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View Full Version : It begins: TSA to Block "Controversial Opinion" on the Web


andymays
07-06-2010, 09:21 AM
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20009642-10391695.html

Excerpt:

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is blocking certain websites from the federal agency's computers, including halting access by staffers to any Internet pages that contain a "controversial opinion," according to an internal email obtained by CBS News.

The email was sent to all TSA employees from the Office of Information Technology on Friday afternoon.

Robert Goren
07-06-2010, 09:32 AM
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20009642-10391695.html

Excerpt:

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is blocking certain websites from the federal agency's computers, including halting access by staffers to any Internet pages that contain a "controversial opinion," according to an internal email obtained by CBS News.

The email was sent to all TSA employees from the Office of Information Technology on Friday afternoon.Good for them. The employees should not access anything not work related while at work. It is not only a waste of tax payer money, but can put the computers at risk. The TSA has enough problems without its employees surfing the web.

andymays
07-06-2010, 09:54 AM
Good for them. The employees should not access anything not work related while at work. It is not only a waste of tax payer money, but can put the computers at risk. The TSA has enough problems without its employees surfing the web.


Who decides which opinions are controversial and which aren't?

Will they block "Off Topic" at Pace Advantage?

Tom
07-06-2010, 09:55 AM
Whoever owns the computers.

Robert Goren
07-06-2010, 10:00 AM
Who decides which opinions are controversial and which aren't?

Will they block "Off Topic" at Pace Advantage?They should block PA no matter if it is "Off Topic" or not. They should be doing their job, not surfing the net. Maybe I am out of touch, but I believe when you are on the clock, the person signing your check should get your undivided attention. He shouldn't have to share it with some right or left wing blogger.

andymays
07-06-2010, 10:04 AM
They should block PA no matter if it is "Off Topic" or not. They should be doing their job, not surfing the net.


Robert, c'mon you know that isn't gonna happen.

How many reports have there been about government employees surfing porn?

This is a question of censorship and why should each administration pick and choose what is "controversial opinion".

This administration is all about censorship and they have proven it time after time. How many times has Obama ditched the press corps since he's been president? They were supposed to be transparent right? :lol:

BlueShoe
07-06-2010, 10:10 AM
Will they block "Off Topic" at Pace Advantage?
They might not have to. Many of us are likely on a hit list of "Security risks". oBowma will just have his Brownshirts arrest us and that will be the end of that.

DJofSD
07-06-2010, 10:13 AM
They might not have to. Many of us are likely on a hit list of "Security risks". oBowma will just have his Brownshirts arrest us and that will be the end of that.It will be the new Black Panthers paying you a visit.

andymays
07-06-2010, 10:14 AM
They might not have to. Many of us are likely on a hit list of "Security risks". oBowma will just have his Brownshirts arrest us and that will be the end of that.

Are you fine with blocking or not?

Should it be up to each new administration to block what they feel is controversial.?

Robert Goren
07-06-2010, 10:19 AM
Robert, c'mon you know that isn't gonna happen.

How many reports have there been about government employees surfing porn?

This is a question of censorship and why should each administration pick and choose what is "controversial opinion".

This administration is all about censorship and they have proven it time after time. How many times has Obama ditched the press corps since he's been president? They were supposed to be transparent right? :lol:Government employees surfing for Porn should be fired period. This is not about censorship, it about government employees doing their job. They spend all the time they want on the net when they are not on the taxpayers dime. If you think it ok for them to be on some radical Islamic web site at work, then you and I disagree. I fired people who were on web sites they were supposed to be on. My company had hard and fast rules about that. So should the government. Beside do you really think that government employees are going to conservative web sites. What planet are you living on?

andymays
07-06-2010, 10:21 AM
Government employees surfing for Porn should be fired period. This is not about censorship, it about government employees doing their job. They spend all the time they want on the net when they are not on the taxpayers dime. If you think it ok for them to be on some radical Islamic web site at work, then you and I disagree. I fired people who were on web sites they were supposed to be on. My company had hard and fast rules about that. So should the government. Beside do you really think that government employees are going to conservative web sites. What planet are you living on?


Robert, haven't you figured out that most government employees don't do anything all day? There are three people doing nothing for every one that is working. Because of the Unions they can't get fired. It is a mess.

