U.S. senator: It's time to ban Wikipedia in schools, libraries

Vikingod · Feb 15, 2007, 11:48 AM

Source: ComputerWorld
____________
Here's the newest from Sen. Ted Stevens, the man who described the Internet as a series of tubes: It's time for the federal government to ban access to Wikipedia, MySpace, and social networking sites from schools and libraries.

Early in January, Stevens introduced Senate bill 49, which among other things, would require that any school or library that gets federal Internet subsidies would have to block access to interactive Web sites, including social networking sites, and possibly blogs as well. It appears that the definition of those sites is so vague that it could include sites such as Wikipedia, according to commentators. It would certainly ban MySpace.

~~DudeBoyz~~ · Feb 15, 2007, 12:49 PM

Geesh. As great as this country can be, dorks like that can make it look pretty lame...

You want to drive a kid to spend time trying to find a way to do something? Just tell them they can't and when they ask for a reason, say "Because I said so". They'll be putting so much effort into figuring out what it is you are trying to hide from them, that they won't have as much time, drive and energy to spend on their core education.

Oh man.

BlueMak · Feb 15, 2007, 01:25 PM

I can see his point. Wiki is hardly the best way for a kid to learn things. As for MySpace, what is the point of letting its use in schools?

~~DudeBoyz~~ · Feb 15, 2007, 01:57 PM

Preventing our kids from gaining knowledge seems to be a bad idea. Why not let them read it and take the time as a parent or teacher to discuss it with them so they are not misinformed?

Zeph · Feb 15, 2007, 09:30 PM

Oh no, interactive websites banned from schools and libraries? How will I ever turn in my homework?

fobis · Feb 15, 2007, 10:30 PM

I don't think that Wikipedia should be banned, because as I student, I know very well how useful it is for an OVERVIEW or SYNOPSIS or things, which is absurdly useful when trying to figure out where to start researching.

~~DudeBoyz~~ · Feb 15, 2007, 10:42 PM

I do have to admit, they seemed to be able to teach Reading, Writing and Math back in the day without any Internet. Wonder why so many students are bad at those 3 subjects but so good at surfing the web?

Judas · Feb 15, 2007, 10:50 PM

actually because they suck as trying to teach math/writing/and reading let alone proper grammer... our schools are turning into shitholes...

~~DudeBoyz~~ · Feb 15, 2007, 10:59 PM

I'm glad I went to school back when they weren't so horrible. At least I had a decent education.

Oh well, enough worrying about the future. I've got a lot of gaming to get to in my remaining years and must focus on that.

SFOSOK · Feb 16, 2007, 12:06 AM

So the governement now = the middle child who is crying in the corner because he is getting neglected then eventually ships his siblings off to Africa?

Feb 15, 2007, 11:48 AM	#1
Vikingod Int'l Fish Liaison Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: By the light of lamp I sit and type... Posts: 16,197 Rep Power: 112 System Specs	U.S. senator: It's time to ban Wikipedia in schools, libraries Source: ComputerWorld ____________ Here's the newest from Sen. Ted Stevens, the man who described the Internet as a series of tubes: It's time for the federal government to ban access to Wikipedia, MySpace, and social networking sites from schools and libraries. Early in January, Stevens introduced Senate bill 49, which among other things, would require that any school or library that gets federal Internet subsidies would have to block access to interactive Web sites, including social networking sites, and possibly blogs as well. It appears that the definition of those sites is so vague that it could include sites such as Wikipedia, according to commentators. It would certainly ban MySpace.

Feb 15, 2007, 01:25 PM	#3
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,465 Rep Power: 349 System Specs	I can see his point. Wiki is hardly the best way for a kid to learn things. As for MySpace, what is the point of letting its use in schools? __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*

Feb 15, 2007, 09:30 PM	#5
Zeph DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 190 Rep Power: 0	Oh no, interactive websites banned from schools and libraries? How will I ever turn in my homework? __________________

Feb 15, 2007, 10:30 PM	#6
fobis DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 716 Rep Power: 51	I don't think that Wikipedia should be banned, because as I student, I know very well how useful it is for an OVERVIEW or SYNOPSIS or things, which is absurdly useful when trying to figure out where to start researching. __________________ MacBook Pro Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.4 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33GHz 2GB DDR2-677 ATi Mobility Radeon X1600 256MB 120GB 7200RPM SATA HDD

Feb 16, 2007, 12:06 AM	#10
SFOSOK 939 Goin Strong Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 7,033 Rep Power: 90 System Specs	So the governement now = the middle child who is crying in the corner because he is getting neglected then eventually ships his siblings off to Africa? __________________ Warning - Explicit Content Preceeding METAL!!

Feb 15, 2007, 12:49 PM	#2
~~DudeBoyz~~ banned Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,677 Rep Power: 0	Geesh. As great as this country can be, dorks like that can make it look pretty lame... You want to drive a kid to spend time trying to find a way to do something? Just tell them they can't and when they ask for a reason, say "Because I said so". They'll be putting so much effort into figuring out what it is you are trying to hide from them, that they won't have as much time, drive and energy to spend on their core education. Oh man.

Feb 15, 2007, 01:57 PM	#4
~~DudeBoyz~~ banned Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,677 Rep Power: 0	Preventing our kids from gaining knowledge seems to be a bad idea. Why not let them read it and take the time as a parent or teacher to discuss it with them so they are not misinformed?

Feb 15, 2007, 10:42 PM	#7
~~DudeBoyz~~ banned Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,677 Rep Power: 0	I do have to admit, they seemed to be able to teach Reading, Writing and Math back in the day without any Internet. Wonder why so many students are bad at those 3 subjects but so good at surfing the web?

Feb 15, 2007, 10:59 PM	#9
~~DudeBoyz~~ banned Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,677 Rep Power: 0	I'm glad I went to school back when they weren't so horrible. At least I had a decent education. Oh well, enough worrying about the future. I've got a lot of gaming to get to in my remaining years and must focus on that.