Singapore to regulate high traffic websites that report on Singapore • Hacker News Board

Re: Singapore to regulate high traffic websites that report on Singapore

#21

Post by seivan » Tue, May 28, 2013, 5:59 PM UTC

carbocation wrote: post #11

seivan wrote: post #10

Honestly, with the hate-mongering, the amount of rumours dressed like news on these high-traffic websites flooded with so called keyboard-warriors, I actually welcome something to counter it... however... Unfortunately it will be poorly implemented, and going to look like Chinas firewall. I just wish instead of trying to spend money on silencing most of the bunch of morons who somehow got an audience on lies and rumo…

> ps Does anyone remember the series of images comparing Orson Wells with someone else regarding the overload of bad/junk information? You're referring to Stuart McMillen's comic-style adaptation of a part of Neil Postman's book, "Amusing Ourselves to Death". Though McMillen has removed his poster at the request of Postman's estate [1], you can still find the comic on the internet [2]. 1 = http://www.stuartmcmillen.c…

Thank you!

I think the best way to do what Orson Welles tried to warn us about, is to "amuse your sheeps to death".

Re: Singapore to regulate high traffic websites that report on Singapore

#22

Post by mseebach » Tue, May 28, 2013, 6:07 PM UTC

seivan wrote: post #18

mseebach wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Honestly, with the hate-mongering, the amount of rumours dressed like news on these high-traffic websites flooded with so called keyboard-warriors, I actually welcome something to counter it... however... I am absolutely certain Orson Welles would not be seen dead in your company (unfortunately, he's not around to complain). Attitudes like yours have been exploited to justify every limitation on the freedom of spee…

I think you lack reading comprehension. I did not say George Orwell was behind the concept stated. I did not agree with the solution/suggestion presented by the Singaporean government. I said the hate-mongering articles/rumours posted by these sites for ad-money _IS A PROBLEM_ that can easily be handled by refuting their bs with proof and transparency. Seriously, reading comprehension. Though I do think my sentences…

No, my reading comprehension is fine. You explicitly endorsed the measure and write not a single word that could be construed to refer to "proof and transparency".

EDIT this response was submitted before "Though I do think my sentences were poorly structured, it did not say what you you seem to think it said." was added.

Re: Singapore to regulate high traffic websites that report on Singapore

#23

Post by [deleted] » Tue, May 28, 2013, 6:08 PM UTC

seivan wrote: post #10

Honestly, with the hate-mongering, the amount of rumours dressed like news on these high-traffic websites flooded with so called keyboard-warriors, I actually welcome something to counter it... however... Unfortunately it will be poorly implemented, and going to look like Chinas firewall. I just wish instead of trying to spend money on silencing most of the bunch of morons who somehow got an audience on lies and rumo…

[deleted]

Re: Singapore to regulate high traffic websites that report on Singapore

#24

Post by sp332 » Tue, May 28, 2013, 6:09 PM UTC

mseebach wrote: post #12

seivan wrote: post #10

Honestly, with the hate-mongering, the amount of rumours dressed like news on these high-traffic websites flooded with so called keyboard-warriors, I actually welcome something to counter it... however... Unfortunately it will be poorly implemented, and going to look like Chinas firewall. I just wish instead of trying to spend money on silencing most of the bunch of morons who somehow got an audience on lies and rumo…

> Honestly, with the hate-mongering, the amount of rumours dressed like news on these high-traffic websites flooded with so called keyboard-warriors, I actually welcome something to counter it... however... I am absolutely certain Orson Welles would not be seen dead in your company (unfortunately, he's not around to complain). Attitudes like yours have been exploited to justify every limitation on the freedom of spee…

Is there no middle ground where we can have political dissent without vicious gossip and other crap newspapers do? After writing I am... for freedom of the press, and against all violations of the Constitution to silence by force and not by reason the complaints or criticisms, just or unjust, of our citizens against the conduct of their agents, Thomas Jefferson later noted, I deplore... the putrid state into which our newspapers have passed and the malignity, the vulgarity, and mendacious spirit of those who write for them... These ordures are rapidly depraving the public taste and lessening its relish for sound food. As vehicles of information and a curb on our funtionaries, they have rendered themselves useless by forfeiting all title to belief. http://www.famguardian.org/Subjects/Politics/ThomasJefferson...

Re: Singapore to regulate high traffic websites that report on Singapore

#25

Post by seivan » Tue, May 28, 2013, 6:10 PM UTC

[deleted] wrote: post #23

seivan wrote: post #10

Honestly, with the hate-mongering, the amount of rumours dressed like news on these high-traffic websites flooded with so called keyboard-warriors, I actually welcome something to counter it... however... Unfortunately it will be poorly implemented, and going to look like Chinas firewall. I just wish instead of trying to spend money on silencing most of the bunch of morons who somehow got an audience on lies and rumo…

[deleted]

Absolutely right, no idea why I got it wrong.