Robert Goren
07-06-2010, 10:21 AM
Are you fine with blocking or not?

Should it be up to each new administration to block what they feel is controversial.?Yes on government computers.

andymays
07-06-2010, 10:23 AM
Yes on government computers.


Block anything with opinion and only have access to stuff that pertains to their work? I'm fine with that.

What do you expect these people to do all day? They don't really work.

BlueShoe
07-06-2010, 10:28 AM
Are you fine with blocking or not?
Of course not, it is in violation of the First Amendment and is a form of censorship. However, every employer does have the right to discourage visits to certain types of web content. Have yet to hear, for example, of any employer permitting surfing the porn sites while on company time.

boxcar
07-06-2010, 10:30 AM
It will be the new Black Panthers paying you a visit.

Yeah....probably the ones our black A.G. refused to prosecute. :rolleyes:

Boxcar
I wasn't aware that Affirmative Action policies spilled over to the Justice Dept., too.

Robert Goren
07-06-2010, 10:31 AM
Block anything with opinion and only have access to stuff that pertains to their work? I'm fine with that.

What do you expect these people to do all day? They don't really work. I don't expect the government to have to provide them entertainment while they are goofing off like you. How did government employees goof off before the internet?:rolleyes:

andymays
07-06-2010, 10:34 AM
I don't expect the government to have to provide them entertainment while they are goofing off like you . How did government employees goof off before the internet?:rolleyes:


What are you talking about Robert?

boxcar
07-06-2010, 10:34 AM
Government employees surfing for Porn should be fired period. This is not about censorship, it about government employees doing their job. They spend all the time they want on the net when they are not on the taxpayers dime. If you think it ok for them to be on some radical Islamic web site at work, then you and I disagree. I fired people who were on web sites they were supposed to be on. My company had hard and fast rules about that. So should the government. Beside do you really think that government employees are going to conservative web sites. What planet are you living on?

Robert, what part of "certain websites" didn't you understand in the opening excerpt to this thread? This is all about censorship because the article doesn't say that employees will be blocked from all websites -- implicitly only SELECTIVE ones. Got it now? :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Boxcar

Mike at A+
07-06-2010, 10:44 AM
Robert, what part of "certain websites" didn't you understand in the opening excerpt to this thread? This is all about censorship because the article doesn't say that employees will be blocked from all websites -- implicitly only SELECTIVE ones. Got it now? :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Boxcar
The default home page on government computers will probably be msnbc.com. :D

DJofSD
07-06-2010, 10:45 AM
Yeah....probably the ones our black A.G. refused to prosecute. :rolleyes:

Boxcar
I wasn't aware that Affirmative Action policies spilled over to the Justice Dept., too.
Bingo!

boxcar
07-06-2010, 10:48 AM
The default home page on government computers will probably be msnbc.com. :D

Either that or the Communist News Network.

Boxcar

DJofSD
07-06-2010, 10:50 AM
In this case I find I agree with Robert. Accessing non-work related web sites during working hours and while using government computers and network access is not an abridgement of free speach. I work in the IT industry and it is, minimally, the prudent thing to do in order to manage your expose to malware, viruses, etc.

Do you watch TV, listen to the radio or read the newspaper while at work? Do you have long unnecessary conversations on the telephone about things not work related? If so, you're lucky you have such an understanding employer.

BlueShoe
07-06-2010, 11:04 AM
Either that or the Communist News Network.
Or perhaps that of the Always Communist Liberation Union.

boxcar
07-06-2010, 11:21 AM
In this case I find I agree with Robert. Accessing non-work related web sites during working hours and while using government computers and network access is not an abridgement of free speach. I work in the IT industry and it is, minimally, the prudent thing to do in order to manage your expose to malware, viruses, etc.

Do you watch TV, listen to the radio or read the newspaper while at work? Do you have long unnecessary conversations on the telephone about things not work related? If so, you're lucky you have such an understanding employer.

But that's not what the original excerpt to the opening post is about.

Boxcar

cj's dad
07-06-2010, 11:39 AM
But that's not what the original excerpt to the opening post is about.

Boxcar

Agreed Box, and I also agree with the Detective.

All sites non essential to the job should be banned from access, not just certain ones.

