and we can scream and yell about that when an article comes up on it, but there's no terrorism in Mike's news.

Most of your post was to tell me that I'm not using my brain and thus, an idiot. Well if that's the best you can come up with, good for you, but it has failed to damage my pride in the least.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 10 May 2006 @ 10:55pm

You're missing something supporters- there are actually times when kids in school have free time -they can do want they want on the computers. Take for instance, a high school, during lunch period has computers available to check email and other things.

But the other thing is: this law affects any school given federal money - doesn't this include state universities? If not, ignore this part. Campus computers are meant to be for anything students want (barring porn of couse), it's free usage and besides they are paying 'student fees' to have access to computers.

My point regardless, is that this bill is way too vague. These social sites aren't more dangerous, it's just trying to control what kids view, and it just happens to be one of the most popular.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Mr Rat, 10 May 2006 @ 11:05pm

Re: Re: Re: Really, why?
I'll second that ! BRAVO
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Mr Rat, 10 May 2006 @ 11:12pm

free speech
there has to be something unconstitutional about this... wasnt there a small passage that referred to free speech or something of the like? or are you only entitled to free speech once you turn 18?

too bizarre

I cant believe this comes from a country that lets people carry fire arms.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Alucardbsm, 10 May 2006 @ 11:20pm

Re: free speech
I accually am confused about your post. I looked up on it and discovered this (only small portion):

"The courts have ruled that minors have First Amendment rights, and that includes the right to access sexual material not legally deemed "harmful to minors." (Speech that depicts [in words or pictures] sexual conduct in a manner that is patently offensive under contemporary community standards of what is appropriate for minors; appeals to the prurient interest of minors; and taken as a whole lacks serious literary, scientific, artistic or political value for minors."

http://users.rcn.com/kyp/nwumenin.html

This is in Boston referring to a public library installing a filter. I don't know if it would apply to school though. Public library is that, public, and you can't restrict information legally on a public system. But then is school the same as a library? I'm confused.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Alucardbsm, 10 May 2006 @ 11:29pm

Free Speech
Accually, searching around I found a better source. That last one was one Librarys and this one has to do with schools.

http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_stud.html

It looks like they can and may pass a bill that can censor students at school. Even though students have free speech, they can still be censored by the school. See no evil, do no evil.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
just another dude with half a brain or two, 10 May 2006 @ 11:53pm

Re: Re: Really, why?
-----original message-----
They don't understand that all of this is stupid and pointless. I myself go to a school where they use the "Dreded" Websense. It's a joke how easy it is to get around. At first we used one of our friend's cgi-proxy to bypass it. When the teachers started to complain he took it down and I did a google for "proxy list". Although they blocked a large amount of them, I found a list and an Ip that I could use. Tools -> Internet Options -> Connenction Settings -> manual proxy and insert IP. Plus, it's not like we're trying to bypass the system to look at porn or *OMGOSH* look at criminal myspace pages. It's just that we have an internet system that isn't being used and when we're not doing anything (all the time) we just wanna surf. How is it that different from being at home? Will we somehow become incapable of correct judgement because we're at school? I don't think so. Pull your head out of your ass and respect us kids. We probably know more about computers than these silly politicians.
-----original reply-----
Acording to your brilliant logic, when your car is parked and you are not using it, I could just borrow it as long as i bring it back. After all, I'm just driving it like you would ? Someone should put a politician's head up your ass. Your an aragont ignorant kid who doesn't realize that you are at school to learn and not be entertained. Try doing some learning instead of surfing. Myspace is just a bunch of people that feel they are so great that the rest of the world really cares about what they are doing, or how they look in their picture or what kind of music they like.
-----my reply-----
first, let teh moron be a moron, second, as long as there is a filter, there will be a bypass. and i think the connection is more like, if we are going to do it anyway, and there is no way you can stop us, then leave us the ******** alone, and think with your brain and not your wallet...or at least my veiw on this. and just because a person is under the legal age of 18, and therefore considerd a child (which is foolish in my opinion), and in school, are they not just socializing online? the truth is, you ban something, whoever is banned from it will want it more, enough to bypass, and the logic fails, on both sides. Can't stop it all. They are kids, teach them to learn, and guess what, OMIGAWD! THAYRLEARNING! HOLY ***********! in short, all wrong, injust fail...! law and rule fail, kids suceed. Law is the wooden fortress, kids, the termites and wood-cutter ants. and again, kids arn't looking at porn, they are chatting with other kids.
and most people on myspace are just looking for attn, getting all the 'friends' they can. but look enough, you might find a actual person with a personality of their own. enough ranting, goodbye ppl with nothing better to do
[ link to this | view in thread ]
WhoCares, 11 May 2006 @ 12:20am

What a Great Idea
I saw something funny once that said "MyPlace: a Space for Whores." I think MySpace is overrated, and I refuse to join the MySpace community. It seems as if the generations following X are so shallow and stupid, with some serious identity crises and no real turmoil that actually makes a person. What the f*** is "EMO"? That is the most retarded thing ever, and "INDIE" is not even indie? These kids are lame, and most of them possess any intelligence or sense of passion. MySpace facilitates creating false relationships and false ideas of one's identity. How narcississtic is this MySpace idea, because there are so many more important things to use the internet as an "educational" tool, such as "subversive" material that is not easily obtainable. Nobody cares about anyone else's space, where people try to show the public pictures of themselves looking cool or slutty. What an insecure generation. I foresee alot of stupid drama escalating around this over-priced website.

