:D So, I downloaded and installed K9 Web protection's service, because my daughter's starting to enjoy spending time on the computer. Even though I monitor her and sit right with her, I don't want any accidents happening. Anyhow, when I installed it, there was the option for high, medium, low and custom levels of security. I chose the custom setting and blocked what I wanted to, but I guess it didn't save right although I thought it had.
I then tried a few more 'adult' words/searches to make sure I was good to go... and so far, so good.
Next, I went to go log into HAF as usual, and I got told that this site had been blocked because it was listed as "alternative spirituality/occult"! :o :o :D
I went "Whaaaaaat?" and checked K9's settings again... and saw the damned thing had somehow saved the 'high' level of security, rather than my custom level. I re-saved as I wanted to, and all was good again.
But man, I got a laugh. Occult? Alternative spirituality? More like an excellent alternative TO spirituality! ;D
I have sent the following to K9.
QuoteGood morning.
It has come to my attention that the site I am an administrator for http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php is listed as "alternative spirituality/occult".
Please would you explain the rationale behind this classification.
Regards
Chris
The Church of Asmoism. Was that mentioned? :D
Quote from: Tank on April 23, 2012, 09:34:24 AM
I have sent the following to K9.
QuoteGood morning.
It has come to my attention that the site I am an administrator for http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php is listed as "alternative spirituality/occult".
Please would you explain the rationale behind this classification.
Regards
Chris
:) Very good call to email them. I believe they claim to have over 3 million people using their service, although how many of those are active, I don't know -- I had an old registration key for them I was able to re-activate although I hadn't logged in for a couple years I'm guessing, and I would have been counted as "an active user" as well. Still, I don't like the idea of a service blocking any particular religion or non-religion's website, and I like the idea even less of them considering an atheist website 'alternative spirituality/occult'.
It musta been Asmoism that did it. Some fundie coulda taken it seriously, I suppose... or maybe it's because a few of our members in the past have considered themselves Satanists/Laveyan sympathizers, I dunno. It shouldn't matter. :P
Their response and my reply
Quote from: K9Quote from: TankThank you for your prompt reply.
Our forum has nothing to do with the occult or alternative spiritualities. It is an Atheist forum where such things have nothing to do with our philosophy or world view. I would appreciate it if the classification of Alternative Spirituality/Occult be removed from our site please.
Regards
Chris
On 23 April 2012 12:23, <filtering@bluecoat.com> wrote:
Submitted URL: http://www.happyatheistforum.com/
Suggested category: Newsgroups/Forums
Your comments: Good morning. It has come to my attention that the site I am an administrator for http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php is listed as "alternative spirituality/occult". Please would you explain the rationale behind this classification. Regards Chris Jarvis aka Tank administrator at Happy Atheist Forum
Reviewed: 23 April 2012 11:23:21 GMT
Thanks for submitting http://www.happyatheistforum.com/ to the Blue Coat WebFilter team for review. We appreciate the opportunity to provide the results of our analysis with you.
Based on your recommendation and after careful evaluation of the Web content submitted, a Web Content Analyst has recategorized this URL as Alternative Spirituality/Occult and Newsgroups/Forums.
Blue Coat does not select which category or categories are blocked or allowed. This decision is controlled by policy defined by our customers. If you feel that a certain category or site should be either blocked or allowed, click here to find out more about how to change your Internet access policy.
This rating change could take a few days to be reflected in your K9 application. For further explanation or to see this change immediately, click here.
If you have any other questions that should be directed to the Blue Coat WebFilter team, feel free to reply to this message.
Thank you,
Blue Coat WebFilter
filtering@bluecoat.com
Oooooh! I meant to mention this about K9! I don't remember why, but I was trying to get to HAF from one of the "open access" computers that we have in our breakroom area. I think I wanted to post a picture from my photobucket account (photobucket is blocked on my desk computer.) The computers in the breakroom are specifically advertised as being "open access" - for example, you can get to Facebook from them, whereas Facebook is blocked on our desk computers. Anyway, the one and only time I ever tried to use them, I tried to open HAF, and got the same message - apparently our "open access" computers are protected by K-9 and therefore I can't get to HAF from there because it is "occult/alternative spirituality".
