Took this from Forum Junkies...

Meant to post a similar article myself. But I forsee this as being trouble. The US is opposed to things like a .xxx domain ending, and has an anti-"Obscenity" policy which makes me less than comfortable.

Well I don't really see a point in a .xxx extension, but where is the harm in censoring the net? If a person cannot access obscen (porn) or any other objectionable materials from a store legaly then that person should not be able to access these materials through the net.......

The point of the .xxx is to try an make it clear when the site you're visiting is pornographic. The original plan was to gradually force all porn sites to use it.

And as to censoring, it is a problem. They shouldn't be doing it in stores, but its even more problematic when its online, as in that instance, it affects a global audience, including countries which have no such laws. For example, a site, which I will not name for legal reasons, was one of the most popular erotic literature websites around, was recently taken off the net and is facing obscenity charges from the US government. Clearly, if the unjustifiably go after things like that, then they don't deserve the power being given to them. Personally, I'd like to see NL in charge, as we wouldn't have to worry about these web censoring issues.

Well I for one can see the use for a .xxx extension. If every site with some sort of adult content in the internet uses it, then the filtering for this kind of sites would be much easier. Then regulation could be done in a personal basis, no need for a censoring entity.

Thing is you would still get people not using it and trying to get away with not having to in much the same way as porn sites use lykos instead of lycos - which my son found out when trying to show his Mum one of his friends www site.... (hahahahahahah - she did understand though!!!)

__________________
John
♫ www.theMouthPiece.com - Brass music discussion
♫ www.DeFuturo.com - Legal discussion and advice for forum & website owners
♫ www.vBXtra.com - All new and exciting vBulletin styles, customisation and conversion

Perhaps, but its not as though said extension can be any worse.

Ah I see where you guys are coming are coming from now. I was thinking that the .xxx extension would be optional not mandatory.
Well more than one culture uses the net (as you said), and while one culture or country may support adult material others may not. To make sure everyone stays remotly happy we need to censor out some material as to not offend anyone.

Hmmmm, whatever happened to freedom of choice Zach... why should one country govern what any other country is able to choose from?

Just because one thing is not available in one country doesn't mean it shouldn't be available in a country where it is legal! or have I misread your post?

__________________
John
♫ www.theMouthPiece.com - Brass music discussion
♫ www.DeFuturo.com - Legal discussion and advice for forum & website owners
♫ www.vBXtra.com - All new and exciting vBulletin styles, customisation and conversion

I have come to notice that whenever the word "censor" or any derivative of it is used, touches a very sensitive nerve. I personally don't enter the internet to be shielded of the "filth" and other objectionable content. The web has always been a repository for information. Free information. But it will always be tricky to define the line that divides the freedoms of the people that puts that objectionable content and the rights of the people that wants to shield itself or his loved ones from it. Unless we talk about the law. If any given site is breaking the law then there's no question about it, it must be shut down. I wouldn't call that censorship, it's regulation.