I think that the IRS should investigate the finances of MySpace, and hopefully they will go down.

It is even worse than members of Congress sitting around being official and discussing the Whizzinator.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Nanny State, 11 May 2006 @ 2:20am

------!
Lets ban everyone from using cars next, as someone once ran over a child.

--------------------------------------.
Americans are scary.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Rick, 11 May 2006 @ 2:22am

Funny they won't ban guns because people commit crimes with them too....

Idiotic corrupt American politicians, taking freedoms away daily.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
2+2=1, 11 May 2006 @ 3:03am

Corrupt
I cant beleive how you guys can be hypnotised by this goverment , they are trying to take away all your rights and you guys are still there supporting it?
Why go to iraq? why have the biggest defense system in the world , why let people carry guns?
They kill no? , why isnt it illeagal for children to walk around the block? , they could see crime/accidents that could leave them traumatized... , ban cars.. ban cycling , ban eating junk food ,they can all cause things that could cause "death" they are not banned because america is "Free" but whl maintaining that image of freedom they are slowly taking it away behind your backs
the whole system seems to be corrupt...
Anyway sorry for my english(im Spanish)
But i think you guys should think a bit...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Sephira, 11 May 2006 @ 5:01am

Re: What a Great Idea
My age: four days short of twenty

That said, I myself have a MySpace account. What I often do with it, of course, is mercilessly mock everyone on my "friends" list for using MySpace. Almost all of which are people I know personally and see regularly. I originally got an account because almost everyone I knew had an account, so it seemed like a good idea. Little did I know :)
I couple things I wanted to address in your post:
"over-priced website"
um, its free. :)

"What the f*** is "EMO"
Fear not, for I shall enlighten you. "Emo" is basically the bulk of MySpace users :) Also anyone who writes shitty poetry that uses the following words at least once per sentence, no fewer than 50 times per poem: lament, loathe, soul, darkness, bitter, agony, despair, misery, anguish, pain, suffer, woe, hate, death, love, sultry, angel, rose, acrid and nihilism. Nihilism is a good one because it comes up all the time in normal conversations. (you may recognize that from Maddox)
"Emo" is short for "emotional"

Have fun, and be careful not to make sweeping generalizations! :)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
switchitybell, 11 May 2006 @ 5:27am

this is all crazy
you see, I myself am at school at the moment.
We teens sometimes have time where we are told to go to the school library because we have no class, at these times we offten have no homework either, what do we do? we come to the computer with free time, we want to do what we would do at home. Weither it be on myspace, xanga,livejournal, or any other "blogging" site we will stay safe. as offten as "they" find ways to block our blogs "we" will find ways back on to them.
yes, some ignorant, immature,pathetic teens use these site to start longdistant "relationships" if that's what you can call them, but with all of the concerne for that in the media the majority of "us" are more intellegant than that. See all that we do on our blogs is rant, we vent out anything on our minds so that we can focus better on other things. I honestly dont care if they keep all the sites blocked or not, I only use them occasionally, but instant messanger is a different issue. sometimes we have friends who refuse to come to school, or are home sick, having access to instant messanger is helpfull because we can contact these students. I know it's a stretch but having IM access can help bring people to school.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Me, 11 May 2006 @ 5:38am

Re: Kids
If you are not allowed to get gas for your car on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday all of a sudden. Your compensation of gas is going to go up on all other days. You can't just partially take something away, IT DOESN'T WORK. Realitively the same amount of consumption will be done just at different times. This is a stupid idea and a waste of time. And to make it a LAW. Because god knows we don't have anything else going on in the country.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
shane, 11 May 2006 @ 6:03am

now what is amazing is that for this article there are a large amount of youth replying to it.
A large amount of youth looking into technology news and rumors... the same thing a lot of the older people are doing.
SEEMS to me that these kids are keeping their minds open and watching what's going on.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
robert, 11 May 2006 @ 6:07am

I think its great that they are blocking myspace and other crap sites.. do some learning I just fear that they will go too far... many blogs are very informational and helpful.

Also filters are a good thing keeping bad out but also the kids then have something meaningfull to do I have learned alot over the years trying to break things like this... granted we are training hackers but none the less we are still stimulating the minds of our youth isnt that the Goal in school?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Zeroth404, 11 May 2006 @ 7:08am

social isolationism of your own country in public places.

what the hell is wrong with these people?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Zeroth404, 11 May 2006 @ 7:09am

Here, I have an idea FOR THE KIDE:

lets keep the keep the kids away from the computers! For the Kids!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
ebrke, 11 May 2006 @ 7:12am

No law will solve the problem
Parents need to be parents. They need to supervise, teach, and most of all be involved in their children's lives. Laws cannot raise your child--only you can.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
dbplatypus, 11 May 2006 @ 7:35am

Irony
"new legislation introduced today would specifically require any schools and libraries that receive federal money to completely ban social networking and instant messaging offerings from their computers."

The irony being that many of my colleagues in the library field have their own blogs or blogs for their libraries and work with live reference services using chat software.

Speaking as an IT librarian, please remember that many of us are very conversant with computer technology and first amendment rights. And we strongly believe that the American Library Association's Freedom to Read statement covers all forms of human communication, not just books.

