What the fuck does the Australian government think it’s doing by censoring the internet? Their current blacklist is of over 1300 sites, and they’re trying to increase it to 10 000 websites, including Wikileaks. Did I mention fines for linking can be of up to $11 000 per day?

I’ll be the first to admit that measures like this really scare me.

I think censorship is just as effective as abstinence-only sexual education. I would be an ignorant and naïve person if I never knew of/heard of/seen the kinds of “horrible” websites the government wants to protect me from. I do not believe that blocking off certain sites is the way to counter anyone who would choose to use the web in a malicious manner. Can we not handle the truth?

I’d want all opinions and information to be equally accessible by each person, to promote thinking for oneself and the questioning of everything we see. I am not desensitized by the disgusting things I’ve seen, like the beheading of an American soldier, which irks me to this day.

Most importantly, is the question of who decides what gets censored? What if that person is a particular businessman who could easily wipe off competition? What if it’s someone who does not share your political or spiritual views? All information should be accessible for each person, so they can compare and decide for themselves what to think/believe. Nobody has the authority to judge what is right and what is wrong in my stead.

I had a conversation about this very topic with a guy once, and in his response he said

[...]that would be a good thing if people weren’t so curious

I think if kids want to browse sites with mature content, they should. With good parenting and guidance, it will only make them better people and less ignorant. Curiosity should trump all. Again, I think its only blind, ignorant and scared parents that block content. If little Jimmy is watching porn or beheadings and enjoying it, it’s up to the parent to sit with them and ask them why. There should be no hostility, as the child is busy exploring his/her world.

My point is that just because I’ve seen, for example, racist websites – it does not mean I agree with it. Actually it made me dislike them more. There is nothing wrong with trying to learn and understand things that societal taboos forbid.

It scares the shit out of me when someone says “that would be a good thing if people weren’t so curious”. I could not disagree more.

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Edit: I have decided to write to my MP about this issue, to preempt any such motion in Canada. Feel free to join in, it only takes one paragraph.