Comments on: Net filtering and virtual worlds: reactions /2009/06/27/net-filtering-and-virtual-worlds-reactions/ Coverage of news, issues and events occurring in virtual worlds or those who create those worlds Fri, 20 Jul 2012 22:44:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: LaurelPapworth /2009/06/27/net-filtering-and-virtual-worlds-reactions/comment-page-1/#comment-206790 LaurelPapworth Tue, 30 Jun 2009 05:48:17 +0000 /?p=2190#comment-206790 yeah I guess that second life will only be blocked for a year or two until it get's sorted - cos there's no way that Linden Labs could claim their service is for adults only and self classify without it going thru a bureaucratic process first. :P <br>God forbid that adults would have to read the blurb and decide for themselves if the game/world/service is suitable. We really need a government body that doesn't play games to do that for us. hahaha yeah I guess that second life will only be blocked for a year or two until it get's sorted – cos there's no way that Linden Labs could claim their service is for adults only and self classify without it going thru a bureaucratic process first. :P
God forbid that adults would have to read the blurb and decide for themselves if the game/world/service is suitable. We really need a government body that doesn't play games to do that for us. hahaha

]]> By: Lowell Cremorne /2009/06/27/net-filtering-and-virtual-worlds-reactions/comment-page-1/#comment-206789 Lowell Cremorne Tue, 30 Jun 2009 05:29:46 +0000 /?p=2190#comment-206789 It's all good news isn't it ;)<br><br>Having R18+ and X 18+ games ratings in Australia would be a small step in the right direction, assuming the legislation eventually recognises that games / virtual worlds meeting those criteria are ok to escape filtering. My fear is that may be a couple of hurdles too many for our current elected representatives. It's all good news isn't it ;)

Having R18+ and X 18+ games ratings in Australia would be a small step in the right direction, assuming the legislation eventually recognises that games / virtual worlds meeting those criteria are ok to escape filtering. My fear is that may be a couple of hurdles too many for our current elected representatives.

]]> By: LaurelPapworth /2009/06/27/net-filtering-and-virtual-worlds-reactions/comment-page-1/#comment-206788 LaurelPapworth Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:25:06 +0000 /?p=2190#comment-206788 Oh I doubt they would ban second life would they? I mean, then they might go on to ban YouTube in our schools - YouTube that has every lecture given this year by Stanford, MIT, Harvard and other universities on a special channel. And this sort of Government might send a laptop home with every school child with a note to be signed by parents that children won't access ANY social spaces online. Because you, know, refusing knowledge on sex education worked so well in the 70s that repeating that strategy regarding social virtual worlds will work too! Such a myopic government wouldn't limit blocks to the school children but would also ban these sites in their offices, as public servants are trusted even less than the kids in class. This sort of government would be totally happy with blocking social spaces for all Australians. <br><br>Oh wait, our Government has done all these things! #sarcasm :P <br><br>Still, it's not actually happening yet. The discussion is between classification (every game must be classified) and filtering (blocking at ISP or domain level). These games/social spaces will be blocked until classified. Then MA15+ will be filtered at ISP level (you have to ask ISP to give you access). C and G games will be accessible to all. <br><br>Issues: getting Second Life to apply and pay for 3 classification licences (Teen, normal and Zaendra). This will unblock the servers at a domain level. Then asking ISPs to turn off the filter for your home, work and other services. Fun fun fun. <br><br>Good news: in the past, the department has said it will only classify closed boxed games as open unending games are "inherently unclassifiable". Oh I doubt they would ban second life would they? I mean, then they might go on to ban YouTube in our schools – YouTube that has every lecture given this year by Stanford, MIT, Harvard and other universities on a special channel. And this sort of Government might send a laptop home with every school child with a note to be signed by parents that children won't access ANY social spaces online. Because you, know, refusing knowledge on sex education worked so well in the 70s that repeating that strategy regarding social virtual worlds will work too! Such a myopic government wouldn't limit blocks to the school children but would also ban these sites in their offices, as public servants are trusted even less than the kids in class. This sort of government would be totally happy with blocking social spaces for all Australians.

Oh wait, our Government has done all these things! #sarcasm :P

Still, it's not actually happening yet. The discussion is between classification (every game must be classified) and filtering (blocking at ISP or domain level). These games/social spaces will be blocked until classified. Then MA15+ will be filtered at ISP level (you have to ask ISP to give you access). C and G games will be accessible to all.

Issues: getting Second Life to apply and pay for 3 classification licences (Teen, normal and Zaendra). This will unblock the servers at a domain level. Then asking ISPs to turn off the filter for your home, work and other services. Fun fun fun.

Good news: in the past, the department has said it will only classify closed boxed games as open unending games are “inherently unclassifiable”.