The "alternative spirituality" was the one that enraged me, because while I wouldn't call atheism in anyway "occult" I suppose you could call it "alternative spirituality" in a very loose way. More like "alternative FROM spirituality", but atheism describes my belief system when it comes to spiritual matters well enough.
Then, just to get myself truly worked into a lather, I searched for Christian forums and of course accessed them just fine. So apparently adults on an "open access" computer need to be protected from going to "alternative spirituality" forums, but don't need to be protected from going to Christian forums. >:(
The weird part is that I can get to HAF from my work desk computer just fine, and that is the one that is supposed to be more restricted.
Our occult gods, Sie-enz and Raeson must have scarred away the good Christians.
Quote from: Amicale on April 23, 2012, 02:33:08 PM
It musta been Asmoism that did it. Some fundie coulda taken it seriously, I suppose... or maybe it's because a few of our members in the past have considered themselves Satanists/Laveyan sympathizers, I dunno. It shouldn't matter. :P
Yes. Fundie took Asmoism for real, had crisis of faith and nourished His Grayness with the resulting fear and uncertainty... That's probably why. His Grayness should have known better than letting the used fundie just... Go. >:(
Go get 'em, Tank!!
Quote from: DeterminedJuliet on April 23, 2012, 07:11:09 PM
Go get 'em, Tank!!
QuoteGood morning. It has come to my attention that the site I am an administrator for http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php is listed as "alternative spirituality/occult". Please would you explain the rationale behind this classification. Regards Chris Jarvis aka Tank administrator at Happy Atheist Forum
QuoteBased on your recommendation and after careful evaluation of the Web content submitted, a Web Content Analyst has recategorized this URL as Alternative Spirituality/Occult and Newsgroups/Forums.
So does that mean we're reclassified/confirmed as what the computer originally decided.
I
Hmmm well the main monotheistic religions are occult in their nature and we do have a lot of rubbish about them on this site so I can see why it gets flagged.
Quote from: The Magic Pudding on April 23, 2012, 07:25:25 PM
QuoteGood morning. It has come to my attention that the site I am an administrator for http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php is listed as "alternative spirituality/occult". Please would you explain the rationale behind this classification. Regards Chris Jarvis aka Tank administrator at Happy Atheist Forum
QuoteBased on your recommendation and after careful evaluation of the Web content submitted, a Web Content Analyst has recategorized this URL as Alternative Spirituality/Occult and Newsgroups/Forums.
So does that mean we're reclassified/confirmed as what the computer originally decided.
Haha, yeah. "Oh, we're sorry. You're an occult AND newsgroup website!"
*facepalm* Yeah. That wasn't really the complaint.
I had intended newsgroup/forum to replace alternative spirituality/occult.
I'm sure our continued mention of the occult is not helping the argument. ;) I'm sure their thorough investigation consisted of a few bots scanning the site for key words.
I'm also curious what they use to determine "alternate spirituality." Is Buddhism an alternative that is blocked? Alternative to what kind of spirituality exactly?
Quote from: ThinkAnarchy on April 23, 2012, 10:56:52 PM
I'm sure our continued mention of the occult is not helping the argument. ;) I'm sure their thorough investigation consisted of a few bots scanning the site for key words.
I'm also curious what they use to determine "alternate spirituality." Is Buddhism an alternative that is blocked? Alternative to what kind of spirituality exactly?
If they respond to my reply that will be exactly what I will ask. But I think it's bloody obvious it'll be alternative to Christianity!
Quote from: ThinkAnarchy on April 23, 2012, 10:56:52 PM
I'm sure our continued mention of the occult is not helping the argument. ;) I'm sure their thorough investigation consisted of a few bots scanning the site for key words.
