Open Letter to FOX News on Report dubbed PlayStation Porn-able (1084 hits)
Category: Movies & TVRating: 1.7 on 35 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by ZombieMan (View user info) at 2006-11-11 17:27:49 EST
I wrote this article for Virtual Citizens yesterday. It seems to have gotten a good response:
http://www.virtualcitizens.com/article.php?shorttitle=Open+Letter+to+FOX+News+on+Report+dubbed+PlayStation+Porn-able
There are videos and pics that go with it, so I put anchored links to them so you can still read on Uber. I created all of the images and the flash animation, but the video is of an original FOX News broadcast.
Open Letter to FOX News on Report dubbed PlayStation Porn-able
Justin Raines
http://www.virtualcitizens.com
While plowing around on Digg.com, I found a video clip of a FOX News broadcast (FOX News Philadelphia) which focuses on the Sony Playstation Portable's (PSP) ability to access wireless, online networks. It warned parents that if given a PSP, their kids may "open Pandora's Box [cue http://www.virtualcitizens.com/article.php?shorttitle=Open+Letter+to+FOX+News+on+Report+dubbed+PlayStation+Porn-ablecrazy, party music at 1:01 in video below] ", gaining access to pornography. The report focuses on an incident in Minnesota where a boy accessed pornography at school through the PSP's wireless internet access.
Purely sensational in reporting style, the FOX News reporter shows semi-nude, pornographic images, employing excellent propaganda techniques to bring about excitement and fear in their viewers, zooming in and out of porn images, then over to a page on building bombs (1:06 in the video below), then up to a search for the Ku Klux Klan (KKK at 1:07), and ending in a swift motion to a page with a swastika.
FOX News places sole blame on the PSP for allowing users access. They play eerie music, careful to zoom in on the offended mother of the boy as she rants about the offense PSP has committed against her (1:09):
"If it's supposed to be made for kids [ZOOM] you shouldn't be able to get [ZOOM] access to this stuff."
Have a look for yourself:
http://www.virtualcitizens.com/article.php?shorttitle=Open+Letter+to+FOX+News+on+Report+dubbed+PlayStation+Porn-able#video
FOX News reporter Robin Taylor, of course, did not bother to point out that the PSP is not made for any one age group. It is a small, powerful computer designed to run interactive, often multiplayer, gaming software. Many of the games released for the PSP are specifically made for adults and most hit, "R" rated movies come out in PSP format. There has never been any indication on behalf of Sony that these games and movies are intended specifically for children.
It is also funny to note that during the set-up for the FOX News report, when showing clips of the games that are, presumably, OK for children to play, they show several first-person shooters and racing games featuring elaborate vehicle combat and spectacular explosions. Does FOX News think these games are OK for children to play?
All sensationalism and poor journalism aside, it seems abundantly clear that FOX News completely misses the boat on laying blame: the mother, the child and the school are at fault, not the child's PSP, which merely provides a service.
The mother is at fault for allowing her child unrestricted access to a powerful gaming system with wireless internet capabilities.
Yes, blaming the parent may seem like a hackneyed argument, but in this case, it is quite valid. As much as that mother complains that she had no idea her son would be able to access pornography with his PSP, it is her responsibility to be an informed consumer when purchasing a product, and Sony kept the PSP's wireless capabilities no secret.
In fact, the PSP's wireless internet capabilities are a selling point for the product, as even a cursory glance at any PSP ad will show.
http://www.virtualcitizens.com/article.php?shorttitle=Open+Letter+to+FOX+News+on+Report+dubbed+PlayStation+Porn-able#wifi
Ignorance of the common term "wifi" for wireless networking is no excuse either, since a simple Google search of "sony psp wifi" rendered a Wikipedia article on the first search page which clearly explains the full range of PSP features as only a site run by obsessive, technology geeks can.
http://www.virtualcitizens.com/article.php?shorttitle=Open+Letter+to+FOX+News+on+Report+dubbed+PlayStation+Porn-able#wifi_wiki
Clearly, the mother is at fault for being an ignorant consumer.
There is, however, one more entity at fault: the school.
You might wonder: How is the school at fault? The CHILD snuck onto THE SCHOOL'S wireless network!
This is true, and certainly the mother needs to discipline her child, but it is abundantly clear [PERK UP, FOX NEWS, THIS IS THE REAL SCOOP] that the school left a wireless network unguarded by fire-walls or logon requirements, WITHOUT ANY NETWORK PORNOGRAPHY BLOCKERS.
This means it would not matter if a child were on a PSP or a lap-top computer; if there are no login requirements or pornography filters, any child can gain access to pornography from almost any wireless device near the school.
FOX News' blaming the PSP is the equivalent of the school turning around and blaming its network for doing what it was implemented to do: provide online access. Without any restrictions from the mother and the school, respectively, the PSP and the school's network worked marvelously, allowing the unrestricted child to view whatever he wanted.
Regardless, FOX News took this as an opportunity to turn its report into a broad, sweeping warning against the perils of the internet, even noting that "it doesn't make any difference whether they're portable or played on a computer in your home".
