Question:
On an unrelated note, it’s clear that Cybersitter’s antics are generating more heat than just with wiccans and pagans–I first heard of their e-mail bombing of a critic on a Macintosh rumors web site. Turns out this woman sent a couple of e-mail letters asking why the web site for the National Organization for Women were being blocked by Cybersitter. Cybersitter e-mail bombed her site with so many messages that her ISP has to put Cybersitter’s IP address into their IP block filter. Pathetic… - Bill
Sounds like getting mail-bombed is a possible answer. Get the sysops and administrators (ie: potential customers) to understand what kind of people are running Cybersitter. nether star
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : I noticed today that the Witches’ Voice has also added some information : about this, with a link to Texas Pagan Awareness Online. You will also notice that other "major" players in this field will also start to "ban" anything related to "Wicca". Raven has been a busy little gal these last few days… <snicker Next of course will be MicroSoft (R) hehehe <snicker Don’t pride yourself on being the alpha and omega of all bigotry out there–bigots have existed long before you crawled on the scene, and bigots will be around long after your worm-ridden corpse rots away.
Hmm…Raven Blackbane–banned Wiccan websites–CyberSitter–Solid Oak–Focus on the Family. I knew I’d killfiled her for a reason. On an unrelated note, it’s clear that Cybersitter’s antics are generating more heat than just with wiccans and pagans–I first heard of their e-mail bombing of a critic on a Macintosh rumors web site. Turns out this woman sent a couple of e-mail letters asking why the web site for the National Organization for Women were being blocked by Cybersitter. Cybersitter e-mail bombed her site with so many messages that her ISP has to put Cybersitter’s IP address into their IP block filter. Pathetic…
Check out some of the product reviews on it as well. Folks whose business it is to recommend software products to consumers aren’t big fans of CyberSitter’s, um, "filtering" practices. Rimrunner gee, and i wanted to keep my cat from accessing porno sites. darn. — Murder of Crows official web site: http://www.nwlink.com/~noah/ "Science is a way of talking about the universe in words that bind it to a common reality. Magic is a method of talking to the universe in words that it cannot ignore. The two are rarely compatible." — _The Books of Magic_, Neil Gaiman —
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—–BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE—– Hash: SHA1 lib.com didst write: On an unrelated note, it’s clear that Cybersitter’s antics are generating more heat than just with wiccans and pagans-
And some related news from rainy, wet California: "Please unfilter your terminals immediately", said a memo last week from the Kern County, California Board of Supervisors to the county’s 18 branch libraries. since 1996, in an effort to ‘protect’ children from some Internet content, the libraries had been using the Bess filter software from Seattle-based N2H2. But the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) threatened a lawsuit against the county charging violation of the first amendment free speech rights, and the Supervisors chose to change their policy before the ACLU’s 10 day deadline had been reached. Two other California counties, San Jose and Santa Clara, recently also rejected filters on library terminals, while a library in Loudon County, Virginia which uses a filter is currently being sued by a patron. The problem as viewed by the ACLU is that the software blocks much more than what some would consider harmful to children. Sites dealing with gay/lesbian issues, safe sex, HIV+ issues, domestic violence are frequently blocked along with many occult sites. Evidence of religious and political bias exists with certain other filters as well. The Kern county Board concluded that the technology is not currently available to block pornography in a manner "consistent with counstitutional principles". —–BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE—– Version: PGP for Personal Privacy 5.0 Charset: noconv iQA/AwUBNOjJpijSK9M5RedIEQJI1QCeN5k91bqVUFJ4qqsVQyabVIB91ZMAoI/U PLlSjOv+2APCP0sl9nxUXoZF =/SHd —–END PGP SIGNATURE—– Good Journey, and Blessed Be Jeff Heuer Fresno,CA USA http://members.aol.com/JHeuer9355/ Wicca and Paganism for beginners (last updated 24 Jan 98)
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From what I’m reading, CyberSitter is run by a bunch of fascist snots with a little C++ background who don’t know an algorithm from a logarithm. Obviously this is not a ballanced view. Is there anyone speaking up for CyberSitter who is credible? I don’t like what they are doing, but perhaps there is some justification behind it. — Blessed Be, Michael Smith For reliable information on paganism, magick and witchcraft, start with http://www.witchvox.com/wvoxmap.html Who cybersits the CyberSitter? http://www.tpao.org/cybersit.html DISCLAIMER: My opinions do not necesarily reflect those of Loyola University’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Sciences.
