GodBlock: Keeping Your Children Safe on the Internet

[RatRace123]

Hmm, so if they found a site with the words

"Lord" or "God" or "Jehova" or "Christ" or "Jewish" or "Mel Gibson"

Then the religion blocker thingy wouldn't be able to show people the page... such a shame.

Oh well, if more religious people want to limit the information their kids get, go them. Wait, this isn't a religous thing, this is an atheist thing. Wow... well stupidity does exist in all forms, atheists aren't immune to it either.

 

[iTommeh]

I'm gonna do my best to not sound like a troll here.

I think this is actually a viable, and sensible idea, I mean, let's be honest. The Bible is a very, very fucked up book. Incest, floods, plague, all that fun stuff. It bothers me that a lot of the people who look down upon this seem to do so with contempt, in a "Oh, let those crazy theists have their fun!" type of manner.

What bothers me is that when said theists complain and boycott things, that has an effect on the average, non-biased consumer. "Blocking God" makes sense. I am not an Atheistic advocate. I do not push my views on to the world, and I shall not preach that science is the one, true god. However, treating theists with contempt gives them more power, and determination. Religion caused the Crusades. Don't be naive, you guiz.

 

[Caligulove]

Pretty funny.

Though this just seems like someone whose looking for someone to give them a stern talking to about religion and be pissed off, for attention

 

[The Singularity]

When I first read the name I laughed because I thought it might be blocking religion. Then I decided it was a blocker meant to block all "non-godly" things.
Then I actually clicked and read it...
THIS IS AWESOME THAT IT ACTUALLY BLOCKS RELIGION! Its hilarious and ironic(misuse of the word I know) since most blockers are pro religion! I am a bit afraid of backlash or that it might just be a scam, but the reasons are pretty valid.

 

[mechanixis]

How is this offensive, people? It's got a point. The Bible is full of sex and violence; it's simply in the text. And frankly, because so many people cry for censorship on religious grounds, it's a criticism well-deserved.

Plus, it's a completely valid statement. Children shouldn't be exposed to religion before they're old enough to think for themselves. If you're offended by that idea, then it obviously didn't happen to you. I led an indoctrinated childhood and it was awful.

I'm sort of disappointed it's a joke.

 

[Dastardly]

= Snip 3:16 =

It's a publicity stunt, whether or not they actually develop any kind of software. It has all the earmarks of something done to "prove a point:"

1) Tongue-in-cheek naming: The name is intentionally, outlandishly offensive to religious sorts.

2) Parody of tone: It uses similar rhetoric to that which the religious zealots use when combating what THEY see as offensive on the internet.

3) Complete Incredulity: It can't possibly work in any meaningful way (just like the various methods currently available for blocking stuff like this).

All of this together would allow the "creators" to point and laugh--because as soon as the first religious group rallies against it, they can say, "We only did what YOU tried, but for OUR reasons." It's meant to show those religious "nutjobs" just how nutty they are by giving them a taste of their own medicine. Except for the next two items on our list:

4) Total Inefficacy: If they're really so "nutjobby" as the creators would like us to believe, they're not going to tolerate an elaborate hoax long enough for it to cause them to step back for some major introspection, now are they?

5) Preaching to the Converted: The fact that the only people likely to ever really give this a second glance are people who don't care... and the only people who are going to really look at it are people who already agree... well, that all just makes this yet another pseudo-intellectual "watch me masturbate my ego" session on the part of another self-righteous athiest.


Me? Not religious at all, but I find these sorts to be WORSE than the religious nuts. At least those people can eventually be corralled into the "I believe it, and you don't have to" camp. These "aggressively atheist" pricks end up being more of the "I don't believe it, so neither can anyone else" variety--which is infinitely more problematic.

 

[guiltless]

This would be interesting to have. Now I want to see how much Christians are actually trying to push their bullshit on people subliminally in websites...

 

[Carnagath]

Hah. Protecting children from religion on the internet is like protecting people from dust in a sewer. Clearly someone is trolling and it's quite amusing.

 

[nofear220]

I shall teach my children the ways of Atheism

 

[Assassin Xaero]

I feel like this could be some religious converting brain washing tactic... More Dante's Inferno marketing wouldn't really surprise me either...

 

[Anarchemitis]

I hate dumb people, but I'm glad they exist otherwise I wouldn't have nearly as much to laugh at.