DJofSD
07-06-2010, 11:52 AM
Agreed Box, and I also agree with the Detective.

All sites non essential to the job should be banned from access, not just certain ones.

Well stated. Even legitimate new sources such as CNN, CBS, even other government web sites should be off limits.

Access to the internet is a tool. When you can explain to me reading sports scores online while at work is important to your job function then you can have it. Otherwise, shut up and get back to work.

andymays
07-07-2010, 10:14 AM
TSA Reverses "Controversial Opinion" Web Policy

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20009804-10391695.html

Excerpt:

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reversed itself today, announcing that it will no longer block TSA employees, using work computers, from accessing websites that contain a "controversial opinion."

boxcar
07-07-2010, 10:53 AM
So, why isn't there a policy in place prohibiting all personal use of government computers when employees are "on the clock"? Oh, wait...would that kind of policiy be against against union rules? :rolleyes: It probably would be considered to be cruel and unusual punishment or something.

And one is led to wonder that if this garbage is allowed at the TSA, how widespread is at all levels of government? I can't even begin to imagine the amount dollars that are wasted daily with this kind of negligence and incompetence. (But not worry, folks, everything will be fine with our new "health care" system. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: )

Boxcar

andymays
07-07-2010, 10:57 AM
So, why isn't there a policy in place prohibiting all personal use of government computers when employees are "on the clock"? Oh, wait...would that kind of policiy be against against union rules? :rolleyes: It probably would be considered to be cruel and unusual punishment or something.

And one is led to wonder that if this garbage is allowed at the TSA, how widespread is at all levels of government? I can't even begin to imagine the amount dollars that are wasted daily with this kind of negligence and incompetence. (But not worry, folks, everything will be fine with our new "health care" system. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: )

Boxcar


The truth is that many of them need something to do and they look busy when they're surfing the web. Our government is unproductive. The scandal at the SEC earlier in the year when they were surfing porn sites instead of watching guys like Bernie Madoff is a good example.

It's a joke but that's the Federal Government.

Robert Goren
07-07-2010, 12:23 PM
TSA Reverses "Controversial Opinion" Web Policy

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20009804-10391695.html

Excerpt:

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reversed itself today, announcing that it will no longer block TSA employees, using work computers, from accessing websites that contain a "controversial opinion." Great, now they can go to Extreme Islamic sites and no one will care. When are coservatives going to wake and realize that not everything is about them. I stand by previous stance that government computers should only be use for work related things. Any other use and they should be fired.

boxcar
07-08-2010, 12:59 PM
Great, now they can go to Extreme Islamic sites and no one will care. When are coservatives going to wake and realize that not everything is about them. I stand by previous stance that government computers should only be use for work related things. Any other use and they should be fired.

No one ever disagreed with your "previous stance" -- only with your lame interpretation of the original excerpt which had everything to do with censorship, despite your take to the contrary. It's time for you to wake up and learn how to read. After you accomplish that, then you can start worrying about us conservatives and what we need to do. :rolleyes:

Boxcar

DJofSD
07-08-2010, 01:54 PM
Great, now they can go to Extreme Islamic sites and no one will care. When are coservatives going to wake and realize that not everything is about them. I stand by previous stance that government computers should only be use for work related things. Any other use and they should be fired.
No, they should not be fired.

If there is any one that should be disciplined or fired it is the government network administrator that has not locked down the WAN.

If after the network has been made secured -- and not in a half-assed way but one that passes an external audit by knowledgeable hackers -- then make sure all employess understand what the proper and expected use of the internet. Then, if there are violators of the policy, only then subject them to any normal actions for discipline. If their violations are blatant or repeated, fire their ass.

dartman51
07-08-2010, 02:10 PM
Great, now they can go to Extreme Islamic sites and no one will care. When are coservatives going to wake and realize that not everything is about them. I stand by previous stance that government computers should only be use for work related things. Any other use and they should be fired.

I agree 100% :ThmbUp:

magwell
07-08-2010, 03:28 PM
Robert, haven't you figured out that most government employees don't do anything all day? There are three people doing nothing for every one that is working. Because of the Unions they can't get fired. It is a mess. Right just go to the post office, one working and 3 on break at all times.....;)