Yes, FOX News... that's very good! Parents should try to regulate the content their children see on the internet. Thanks. If FOX News had not told me, I would have never known there was porn, bomb-making instructions and racist propaganda on the internet. It's not like there are weekly episodes of NBC Dateline's "To Catch a Predator" - a show that crossed the line from public service to sadism long ago by telling would-be pedophiles that they are "free to go" while knowing that as soon as they leave they will be tackled by armed, gun-drawn police officers. If these would-be "predators" are so dangerous, why would the police wait until after Dateline gets its interview before arresting them?
But I digress.
Not to be up-staged, of course, FOX News' Robin Taylor reports, "The computer crimes unit of the New Jersey State Police is launching a full-scale assault on pedophiles who are using gaming devices to reach children."
http://www.virtualcitizens.com/article.php?shorttitle=Open+Letter+to+FOX+News+on+Report+dubbed+PlayStation+Porn-able#cop
Finally, after FOX News gets its ostentatious licks, they deliver the only message that really matters, the message that could have saved 3 1/2 minutes of air time for more important news and eliminated the need for me to write this article and the letters that follow (4:11):
"As a parent, there are some things you can do to protect your kids. At home you can limit what comes into your household by setting up parental controls with your internet provider. You can also limit what plays on a PSP with a password. Beyond that, the experts say, you've gotta [sic] talk to your children."
http://www.virtualcitizens.com/article.php?shorttitle=Open+Letter+to+FOX+News+on+Report+dubbed+PlayStation+Porn-able#waste_of_time
WELL THANK GOD! I feel safer.
Below is an open letter I sent to the station manager of FOX News 29 of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I encourage anyone to resend this letter on his or her own behalf. Below it is the letter I sent to Commissioner Alice Seagren of the Minnesota Department of Education (in lieu of the actual school district, since the report did not disclose the Minnesota city):
Letters to FOX News
November 10, 2006
FOX 29: Station Manager
330 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Station Manager:
Your station, FOX News 29 of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, aired a report about the use of a Sony Play Station Portable (PSP) by a young child to view pornographic images while at school in Minnesota. The specific city in Minnesota was not reported.
Your reporter, Robin Taylor, compiled a sensationalist aggregation of clips of violent video games, pornographic images and peculiar online queries ("ku klux klan" and "babes"). Yes, the potential perils that children can find on the internet are very real and very serious, but the scope of the story in which your station partook was unnecessarily broad, serving only to inspire fear in your viewers. Furthermore, your station's stylistic choice of fear-mongering led your reporter to blame the technology in the PSP and the PSP itself rather than the three real parties at fault: the child, the mother and the school.
The child is, of course, partly to blame for accessing pornography in the first place. The mother bears responsibility for allowing her child unregulated access to a powerful, interactive gaming machine. The machine is marketed to people of all ages, not just children, and has games appropriate for all age groups. Furthermore, the PSP's wireless capabilities are a large selling point for Sony, as it makes clear in its PSP advertisement and system specs. It was the mother's responsibility to learn this before she let her child use the PSP.
Finally, the school is at fault because it left a wireless network online, apparently without any sort of access regulation (such as log in requirements) or content filter to prevent anyone on its network from gaining access to pornography in the first place. The child could have just as easily accessed pornography from a desk-top or laptop computer, or almost any device with wireless, browsing capabilities within the area of the school's wireless network.
I sincerely hope that your station informed the school in Minnesota that its wireless network needs to be secured. It is your station's responsibility to do so. This is especially true after referencing so many internet technology and security experts for a report that used the incident with the child as its centerpiece. Your reporter said, "As a parent... You can also limit what plays on a PSP with a password." Does this not also apply to the network at school?
It is also your station's responsibility to at least report this pivotal detail in your station's story.
I do not believe the sole responsibility for this report lies with its reporter, Robin Taylor. FOX News has become quite notorious for the production of sensationalist news or "infotainment", as it is often dubbed. I do not doubt that the culture of the FOX Newsroom indicates to all employees that similar, sensationalist reports are expected.
As presented, your station's report places sole focus on the negative qualities of a video-game console, which is, ultimately, a tool. I wonder if a report by your station involving a child and a gun would be equally heavy-handed against the particular brand of gun, especially if it were particularly small and portable, like the PSP.
Sincerely,
Justin Raines
Mailing the LettersCommissioner Alice Seagren
Minnesota Department of Education
1500 Highway 36 West
Roseville, MN 55113
Commissioner Alice Seagren:
Attached is a letter I sent to FOX News 29 of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in regards to a report they did on an incident in a Minnesota school that involved a child's access of obscene materials through a wireless gaming device at school, using the school's wireless network. FOX News 29 did not disclose the city where this event occurred. The station also did not disclose whether or not the school has since secured its network.
This is no doubt a concern to you.
