Posts Tagged ‘oppression’

Freedom of speech, so long as you don’t say a damn thing.

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

Silence 450x270 Freedom of speech, so long as you don’t say a damn thing.

So I was drinking a bottle of Cool Ridge water today (don’t get me started about the bottled water thing, I’m going in a different direction today.) Anyway I noticed on the bottle a big graphic that states “SCREAM IT OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM – One extreme experience like rally driving and sky-diving to win every day.*” So I think to myself that sounds like fun and decide to go to the web site (http://www.getitout.com.au/) to see what it’s all about.

After the page loads I realise that the competition has ended but the site is still going and looks kinda interesting. Basically it is a place where you can upload or link to videos of yourself venting about something. It even looks like they had a mobile tent that would be set up in different places where you could go and they would film you venting about whatever.

Well, if you’re a regular to this blog, you’ll know that I’ve always got something to vent about so I start thinking about what particular issue (out of the thousands) I’m going to vent about. While I’m thinking about it, I figured I’d take a look at the ‘Terms and Conditions’ of entry. That’s when it hit me and I knew exactly what I was going to vent about.

Item 12.

Item 12 is a list of all the things you are NOT allowed to submit.

12. You must not submit any Vent (including Vent topics and tags) that in any way:

  • is harmful (including due to any virus, worm or trojan horse);
  • is threatening;
  • contains any swearing or offensive language;
  • is scandalous;
  • is (or is likely to be) defamatory or libelous;
  • is inflammatory;
  • is obscene;
  • is offensive;
  • contains any nudity or is pornographic or indecent;
  • is profane;
  • is, or is likely to, denigrate, marginalize or offend any person or class of person based on race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, age, sexual preference, religion, disability, political belief or marital status;
  • refers to or depicts drug use or other illegal activities;
  • refers to or depicts violence; or
  • that could constitute or encourage a violation of any law.

So the first thing that springs into my head is “What the hell are you allowed to vent about?”

How pissed off I am at the moment with the weather being hot one day and freezing the next?

Oh shit, I said piss and that’s considered offensive language.

Oh fuck I said shit…

Damn!!!

I can’t think of one thing to vent about that would actually fit within these rules. I can’t even say that “I hate drug dealers who beat up on their girlfriends.” I would be referring to drugs and illegal activities and violence.

When did we become such a pansy arsed, puncey, pathetic, useless society that is so scared of saying anything in case we offend someone that we just don’t say anything worthwhile at all any more?

We have all been raised with the American bullshit sale pitch being rammed down our throats for years. Yay for democracy, Yay for human rights, Yay for freedom of speech. That is, unless you try and actually practice that freedom. Freedom of speech, the right to ‘speak freely’. It should mean exactly that. You can say whatever you want.

The irony of all this is that I actually have more freedom to speak out against my government than I do to speak about something that may actually offend someone.

It’s ridiculous. You should be able to think and say whatever you want. You should be able to speak out against all those rug munching, ranga, midgets, who film porn while being bounced up and down on some dirty wogs knob, even though they are so old  their tits are longer than their stumpy arms.

Just like, those midgets and the wogs should also be able to speak out about anything they want to as well.

Everybody has become way too sensitive. It’s about time we all grew some nuts and hardened up a little. If people actually had the balls to speak up about things instead of kissing each others ring holes, we may actually achieve some things that are worthwhile.

There you go Cool Ridge. That’s my vent. Print that on your web site ya bunch of limp dick, fascist, suits.

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