Re: Singapore to regulate high traffic websites that report on Singapore

#26

Post by patmcguire » Tue, May 28, 2013, 6:10 PM UTC

nubela wrote: post #2

I'm a Singaporean and I fucking hate this. In fact, I built getgom.com because our government has decided to ban porn as well. And now.. THIS. Any Singaporean HNers out there, if you're up for it, as a programmer, I'm wanna build something to circumvent this. Holler if you're keen. Cheers. -- On another note, this is why whenever people say that Singapore is a fine place to start a business, I say thats probably beca…

There are no pictures, btw, for those a work.

Re: Singapore to regulate high traffic websites that report on Singapore

#27

Post by seivan » Tue, May 28, 2013, 6:11 PM UTC

mseebach wrote: post #22

seivan wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you lack reading comprehension. I did not say George Orwell was behind the concept stated. I did not agree with the solution/suggestion presented by the Singaporean government. I said the hate-mongering articles/rumours posted by these sites for ad-money _IS A PROBLEM_ that can easily be handled by refuting their bs with proof and transparency. Seriously, reading comprehension. Though I do think my sentences…

No, my reading comprehension is fine. You explicitly endorsed the measure and write not a single word that could be construed to refer to "proof and transparency". EDIT this response was submitted before "Though I do think my sentences were poorly structured, it did not say what you you seem to think it said." was added.

"- they open up to more transparency and would somehow counter most of the bs articles."

Again, it's poorly structured, but not as poorly as missing the entire word "transparency"

Re: Singapore to regulate high traffic websites that report on Singapore

#28

Post by carbocation » Tue, May 28, 2013, 6:11 PM UTC

seivan wrote: post #21

carbocation wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ps Does anyone remember the series of images comparing Orson Wells with someone else regarding the overload of bad/junk information? You're referring to Stuart McMillen's comic-style adaptation of a part of Neil Postman's book, "Amusing Ourselves to Death". Though McMillen has removed his poster at the request of Postman's estate [1], you can still find the comic on the internet [2]. 1 = http://www.stuartmcmillen.c…

Thank you! I think the best way to do what Orson Welles tried to warn us about, is to "amuse your sheeps to death".

My pleasure!

Just to reduce the mixing of themes, I wanted to comment that amusement is a big part of Huxley's Brave New World, but it really doesn't fit with Orwell's 1984. Postman's thesis is that Huxley, not Orwell, was more prescient in his fears for humanity.

Re: Singapore to regulate high traffic websites that report on Singapore

#29

Post by mseebach » Tue, May 28, 2013, 6:16 PM UTC

sp332 wrote: post #24

mseebach wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Honestly, with the hate-mongering, the amount of rumours dressed like news on these high-traffic websites flooded with so called keyboard-warriors, I actually welcome something to counter it... however... I am absolutely certain Orson Welles would not be seen dead in your company (unfortunately, he's not around to complain). Attitudes like yours have been exploited to justify every limitation on the freedom of spee…

Is there no middle ground where we can have political dissent without vicious gossip and other crap newspapers do? After writing I am... for freedom of the press, and against all violations of the Constitution to silence by force and not by reason the complaints or criticisms, just or unjust, of our citizens against the conduct of their agents, Thomas Jefferson later noted, I deplore... the putrid state into which ou…

Read that page of quotations, the whole one. All the answers are there.

Particularly:

"Since truth and reason have maintained their ground against false opinions in league with false facts, the press confined to truth needs no other legal restraint. The public judgment will correct false reasonings and opinions on a full hearing of all parties, and no other definite line can be drawn between the inestimable liberty of the press and its demoralizing licentiousness. If there be still improprieties which this rule would not restrain, its supplement must be sought in the censorship of public opinion." --Thomas Jefferson: 2nd Inaugural Address, 1805. ME 3:381

Re: Singapore to regulate high traffic websites that report on Singapore

#30

Post by rayiner » Tue, May 28, 2013, 6:17 PM UTC

revelation wrote: post #7

Oops, the cool, tax-saving getaway is a fascist dictatorship. Who could have known.

Singapore and China are proof of two things:

1) Freedom is not a necessary condition for economic prosperity (which undermines a lot of American rhetoric of the last 50 years);

2) The global business community doesn't give a shit about democracy, as demonstrated by its rush to embrace China, the Middle East, etc, and the corresponding apologizing about their political systems.

I nearly puked on Metro North the other day (like a drunk Westchester teen after too much fun in Manhattan) reading an article where some commentator with business interests in China tried to downplay the free speech situation in China as "cultural differences."