I'm also curious what they use to determine "alternate spirituality." Is Buddhism an alternative that is blocked? Alternative to what kind of spirituality exactly?
Here's their definition:
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi43.tinypic.com%2F16lbswz.jpg&hash=230536785d82b69190c7473c73eb99a85d52de93)
How in the hell are atheistic views 'alternative spirituality'???
^^^ That is laughable. They mention atheism by name, but than go on to describe these types of sites by, "...offer instruction, or other resources to affect or influence real events through the use of spells, incantations, curses and magic powers." I want super powers, sign me up.
And "paranormal and unexplained events." That right there means every religious site, including Christian ones should be included in this category.
Quote from: ThinkAnarchy on April 23, 2012, 11:15:44 PM
^^^ That is laughable. Them mention atheism by name, but than go on to describe these types of sites by, "...offer instruction, or other resources to affect or influence real events through the use of spells, incantations, curses and magic powers."
And "paranormal and unexplained events." That right there means every religious site should be included in this category.
I do believe I'll be uninstalling this POS.
More trouble than it's worth, and very, very clearly a Christian programming effort. I checked several religious websites, and of course, those can be accessed. It's true that I could use the service at the minimal or custom level, but it's the principle of the thing. Any company idiotic enough to blacklist freethinker websites because they deem them to be 'alternative spirituality or occult' isn't a company I particularly want to use.
Not to mention they make it an option to block anything to do with alternative sexual orientations, including getting simple access to information on what 'gay' or 'lesbian' even mean. (this is at the highest restriction level, but still.)
*wanders off in search of something more reasonable*
Quote from: Amicale on April 23, 2012, 11:10:27 PM
Quote from: ThinkAnarchy on April 23, 2012, 10:56:52 PM
I'm sure our continued mention of the occult is not helping the argument. ;) I'm sure their thorough investigation consisted of a few bots scanning the site for key words.
I'm also curious what they use to determine "alternate spirituality." Is Buddhism an alternative that is blocked? Alternative to what kind of spirituality exactly?
Here's their definition:
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi43.tinypic.com%2F16lbswz.jpg&hash=230536785d82b69190c7473c73eb99a85d52de93)
How in the hell are atheistic views 'alternative spirituality'???
Or "other forms of mysticism"? WTF?! Atheism is a form of mysticism now? Since when?!?!
I think there is a certain web blocking service that will never get by business and that's not just an idle boycott as I will have to make web blocking software decisions in the not so distant future for work.
About time The Asmo coded a nice webblock, yes? :D
Now, how would His Grayness define religious views other than none, mewonder..? ???
Quote from: DeterminedJuliet on April 23, 2012, 11:39:15 PM
Quote from: Amicale on April 23, 2012, 11:10:27 PM
Quote from: ThinkAnarchy on April 23, 2012, 10:56:52 PM
I'm sure our continued mention of the occult is not helping the argument. ;) I'm sure their thorough investigation consisted of a few bots scanning the site for key words.
I'm also curious what they use to determine "alternate spirituality." Is Buddhism an alternative that is blocked? Alternative to what kind of spirituality exactly?
Here's their definition:
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi43.tinypic.com%2F16lbswz.jpg&hash=230536785d82b69190c7473c73eb99a85d52de93)
How in the hell are atheistic views 'alternative spirituality'???
Or "other forms of mysticism"? WTF?! Atheism is a form of mysticism now? Since when?!?!
Wow! We're mystics now? Cool! 8)
Quote from: Whitney on April 24, 2012, 02:23:43 AM
I think there is a certain web blocking service that will never get by business and that's not just an idle boycott as I will have to make web blocking software decisions in the not so distant future for work.
should that read "get my business" ?
Wow, funnily enough if there's one thing that suits 'occult' better it's Christianity or any other form of theism. ???
I think what they really want to say is that we're devil-worshippers. ::)
How cool is that? 8)
I'm not familiar with this blocking service, but...meh.