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I know how you feel about this. And it disturbs me also. There is a need for filtering software for the Net. But I would definitely like to see one that is far more flexible than the current crop. I would like to know if there are any Wiccans out there who are knowledgeable in programming net applications, I don’t have the requisite knowledge other than building the user interface, who would be willing to work with me in developing a filtering software that the parent sets the keywords and works with the RSAC standard. This is a case of instead of griping about it. Lets do something about it, and use the market to reduce these companies product market share. Since I know that there are members of the EFF along with various software reviewers, who have challenges with programs like CyberSitter, NetNanny, etc. I don’t think that there would be too much of a problem with getting support from the EFF or even C-Net Centeral if the program was truly flexible and really let the parent decide what their children can and cannot see on the net. Any takers? If interested e-mail me. When one is frightened of the truth . . . then it is never the whole truth that one has an inkling of. — Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) Austrian philosopher. Notebooks 1914-1916 (ed. by Anscombe, 1961), entry for 15 Oct. 1914. Tony Veca AKA Starfyre HP Guardians Of The Flame Coven
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: : and bigots will be around long after your worm-ridden corpse rots away. : "Worm-ridden" corpse seems I heard that before. — http://www.anneli.com/blackbane creator of alt.witchcraft creator of alt.traditional.witchcraft //// /// ‘~ ( —– // / // : ) —– Raven / / / /) / —- BlackBane / //..
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On an unrelated note, it’s clear that Cybersitter’s antics are generating more heat than just with wiccans and pagans–I first heard of their e-mail bombing of a critic on a Macintosh rumors web site. Turns out this woman sent a couple of e-mail letters asking why the web site for the National Organization for Women were being blocked by Cybersitter. Cybersitter e-mail bombed her site with so many messages that her ISP has to put Cybersitter’s IP address into their IP block filter.
I tried to post this notion in another newsgroup, but it didn’t clear the censor. Someone has observed that if a government agency (school, public library) were to use this software, it might be liable for civil rights violations. Notice what this means: if the list of excluded sites were publicized so that government agencies in general were aware of them, they might well avoid the software like the plague — and if not, a lawsuit could settle the matter permanently. This represents a potentially substantial loss of projected revenue to the company making this software — a powerful motivator, if it applies. Also, such publicity would make other software developers aware of this software’s potential marketing problems, and encourage a competitor to create something without the religious/political agenda that this software has. This looks like it could be a fruitful avenue, worth pursuing.
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I have already notified the civil rights watchdog people in the DOT and the FAA about this just in case they even think of considering this software. They get very concerned about any possible civil rights or constitutional infirngements. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Someone has observed that if a government agency (school, public library) were to use this software, it might be liable for civil rights violations. Notice what this means: if the list of excluded sites were publicized so that government agencies in general were aware of them, they might well avoid the software like the plague — and if not, a lawsuit could settle the matter permanently. This represents a potentially substantial loss of projected revenue to the company making this software — a powerful motivator, if it applies.
