Sunday, September 11, 2005

I had no idea

I have a friend at work who really enjoys my blog. Sadly, since she has no computer of her own she depends on the computers at the Orem Public Library to check her e-mail, catch up on Brittney Spears related news, and to follow my website.

The only problem is my site is blocked by the content filter that the Orem Public Library uses so she is unable to access it from there, and therefore unable to read my blog.

I have to admit that I don't know exactly how internet filters work. I could ask my brother, or look it up on the internet, but my brother already poked fun at me for "putting way too much research" into my blog. I do suspect that the OPL Filter is either set to block specific sites or can scan text for content.

Although the system probably operates using both techniques simultaneously, I'll guess it is the latter that is keeping anyone who uses their computers from falling victim to my ramblings… I do after all put the Blah in blog

Looking back over the entries on this page I realize that on two occasions I used the dreaded f word which probably has something to do with the fact that my site is getting filtered. That’s funny—to me anyway—since I make no conscious effort to use it or not use it… I only write what is in my brain and if there happens to be colorful metaphor embedded in the heaping mess that spews forth onto my keyboard on its way to becoming web content then so be it. If it happens it happens… At least that is how I felt before I considered any such ramifications.

To my friend I say - "sorry for the inconvenience. I'll try to do better."

PS Fuckity fuck… fuck… fucking fuck.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

There are many types of logic used in filtering, and you've guessed the two most common ones. If your friend can't go to anyone's blog on blog-city.com, then it's probably the first method (maybe they're worried about blog-city specifically or blogs in general.

\If it's just your blog, though, I don't think it's because of the F bomb. I mean, if there's one thing people in Orem, Utah believe in, it's fucking. Of course, they call it "holy procreation" but we all know it's the same fucking thing, so to speak.

No, I think what's getting you blocked in Orem, Utah is references to UU and other left-leaning organizations and ideas. They'd much rather have you show up at the library and should "FUCK!" at the top of your lungs several times than "There's more than one kind of faith that is valid!" or "Maybe we should treat all of God's children with respect...even the ones that don't agree with us or might even be gay!" or "Maybe we should think about the poor!"

Saying "fuck" would piss them off. Saying that other stuff would send them into apoplectic shock.

Anonymous said...

I had a note at the beginning of my post that, ironically, got FILTERED! It was a disclaimer saying that my answer didn't make me a hypocrite because it involved no research...everything was pulled out of my ass and not double-checked. :D

Anonymous said...

When my comp crashes I find myself hitting the OREM library to for my net fix. Thier online setup sux nut. You think they would have Britney Spears filters. ;)