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on April 24, 2012, 04:24:34 PM
Wow, funnily enough if there's one thing that suits 'occult' better it's Christianity or any other form of theism. ???
I think what they really want to say is that we're devil-worshippers. ::)
How cool is that? 8)
I'm not familiar with this blocking service, but...meh.
:D I'm not familiar with it any more, either. It's gone. I broke up with it and booted its behind out the door into webblocking hell.
Sorry, in a bizarre mood I guess. ;D
I also like how it talks about spells and magic as though they are real-world concerns. Obviously a huge Christian slant to this policy.. ::)
I just sent them a site review of HAF, asking them to re-categorize it as a newsgroup/webforum only, and to remove the references to alternative spirituality or the occult. I said:
Happy Atheist Forum is a newsgroup or forum only. It is in NO way associated with alternative spirituality or the occult. :) Atheism is an alternative TO spirituality, but lacking a belief in God means that we are not spiritual people, and we are not in any way interested in the occult. Please re-classify this website as a Newsgroup/Forum only. I'm a member at HAF, and I don't want to see young people seeking information (perhaps because they are losing their faith and need support) be inadvertently blocked from Happy Atheist Forum.
Quote from: Amicale on April 24, 2012, 05:09:58 PM
I just sent them a site review of HAF, asking them to re-categorize it as a newsgroup/webforum only, and to remove the references to alternative spirituality or the occult. I said:
Happy Atheist Forum is a newsgroup or forum only. It is in NO way associated with alternative spirituality or the occult. :) Atheism is an alternative TO spirituality, but lacking a belief in God means that we are not spiritual people, and we are not in any way interested in the occult. Please re-classify this website as a Newsgroup/Forum only. I'm a member at HAF, and I don't want to see young people seeking information (perhaps because they are losing their faith and need support) be inadvertently blocked from Happy Atheist Forum.
I'm not motivated enough, nor do I have the connections, but it would be nice to get a somewhat organized campaign going with other atheist forums and sites. I'm sure Dawkins site is blocked as well, but I don't have the program to check that.
They are going to have to change their definition before they will take the occult/alt spiritual label off these sites.
The thing that pisses me off about this, is K-9, from my understanding, is the program most schools use to keep their students from seeing things they shouldn't. Preventing them from seeing legitimate alternative views seems unacceptable in a school environment.
I agree, I have a huge issue with these types of sites being blocked in schools, etc.
In response to what I sent them, their answer was:
QuoteSubmitted URL: http://www.happyatheistforum.com/
Suggested category: Newsgroups/Forums
Your comments: Happy Atheist Forum is a newsgroup or forum only. It is in NO way associated with alternative spirituality or the occult. :) Atheism is an alternative TO spirituality, but lacking a belief in God means that we are not spiritual people, and we are not in any way interested in the occult. Please re-classify this website as a Newsgroup/Forum only. I'm a member at HAF, and I don't want to see young people seeking information (perhaps because they are losing their faith and need support) be inadvertently blocked from Happy Atheist Forum.
Reviewed: April 24, 2012 4:12:47 PM GMT
Thanks for submitting http://www.happyatheistforum.com/ to the Blue Coat WebFilter team for review. We appreciate the opportunity to provide the results of our analysis with you.
After careful evaluation of the Web content submitted, a Web Content Analyst has left this URL categorized as Alternative Spirituality/Occult and Newsgroups/Forums.
Sites that contain information on atheism fall under our Alternative Spirituality/Belief category. Forums where the main topic is atheism fall under our Alternative Spirituality/Belief and Newsgroups/Forums categories. If you need access to this site, please contact the person who installed K9.
Blue Coat does not select which category or categories are blocked or allowed. This decision is controlled by policy defined by our customers. If you feel that a certain category or site should be either blocked or allowed, click here to find out more about how to change your Internet access policy.
If you have any other questions that should be directed to the Blue Coat WebFilter team, feel free to reply to this message.
