please MNHQ (on silly blocking of PMs)

[NetworkGuy]

If you're going to block sending of PMs to particular people (you know who they are!) then can you not remove the 'Message poster' link (or when you act on the link, check the 'to' nickname and give an immediate error message before someone types their message.

Here's what I was planning to send. I'm not going to bother with e-mail to [email protected] as I must dash to get some cat food, so here's what I had prepared:

(intended for Justine as she had contributed on 'porn filter' thread)

*> LINK

Who can't you PM?

Justine, I think

You'd have to be a right ego-maniac to PM Justine fgs.

Hello there

Thanks for this; I will pass the message on.

PWC wrote "right ego-maniac to PM Justine fgs"

on the contrary - Justine contributed on a thread back in February concerning a proposal to have ISPs block acces to websites... MNHQ had decided to support the Minister and indicated so on its Campaigns page, but after a number of others put forward valid technical and other concerns, MNHQ was persuaded to reverse its position to being against the dumb idea (my bias).

MP Claire Perry is now being put in the driving seat (hardly an unbiassed person, and perhaps not the best choice, but again, my view only!) and I want MNHQ to be aware of the possibility that in 'evidence gathering' there may be some request to attend, but if not, MNHQ might want to put forward a view independently (eg by open letter via the media to the committee) so others can see how misguided this web filtering idea is, and how parental education and commonsense might be perfectly adequate without the white elephant idea going as far as legislation, costing ISPs hundreds of thousands or more (being passed on to customers) and setting up a ridiculous filtering/blocking system which is relatively easy to bypass.

Ofcom has already come out and said it is impractical to attempt to block sites, and the anti-censorship bodies can see it as being a thin end of the wedge.

MNHQ was at one point seen (mistakenly) as being in favour of censorship and slightly ridiculed by one of the more 'blokey' websites, but some at least saw that MN's view was based on the technical aspects and were not in favour of the Minister's viewpoint but offering an alternative approach.

( *> the other thread

Thanks NG
We'll make sure that she sees this thread and ask Tech to remove her message poster icon.
Thanks
MNHQ

Hiya

Thanks for the link NG. As you thought, we have been asked to attend the inquiry. We're doing a short survey, to get some data about Mumsnetters experiences (will update with link shortly), but we also reflect the views on all previous threads - including those on a network block. We really want to be able to represent what Mumsnetters think could be the most effective solutions that will help make parents lives easier, give greater protection to children, but not change the way we all use the web. So do fill in the survey!

Good to see you have been invited.

(Actually, I thought you might not have been asked !!!)

(cross post from Geeks forum)

I've said this before but if Mumsnet lends any kind of support to MP Claire Perry's extremist friends (Safermedia, who, let's remember, consider homosexuality an abomination, sex education damaging and Steven Seagal's acting skills impressively influential) and their quest to censor the internet then I will quit this site and never give any advice here again.

Consorting with groups that have such disgusting views is bad enough.

Implementing proposals that would put more children in harms way and delay the time when parents begun to take the only action that would protect them is worse. Claire Perry isn't bothered about this, she's either ignorant or just delighted that she's getting attention from the Government. Claire Perry's friends aren't bothered about this, they're too busy working themselves up into a froth about men that like other men's bottoms and planning how they can age rate and censor everything on the internet not just porn.

Mumsnet has already wasted months on this, it could have begun its own campaign to educate and help parents. Please don't waste any more time.

Stop standing by while children come to harm.

Stop helping Claire Perry MP to use our children and put them at risk so that she can climb the greasy pole of politics at Westminster.

Stop being seen to endorse Safermedia and their extremist views.

Start educating people right now and lead the way by showing what really can and should be done.

There is so much that can be done, and so much time is being wasted.

Reading the terms of reference it seems to me that they are written in such a way that it doesn't matter what we say. Their mind seems made up already. It's just a matter of what regulation rather than if it is appropriate or not.

FAO MNHQ : Have just spotted this news item re porn on the net:

*> Porn-watching, net-savvy kids are a myth

and "ask Tech to remove her message poster icon."

someone better dig Tech in the ribs then...

I only suggested it cos I believe Tech is living in Florida, so a nice excuse to jet over there for someone at MNHQ :) Not intending actual violence, you understand !

*> David Cameron apparently has announced a plan for four big ISPs to block content.

ComputerActive has an article *> about what the ISPs are ACTUALLY planning to do

Follow-up on how the media didn't handle this story well.

and a 'typical' headline from a different website