Land of the Free

gue_barium

http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/004378.html

Pentagon Bans YouTube, MySpace

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/14/tech/main2798132.shtml

Kat

Is it really possible to block everything online, meaning our access to the truth and what's going on in Iraq so that only propaganda gets through...what do you think?

Media blocked:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1921675.htm


Troops blocked:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070514/military-sites-blocked

farfromglorified

Ick.

THC

And in a fake quote...general Oliver Smith said in response to this article...."These websites undermine our ability to brainwash, and make the truth what we want it to be".

Eliot Rosewater

To me this is no different than my work banning youtube or myspace or any other website. These people are at work. While I'd love to say it's not right, I just don't see anything wrong with it. It's not like they're banning them. Just military equipment on a military site - aka work.

edit: btw, I'm typing this from work, where all personal usage of this very computer is banned....hehe.

josevolution

i don't know too much about all of this but the more we as citizen's let this goverment take or block access to info is a bit scary to me at least ......

my2hands

"Several companies have instituted similar bans, saying recreational sites drain productivity." (from article)


i am a state employee and these type of sites have been blocked for years. thank god this one isnt, shhhhhhhhh :cool:

Ericastrada

don't gimme no wrote:

To me this is no different than my work banning youtube or myspace or any other website. These people are at work. While I'd love to say it's not right, I just don't see anything wrong with it. It's not like they're banning them. Just military equipment on a military site - aka work.

edit: btw, I'm typing this from work, where all personal usage of this very computer is banned....hehe.

I have to agree. I'm at work, and I can't look at myspace, or youtube, or anything like that. I'm just lucky they haven't blocked this site yet.

gue_barium

don't gimme no wrote:

To me this is no different than my work banning youtube or myspace or any other website. These people are at work. While I'd love to say it's not right, I just don't see anything wrong with it. It's not like they're banning them. Just military equipment on a military site - aka work.

edit: btw, I'm typing this from work, where all personal usage of this very computer is banned....hehe.

No, this is for all those internet cafe type rooms the troops are provided on their free time. Or, anyone with their own computer who doesn't have a choice but to use the government ISP because of where they are stationed.

yoke

At my old job in the Security & Engineering world we blocked everything that contained certain keywords plus streaming Music and Video( you would not believe how much it bogs the network down). We used to watch "users" screw around all day online. People would be on Ebay,Amazon, Ebaumsworld,youtube,aol radio etc...... Nobody was working. We had to put an end to a lot of that. There are always ways around the security but you have to know what you are doing and most people don't. You are at work to work not to IM your buddies or send personal emails from your Comcast/AOL account(oh and we can see you do that also) or shop. I have no problem with the DOD doing this and I am surprised they are only starting this now.

gue_barium

yoke wrote:

At my old job in the Security & Engineering world we blocked everything that contained certain keywords plus streaming Music and Video( you would not believe how much it bogs the network down). We used to watch "users" screw around all day online. People would be on Ebay,Amazon, Ebaumsworld,youtube,aol radio etc...... Nobody was working. We had to put an end to a lot of that. There are always ways around the security but you have to know what you are doing and most people don't. You are at work to work not to IM your buddies or send personal emails from your Comcast/AOL account(oh and we can see you do that also) or shop. I have no problem with the DOD doing this and I am surprised they are only starting this now.

Apparently it hasn't been a "problem" for the past however many years the internet has been around.

And again, this takes away from a soldier's free-time privileges. It isn't work related. Any inter office network can be configured by the administrator to block all those things. But why do the computers where the soldiers get a chance to communicate with their families on their free time have to be blocked as well?

mdigenakis

If they ban access at work, then just get back to work.
its not a big deal unless they start censoring public visits to these sites.
Unless your a "person of interest"...hehe

mdigenakis

gue_barium wrote:

Apparently it hasn't been a "problem" for the past however many years the internet has been around.

And again, this takes away from a soldier's free-time privileges. It isn't work related. Any inter office network can be configured by the administrator to block all those things. But why do the computers where the soldiers get a chance to communicate with their families on their free time have to be blocked as well?

good point!

gue_barium

Kat wrote:

Is it really possible to block everything online, meaning our access to the truth and what's going on in Iraq so that only propaganda gets through...what do you think?

Media blocked:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1921675.htm


Troops blocked:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070514/military-sites-blocked

Yes.

FinsburyParkCarrots

I wonder if these troops are discouraged from indulging in Playstation wargames in their spare time.

my2hands

FinsburyParkCarrots wrote:

I wonder if these troops are discouraged from indulging in Playstation wargames in their spare time.

nice one

Cosmo

I understand the need... these ARE Military run secured networks and hardware.

gue_barium

Kat wrote:

Is it really possible to block everything online, meaning our access to the truth and what's going on in Iraq so that only propaganda gets through...what do you think?

Media blocked:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1921675.htm


Troops blocked:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070514/military-sites-blocked

This is actually starting to make me nervous. I mean, what public relations scheme have they got going on here, with the troop build-up going on, and this "last-chance" decree from the Bush administration. It's going to get awfully bloody, it seems. Yikes.

gue_barium

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article5365.htm

decides2dream

don't gimme no wrote:

To me this is no different than my work banning youtube or myspace or any other website. These people are at work. While I'd love to say it's not right, I just don't see anything wrong with it. It's not like they're banning them. Just military equipment on a military site - aka work.

edit: btw, I'm typing this from work, where all personal usage of this very computer is banned....hehe.

agreed.
i am continually amazed really just how many apparently can access sites such as this during work hours.......it would seem to waste company time?


banning access at work, and banning it in ENTIRELY, two completely different things. you are at work, well, to work.....and i don't really see a problem with your workplace deciding what you can do while you are on the clock, being paid. it's like anything else, expecting you to arrive/leave at a certain time of day, a certain code of conduct, attire, etc, etc........and as in most things...it is a choice where we work. sure, some more than others have less 'choice' due to many varying factors...but the point is, it is still down to you to accept said terms of employment.


now this:

Kat wrote:

Is it really possible to block everything online, meaning our access to the truth and what's going on in Iraq so that only propaganda gets through...what do you think?

Media blocked:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1921675.htm


Troops blocked:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070514/military-sites-blocked

is disgusting....b/c it is blocking all access to NEWS, full stop. full information absolutely should be out, accessed, available for anyone.


oh crap, my apologies....:o i didn't read the first links posted in entirety.........hmmmmmm.............i DO see the point to some extent, but even a soldier must be given 'personal time'...and thus access to electronic media to keep in touch with friends and family...so there has to be a better way to balance it?

blackredyellow

Not a big deal... companies do it all of the time.

We have some sort of filter that picks up on key words and when too many of them are on a webpage it get's blocked... I usually can't access many of the "good" threads on here lol