Have a great day.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
jw, 11 May 2006 @ 7:48am

more knee jerking in politics
by their wording they would have to bazn google and yahoo ( both have chat and currently implmenting social networking features)it begs the question why they even put internet access in schools.any kid with the will and half a brain is going to get around it. It creepy enough that schools monitor myspace and go so far as trying to ban students from using it even at home. Now it just getting inane. Between NSA & the president spying on us, kids being spied on by schools, and everything being legislated by companies with the most lobbyist and money...hiow is American not becoming a Tolitarian society.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 11 May 2006 @ 7:52am

Great Firewall
Seems like America is starting to create a Great Firewall of its own. What exactly is freedom? If I'm not mistaken, it's having the right to do anything you want, but with the limitation that you are not invading/harming another person's freedom. It seems ironic and almost hypocritical that a country that prides itself on freedom (and even exports it) is struggling to police it's own Internet. One starts to wonder, is China's Great Firewall really that bad?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
m0rd3r, 11 May 2006 @ 9:33am

Oh noes!
Not myspace and blog sites! Please think of the children!

In my day we didnt have these blogs or myspace or messengers. We still came up with ways to goof off at school.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 11 May 2006 @ 9:54am

Dunno about myspace, that place is mostly a cesspool of incomprehensible content. But blogs are a damned valuable source of bona fide information.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
lilwip, 11 May 2006 @ 10:13am

Re: this is all crazy
Maybe you should spend more time studying the dictionary and your spelling lessons, your post had some attrocious spelling and gramatical errors in it.

"yes, some ignorant, immature,pathetic teens use these site to start longdistant "relationships" if that's what you can call them, but with all of the concerne for that in the media the majority of "us" are more intellegant than that"

I hope that you are not trying to tie yourself to that more "intelligent" group.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Intergalactic Hussy, 11 May 2006 @ 10:37am

Texting is like...cool...like totally...like...OMG
No doubt cell phone companies are behind this...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
techwiz18, 11 May 2006 @ 10:51am

Re: Corrupt
Sometimes an outside perspective really helps those within a situation reflect. The American public has had their sense of security threatened; so, as a result, many people are afraid of nearly everything and are willing to accept any "brilliant idea" from those in power. Most of these ideas being ones that restrict freedoms. I can understand blocking sites that are non-educational AND waste bandwidth for those who try to do legitimate research in libraries and schools (e.g. peer-to-peer file sharing); however, a slippery slope is now in place. What will be blocked next? Will similar laws corner commercial internet service providers?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jeremy, 11 May 2006 @ 11:20am

Re: Kids
you are probably right it would stump most librarians I've met and I help manage the networks of 30 schools. However a school that actually lets the user change their network settings deserves the problems they get. We use a transparent proxy and block all other ports except what we need. The proxy is an actual content filter not just a black list so cgi-proxies don't help. There are still ways around it but they are much more difficult to do. If your're going to run a network you should be responsible for managing that network correctly.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Liz Ditz, 11 May 2006 @ 2:59pm

First Shot in the
John McLaughlin, a Republican pollster, created something that's called "The Suburban Agenda". This bill is the first shot. McLaughlin wrote:

The real challenge, of course, will be to make progress on these issues before November. Time is running short. Work needs to begin immediately to get this done. Legislation needs to be strategically introduced in the House in the spring and early summer,and then promoted by the membership when they return to their districts for their August work period. Likewise, Republicans also need to craft a comprehensive communications strategy to sell this plan for what it is – a positive effort to make government work.

More about the "Suburban Agenda" at my blog, here.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Newob, 12 May 2006 @ 9:37am

Social networks at school? Bah!
Yeah like how could connecting people socially ever help them learn something? I mean obviouisly staring forward at a teacher all day and saying nothing is the best way to learn things.

The public school system is designed around top-down education, but children are more than capable of peer-to-peer education. If we try to educate each other using resources that are available to us, then teachers can be valuable in helping to discern which way to investigate. But instead of encouraging children to learn on their own and ask pertinent questions of authority, they are being taught to accept authority and not ask questions.

IMHO either the system will break (from being rigid and useless) as any static system must eventually in an evolving environment, or children will be broken by the system and more stupid people will grow into adults and become more stupid teachers and *then* the system will break. I say, get rid of the schools, and let the children actually learn something!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 12 May 2006 @ 6:19pm

My Stance
I think it is a good idea to block IM and Myspace and other similar things from schools, as was mentioned above, students are at school to learn both the written cirriculum and the social interactions that school briings, not to socialize over the internet.

HOWEVER, I do not think that legislation is needed to enforce this.

I also think when you say School in this context that would not include dorms. Students living in dorms should be allowed to use IM and Myspace on personal time.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
cynrea, 14 May 2006 @ 8:56pm

Re: free speach
and you are right, state and federal universities, would then be forced to ban myspace from their computers.

personally if a school chooses to ban a site then it probobly has a reason, whether we like it or not, if however the pain in the *** beurocrates in Washington DC make that choice for our schools then I have issues with it. and will be sure to vote against any f***** N** that votes it in. and I am sure that with over a million users on myspace I am almost certain they have a voice in politics.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
jonny heartbreak, 22 May 2006 @ 11:41am

Re: Yeah right.
you're right. kids work around the filters, find proxy sites, etc. banning sites at school is pointless because of that.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
silly old people, 24 May 2006 @ 7:50pm

old people...
jesus christ cmon people. I have to admit this discussion is pretty funny. Adults LOVE to think that kids are just stupid ignorant rebellious people with now brain of their own. Well if we're so stupid how come we can find all these ways to bypass the retarded restrictions set by the schools. just wondering....
[ link to this | view in thread ]
alison, 19 Jun 2006 @ 2:44pm

hey
hey you guyz need to tell the library,s to not block myspace at the librarys
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 22 Jun 2006 @ 5:56pm

Re: Re: Really, why?
Some people actually use MySpace as a way to keep up with their friends as opposed to going around to people they don't know and giving out personal information.

