6 ms·

Homosexuality used to be illegal. If we censored anyone talking about it, it would probably still be illegal today and millions of people would still feel disgu

Homosexuality used to be illegal. If we censored anyone talking about it, it would probably still be illegal today and millions of people would still feel disgusted at themselves for having "unnatural feelings." Legality isn't always the best way to draw a line.

Judgmentality 8y ago
I didn't say it was moral or what's best for the world, I just meant it's an easily defined goal. And with regards to the other commenter asking about jurisdiction, you change it based on the IP address (obviously this can be spoofed). I am not claiming that there is a simple solution for how to handle censorship that is optimal for the benefit of mankind. I am saying the way companies should approach implementing it is relatively straight-forward. Otherwise you'll have endless debates about what is and is not moral, where nobody will ever agree and product managers and engineers and everybody else will constantly be in tension and nobody will be happy. Censor as little as necessary based on laws and let people make their own decisions for what they want to view.
- dvdkon 8y ago
  I agree with the sentiment, but the problem is that it's actually quite hard to distinguish "legal" and "illegal". Judges do that for a living and see how long a single case takes them. It's simply not feasible for an automated system to do it properly.
SketchySeaBeast 8y ago
> Homosexuality used to be illegal. If we censored anyone talking about it, it would probably still be illegal today and millions of people would still feel disgusted at themselves for having "unnatural feelings." But that's not what the issue is here. Displaying CP is literally illegal - was discussing homosexuality illegal? Was viewing nude males? It's the difference between blocking the literal illegal item or blocking items adjacent to it.
- ceejayoz 8y ago
  > Displaying CP is literally illegal - was discussing homosexuality illegal? Was viewing nude males? These are weird comparisons to try to make. Discussing CP is legal. Viewing it is not. Viewing homosexual pornography has been illegal in the past. Viewing nude males wasn't illegal, just like viewing nude children isn't necessarily.
  - SketchySeaBeast 8y ago
    Perfect. Discussion is fine, but the actual illegal act is illegal. So.. the line is easy to draw. Once viewing an imagine is illegal you shouldn't allow the viewing of that image.
    - michaelmrose 8y ago
      Computers are incredibly dumber than you imagine. We are terribly excited that a computer can tell the difference between cat and not a cat.
- gnulinux 8y ago
  Yes there are countries where displaying homosexuality is illegal (e.g. Iran). I cannot comment on the legality of discussing homosexuality but that's irrelevant anyway since discussing CP is also legal.
darkpuma 8y ago
You're giving me flashbacks to 'slippery slope' arguments I was hearing from people years ago...
- tql 8y ago
  Oh believe me, the slippery slope is real. (NSFW) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsUMGY9hSqC/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BsUMGY9hSqC/
  - throwdaway2342 8y ago
    Can someone who is not at work describe the contents of this link for those who are?
    - SmellyGeekBoy 8y ago
      Children in drag? I don't get it.
    - astura 8y ago
      Its just kids dancing around some of them dressed up like adults with heavy makeup. Nothing id really consider NSFW. I don't really "get' it either.

Judgmentality 8y ago

I didn't say it was moral or what's best for the world, I just meant it's an easily defined goal. And with regards to the other commenter asking about jurisdiction, you change it based on the IP address (obviously this can be spoofed). I am not claiming that there is a simple solution for how to handle censorship that is optimal for the benefit of mankind. I am saying the way companies should approach implementing it is relatively straight-forward. Otherwise you'll have endless debates about what is and is not moral, where nobody will ever agree and product managers and engineers and everybody else will constantly be in tension and nobody will be happy. Censor as little as necessary based on laws and let people make their own decisions for what they want to view.

dvdkon 8y ago
I agree with the sentiment, but the problem is that it's actually quite hard to distinguish "legal" and "illegal". Judges do that for a living and see how long a single case takes them. It's simply not feasible for an automated system to do it properly.

SketchySeaBeast 8y ago

> Homosexuality used to be illegal. If we censored anyone talking about it, it would probably still be illegal today and millions of people would still feel disgusted at themselves for having "unnatural feelings." But that's not what the issue is here. Displaying CP is literally illegal - was discussing homosexuality illegal? Was viewing nude males? It's the difference between blocking the literal illegal item or blocking items adjacent to it.

ceejayoz 8y ago
> Displaying CP is literally illegal - was discussing homosexuality illegal? Was viewing nude males? These are weird comparisons to try to make. Discussing CP is legal. Viewing it is not. Viewing homosexual pornography has been illegal in the past. Viewing nude males wasn't illegal, just like viewing nude children isn't necessarily.
- SketchySeaBeast 8y ago
  Perfect. Discussion is fine, but the actual illegal act is illegal. So.. the line is easy to draw. Once viewing an imagine is illegal you shouldn't allow the viewing of that image.
  - michaelmrose 8y ago
    Computers are incredibly dumber than you imagine. We are terribly excited that a computer can tell the difference between cat and not a cat.
gnulinux 8y ago
Yes there are countries where displaying homosexuality is illegal (e.g. Iran). I cannot comment on the legality of discussing homosexuality but that's irrelevant anyway since discussing CP is also legal.

darkpuma 8y ago

You're giving me flashbacks to 'slippery slope' arguments I was hearing from people years ago...

tql 8y ago
Oh believe me, the slippery slope is real. (NSFW) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsUMGY9hSqC/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BsUMGY9hSqC/
- throwdaway2342 8y ago
  Can someone who is not at work describe the contents of this link for those who are?
  - SmellyGeekBoy 8y ago
    Children in drag? I don't get it.
  - astura 8y ago
    Its just kids dancing around some of them dressed up like adults with heavy makeup. Nothing id really consider NSFW. I don't really "get' it either.