]]> By: LaurelPapworth /2009/06/27/net-filtering-and-virtual-worlds-reactions/comment-page-1/#comment-206314 LaurelPapworth Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:48:17 +0000 /?p=2190#comment-206314 yeah I guess that second life will only be blocked for a year or two until it get's sorted - cos there's no way that Linden Labs could claim their service is for adults only and self classify without it going thru a bureaucratic process first. :P <br>God forbid that adults would have to read the blurb and decide for themselves if the game/world/service is suitable. We really need a government body that doesn't play games to do that for us. hahaha yeah I guess that second life will only be blocked for a year or two until it get's sorted – cos there's no way that Linden Labs could claim their service is for adults only and self classify without it going thru a bureaucratic process first. :P
God forbid that adults would have to read the blurb and decide for themselves if the game/world/service is suitable. We really need a government body that doesn't play games to do that for us. hahaha

]]> By: Lowell Cremorne /2009/06/27/net-filtering-and-virtual-worlds-reactions/comment-page-1/#comment-206313 Lowell Cremorne Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:29:46 +0000 /?p=2190#comment-206313 It's all good news isn't it ;)<br><br>Having R18+ and X 18+ games ratings in Australia would be a small step in the right direction, assuming the legislation eventually recognises that games / virtual worlds meeting those criteria are ok to escape filtering. My fear is that may be a couple of hurdles too many for our current elected representatives. It's all good news isn't it ;)

Having R18+ and X 18+ games ratings in Australia would be a small step in the right direction, assuming the legislation eventually recognises that games / virtual worlds meeting those criteria are ok to escape filtering. My fear is that may be a couple of hurdles too many for our current elected representatives.

]]> By: LaurelPapworth /2009/06/27/net-filtering-and-virtual-worlds-reactions/comment-page-1/#comment-206312 LaurelPapworth Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:25:06 +0000 /?p=2190#comment-206312 Oh I doubt they would ban second life would they? I mean, then they might go on to ban YouTube in our schools - YouTube that has every lecture given this year by Stanford, MIT, Harvard and other universities on a special channel. And this sort of Government might send a laptop home with every school child with a note to be signed by parents that children won't access ANY social spaces online. Because you, know, refusing knowledge on sex education worked so well in the 70s that repeating that strategy regarding social virtual worlds will work too! Such a myopic government wouldn't limit blocks to the school children but would also ban these sites in their offices, as public servants are trusted even less than the kids in class. This sort of government would be totally happy with blocking social spaces for all Australians. <br><br>Oh wait, our Government has done all these things! #sarcasm :P <br><br>Still, it's not actually happening yet. The discussion is between classification (every game must be classified) and filtering (blocking at ISP or domain level). These games/social spaces will be blocked until classified. Then MA15+ will be filtered at ISP level (you have to ask ISP to give you access). C and G games will be accessible to all. <br><br>Issues: getting Second Life to apply and pay for 3 classification licences (Teen, normal and Zaendra). This will unblock the servers at a domain level. Then asking ISPs to turn off the filter for your home, work and other services. Fun fun fun. <br><br>Good news: in the past, the department has said it will only classify closed boxed games as open unending games are "inherently unclassifiable". Oh I doubt they would ban second life would they? I mean, then they might go on to ban YouTube in our schools – YouTube that has every lecture given this year by Stanford, MIT, Harvard and other universities on a special channel. And this sort of Government might send a laptop home with every school child with a note to be signed by parents that children won't access ANY social spaces online. Because you, know, refusing knowledge on sex education worked so well in the 70s that repeating that strategy regarding social virtual worlds will work too! Such a myopic government wouldn't limit blocks to the school children but would also ban these sites in their offices, as public servants are trusted even less than the kids in class. This sort of government would be totally happy with blocking social spaces for all Australians.

Oh wait, our Government has done all these things! #sarcasm :P

Still, it's not actually happening yet. The discussion is between classification (every game must be classified) and filtering (blocking at ISP or domain level). These games/social spaces will be blocked until classified. Then MA15+ will be filtered at ISP level (you have to ask ISP to give you access). C and G games will be accessible to all.

Issues: getting Second Life to apply and pay for 3 classification licences (Teen, normal and Zaendra). This will unblock the servers at a domain level. Then asking ISPs to turn off the filter for your home, work and other services. Fun fun fun.

Good news: in the past, the department has said it will only classify closed boxed games as open unending games are “inherently unclassifiable”.

]]> By: Juko Tempel /2009/06/27/net-filtering-and-virtual-worlds-reactions/comment-page-1/#comment-206306 Juko Tempel Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:23:00 +0000 /?p=2190#comment-206306 Juanita Deharo, who runs the Australian Artists group in SL, has posted two blog posts on the implications of the proposed filtering for art in SL, one as a letter to Senator Conroy with some compelling evidence and questions :-)<br><br><a href="http://juanitadeharo.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">http://juanitadeharo.blogspot.com/</a> Juanita Deharo, who runs the Australian Artists group in SL, has posted two blog posts on the implications of the proposed filtering for art in SL, one as a letter to Senator Conroy with some compelling evidence and questions :-)

http://juanitadeharo.blogspot.com/

]]> By: Daz Blitz /2009/06/27/net-filtering-and-virtual-worlds-reactions/comment-page-1/#comment-206302 Daz Blitz Sun, 28 Jun 2009 02:47:54 +0000 /?p=2190#comment-206302 My SL fiance is Australian, does this mean we can't get married now?? My SL fiance is Australian, does this mean we can't get married now??