About your eloquent comments- "Someone should shove a politician's head up your ass" - "Your an aragont ignorant kid who doesn't realize that you are at school to learn and not be entertained."

How having the head of a politician, in one's head or in other, less comfortable places, is truly beyond me. You seem to be assuming all politicians are, if not omniescent, well-versed in all areas of knowledge and the wisest of beings. I assure you, this is not the case. This is nowhere near the case.

I would take your comments a tad more seriously were they not typed in poor grammar with poor spelling, to say nothing of vulgar language- I may be just an 'aragont', ignorant child of fifteen years, but I do know how to spell and form sentences correctly.

I also disagree with your statement- that I and many others are at school to learn, not to be entertained. I wish this was more the case, but you are sadly mistaken. Counselors and administration, afraid we are 'over-scheduling' ourselves, have made it mandatory to have one free period out of eight, one which cannot be replaced by a normal, educational class. There is not always work for me to do during these periods, and it is at these times that I turn to checking MySpace, among other things, though I have to go to a proxy server to do so.

I am aware that schools are doing this for our (the students') own good, but it's not needed, nor effective. Besides, in the grand scheme of things, I can think of a great deal of things more important.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Nhdkgf, 28 Aug 2006 @ 3:29am

Re: Re: Re: Really, why?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
annoyed teenager, 6 Oct 2006 @ 10:08am

Re: hey
i agree, i'm so annoyed with adults who think teenagers are so bad, i can't go into a store without being watched, and i don't have internet at my house, so i have to use school or friends, i think the adults are the stupid people....we're not all bad
[ link to this | view in thread ]
tabitha, 12 Oct 2006 @ 9:57am

u sould have mypace on the school computers
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Sabrina, 17 Oct 2006 @ 6:14am

WTF
ok..I am at school too and I have just spent my intire study hall trying to find websites to get around all blocked super gay crap and get to myspace
[ link to this | view in thread ]
skye runyon, 20 Oct 2006 @ 9:34am

nice one dork
that was good one but u still sound gay.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 20 Oct 2006 @ 9:41am

if anyone knows how to get on a proxy site to get around the computer block leave a comment to lil big oh ya i cant go and search for a proxy because it blocks that to and if u know how to completly turn off the block lemme know adn if there is a site that it doesnt block that u can go to any site lemme know be cause all i wanna do is play runescape at school
[ link to this | view in thread ]
lil big, 20 Oct 2006 @ 9:45am

oops
that "anonymous coward" was lil big
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Cassie, 29 Oct 2006 @ 2:06pm

I work in a Jr high library and I see the kids hacking into porn sites all the time. Kids are not dumb dont underestimate them. They'll find a way.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
dude, 30 Oct 2006 @ 5:03pm

rofl
rofl you r all retards go back to 4th grade and learn to spell
[ link to this | view in thread ]
dude, 30 Oct 2006 @ 5:07pm

btw
by the way I'm in 8th grade and the school blocks really are a joke, once you find a proxy they block it after 1 use but honestly with 1000s to choose from who cares? I can play runescape and get on my myspace whenever, it's just lucky for the school system that most of the relatively intelligent kids like me are the kind who wouldn't look at porn
[ link to this | view in thread ]
c, 1 Nov 2006 @ 11:16am

i have web sites
go to www.proxymy.com or www.ctunnel.com it works @ my school
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Samantha Baumgart, 3 Nov 2006 @ 10:43am

THIS IS DUMB
Honestly, whenever we get done with our work at school we should be allowed to get on Myspace.

This is CENSORSHIP.

It is pretty dumb and we aren't going down with out a fight.

With every proxy they block we will find three more.

So just keep that in mind, because we are rebels.

HAHAHA

SamanthaKay

&& if you have a problem with it EMAIL ME

cyanidecandyxmhm@aol.com
[ link to this | view in thread ]
dude i can own filters, 4 Nov 2006 @ 12:09pm

dude its unfar to ban all the best websites and its unfair all i want to do is polay runescape but the library compute got updated and now im messed its so annoying t have to take the filters away all the time im sick of it and why does the government think were so stupid i fer one would never meeet anyone anywhere unless i had met them in real life before.also runescape atomatically bans someone if they ask anything of the sort.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
dude i can own filters, 4 Nov 2006 @ 12:17pm

continuing they freakin blocked google and yahoo wtf is that i went and i couldnt complete my freajkin project the government is like cornelious fudge {minister for magic in the harry potter series by j.k. rowling} in the novel he says," What kids do not know cannot hurt them" correction what we dont know can hurt us being technically gifted with computers it wont me but when were adul;ts and get on the internet were gonna be spammed keylogged spywared and our computer are gonna crash and you know who we can thank the government who thinks they did the right thing bravo bravo
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Reasonable, 11 Nov 2006 @ 10:35am