Thank you,
Blue Coat WebFilter
So, their argument is that because THEY aren't the ones choosing which categories are blocked or allowed, and it's a customer choice, then the definition is staying as it is. That honestly bugs me. Atheism or any other secular view shouldn't be lumped in with spirituality and CERTAINLY not with the occult, in the first place. I'm sure those who are spiritual or into the occult wouldn't want us lumped in with them, either.
Also, I think it's kind of sneaky, in a way. The average parent looking to protect their child or teenager on the internet probably isn't going to read the fine print of each little definition -- they might select 'alternative spirituality/occult' to block it because they don't want their kids reading occult stuff, but they might not know atheism is for some strange reason tossed in there, too.
Well, I don't see these people changing their policies anytime soon. Sigh.
^^^
Not at all surprising you received the same form letter as Tank. :)
Quote from: ThinkAnarchy on April 24, 2012, 06:55:15 PM
^^^
Not at all surprising you received the same form letter as Tank. :)
Very nearly the same letter, yes. With just bits changed. In his they said "Based on your recommendation and after careful evaluation of the Web content submitted, a Web Content Analyst has recategorized this URL as Alternative Spirituality/Occult and Newsgroups/Forums." and mentioned something about it taking a couple days for them to.... uh... keep it the EXACT same way they had it, apparently. Sigh. :P
Edited to add: in response to that letter they sent me, I replied with
QuoteHello,
Thank you very much for responding so promptly to my inquiry! It's appreciated.
I respect your statement about how your service is based on a customer's preferences, with regards to which categories they choose to block or allow. I was in fact one of your customers and was the person who installed K9, but regrettably, I had to uninstall K9. I politely object to the idea of listing atheist websites as alternative spirituality/the occult, and also politely object to a few of your other categories, and how they're quite narrowly defined. I certainly respect your right to define them as you wish, though, and I understand that your definitions come from a conservative (and perhaps Christian?) standpoint, so your company's definitions are likely to be different from those with a different perspective. However, those with a different perspective see atheism as having nothing to do with alternative spirituality and especially the occult. :-)
plus a few totally unrelated comments about the technical use of the program itself, and that's absolutely the last they'll hear from me. I have no desire to argue with them, and certainly no desire to get this website inadvertently blacklisted even further, but I think I do have the right to express my preferences and explain why I no longer wished to use their service. I hope that looks polite enough, because I tried to make it that way.
When I get a few spare moments, I think I might write a little article to Wired about this. At the very least, it's an interesting study on how the parameters for these sorts of things get set (i.e., they, apparently, don't have to make any sense whatsoever!)
Quote from: Amicale on April 24, 2012, 07:05:37 PM
I have no desire to argue with them, and certainly no desire to get this website inadvertently blacklisted even further, but I think I do have the right to express my preferences and explain why I no longer wished to use their service. I hope that looks polite enough, because I tried to make it that way.
You could also threaten them with The Asmo. His Omnigrayness can, in His omnimalevolence, get through any nomber of blocks for maximum impact.
...And when the Grayness is too fat for the net, The Omniswarm will do His bidding. ;D
Quote from: Asmodean on April 24, 2012, 07:48:01 PM
Quote from: Amicale on April 24, 2012, 07:05:37 PM
I have no desire to argue with them, and certainly no desire to get this website inadvertently blacklisted even further, but I think I do have the right to express my preferences and explain why I no longer wished to use their service. I hope that looks polite enough, because I tried to make it that way.
You could also threaten them with The Asmo. His Omnigrayness can, in His omnimalevolence, get through any nomber of blocks for maximum impact.
...And when the Grayness is too fat for the net, The Omniswarm will do His bidding. ;D
Yeah, about that. I tried threatening them with you, and they were all like "Phhht, that Asmo dude's the knob on the end of a shaman's stick. SEE? You're all occult!" :D
Quote from: Amicale on April 24, 2012, 09:08:05 PM
Quote from: Asmodean on April 24, 2012, 07:48:01 PM
Quote from: Amicale on April 24, 2012, 07:05:37 PM
I have no desire to argue with them, and certainly no desire to get this website inadvertently blacklisted even further, but I think I do have the right to express my preferences and explain why I no longer wished to use their service. I hope that looks polite enough, because I tried to make it that way.