]]> By: Lowell Cremorne /2009/06/27/net-filtering-and-virtual-worlds-reactions/comment-page-1/#comment-206300 Lowell Cremorne Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:04:57 +0000 /?p=2190#comment-206300 Hi Andrew, It's a very valid question - the laws fall around filtering of internet content overall. Electronic Frontiers Australia have a great overview of it here: http://www.efa.org.au/mandatory-internet-filtering-fact-sheets/ Hi Andrew,

It’s a very valid question – the laws fall around filtering of internet content overall. Electronic Frontiers Australia have a great overview of it here:

http://www.efa.org.au/mandatory-internet-filtering-fact-sheets/

]]> By: APLINK - itsReal /2009/06/27/net-filtering-and-virtual-worlds-reactions/comment-page-1/#comment-206299 APLINK - itsReal Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:36:32 +0000 /?p=2190#comment-206299 for thjose outside australia currently - what law is being look at being introduced, how does it affect online users in virtual worlds ? for thjose outside australia currently – what law is being look at being introduced, how does it affect online users in virtual worlds ?

]]> By: Mahala /2009/06/27/net-filtering-and-virtual-worlds-reactions/comment-page-1/#comment-206298 Mahala Sat, 27 Jun 2009 04:10:53 +0000 /?p=2190#comment-206298 As a definite "camp 2" I am largely concerned at the moment about the affect the uncertainly is having. <br><br>1. A large community of vulnerable people are in a spin over the lack of clear direction or statement from the minister on this issue. Isolated people with disabilities, anxiety disorders, and phobias are not sleeping while they contemplate life without their only real social outlet. In SL everyone is equal, and people in hospital beds make up a large number of users.<br><br>2. Educationally - the use of Second life to support education, which is an important industry for australia, is threatened. Lack of confidence in virtual worlds due to slow intenet has already hampered our entry into this important technology which will soon be seen to be the next information revolution, this uncertainty is hurting Australia further. Further to this, Australia's size creates great need for distance education, when the NBN is completed remote Australia will have access to this revolutionary educational tool. Lasting uncertainty will not help us develop the services Australia will need.<br><br>3. Economically - SL is a vehicle for economic activity that is set to explode exponentially in the next couple of years. As with education, the slow internet and ambivalent policies of the government have done nothing to assist companies looking to move forward into the digital economy, while countries around the world are embracing and awarding innovative use of Second life for business and edication, our government is considering a ban? Its simply ludicrous.<br><br>My point is, while it is in my opinion very unlikely the ban will happen, the minister is, quite unequivocably, hurting vulnerable communities, stalling education prospects and stunting our digital economy while he faffs around trying to decide what to do. As a definite “camp 2″ I am largely concerned at the moment about the affect the uncertainly is having.

1. A large community of vulnerable people are in a spin over the lack of clear direction or statement from the minister on this issue. Isolated people with disabilities, anxiety disorders, and phobias are not sleeping while they contemplate life without their only real social outlet. In SL everyone is equal, and people in hospital beds make up a large number of users.

2. Educationally – the use of Second life to support education, which is an important industry for australia, is threatened. Lack of confidence in virtual worlds due to slow intenet has already hampered our entry into this important technology which will soon be seen to be the next information revolution, this uncertainty is hurting Australia further. Further to this, Australia's size creates great need for distance education, when the NBN is completed remote Australia will have access to this revolutionary educational tool. Lasting uncertainty will not help us develop the services Australia will need.

3. Economically – SL is a vehicle for economic activity that is set to explode exponentially in the next couple of years. As with education, the slow internet and ambivalent policies of the government have done nothing to assist companies looking to move forward into the digital economy, while countries around the world are embracing and awarding innovative use of Second life for business and edication, our government is considering a ban? Its simply ludicrous.

My point is, while it is in my opinion very unlikely the ban will happen, the minister is, quite unequivocably, hurting vulnerable communities, stalling education prospects and stunting our digital economy while he faffs around trying to decide what to do.

]]> By: MetaNews Daily - 83 | SLPN /2009/06/27/net-filtering-and-virtual-worlds-reactions/comment-page-1/#comment-206297 MetaNews Daily - 83 | SLPN Sat, 27 Jun 2009 02:09:45 +0000 /?p=2190#comment-206297 [...] /2009/06/27/net-filtering-and-virtual-worlds-reactions/ [...] [...] /2009/06/27/net-filtering-and-virtual-worlds-reactions/ [...]

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