Open Reply to P. SRITHARAN

This is my take in responding to P. SRITHARAN who suggested that blogs should be censored.

My reply will be short and precise.

The Internet and all its content cannot be censored because of one simple reason; we are all adults. Period.

I don't think as an adult, we like to be told what to do even from the government. In many ways, this is like communism.

The problem with this world is that there are good and bad guys out there, and sometimes in certain situations, bad guys contributed good deeds to the society while the good guys may have indirectly contributed bad deeds to the society.

It will take us forever to debate who is right and wrong on all matters that are around us. This is not a productive thing to do.

Therefore, the Internet should be totally free and the viewers have to decide for themselves. The wrongdoers can be charged accordingly, but Internet and its content must never never never never be censored, otherwise, Malaysia will have no adults.

A blog is just a web site, a blog is not a special thing, it can be considered a different type of contents because it usually come from personal point of views. Thus, why are blogs so effective ? Because it is personal, it relates and it is if not fake, real.

It is a good thing that blogs can get people excited and the brain started thinking, for this we reap the benefits of hitting two birds with one stone, because Malaysia can then train its citizen to become more mature and articulate so that we can compete with other people better. The key point is that we have to think and make decision and be responsible for it.

The world is facing yet an even bigger problem that is related to this debate, that is 'Net Neutrality'. Net Neutrality is a concern about telecommunication infrastructure owners such as Telekom Malaysia and etc, exercise content filtering based on the ground that the infrastructure is owned by them. However, at the same time, they market the Internet as a free medium. This, if is rampant, is even worst because it resembles dictatorship.

The consequences of not achieving Net Neutrality will bring doom to the world because majority of Internet users will only be exposed to selected few content owners. And this is what feared by Google as well.

Malaysia cannot afford to stay in the comfort zone forever, we have to move on and take risks. Why must we make sure that everybody passes the SPM ? (Even though in reality still some will fail)

The Internet must be totally free and remained uncensored. Let adults take own risks and be adults.

Finally, I think that it would be more feasible and fair if we prevent young children from using the Internet or we can have some sort of content filtering tools and even a subnet of Internet for children and youngsters only. I think they will understand it when they become adults one day.

Freedom of thoughts is the ultimate privacy that humanity should protect.

Comments

Sri said…
Only non entertainment blogs need to be censored

I do agree with ytou that many of us using blogs are adults. So, it is better to leave it to the bloggers. I also agree the majority of the bloggers are decent lot who know and practice their social responsibility. However, there is a small proportion of blogs adults and kids alike forget their social responsibility and use vulgar words and offensive comments. If these bloggers show their talents in entertainment blogs, then, it is tolerable. However, they tend to go for any blogs that is within their reach. Due to this,VVIPs, VIPs,celebrities and each and every one of up become the victim. The following are the "creative words" found in an unsuspecting blog i.e. Malaysia Today and so many other serius discussion blogs non entertainment blogs :-
Please fill in the vowels
F*uck B*lls Scr*w *ss *ss h*l* S*ck M*th*r F*ck*er b*t*h P*ki P*nt*t
I am not telling that all the blogs need to be censored. Only the non entertainment blogs should be censored. During the recent Perak State crisis not only the politicians but also the royalties got themselves being victims. The celebrities and prominent people were their target for a long time.
The ‘free thinking” bloggers could still use the entertainment blogs, private blogs and chat space to show their talents.

P. Sritharan
Brandon Teoh said…
Thanks Sri.

I do admire your loving kindness and concern for the society.

However, it is in my opinion that nothing in the Internet should be censored. Because there is no way to say who is right or wrong.

Tricky situation.
Mt. said…
censoring in internet is as a laughing matter of building a dam over niagra falls.

1st, Niagara Falls is great the way it is, what we like is the way the water pours ...

2nd, building the Dam only benefit a smaller group of people, or localize effect

this phenomenum has already been thru one cycle in the entertainment industry when they first come out and shout no piracy, no bit torrent etc, eventually they finally realize internet is a medium, they cann't stop it, they can only get there faster than the people they don't want to ....

most of the successful album release todays are no longer about the album and the songs itself, all singers cann't wait to release all those songs out in the public for free ...
Brandon Teoh said…
Agree.

Niagara Falls is so beautiful. Keep it that way.
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