Oh wonderful. They're going to "protect us" from Fandom.
Not sure if you're aware but the darling Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has been bandying about the idea of filtering the internet in Australia for a while now. And it actually looks like it might even happen.
I, like every other free-thinking individual out there, am completely against is - I don't want my internet filtered, I know how to keep away from material I don't want to see and I never have children in my home who could use my internet and see something untoward.
I must admit it never occurred to me that the filter would affect slash. Until I read this article: Australia Set to Introduce Internet Filter that Could Block Access to Thousands of Anime, Comics, Gaming (ACG) and Slash Fan Sites by Mark McLelland of the University of Wollongong
If you can't be bothered reading the whole article, here are the headlines.
What is this filter thing?
In December 2009 the Australian government announced that it would be proceeding with legislation to introduce an ISP-level internet filter aimed at blocking access to material that would be 'refused classification' (RC) under the National Classification Scheme.
What are they going to filter?
In Australia child pornography legislation applies equally to 'fictional or imaginary characters', even in instances when such characters 'depart[..] from a realistic representation'. Given the ubiquity of such representations on both ACG and slash fan sites, it is easy for fans to stumble across material that would put them at the risk of prosecution.
The bottom line?
If the filter proposal becomes law, it could shut down Australian fans' engagement with broad and well-established international fandoms.
THIS MAKES ME VERY, VERY ANGRY.
You DO NOT come between me and my goddamn slash. YOU DO NOT.
Oh and you know what else is fun about the filter?
- They're putting the onus on the ISP's to administer it, so the internet, which is already pretty pricy in our sprawling nation, is gonna get more expensive, and SLOWER.
- It's not even going to protect children from everything harmful, because they're not going to filter X rated pornography, it's just gonna give parents a false sense of security
- The Banned Sites list will NOT be public. WTF?
WHAT THE FUCK PARENTS? MONTIOR YOUR DAMN CHILDREN ON THE INTERNET AND DON'T MAKE IT GOVERNMENT'S PROBLEM. THE GOVERNMENT IS BAD AT THIS KIND OF SHIT. THEY WILL GO BIG BROTHER ON YOU.
I'm not going to preach any more about this but if you are interested to learn more and/or do something click below.

I, like every other free-thinking individual out there, am completely against is - I don't want my internet filtered, I know how to keep away from material I don't want to see and I never have children in my home who could use my internet and see something untoward.
I must admit it never occurred to me that the filter would affect slash. Until I read this article: Australia Set to Introduce Internet Filter that Could Block Access to Thousands of Anime, Comics, Gaming (ACG) and Slash Fan Sites by Mark McLelland of the University of Wollongong
If you can't be bothered reading the whole article, here are the headlines.
What is this filter thing?
In December 2009 the Australian government announced that it would be proceeding with legislation to introduce an ISP-level internet filter aimed at blocking access to material that would be 'refused classification' (RC) under the National Classification Scheme.
What are they going to filter?
In Australia child pornography legislation applies equally to 'fictional or imaginary characters', even in instances when such characters 'depart[..] from a realistic representation'. Given the ubiquity of such representations on both ACG and slash fan sites, it is easy for fans to stumble across material that would put them at the risk of prosecution.
The bottom line?
If the filter proposal becomes law, it could shut down Australian fans' engagement with broad and well-established international fandoms.
THIS MAKES ME VERY, VERY ANGRY.
You DO NOT come between me and my goddamn slash. YOU DO NOT.
Oh and you know what else is fun about the filter?
- They're putting the onus on the ISP's to administer it, so the internet, which is already pretty pricy in our sprawling nation, is gonna get more expensive, and SLOWER.
- It's not even going to protect children from everything harmful, because they're not going to filter X rated pornography, it's just gonna give parents a false sense of security
- The Banned Sites list will NOT be public. WTF?
WHAT THE FUCK PARENTS? MONTIOR YOUR DAMN CHILDREN ON THE INTERNET AND DON'T MAKE IT GOVERNMENT'S PROBLEM. THE GOVERNMENT IS BAD AT THIS KIND OF SHIT. THEY WILL GO BIG BROTHER ON YOU.
I'm not going to preach any more about this but if you are interested to learn more and/or do something click below.

no subject
I won't even lie, I had to look up refused classification because that concept is like... Unknown here. I am wicked shocked that even exists...
And while I dislike incest, COME ON, 2 CONSENTING ADULTS... Sure it's wicked gross but it's not the devil.
no subject
And you know, while I've never posted any Waycest or whatnot, there are references to it scattered all over this LJ and plenty of links and attachments to comms/friend etc that do. So it's quite possible, in the letter of the law, that it would be illegal for me to access my own LJ from Australia. But not from here in the UK. Or anywhere else.
SO WEIRD.
no subject
Everytime I think oh this shit the bit from 'knocked up' plays in my head, where a little girl and her aunt out driving and the little girl just out of the blue goes 'I googled murder' and the aunt spazzed but the little girl is chill because she still has no idea.
Nothing will stop a kid from finding stuff out, from google or school or aunts or mom and dad.
My nephew who is 4 has toldme things that would get him banned on Aussie interwebs... He doesn't know what they mean, but it happens.
I remember when my baby cousin was ttiny he got 'gay' and 'sex' mixed up from watching tv...
Kid: people were being gay on tv!
Aunt: like, where two girls hugging?
Kid: no! A boy and a lady were in bed kinda wrestling...
Aunt: .... That's not gay honey...
10-year-old me: *dying of laughter*
So what I am saying is kids are dumb and less innocent then we give them credit for.
They will always google murder
/rant
no subject
Imma LOL at your baby cousin. HAHAHA. SO cute.