[LINK] Stereotypes [Was: Overseas Ecommerce Expansion Due to the ALP's Internet censorship regime]

[David Boxall]

On 9/07/2010 5:07 PM, Jan Whitaker wrote:
> ...
> Just like stereotyping gender as voting in one way, it's equally
> unfair for politicians (or us) to lump people of a particular belief
> system into voting a particular way. I'm not convinced, except for
> the most marginal and extreme in the religious right, that pandering
> does any good.
We evidently know different religious types. I've been quite 
disappointed at the attitudes expressed by otherwise decent people. At 
present, those I know believe that filtering is consistent with their 
faith. There's an alarming tenacity in belief and resistance to any 
contrary idea. They number more than I would have credited, just a short 
while ago. Politicians know the numbers. They also know that pandering 
to them wins more votes than it loses. To politicians, votes are good. 
Any votes.

> It's quite insulting, really. It's the same as Conroy
> labelling those against the filter as paedophiles or child abusers.
> None of it is helpful.
> ...
The government has succeeded in stereotyping filter opponents as cartoon 
characters, dressed in a dirty raincoats, the pockets of which are 
filled with boiled lollies, who hang around school playgrounds. That 
might not work with subscribers to this list but, in my experience, it 
has worked with the broader community. It has been exceedingly "helpful" 
in promoting the policy. Our politicians believe it will be helpful in 
winning votes. I reckon they're right.

For the filter to fail, that must change. Perhaps opponents need a 
similar cartoon. I have in mind a character who looks as though he's 
spent the last forty years alone on a mountain top, yelling "Internet 
bad" before exploding. A maniacal cackle might help, as well, or it 
might just sound like he's about to lay an egg.

-- 
David Boxall                    |  Dogs look up to us
                                |  And cats look down on us
http://david.boxall.id.au       |  But pigs treat us as equals
                                                    --Winston Churchill