MySpace in Libraries
There is nothing wrong or illegal (at least today) about social networking sites like MySpace or instant-messaging sites on privately owned PCs. There is however a problem with children using social networking at publicly funded institutions. Wage earners who pay for these institutions, the PCs and internet access have this unreasonable expectation of being able to use them occasionally. The library where I work allows Internet access to patrons age 13 and up. Social networking has become so popular with younger teens that our tech center is flooded with youth addicted to endless hours of playtime on our PCs. Our tax-paying patrons complain that they cannot access the PCs for work, research, education, job seeking, or communication. In addition, social networking seems to incite noisy, disruptive behavior in the teens, inappropriate in a library setting where some people are trying to do serious research and work. We frequently have to break up noisy, chatting groups clustered around the PCs, prevent them from running back and forth to their friends, and even eject them from the library. The library staff feels like baby-sitters in a romper room. Short of banning social networking sites, what do you recommend?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
the one who knows, 14 Nov 2006 @ 2:49pm

yeah...
well i can say i am a myspace user. i love the site and simply make my profile private. meaning no one but my friends that i ADD can see my profile. im not worried about men looking at my site because i know all my friends and am perfectly safe. banning the site from libraries at school have done nothing for us. teens have found proxy websites that link us to a sneaky way of viewing our profile. in fact im online at school right now and am checking my myspace as we speak. it makes the situation worse by making children sneak around in finding the web site and finding a way around it. puting us in a place of getting into trouble. i can understand the concern of a public profile that contains gross pictures (showing cleavage) and giving out information that is personal. if the user would simply click on private profile, we would not be in such a bind of concerns and questions. it is very frustrating hearing from everyone how bad myspace is when they dont know how safe it really can be. its up to the user if they are willing to be safe, or be sorry.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
anonymous 14 year old, 5 Dec 2006 @ 11:43am

Re: Kids
u are right, my dad recently blocked myspace and i just pulled out a proxy site and got on myspace anyway. he stumped me for a few days sure. i will give him credit for trying. but people don't give us kids enough credit. we might only be kids but when we want to do something it is only a matter of time.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Reasonable, 7 Dec 2006 @ 11:15am

Social Networking and the Law
Let’s get back to the original subject of this blog: “Law Introduced To Ban Social Networks And IM From Schools And Libraries”

First and foremost, social networking sites are not “bad”, and children are certainly not “stupid”.
Secondly, social networking sites are not the exclusive domain of children. Adults (responsible and otherwise) use them too. It is however, childish to accuse all laws that restrict some freedoms to be oppressive.

If that law is passed it will be because of a relatively few immature children who are not as intelligent as they are clever (not you of course, I mean those “other immature kids”). It is the nature of children to “learn”. Unfortunately, it is also the nature of children to ignore good advice and stick their hand into a fire to “learn” too late that it burns. It is this relentless “urge to learn” that eventually makes children better and smarter then their parents. It is also this same urge that causes immature children to push the envelope, to play ever harder and more recklessly until someone gets hurt. Ask any parent. These are the children responsible for adults passing laws to protect immature children them from themselves.

--------------
“It's no secret that some schools have chosen to ban social networks like MySpace out of a misplaced fear concerning what the site is being used for.” ???
“Of course, this is all to "protect the children," because of a few fear mongering stories about bad people who have used these systems to prey on children.” ???
---------------

It is not the “responsible and mature” who are a concern. It is the behavior of the few “immature and irresponsible” that cause concern. If you are among the many “mature and responsible”, use your influence to encourage the few “immature and irresponsible” to behave responsibly. After all, we adults don’t want these sites to be banned either.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
ariel, 14 Dec 2006 @ 5:11pm

Re: Really, why?
thats so awsum, ive tried but i cant get around it....u know they are trying to ban it from homes too!! it sux and the people who get caught my the predtors are just plain out stupid to give out aall that information!!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
FUck u bitches, 19 Dec 2006 @ 9:39am

fuckuall
U people are about the dumbest bastards ive ever seen.... mabye u fuckers need to stay the fuck out of the high-schools students lives... if we want to get on IM or Myspace, i think we should b allowed... its not like someones gonna come kidnap every highschool student in america. your preventing/restricting us from having personal lives for 8-hours a day so YOU FUCKERS NEED TO FUCK OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
FUck u bitches, 19 Dec 2006 @ 9:41am

fuckuall
U people are about the dumbest bastards ive ever seen.... mabye u fuckers need to stay the fuck out of the high-schools students lives... if we want to get on IM or Myspace, i think we should b allowed... its not like someones gonna come kidnap every highschool student in america. your preventing/restricting us from having personal lives for 8-hours a day so YOU FUCKERS NEED TO FUCK OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
myspace.com/skankkkface, 20 Dec 2006 @ 9:58am

school blocks are rediculous
The school blocks in the NFSCD are fucking ridicilous, they block everything and anything that has nothing to do with school. For example, i have a personal blog on blogger.com that i would use to post stuff on from school, such as reports i was working on. At home i would go on and copy and paste it into word to finish it. You can't access anything at all. Schools should only be allowed to block porn, because theres nothing wrong with blogs, or even myspace. Myspace is not an unsafe website, if the myspace rules are followed, an its not like theres porn or anything on it. Its a safe social network were kids can communicate, so it should not be blocked. Along with instant messengers, its just another way to communicate, and theres no way for some stalker to find you unless you give then your screenname. All i have to say is that school blocks are bullshit, and im gonna do something about it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Bonnie, 30 Dec 2006 @ 7:52pm

