Should Governments Decide On What We View?

Bender · 25-02-2008, 18:31

In light of the whole Youtube.com / Pakistan issue, I'm wondering what people think about the question at hand... Should governments have the right to decide what people are allowed to access when it comes to the internet?

Some say that it is a basic right to freedom of speech. Others may argue that it's a way of spreading hatred.

Do you think the Pakistan Government did the right thing, or do you think they should let their people decide on what they view online? How would you feel if our government started banning sites that broke no laws as such, but did not agree with our belief system or heritage?

Does the very act of blocking sites show that the government in question is afraid of the influence of freedom of speech? Does it show that they are afraid they will lose their hold on the people should they be subjected to unbiased, unregulated information? Russia, China, Burma and now Pakistan would appear to be cutting themselves off more and more, Russia even opting for state controlled sites only (iirc). Perhaps this shows they have a good control over their society and are helping it to grow to a standard that is acceptable by them with good social integrity...?

What do you think?

peanutkp · 25-02-2008, 18:39

I think it doesn't matter what we the public think, if this Govenment want to do something then they'll do it anyway. I hope they don't I don't think that means much these days.

Bender · 25-02-2008, 18:41

regardless of whether we had a choice in it or not, do you think they should have the right to do so in the first place?

Ramrod · 25-02-2008, 19:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender

regardless of whether we had a choice in it or not, do you think they should have the right to do so in the first place?

Of course not!

Bender · 25-02-2008, 20:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramrod

Of course not!

even if the content of a site, though not breaking any laws, contained information or content that could be seen as decremental to its society?

foreverwar · 25-02-2008, 20:18

How can we, as a democracy, ban sites that are not illegal.

It starts off (imho) with the ones the government disagree with, then it moves to the ones that disagree with the government - then bye-bye democracy (again, imho).

Bender · 25-02-2008, 21:34

is that to imply that Russia and the like have no democracy?

foreverwar · 25-02-2008, 22:48

I think their definition of democracy may differ from ours FT

Ramrod · 25-02-2008, 23:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender

even if the content of a site, though not breaking any laws, contained information or content that could be seen as decremental to its society?

Yup...

Bender · 25-02-2008, 23:30

do you then agree that by Pakistan / China / whoever aiming to block sites, that it shows they fear their religions and views are so weak they could be broken down by satire? that the belief system they uphold could be wrecked by contact with criticism to its faith and ideologies by other communities? does the move not simply insight a form of xenophobia and in turn increase the hatred globally by the fact they are shutting themselves away?

surely a culture that has made so much fuss over a comic strip due to its apparent racist nature would not turn its back in the global village and alienate itself further by such a move?...

**Maggy J** · 25-02-2008, 23:32

Democracy is democracy.You cannot pick and choose which parts of our governance and laws will be democratic and those that won't.It's all democracy and anything that's less than that isn't democracy at all.

However we can manage to compromise using democratic means for the common good from time to time but such compromises can only be for a short term otherwise democracy is permanently damaged.The few exceptions to this perhaps is when we deem something as not being suitable for the young of our society or when making a change won't markedly affect democracy for the majority such as ethnic or religious grounds or health reasons.

Mind the latter does not mean the government should interfere with every aspect of the nation's health.Quarantine for dangerous infections for the good of millions may be one thing but sectioning a pregnant woman for smoking is another issue altogether.

Bender · 25-02-2008, 23:36

@ incognitas > and is that not what Pakistan have done? have they not protected their faith by blocking a site which they feel mocks their religious views? is this move however, fair to the people of Pakistan? what if they wish to view the content on youtube, or other sites in order to broaden their knowledge of the world and other religions? or do you think the move was taken to hide some of the truth about other cultures so they the government may spew propaganda to the masses about how the western world are heretics and ill of faith...?

**Maggy J** · 26-02-2008, 00:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender

@ incognitas > and is that not what Pakistan have done? have they not protected their faith by blocking a site which they feel mocks their religious views? is this move however, fair to the people of Pakistan? what if they wish to view the content on youtube, or other sites in order to broaden their knowledge of the world and other religions? or do you think the move was taken to hide some of the truth about other cultures so they the government may spew propaganda to the masses about how the western world are heretics and ill of faith...?

You seem to be assuming that Pakistan is a democracy.It hasn't been one for some time and it still has a long way to go despite the recent election results.

ntluser · 26-02-2008, 07:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

You seem to be assuming that Pakistan is a democracy.It hasn't been one for some time and it still has a long way to go despite the recent election results.

I think it also says how little confidence and trust the government of Pakistan has in its own people.

True believers would not visit the site even if it were available. Those who visited the site and were offended would not visit the site again. The only ones who would keep visiting the site are the ones that like it. Maybe the government is more concerned about the moral depravation or corruption of its people by what is viewed on YouTube.

It's a bit like television. If I find something I like I watch it. If I find something I don't like I change channels until I find something I want to watch or in the absence of anything worthwhile I turn the TV off. It seems to me that the same choice is available to the people of Pakistan in respect of YouTube. Maybe the government undervalues its people so much that it does not have faith in them to make the right decision.

In the end, it's all about personal choice not state diktats.

Ramrod · 26-02-2008, 08:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender

do you then agree that by Pakistan / China / whoever aiming to block sites, that it shows they fear their religions and views are so weak they could be broken down by satire? that the belief system they uphold could be wrecked by contact with criticism to its faith and ideologies by other communities?

I agree....