You could also threaten them with The Asmo. His Omnigrayness can, in His omnimalevolence, get through any nomber of blocks for maximum impact.
...And when the Grayness is too fat for the net, The Omniswarm will do His bidding. ;D
Yeah, about that. I tried threatening them with you, and they were all like "Phhht, that Asmo dude's the knob on the end of a shaman's stick. SEE? You're all occult!" :D
It's only because people don't realize the power he holds. Their tune will change when he goes on the offensive.
Please just promise us you will limit exposing your true powers. As Amicale touched at, we don't want them to fully realize we have learned to control the super-natural forces we claim don't exist. If they found out we were actually the Occult rebranded, we're fucked.
Please be careful Asmo.
Quote from: ThinkAnarchy on April 23, 2012, 10:56:52 PM
Alternative to what kind of spirituality exactly?
Exactly, and how is atheism considered a spirituality!
Am I missing out on something, come on you atheists, where's the spirituality, let me in on the secrets!
Fine, fine! The Asmo will not send the entire Omniswarm at them. Only a little bit. >:(
oO(Knob. A KNOB! >:( The audacity of them! A well-known fact that that job belongs to Asmoknobian - a minion, and a lesser one at that. )
Seems like we're forced to sticking to our double lives folks, pretending to be normal happy atheists. They've sniffed out our true occulist agenda and we just can't let them know the rest of it!
Actually, I have an update, and I was pleasantly surprised, somewhat.
After I sent
QuoteHello,
Thank you very much for responding so promptly to my inquiry! It's appreciated.
I respect your statement about how your service is based on a customer's preferences, with regards to which categories they choose to block or allow. I was in fact one of your customers and was the person who installed K9, but regrettably, I had to uninstall K9. I politely object to the idea of listing atheist websites as alternative spirituality/the occult, and also politely object to a few of your other categories, and how they're quite narrowly defined. I certainly respect your right to define them as you wish, though, and I understand that your definitions come from a conservative (and perhaps Christian?) standpoint, so your company's definitions are likely to be different from those with a different perspective. However, those with a different perspective see atheism as having nothing to do with alternative spirituality and especially the occult. :-)
a guy from their team actually responded to me in person, saying this:
QuoteHi,
Please note that K9 utilizes an older version of our categories. As such it does not reflect the updated naming convention which includes Alternate Spirituality/Beliefs under which we currently place sites related to atheism. That probably does little to assuage your concern, one might even argue that atheism is a lack of belief but nonetheless that is where we place content of this nature.
I sit on the category committee. I like to think that I was elected to this body for my decidedly liberal stances on a great many things though I and the majority of the board are indeed Christian. Perhaps a dedicated Atheism category might be in order?
I'll pass your customization message to the K9 support group for review/response.
Best, [his name - leaving it off the public board]
I was kind of impressed, and suggested that an atheism category that could be turned on or off would be fine, or better yet, simply remove atheism from the out-dated old category. He wrote back to say he agreed with me, and that he would pass the information along to his team.
The kicker?
QuoteWell said. I'll take this to the category committee for review. Note that we only meet every 18 months. Our next meeting is not scheduled until Dec. of this year.
So, the good news.... they may either give atheism its own category, or at least take it out of alternative spirituality/occult. The bad news, it probably won't be until 2013. ::)
Ah well. At least someone gave half a damn. That impresses me.
Good work. I'm sure they will need to be reminded just before their meeting though. Hopefully someone here remembers in late November to shoot off an email to remind them of this discussion point, while also reminding them atheist parents don't appreciate their current categories for blocking sites. ;D
I'm honestly shocked you received an actual message. I have had to spam the CEO's email in order to get non-form responses from some companies in the past.