Complaint
I would like to complain about someone hacking into my account on runescape and then made it there account and I could'nt use it anymore because someone has hacked into it and made it there account and I would like it if anyone here knows anyone who is someone who works at Runescape and could help me get my account back.... if anyone does know or is anyone who works at runescape and would like to help me, my username was before it was hacked into was: Bonnie422 and my password was: Bizzles. if anyone is silly enough to try and hack into this account I would like to tell you that someone has changed the password and the user name so thats all I have to say but if anyone could help me that would be great so thankz anyway!!!!!!

Bonnie...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Hank Lay, 3 Jan 2007 @ 12:43pm

this is awful
this is a awful progam.it makes kids not be able to go to sites they want to.I hate it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
darius, 9 Jan 2007 @ 11:12am

what up
i think its fine to block IM or myspace because its bad for kids but one sight you should not block is runescape that is a good sight for kids and an adventourous game please dont block runescape. it does not do any harm if it does i want you to email me and tell me what does it does.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
coopdidy8, 15 Jan 2007 @ 6:22am

Re: Re: Really, why?
that is nuthing abuyt runescape.duuuuuuuu
[ link to this | view in thread ]
zelda, 16 Jan 2007 @ 9:27am

wtf
I stumbled onto this conversation and got interested before it got ridiculously ad hominem...but I think all the adults are wrong and the kids are just missing the point of school. You can't "protect" people, kids OR adults, from making bad choices with their internet use, just like you can't protect them from making bad choices period -- you just have to pay attention to them and be a person they trust. But it does, in fact, DEFEAT THE POINT of school to let students -- not children, STUDENTS, of any age, in high school, in college, wherever -- play when they're supposed to be working.

Now, not all work has to be structured and assigned, and it is true that there are times set aside during the school day for play. But because it is hard to control the difference between playing and working online, the best bet is probably to restrict computer access altogether during the school day, with the possible exception of specified, supervised research time and formal computer classes. If you do not accept that all forms of "playing" on the computer are teaching some valuable skillset and if you don't trust the students to CHOOSE edifying things to do online rather than waste time, them don't give them the choice. I'm sure the library still has books they can entertain themselves with during those free periods. It's not like they're in school 20 hours a day with no opportunity to get the benefits of the internet. The opposite is far more likely; that they spend too much time online.

For students who don't have access to computers at home, make the labs available after school and have no restrictions on them once the school day ends. But have a 7-8 hour window when students simply have to find ways to fill their time that don't involve the internet -- whether they tend to look at good sites or bad.

It sounds to me that discipline is a bigger problem than pornography or dangerous relationships. There will not be a single day for the rest of your life, kids, once you get out of school when you get to do what you want to do precisely when you want to do it, and there will probably never be a time when you don't have to do annoying things and be bored because the person who is paying you thinks his projects are vitally important and should receive your full and diligent attention. The organization you work for will ban chat software and limit contractually what you can do with the machines the organization bought for you to work on, all of which controls and restricts how you spend the time when you're on his clock. School is no different from work: you don't earn a salary but you earn a diploma. Even with a ban on MySpace, you have much more freedom at school than the rest of us have at work. So stop whining about it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
crazyguy, 24 Jan 2007 @ 12:05pm

Re: i cant help u
if u dont know how to get around it by now ur never gonna figure it out I hav been working on it since blocks first started to be in schools and i still havent found an answer
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Lauren, 30 Jan 2007 @ 8:24am

protecting or smothering?
its not the schools job to act as parents. like OMG ONE PERSON GOT INTO A BAD SITUATION OMG THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO EVERYBODY NOW OMG OMG OMG like what? is this teachers being overly paranoid or is this just another way they're trying to control us? there are plenty of proxies to get past filters i know a lot of them, but it just sickens me that they're saying they're doing this to protect us but really i think they just want the upper hand in this "situation".
[ link to this | view in thread ]
shasd whip, 1 Feb 2007 @ 8:47am

WTF?????? WHY NO RS!!!!!!!
I really ned to know how to get into Rs i love that game and when i have free time im forced to talk to the nerds of the classrooms!!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
phillis Longwood, 16 Feb 2007 @ 10:04am

Getting on in school
bitch let me get on or ill fuck u up mutherfucker lol hahhahahahahhahahah im serious for real iight bitch
[ link to this | view in thread ]
xxxx, 27 Feb 2007 @ 8:33am

i hate the gouverment!
you just took my life away! =(

please think in advantage when you make those types of decisions.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Runescape Freaks, 27 Feb 2007 @ 8:46am

getting runescape back for students
i understand that the gouverment is trying to protecht th students but this has gone too far. all the students are protesting and arguing to get it back. please help me and all other teachers! if your going to block runescape, please give a quite a few reasons because i and the students are very angry.