I would so totally laude you for a fun hilarious witticism if I did not find offense at it's subtext of calling protective people stupid.

 

[Drakmeire]

so in other words Now religious fanatics find religion too violent,
That's Petty awesome.

 

[Lullabye]

Ah, part of me wants to laugh, part of me wants to slap them upside the head. I do sincerely hope this is just a joke. Last thing we need is some program censoring out every website that has the phrase "Oh my God". People I know would actually install this sort of thing without telling me.

 

[GiantRedButton]

I am Muslim and I am seriously laughing at this. Talk about being close-minded. I thought no matter what, dialogue was neccesary to co-exist with others. But apparently, this project aims for creating a line between two groups.

It's a sad sad thing to invent. I never was blocked off from any anti-religion sources, they added much to me than subtracting and damaging me. It's a serious shame.

Facebook was banned in pakistan just a few weeks ago, because there were pictures that did not confirm with Shaira-Law (Quaran Law essentially)
It happens the other way all the time.
Good idea to keep your kid from being indoctrinated by scientology and the rest of the club i guess, certainly more dangerous then naked ppl. But still if your kid is on the internet, its going to see shit at some point.

 

[Lawyer105]

I'd wager it's been done as a joke - let's not forget, many of the attacks on the internet and games (and pop. culture in general) are made from religious groups so I'm guessing it's a hit back at that.

I think this is the most likely option.

Even somebody that's opposed to religion shouldn't really be using this. After all - how's your kid going to learn to think for himself if you're telling him what to think by controlling his access to information??

Now, if it blocks nun-pr0n too, that's probably a good thing. There are some things that even mature minds should shy away from!

 

[Joeshmoe5]

I love this program, here's a picture of my little angels http://www.thedevilsdemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/shining_twins.jpg

 

[someonehairy-ish]

Thank God! Now I don't have to worry about accidentally stumbling upon any religious content while I browse the Escapist. For a minute there I was worried I may become irreversably brainwashed.

Jesus loves you for not wanting to get brainwashed and hopes you continue to avoid any reference to religious persons.
Oh wait... shit.

 

[Unesh52]

It's a publicity stunt, whether or not they actually develop any kind of software. It has all the earmarks of something done to "prove a point:"

1) Tongue-in-cheek naming: The name is intentionally, outlandishly offensive to religious sorts.

2) Parody of tone: It uses similar rhetoric to that which the religious zealots use when combating what THEY see as offensive on the internet.

3) Complete Incredulity: It can't possibly work in any meaningful way (just like the various methods currently available for blocking stuff like this).

All of this together would allow the "creators" to point and laugh--because as soon as the first religious group rallies against it, they can say, "We only did what YOU tried, but for OUR reasons." It's meant to show those religious "nutjobs" just how nutty they are by giving them a taste of their own medicine. Except for the next two items on our list:

4) Total Inefficacy: If they're really so "nutjobby" as the creators would like us to believe, they're not going to tolerate an elaborate hoax long enough for it to cause them to step back for some major introspection, now are they?

5) Preaching to the Converted: The fact that the only people likely to ever really give this a second glance are people who don't care... and the only people who are going to really look at it are people who already agree... well, that all just makes this yet another pseudo-intellectual "watch me masturbate my ego" session on the part of another self-righteous athiest.


Me? Not religious at all, but I find these sorts to be WORSE than the religious nuts. At least those people can eventually be corralled into the "I believe it, and you don't have to" camp. These "aggressively atheist" pricks end up being more of the "I don't believe it, so neither can anyone else" variety--which is infinitely more problematic.

Yes, obviously it's a joke, and yes, it does seem like it's going to be wholly ineffective unless the media picks it up for some reason, but I think the intent is valid. The intent being to show the hypocrisy of fundamentalist anti-secularism. I guess you could also say something about how censorship is generally close-minded in all it's forms, but the first one fits better, I think. In any case, I don't find these "pricks" to be aggressive about their product (fictional or not) in any way. It's not like they're petitioning to have it installed in the public schools or something. It's just a joke; I even think it's funny.

 

[LightspeedJack]

My dad put one of these blocks (not a religious one just a general child safetey blocker) on our PC and it blocked absolutley EVERYTHING. Youtube, Facebook, basically everything I want to use. Thank god I have my own computer now. (Disclaimer: I don't believe in god).