Petition to Stop the FCC

[automatic]

SIGN THIS PETITION:
http://www1.stopfcc.com/

The proprietors if StopFCC.Com need to get one million signatures. It only takes a minute, and you'll be helping a good cause. They're only up to 139,858 as of this post...

As you all know, the FCC is currently targeting broadcast radio and television stations with high fines for content it claims is "indecent." This is basically censorship, an erosion of our first amendment rights. If American citizens allow this to happen, then cable tv, printed material and internet content will likely follow. The propieters of sites like Newgrounds might someday be faced with a $50,000 fine for each item the FCC deems "indecent," effectively destroying them. (We all know how much "indecent" content there is here... that's why we like it!)

I know this may sound far-fetched, but if we allow the FCC to do this with broadcast, what's to stop them from going further? do you really want to take that chance? Please sign the petition. Even if you don't think it'll do any good, just do it because it couldn't hurt...

[second-sun]

i already signed that petition a while ago, but it's good to keep posting it. The FCC is such a worthless piece of crap.

[Ravens-Grin]

Ahh don't use the slippery slope excuse for this thing. Sure the FCC is going overboard, but it won't have a say on the internet, or at least hopefully.

By the way, I signed it.

[automatic]

At 4/1/04 03:35 PM, second_sun wrote: i already signed that petition a while ago, but it's good to keep posting it. The FCC is such a worthless piece of crap.

If there was already a topic on this, I apologize... I checked the topics on the Politics front page and didn't see one for a petition, that's the only reason I posted this.

But, yeah, the FCC is a worthless piece of crap :)

[automatic]

At 4/1/04 03:36 PM, Ravens_Grin wrote: Ahh don't use the slippery slope excuse for this thing. Sure the FCC is going overboard, but it won't have a say on the internet, or at least hopefully.

By the way, I signed it.

I feel kind of guilty about that, but what the hell... I justify it with the thought of the sheer joy I would have if the FCC failed in it's indecency mission.

By the way, thanks!

[Thanatopsis]

ok something that non communication majors dont seem to get is that you dont have freedom of speach when it comes to tv or raidio that is broad cast open air for free. because it has to pass through a public medium, ie the air. the stations know this going into the buisness because they sign papers on a regular basis renuing there leas on select frequencys that the gov gives out to the public raidio stations, and in the papers that they sign it states that they have to follow decency and obcenity laws, the problem for that is that the laws are different for each area so half of the bill passed was to define indecent and obcene words and topics, the unfair part is the increase in fines because it can shut down smaller radio stations perminitly because they cant cover the fines.

[second-sun]

but that's just the thing, there shouldn't be laws against obsenity on the radio or tv. you can't just say that we're wrong because there are laws against it.

[Thanatopsis]

wait what did you just say about not needing obcenity laws, i would like some proff that you dont need obcenity laws.

[PlugDude]

As i don't have an American Zip-Code due to the fact that i live in the Uk i could not sign it :( if someone could give me a fake Zip i will go back and sign it, anyone?

[second-sun]

At 4/1/04 04:25 PM, _Thanatopsis_ wrote: wait what did you just say about not needing obcenity laws, i would like some proff that you dont need obcenity laws.

here's proof:

obsenity is a completely arbitrary concept. what is obsene to one person may be acceptable to another. obsenity stems from the part of the brain that considers something shocking or unacceptable. when something offends you, you get a feeling of disbelief, because it goes against what you feel should exist. if we were to get rid of obsenity regulations, things that we find obsene today would be completely desensitized in a short period of time. in an environment of free-speech, no one has the right to declare what is legally unfit to be said.

[Ravens-Grin]

ooh second_sun burned you...

