[grumble] ISP [grumble] rural phone lines [grumble, grumble]

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I've been having trouble getting on line. I downloaded a bunch of stuff at the library, but that required the use of an anonymous server. They have this whole site blocked. I couldn't log on through the anonymous server. None of the anon servers let me log on to my account.

While I was there, I looked up more phone numbers for the ISP. This one is only six or seven miles away, so I managed to get on after only about ten tries -- and am connected at a screaming speed of 21,600 bps (yep, a fraction of what you're supposed to get from a 56K modem.)

I owe some people some letters, and I want to reply to a few stories. I'll try to get to it before I have to go do family stuff or cleaning or whatever. I also want to post a store (to see if I can post something with a cascading style sheet. I know; I'm such a geek.)

Ray Drouillard
(who still doesn't regret moving to the country.)

Comments

I'm not sure why

erin's picture

I don't know why an anonymous server would block you from logging on unless they have some reason to block people from logging on to anything. Weird.

Yes, libraries all over the country routinely block any site that has transgender as a meta. That includes many sites that just have information for people who may need it.

For this site, one could argue some legitimacy since there are adult oriented stories here. Sort of like Google books and Amazon -- which are usually NOT blocked. I don't mind libraries blocking BC but the criteria they use to do so are not evenly applied.

Personally, I don't think publicly funded libraries in the US should block adult access to any legally operating site, I think that violates the right of the free press. Some courts have held that the internet is actually closer to speech than press and so should get the higher right of access established by precedence for speech. Thoughtful people can disagree on these issues and this isn't likely to be settled even in the next twenty years.

Hugs,
Erin

= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.

= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.

Library Internet Access

Breanna Ramsey's picture

Well, one could argue that the Children's Internet Protection Act is specifically aimed at "visual depictions" -- i.e. it's the visual images on the site that make it fall under CIPA, not the stories -- **shrug**

At any rate, the Supreme Court ruling which upheld CIPA in 2003 also made it clear that libraries are supposed to disable blocking upon the request of any adult, without requiring any explanation as to why the patron wishes to have it disabled.

Scott

Writing is like prostitution. First you do it for love, and then for a few close friends, and then for money.
-- Moliere

Bree

The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.
-- Tom Clancy

http://genomorph.tglibrary.com/ (Currently broken)
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Twitter: @genomorph