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: I noticed today that the Witches’ Voice has also added some information : about this, with a link to Texas Pagan Awareness Online. You will also notice that other "major" players in this field will also start to "ban" anything related to "Wicca". Raven has been a busy little gal these last few days… <snicker Next of course will be MicroSoft (R) hehehe <snicker
Don’t pride yourself on being the alpha and omega of all bigotry out there–bigots have existed long before you crawled on the scene, and bigots will be around long after your worm-ridden corpse rots away. On an unrelated note, it’s clear that Cybersitter’s antics are generating more heat than just with wiccans and pagans–I first heard of their e-mail bombing of a critic on a Macintosh rumors web site. Turns out this woman sent a couple of e-mail letters asking why the web site for the National Organization for Women were being blocked by Cybersitter. Cybersitter e-mail bombed her site with so many messages that her ISP has to put Cybersitter’s IP address into their IP block filter. Pathetic… – Bill
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I have tried what you have done, and gotten the same results. One difference is, I am allowed to search for ‘wicca’. I was trying to read some soc.religion. ism messages and it wouldn’t even let me in. Nothing showed up in the window. And, it censored the words and on messages on this NG. this is pathetic. You were right to try and talk to them. But they don’t want to listen. BB, Athena PS. It is too infuriating to go through this so I don’t recommend trying this for your self. (I’m not BANNING you, just advising you.)
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Is it not interesting that when the fundies cannot stamp out an entity with logic, nor with a better product, they can only resort to sarcasm, and manipulation.
<snipped You will also notice that other "major" players in this field will also start to "ban" anything related to "Wicca". Raven has been a busy little gal these last few days… <snicker Next of course will be MicroSoft (R) hehehe <snicker
Fundies aren’t just Christian anymore… Hideo "I have only come here seeking knowledge. Things they would not teach me of in college." -Wrapped Around Your Finger, the Police
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Is it not interesting that when the fundies cannot stamp out an entity with logic, nor with a better product, they can only resort to sarcasm, and manipulation. Hmmm, manipulation, seems to me that several Christian denominations have been in the news for having their leaders manipulate children in their care. Phoenix AZ certainly has had their fair share of Protestant as well as Roman Catholic child molestations, and the Mormons here also seem to keep their hand in. Does RBB perhaps support such manipulative techniques? I do hope not. Perhaps if the fundies could stop being manipulative in all their ravings (pun intended) maybe their sorry culture would become less manipulative, and they would have less publicity, and maybe the world could thereby improve. Be a better place. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You will also notice that other "major" players in this field will also start to "ban" anything related to "Wicca". Raven has been a busy little gal these last few days… <snicker Next of course will be MicroSoft (R) hehehe <snicker
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: I noticed today that the Witches’ Voice has also added some information : about this, with a link to Texas Pagan Awareness Online. You will also notice that other "major" players in this field will also start to "ban" anything related to "Wicca". Raven has been a busy little gal these last few days… <snicker Next of course will be MicroSoft (R) hehehe <snicker — http://www.anneli.com/blackbane creator of alt.witchcraft creator of alt.traditional.witchcraft //// /// ‘~ ( —– // / // : ) —– Raven / / / /) / —- BlackBane / //..
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: Last week, I had a run in with the Software Company that manufactures : Cybersitter an Internet Filtering product. I wrote the company an e-mail : expressing my displeasure at the filtering techniques they were currently : employing. The company responded by mail-bombing me. Boohoo! You should check to see who "works" for them <snicker — http://www.anneli.com/blackbane creator of alt.witchcraft creator of alt.traditional.witchcraft //// /// ‘~ ( —– // / // : ) —– Raven / / / /) / —- BlackBane / //..
