Brickbat: Keep Away

While doing research for a class debate on gun control, Andrew Lampart found he couldn't access the National Rifle Association's website while on campus at Connecticut's Nonnewaug High School. But he could go to pro-gun control sites just fine. Investigating further, he found the state Republican Party's website was blocked, but not that of the Democratic Party. Anti-abortion websites were blocked, but not those of pro-choice groups. Christian websites, including that of the Vatican, were blocked, but not Islamic websites. He complained to the superintendent, but nothing changed. So he took his findings to the school board. "The board appreciated hearing the comments from Andrew and agree that he has raised an important issue that warrants further investigation," said board John Chapman.

Comments

[db]

"The board appreciated hearing the comments from Andrew and agree that he has raised an important issue that warrants further investigation," said board John Chapman.

Wow, what a slimy non-answer. This stinks of "you'll forget about this.over summer vacation.and we.won't have to do.anything."

[Doctor Whom]

"Don't call us; we'll call you."

[WDATPDIM!?]

FYTW, son.

[Heroic Mulatto]

To be fair, Chapman in his role as Board of Education chairman, issued a longer statement which is the first thing that pops-up if you visit the school's website. He unequivocally states "the blocking of otherwise appropriate websites, regardless of political or religious viewpoints, is WRONG" [caps his].

[Rich]

We now understand this was a function of how the parameters were set in the filtering criteria

No shit?

[Brett L]

"Shut the fuck up, kid. You're making us look bad."

[Rev-Match]

...he couldn't access the National Rifle Association's website while on campus at Connecticut's Nonnewaug High School. But he could go to pro-gun control sites just fine.

You obviously cannot have children developing "wrong" opinions.

[Fist of Etiquette]

The Allies used to block Nazi propaganda during wartime. How is this different?

[Steve G]

Ooo, look at this shiny metal hook-like thing with a pointy end...I think I'll bite down on it.

[db]

Well, obviously one major difference is that web design has come a long way since then.

[Almanian!]

"Zee internets....it eez a ZEEErees of...chooobssss..."

[Almanian!]

It isn't - it's exactly the same thing. EXACTLY.

Probably won't stop this meddler from becoming the tea-fucking, ratbagging KOCHtopushadian scum he seems destined to be.

But kudos to whomever was trying to help this poor, lost soul and others like him.

[WDATPDIM!?]

It was wrong then, and it's wrong now.

[Suthenboy]

"Christian websites, including that of the Vatican, were blocked, but not Islamic websites."

And there it is folks. The lefty love of Islam is a dead give-away. They are authoritarians of the worst kind. All of their complaining about oppression is a ruse.

[sarcasmic]

They don't love Islam. They just hate Christianity.

[Michael Ejercito]

I wonder why they hate Christianity more than Islam.

[Seamus]

Because their daddies weren't Muslims.

[Drake]

Connecticut is on my no-go list. As bad as MA, NY, and CA. Far worse than NJ.

[UnCivilServant]

Connecticut is just a suburb of NYC, of course it's an abomination.

[x4rqcks3f]

Far worse than NJ.

I hope so! I hesitantly moved to NJ last fall. I have my complaints, but overall it hasn't been too bad.

[Rich]

Which exit?

[x4rqcks3f]

I'm guessing you mean which exit off the turnpike? None. I'm in Sussex county.

[WTF]

Where? I have relatives in Sussex County.

[Rich]

Poor attempt at humor. Which state did you leave?

[Drake]

Nice, I'm in Warren. We even have a fairly decent Liberty Caucus member U.S. Rep in Scott Garrett.

[UnCivilServant]

I always found it funny that I only ever had to pay a toll to get out of New Jersey.

[Drake]

I always saw it as yet another reason to stay out of NY.

[UnCivilServant]

It is home to a species of rampaging asshole unique to the state. That alone should be more than enough reason to stay away.

[WTF]

I've lived in NJ my entire life. If it wasn't for the taxes and proggie government it would be paradise.

[UnCivilServant]

And the roads. New Jersey roads are so far the hardest to navigate of any I've had the misfortune of driving on. (Even beat out England, home of the Roundabout and the micro-roundabout).

[WTF]

Yeah, I guess if you don't already have a good idea of how to get where you want to go, navigating the roads can be pretty tough.

[Rich]

The jughandle turns and demolition-derby intersections add spice to life!

[Drake]

NJ is corrupt and expensive, but not nearly as far gone as NY and the southern New England states. The outer suburbs are fairly conservative / even a bit libertarian.

[WTF]

The outer suburbs are fairly conservative / even a bit libertarian.

Yes, the proggie government is really the result of the Dem machines in the cities and the public service unions.

[mr lizard]

This kids skeptism is an obvious indicator that the state has failed him. The obvious fix is more funding for intrusive indictrination. I think a armed "wellness" check of his household, followed by a round of psyc evals would be a good immediate corrective action.

[sarcasmic]

The school is just being tolerant by blocking sites with intolerant viewpoints.

[Pro Libertate]

I have a question: Has Dr. Zaius ever done a commencement address before? If not, why not?

[WDATPDIM!?]

He's dead, Jim.

[Pro Libertate]

There are always substitutes, like this one.

"When I was a boy in Hannibal, Missouri, my comrades and? I had but one goal: the destruction of the vile pestilence known as man...and to be a steam boatman.

[sarcasmic]

Help me Dr Zaius!

[Brian D]

Son of a damn dirty ape!

[some guy]

How many damn, dirty apes does it take to screw in a light bulb?

[Brian D]

Too busy on Broadway.

[Drake]

My son had an English project to look for specific words in magazines and newspaper and copy or cut out the article. He found a bunch of them in American Rifleman. I was waiting for the call from the school that week but it never came. Almost a let down.

[Rich]

Patience, Drake. Building a solid case takes time.

[Drake]

They better hurry, he sure isn't going to public High School.

[Rich]

Irrelevant. The case is against *you*.

[Drake]

Reading this blog is probably Exhibit 1.

[Rich]

You can count on it.

[Rich]

Nonnewaug High School

I can't believe that Connecticut, of all places, permits a name that *doubly* disparages People of Color.

[Ted S.]

I thought it was a reference to Portuguese footballer Nani and British author Evelyn Waugh (rhymes with laugh).

[Rich]

*triply*

[Rich]

While doing research for a class debate on gun control ...

Emphasis added.

1) *That* "warrants further investigation".

2) "It's a TRAP!"

[GILMORE]

"further investigation" has been a euphemism for "we will now bury this story until the general public has forgotten all about it" for most of my lifetime.

Admittedly, I don't think it caught on until the Clintons.

[LarryA]

The really interesting part of this kerfluffel is the Dell response.
http://en.community.dell.com/d.....vice-.aspx

Basically:
1. The school blocked political advocacy sites but not non-rated sites.
2. Sites are rated in order, based on popularity.
3. The gun-control sites aren't getting enough traffic to trigger their being rated.