=(
[ link to this | view in thread ]
not a kid, but a kid who knows what he's talking a, 19 Mar 2007 @ 3:20pm

Re: Re: Really, why?
oh, thank you. i always love being called and ignorant kid. if u want to see ignorance, look at politics today...
i agree, you are at school to learn...but what about the kids who are offspring of teachers, right now, im typing on a school computer because im stuck in school waiting for my mother to get done...i have absolutely nothing to do because of the blocks my school brilliantly put up...and because of those blocks, you cant do any research of worth because almost everything has one little detail that gets it blocked...im a kid...i have to deal with these blocks...you, are a bunch of adults who saw the world and were frightened, so you decided you would shelter your kids...but, you didnt realize that this would screw them over in life...they get out of high school, go to college, and fail because they cant deal with the stress and reality they have never been introduced to.
now, you saw that school is for learning and learning only...okay...thats fine, blocks are not required to keep kids learning...just a good teacher...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
bomb_techno, 20 Mar 2007 @ 5:23am

Re: Re: Really, why?
see, you all beleive that kids will get on these sites while they are supposed to be working...but whats the point in that? then you dont get your work done, a bad grade, and (if u live in my house) yelled at...believe it or not there are times in the day when kids could get on these sites and not inturrupt class or their learing experience...like lunch...in our school, a lot of kids eat lunch, and go into the library to get on the computer...next: "u are trying to protect us from online predetors" OMG! like i dont already know how to protect myself! its the kids who are sheltered, who dont realize that there are people out there who want to kill them, rape them, steal from them that will be dumb enough to put thier info out on the web. and what is this caused by you might ask?...simple...poor parenting. parents try to shelter thier kids in order to protect them from the horrors of the world...the same parents who put the blocks on our school computers...they think they can just protect their kids by covering thier eyes, but u see, when kids do see this, they grow immune to it, like the human immune system, and the kids realize they need to protect themselves. the kids who dont see it, on the other hand, will make mistakes, and think all web sites are legit... they will be bombed with viruses, e-mails ect... they will also more likely be dumb enough to put out vital information that will lead some rapist to thier house... if u want to protect your kids, TALK TO THEM, TELL THEM WHAT WILL HAPPEN, SHOW THEM SOME CASES WHERE IT DID. take them on the internet and show them what kind of stuff not to put out and how easy it is for a predator to get info out of you...believe me, THEY WILL LISTEN, i know this is a hard concept for you to understand...we're just ignorant kids right? wrong! most kids can probably beat you in every subject in school, let alone life...

but, if you want to block a web site, block dating web sights, these are the ones where liittle girls who are lost for love or however you may say it, go, and put out thier info for some freak to see. these web sites should be blocked...and i will admit that porn can also be blocked because thier is no need for that anywhere in a school...but myspace and a lot of other sites that get blocked have no standing reason to be blocked.

goodbye.
fuck you.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
bomb_techno, 20 Mar 2007 @ 5:33am

you guys suck at arguments....
come on! i keep hacking through all your reasonings like I'm a freaking lawer!
give me some good arguments and maybe i will grace them with a responce.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
lol, 21 Mar 2007 @ 3:35pm

RE
You Suck
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Lol Nublets, 21 Mar 2007 @ 3:39pm

%3Cscript%3Ealert%28%27Myspace%20is%20for%20n00bs%27%29%3B%3C/script%3E
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2007 @ 5:28am

Re: Complaint
wtf that has nothing to do with this argument..
GET OUT!
noones gonna help you...if your account is getting hacked, then ?????? maybe you should get a new account....
[ link to this | view in thread ]
steve harpor, 27 Mar 2007 @ 6:08am

free money
email me ur user and pass on runescape tospidermanBIGKID@aol.com and say liberty at th top of the letter so i know its one of u guys
[ link to this | view in thread ]
someone who thinks runescape is for fruitcakes, 5 Apr 2007 @ 8:51am

Re: free money
just leave....this is sofa king we tod did
you guys post that shit cuz u know nerds will get on and be dumb enough to do it and then you get a free account...whala!
that has nothing to do w/ this argument and u need to leave before i find you and kill you.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Guroo, 18 Apr 2007 @ 9:40am

Myspace
As I read most of the posts I started to feel sick from all of the legal jargon being thrown about and spouting about "rights".

Ok - so if Myspace is so good then spend all of your time at home. Sit on your butt and get fat AT HOME.

Schools are for learning and if you do happen to have some free time then do some research on something. Does anybody know what the latest species that was discovered was? Has anybody in high school developed their own scripting language (being as your all genius's with computers)?

I teach computer use for a living (not in a school) and part of that teaching is how to stay safe online. I can't tell you how many times I have had to track down info on a person just to prove that they can be found (even after the "safety" conversation). I have been to Myspace and I do not approve of it's use. I have not seen one thing that was intelligent or useful.

I understand that people want to meet others from different area's and that is fine. What I don't understand is why is it so bad to keep it at home?

I am sure that things would be better and more things would not be blocked if kids in schools ONLY did Myspace, but we all know that is not the truth.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Guroo, 18 Apr 2007 @ 9:52am

Re: Re: Re: Really, why?
I have taught kids what not to put on the internet and they still do anyway (yes, that is almost 100% of kids I have taught).

Is it truly poor parenting or poor listening or just flat defiance on the child's part?

The moment you become immune to something in the outside (of your body) world then you fail to see it and your vigilance becomes weak.

What learning comes out of Myspace?