Added I wonder if they sent someone to look at this thread. It wouldn't be hard to find since they have had at least two members contact them stating they were from HAF. They could simply be trying to silence us hoping we forget about it come December. I doubt it, but it's possible.
Quote from: ThinkAnarchy on April 25, 2012, 12:30:49 AM
Good work. I'm sure they will need to be reminded just before their meeting though. Hopefully someone here remembers in late November to shoot off an email to remind them of this discussion point, while also reminding them atheist parents don't appreciate their current categories for blocking sites. ;D
I'm honestly shocked you received an actual message. I have had to spam the CEO's email in order to get non-form responses from some companies in the past.
Added I wonder if they sent someone to look at this thread. It wouldn't be hard to find since they have had at least two members contact them stating they were from HAF. They could simply be trying to silence us hoping we forget about it come December. I doubt it, but it's possible.
Oh, it's very possible someone did look at the thread. I'm kinda hoping that they did, actually. I also hope they take a good look around the site, see how we interact with one another, and realize that we're a supportive, fairly easygoing community that has zilch to do with alternative spirituality or the occult.
And sure, I'll shoot them off an email by November, with copies of everything that was said -- just in case the original guy I spoke with is suddenly no longer on the board, or whatever. :)
But, yeah. I was very pleasantly surprised to get a response, and he earned my respect for that, as well as for what he said, and how politely he said it.
Quote from: k9 guyone might even argue that atheism is a lack of belief
Ummm. How could anyone reasonably argue that atheism is anything BUT a lack of belief?
Still. Nice that a real human responded to you without acting like a complete idiot. Yay.
Thanks, Tank and Amicale :)
So would this filter also block Harry Potter and Tolkien yet let Narnia through?
Quote from: Amicale on April 25, 2012, 12:07:03 AM
Actually, I have an update, and I was pleasantly surprised, somewhat.
After I sent
QuoteHello,
Thank you very much for responding so promptly to my inquiry! It's appreciated.
I respect your statement about how your service is based on a customer's preferences, with regards to which categories they choose to block or allow. I was in fact one of your customers and was the person who installed K9, but regrettably, I had to uninstall K9. I politely object to the idea of listing atheist websites as alternative spirituality/the occult, and also politely object to a few of your other categories, and how they're quite narrowly defined. I certainly respect your right to define them as you wish, though, and I understand that your definitions come from a conservative (and perhaps Christian?) standpoint, so your company's definitions are likely to be different from those with a different perspective. However, those with a different perspective see atheism as having nothing to do with alternative spirituality and especially the occult. :-)
a guy from their team actually responded to me in person, saying this:
QuoteHi,
Please note that K9 utilizes an older version of our categories. As such it does not reflect the updated naming convention which includes Alternate Spirituality/Beliefs under which we currently place sites related to atheism. That probably does little to assuage your concern, one might even argue that atheism is a lack of belief but nonetheless that is where we place content of this nature.
I sit on the category committee. I like to think that I was elected to this body for my decidedly liberal stances on a great many things though I and the majority of the board are indeed Christian. Perhaps a dedicated Atheism category might be in order?
I'll pass your customization message to the K9 support group for review/response.
Best, [his name - leaving it off the public board]
I was kind of impressed, and suggested that an atheism category that could be turned on or off would be fine, or better yet, simply remove atheism from the out-dated old category. He wrote back to say he agreed with me, and that he would pass the information along to his team.
The kicker?
QuoteWell said. I'll take this to the category committee for review. Note that we only meet every 18 months. Our next meeting is not scheduled until Dec. of this year.
So, the good news.... they may either give atheism its own category, or at least take it out of alternative spirituality/occult. The bad news, it probably won't be until 2013. ::)
Ah well. At least someone gave half a damn. That impresses me.
See!? This is what happens when you let crazy cat ladies off the leach.
Seriously, though. Good one!
Quote from: Anne D. on April 25, 2012, 03:39:34 AM
Thanks, Tank and Amicale :)
Tank? TANK?! It was Asmo. Asmo, I tell you! >:(