[Thanatopsis]

obsenity is a completely arbitrary concept. what is obsene to one person may be acceptable to another. obsenity stems from the part of the brain that considers something shocking or unacceptable. when something offends you, you get a feeling of disbelief, because it goes against what you feel should exist. if we were to get rid of obsenity regulations, things that we find obsene today would be completely desensitized in a short period of time. in an environment of free-speech, no one has the right to declare what is legally unfit to be said.

on the topic of obcenity there is such a thing i would call a guy that goes around flashing his dick at people obcen heres the OED definition of obcentiy, The character or quality of being offensively indecent, lewdness; an instance of this, esp. an obscene expression. and The character or quality of being horrible, offensive, or morally repugnant, etc. Also (as a count noun): an extremely offensive or objectionable gesture, statement, event, etc. yes it does stem for consepts that are viewd as affencive but its not some thing were born with its based on moral values that we are taught by the world around you which is why you can be desensitsed by something. but you still haven proven to me that we dont need obcenity laws do you want people having sex in the streets were anyone can see them? what proof do you have that we dont need obscenity laws, how we determin something is obscen is not of importans what is is do we need obscenity laws.

[Thanatopsis]

At 4/1/04 05:25 PM, Ravens_Grin wrote: ooh second_sun burned you...

sorry i dont see were he burned me seen as he didnt answer the question, and besides love, hate, tast in foods, what is atractive and unatractive are just a few of the other things in life that are arbitary so Second_Sun's point is a bit moot.

[second-sun]

At 4/1/04 05:39 PM, _Thanatopsis_ wrote:

on the topic of obcenity there is such a thing i would call a guy that goes around flashing his dick at people obcen heres the OED definition of obcentiy, The character or quality of being offensively indecent, lewdness; an instance of this, esp. an obscene expression. and The character or quality of being horrible, offensive, or morally repugnant, etc. Also (as a count noun): an extremely offensive or objectionable gesture, statement, event, etc.

See Previous Statement by me.

what proof do you have that we dont need obscenity laws, how we determin something is obscen is not of importans what is is do we need obscenity laws.

There is a fine line between the right to say whatever you want, and the right to fuck in the street, or whip it out in public. The difference is: one, there is a government agency to fine you for, against the first amendment, and the other is a criminal offence. I never said i wanted fucking in the streets, but in the newspapers, the t.v., the radio, and the internet, everything is fair game.

[Thanatopsis]

At 4/1/04 05:44 PM, second_sun wrote:

what proof do you have that we dont need obscenity laws, how we determin something is obscen is not of importans what is is do we need obscenity laws.

There is a fine line between the right to say whatever you want, and the right to fuck in the street, or whip it out in public. The difference is: one, there is a government agency to fine you for, against the first amendment, and the other is a criminal offence. I never said i wanted fucking in the streets, but in the newspapers, the t.v., the radio, and the internet, everything is fair game.

um the fcc doesnt regulate the internet so we will leave that out but TV and radio are the public and as such one of the fcc's many jobs is that comunity standards for ocenity are meet, because it is public and cursing in public gets you in truble with the people around you so as tv and radio are public they are fined as the equivelent punishment as a repremand from passers by or a police officer.

[second-sun]

cursing in public gets you in trouble with the people around you?! if that is the whole of your argument that the fcc should not be tied to a space shuttle and shot at an earsplitting pace towards the unknown, then i think you should rethink it. Did you know that it is actually legal in this country to go out into the streets and... dare i say it... swear? Some people may not like it, but if they have a problem, you can turn around and yell as loudly as you want "GO FUCK YOURSELF!" free of persecution.

[Thanatopsis]

At 4/1/04 05:56 PM, second_sun wrote: cursing in public gets you in trouble with the people around you?! if that is the whole of your argument that the fcc should not be tied to a space shuttle and shot at an earsplitting pace towards the unknown, then i think you should rethink it. Did you know that it is actually legal in this country to go out into the streets and... dare i say it... swear? Some people may not like it, but if they have a problem, you can turn around and yell as loudly as you want "GO FUCK YOURSELF!" free of persecution.

actuly many counties have laws that can get you thrown in jail if you cures infront of children and they do enforce thoughs laws so if i were you i would be carefull what i say around whom.

ok i thought that i had said something esle which aparently i didnt say so i will say it now the fcc is a store owner and they own the airwaves that broadcasters use and leas the space out to them but they set the rules for what they want in there store and the type of decorations that are on the products to get peoples atention, the people leasing the shelf space are informed of the rules before buying the space and if they brake the rules of the lease then the store owner has the right to punish the people leasing the space dont they, the obcenity regs are the rules that come along with the space and it doesnt mater if Howerd stern wants something to gripe about so he uses the lease that he signs he still has to follow the conditions of the lease.