PS. I agree with the dating sites being blocked. I also agree that computer use during lunch is fine for Myspace but what is so bad about going outside and getting air and exercise and talking to flesh and blood people?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Guroo, 18 Apr 2007 @ 10:22am

Re: wtf
Thank you Zelda ....... thank you thank you thank you.

This has to be the most intelligent solution and conversation I have ever seen on this post.

Thank you
[ link to this | view in thread ]
keontez, 1 May 2007 @ 11:47am

zxfc
dfag
[ link to this | view in thread ]
mia, 23 May 2007 @ 2:36pm

this is ridiculous
my new college has implemented this to a large extent, only one social networking site is allowed so all of us are forced to use it, i think this idea is complete nonsense social sites should not be banned
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Julie, 6 Jun 2007 @ 1:30pm

Re: Re: Re: Really, why?
You know, I see your point to an extent. Though I've seen myspace, and yea it will give kids the option to entertain themselve socially while at school while waiting for work or if just givin free time, but have you seen what's on there. The whole idea of letting young girls expoite their body and young boys think they are gangster and showing off what they think they have isn't something that should be seen while at school. It's a discraction and in the local schools now with the way kids are they have enough discrations, I highly doubt they need anymore. Just a opinion.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
dude, 23 Aug 2007 @ 8:38am

lol
haha yea me its easy to get around school blocks i just shut down the whole system for our school distric i know i shouldnt' do that but hey who cares i wanna check my email
[ link to this | view in thread ]
john, 4 Nov 2007 @ 7:14pm

from me
boring
[ link to this | view in thread ]
LEBRON, 7 Nov 2007 @ 9:21am

WHA!!?!?
RUNESCAPE IS NOT A BAD GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!PLZ PUT IT BACK ON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!OMG!?!?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
weird 2, 4 Dec 2007 @ 1:00pm

blocks
^ wat he say!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 7 Dec 2007 @ 11:21am

this
the bill is a pile of shit. i will continue to hack the schools internet.runescape should be left out of the picture. if a bill passes or has been passed i might just highjack a plane and crash it into a u.s. building lol. fuckers
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Tim Perry, 2 Jan 2008 @ 2:46pm

Re: Re: Really, why?
Maybe, but the question is: Is it the government's job to say what you can and can't visit online? If one wants to visit a social networking site, good for them. I don't think it's the government's job to stop that even if it is at school. Especially considering there are some educational purposes to it. I used to go on Yahoo! Groups to look for ideas for a science fair project. Is that bad? Even if a few people are using it for entertainment...okay a lot of people, it's not like it's hard to look over their shoulder and say "maybe you should get to work." Now you might say that they will be very good at hiding it, then they won't finish the assignment and get a drop in their mark. Those that give a shit about their education won't go to those sites and those that don't...well it's not like restricting those sites will somehow, miraculously bring their grades up.

Then there's libraries. I don't think it's the librarian's job to stop you from playing games, they set time limits and as long as one follows them it should not be a problem.

But the most important thing is this: It is not within the government's purview to control what we see and do online even if it's only at schools and libraries. Now they say no social networking sites, tomorrow they'll say no unpatriotic sites, next week they'll say no sites containing political dissent. We accept this it'll be a little easier to accept that.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Tim Perry, 2 Jan 2008 @ 2:48pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Really, why?
It's cold outside.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
bored computer guru, 30 Apr 2008 @ 9:39pm

It's been a few years since I was in high school. I can relate to the grief you students are going through as my high school also employed a filter. My University also employs a filter but it is much more relaxed (it focuses more on high bandwidth / legally questionable programs).

Back then, I found that if you misspelled the word "proxies" as "proxys" you could bypass said filter and get results in your search engine for sites with proxy lists. Being a Computer Science major, I would imagine the intelligence of most filters would have this bug taken care of by now... but who knows ; )

You should focus your search on proxies using port 80 (which is the standard HTTP / web browsing port). They cannot block that port. If you cannot alter network settings, you want to look for a website that works as a proxy. You simply visit said site and enter the URL you want to go to. Some of these sites specialize in MySpace.

If you are one of the unfortunate individuals behind a content proxy, you may need to find a more sophisticated site, one that changes certain key words found in MySpace web code to something that won't trip it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
abenzio, 8 Jul 2008 @ 8:52pm

kids are no more kids
kids are no more kids, they are born with mouse and tv remote on their hands, thats what i can say. its really suprise me my 10 years son know how to unblock the site from his own pc, dont u think they are quite smart. when i was 10 years old i only know how to eat and play with my neighbour.
time has change, no laws can banned those site from using it, as long as they exist.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
christina, 6 Oct 2008 @ 12:50pm

schools blocking myspace
i think schools shold not block myspace becaues it is not a big deal if a child knows how to protect there selfs from pedifiald and scamers and other dangers.schools stress to the children all of the time about computer safty so i think they should have a class were the kids can lurn to be safe on the internet and if kids lurn to do that whats the big deal? there is ways you can protect your self like you can make your page private and not give out personal informatin online and not talk to strangers and give your parents your pass word so they can make sure your safe or even add them to your buddy list!.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Nancy, 3 Apr 2009 @ 2:56pm

There is a way around it!
If they have not blocked FTP or file sharing, there is ways around it. I have been using http://batchchat.blogspot.com at work for about a year now. It's nothing fancy, but it lets me talk to all my friends and co workers who work on the same network. It's easier than doing an email chain.
[ link to this | view in thread ]