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I noticed today that the Witches’ Voice has also added some information about this, with a link to Texas Pagan Awareness Online. Folks, check out the links to Wired and elsewhere from TPAO and the Peacefire site. Apparently, the software company that manufactures CyberSitter, Solid Oak, is affiliated with Focus on the Family, who were last seen attempting to censor the collections of public libraries. Even without Solid Oak’s apparent agenda, given the kind of material they censor (women’s organizations, gay rights pages, and now Pagan sites), I would never purchase anything from them because of their highly unprofessional attitude. I don’t know who their legal counsel is, but they must be morons to allow the CEO to go on the record with some of the inflammatory things he’s said. I work in the customer service department of an online retailer. If anyone here were to ever mailbomb a customer, no matter WHAT the provocation, that person would probably be fired. Rimrunner *grrrrrrrr* — Murder of Crows official web site: http://www.nwlink.com/~noah/ "Science is a way of talking about the universe in words that bind it to a common reality. Magic is a method of talking to the universe in words that it cannot ignore. The two are rarely compatible." — _The Books of Magic_, Neil Gaiman —
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Last week, I had a run in with the Software Company that manufactures Cybersitter an Internet Filtering product. I wrote the company an e-mail expressing my displeasure at the filtering techniques they were currently employing. The company responded by mail-bombing me. For the full story on what happened visit: http://www.thewitches.com/censor/ After this incident occured the company drafted an automated response to anyone inquiring about the mail-bombing incident. This letter basically dimisses me as not being a worthwhile individual because I have a site for wiccans/pagans. The full version of that letter is also available at the above URL. A few days after the mail-bombing incident, my site TheWitches.Com was added to Cybersitters list of blocked sites. They have since taken that one step further and banned ALL wiccan/pagan sites. Here is a brief copy of my violations file from the Cybersitter software. The blocked words "pagan", "wiccan" and "witch" came up when trying to access sites like The Witches Voice and Texas Pagan Awareness League. Cybersitter’s software also blocks those words when trying to use them in search engines. Here is the log: There are three reasons to be concerned about this. 1.) Unlike Cyber-Patrol who had targeted individual wiccan/pagan websites Cybersitter is targeting ALL wiccan/pagan websites by their use of specific keywords. 2.) The major filtering software companies are known to share lists with each other so if we are banned on one, we very well might end up banned on all. 3.) If legislation is passed requiring schools and libraries to use filtering software, the public in general would not be able to access information about wicca/paganism. Some schools and libraries are already using filtering software. Any of these schools and libraries using Cybersitter have already shut the public off from accessing wiccan/pagan sites without even being aware of it, as Cybersitter keeps its list of blocked sites encrypted…one would have to view the violations log for a list of blocked keywords. This is a dangerous situation to wiccan/pagans everywhere. We have two major first amendment rights being violated here. Our freedom of speech as well as our freedom of religion. According to Solid Oak’s website, this is the criteria they use for blocking sites: "CYBERsitter includes lists that can block literally 1000’s of World Wide Web sites that are not suitable for children. Any site that focuses on topics such as adult or sexual issues, illegal activities, bigotry, racism, drugs, or pornography are included in the list. " Please explain to me which category wicca/paganism fall into here? "CYBERsitter’s bad site list also includes hundreds of Usenet News Groups that focus on the same types of topics as the above WWW sites. You can optionally block access to ALL Newsgroups." Which means folks, that Pagan and Wiccan Newsgroups are also being blocked. There are several things that can be done about this. The Texas Pagan Awareness League has a page which lists the appropriate e-mail address with which to contact Solid Oak Software Inc. and voice your concern over this the URL is: http://www.tpao.org/cybersit.html I have also been contacted by a Southern California group who has been monitoring the Solid Oak situation for over a year. They are planning a peacable demonstration in front of Solid Oak’s headquarters in Santa Barbara anyone interested in taking part in this demonstration can contact either information. When writing please put the words "Solid Oak" in the subject line. You can also download a free trial copy of Cybersitter from http://www.solidoak.com and verify for yourself that the wiccan/pagan sites are indeed blocked. I have created a .gif file that can be displayed on all wiccan/pagan sites It is available on both my homepage http://www.thewitches.com/witchone.html as well as on my censor page http://www.thewitches.com/censor/ Visit and consider becoming a member of Peacefire an organization that is dedicated to fighting both Internet censorship as well as the filtering software companies. Their URL is http://www.peacefire.org Help spread the word about Solid Oak’s actions. My mailing list is limited and not all wiccans/pagans know about my website. Please make other wiccans/pagans you know aware of this situation either by forwarding a copy of this e-mail or referring them to the urls listed in this e-mail. The more united we are the louder our voices will be. If you have any suggestions or comments, please feel free to e-mail me Oak" in the subject line as I will be setting up a seperate mail folder for this correspondence. Bright Blessings, Asherah Webmistress- The Witches.Com http://www.thewitches.com
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