[second-sun]

i guess that makes a little bit more sense now, i didn't realize that the FCC actually owns all of the radio stations in america, and can control what they say. if i had known that they had a monopoly on a particular market, and could bend it to their will, i probably wouldn't have said anything.

[Idiot-Finder]

FCC = Taliban

[Thanatopsis]

At 4/1/04 06:20 PM, second_sun wrote: i guess that makes a little bit more sense now, i didn't realize that the FCC actually owns all of the radio stations in america, and can control what they say. if i had known that they had a monopoly on a particular market, and could bend it to their will, i probably wouldn't have said anything.

the fcc was orinaly desinged to set standards for radio and tv and who could use what frequency for how long and under what conditions they are the people who decide what standard to use for broadcasting and are curently deciding on one uniform standard for Digital broadcasts because curently i beleve there are 13 differnt formats for digital signals that have to be built into chips because the broadcast systemisnt chosen yet for the maditory switch over to digital telivision in 2007.

[second-sun]

but you still cant deny that they are the government system that determines what kind of speech is appropriate or not.

[Thanatopsis]

At 4/1/04 06:28 PM, second_sun wrote: but you still cant deny that they are the government system that determines what kind of speech is appropriate or not.

no i dont and i personly think that the new fines are inefective and will fail to deter any further use of foul language but the fcc will find that out for themselves.

i got a question for you what do you think of the congress seting up a maditory year by which all broadcasts in the US will have to be digital the year is 2007

[second-sun]

i'm not too sure, because, as you said, i am not the communications major here, but i do believe in the lessiez faire (sp.) form of economy, where the government does not interfere with business, so i'm going to have to disagree with it.

[Ravens-Grin]

How can electromagnetic waves be public property? Don't you need something to convert that to hear it? Does everyone in the public somehow have a converter built into their ears that they could miraculous hear everything that is said?

[second-sun]

At 4/1/04 07:11 PM, Ravens_Grin wrote: How can electromagnetic waves be public property? Don't you need something to convert that to hear it? Does everyone in the public somehow have a converter built into their ears that they could miraculous hear everything that is said?

thus proving that the human race is indeed intelligent

[pierrot-le-fou]

At 4/1/04 06:25 PM, Idiot-Finder wrote: FCC = Taliban

Don't forget to add, Nazi Fascist scum sucking bitches that like to pay tribute to the nuts. Pretty good flame huh?

[SchiesterSpear]

I think I have a site you all might be interested in then if you're all involved in this topic. The good'ol EFF has been fightin the man tryin to take your rights. I know its more piracy stuff, but its still worth a look.

http://www.eff.org/

[Thanatopsis]

At 4/1/04 07:11 PM, Ravens_Grin wrote: How can electromagnetic waves be public property? Don't you need something to convert that to hear it? Does everyone in the public somehow have a converter built into their ears that they could miraculous hear everything that is said?

becaause the waves are broadcast through the air it enters in to public space and public domain, which makes it in the gov's eyes public property and free to regulation. the other reason why it is concidered public is that if you buy a $5 radio you can for no extra charge listion to what i passed through the air, its the same idea as public roads you provide your own car but becasue there is no money to pay to get your car on the road it is open to anyone.

[mentalis]

The FCC should be renamed the Fascist Censorship Council.

[Ravens-Grin]

At 4/1/04 11:13 PM, _Thanatopsis_ wrote: becaause the waves are broadcast through the air it enters in to public space and public domain, which makes it in the gov's eyes public property and free to regulation. the other reason why it is concidered public is that if you buy a $5 radio you can for no extra charge listion to what i passed through the air, its the same idea as public roads you provide your own car but becasue there is no money to pay to get your car on the road it is open to anyone.

So if an ammonia train crashes and tons of ammonia leak out into the public area, the ammonia becomes public property? Same concept.