If you would like to contact FOX News 29, I show their address and phone number below:
FOX 29: Programming Department
330 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 982-5500
Sincerely,
Justin Raines
User Reviews
Submitted by GodofCrabs (user info) at 2007-11-06 12:42:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
tl;dr;people suck
Submitted by locksly (user info) at 2007-01-19 02:02:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
h6w the f4c2 can y64 be b6thered t6 wr5te that sh5t/
Submitted by homer42 (user info) at 2007-01-19 01:31:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I hate the news. Better not let kids use computers, televisions or dvd players either... they COULD be used to display porn!
Submitted by beauxjizzle (user info) at 2006-12-01 17:46:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
God dammit. you need to go outside and play ball buddy
Submitted by Kale (user info) at 2006-12-01 17:37:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-11-13 19:53:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
you make ETS look bad.
Submitted by Phallic_Cymbals (user info) at 2006-11-12 21:24:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
this was +2
Submitted by St_Jimmy (user info) at 2006-11-12 18:34:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
"It is also funny to note that during the set-up for the FOX News report, when showing clips of the games that are, presumably, OK for children to play, they show several first-person shooters and racing games featuring elaborate vehicle combat and spectacular explosions. Does FOX News think these games are OK for children to play? "
First of all, violence=ok, sex=very, very bad. Kids are going to have to get used to violence if they're to be fighting our upcoming war in Iran. If kids today learn that wanking is ok and violence is bad, then they'll get their asses kicked when they're fighting Allah's boys. We need the next generation to be dangerously sexually repressed with heads all filled up with violent images.
Secondly, you can get porn with a PSP?!? I thought they just played games. Gotta get me one of those! Thanks for the heads up!
Submitted by bart (user info) at 2006-11-12 17:59:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
FOX News should be shutdown by the FCC as a result of gross negligence in regards to matters of the public good. Their broadcasts consist solely of lies and propaganda meant to inspire fear in their viewers in an attempt to criminalize individual thought and responsibility.
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2006-11-12 15:52:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-11-12 11:00:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Kent_Weirdo (user info) at 2006-11-12 01:14:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Beat me to it by minutes. I'll never piss mid-comment again.
Submitted by Kent_Weirdo (user info) at 2006-11-12 01:13:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by EvolvedChicken (user info) at 2006-11-12 00:47:54 (#)
Ranking: 0
Then my next question is why bother copying and pasting all of the content for an article on this site? Why not just make a short page with the links you provided and just say in the ubersite article that here is a link to an article that you wrote?
I know I may seem very anal right now, but I'm always cautious as to which is stolen content and which is it. Before making my first comment, I thought there were 2 possibilities. 1) You used someone else's identity. 2) It actually is your material but you didn't feel like just making a few links your post. These were the only possibilities that I could think of and just went for the first one I listed.
God I hope what I just said makes sense. I need sleep.
---
1. No one usually likes reading posts with nothing but links. Reposting it here is considerate to us, and saves him from getting no-content negatives.
2. If you suspect that it's someone elses work, then why not take a little time to research it before you make such calls?
Submitted by jraines (user info) at 2006-11-12 01:08:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
+Submitted by EvolvedChicken (user info) at 2006-11-12 00:47:54 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by jraines (user info) at 2006-11-11 23:32:54 (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by EvolvedChicken (user info) at 2006-11-11 22:57:05 (#)
Ranking: -2
-2 because I like this article, but it isn't your work. Does anyone else realize that ZombieMan probably copied and pasted just about everything on the article? It even shows that on one of the links.
------------------
I probably spent six hours writing this and ordering it and the images together in a coherent manner. Look at the author listed on Virtual Citizens. It's me! I'm Justin Raines (hence, username jraines).
Also notice that I labeled all of the images that I modified with VirtualCitizens.com, so as to place credit.
Now if you don't believe me, take random quotes that you think are too good for me to have written. Place them in Google, and you'll find that the website credited is Virtual Citizens. Hmm... I wonder why? Could it be that I occasionally write for them?
Also notice the first message I put up here: it's a freaking article from Virtual Citizens! The author, Andrew Bosworth, is a friend of mine and formerly owned that site!
Seriously, I can take criticism. The comments by Doodles about how the kid could have used a proxy server are true (although I don't know that that's what the kid did), but this is an accusation of theft. In short, I am perturbed.
Also, what link are you talking about that shows I "copied and pasted just about everything on the article"?
---------------------------------
Then my next question is why bother copying and pasting all of the content for an article on this site? Why not just make a short page with the links you provided and just say in the ubersite article that here is a link to an article that you wrote?
I know I may seem very anal right now, but I'm always cautious as to which is stolen content and which is it. Before making my first comment, I thought there were 2 possibilities. 1) You used someone else's identity. 2) It actually is your material but you didn't feel like just making a few links your post. These were the only possibilities that I could think of and just went for the first one I listed.
God I hope what I just said makes sense. I need sleep.
---------------------------------
1) View user info would have shown you that my username is jraines. Hmm... is it just a coincidence that I and the author of this post share last names???
2) If I were not me (Justin Raines), what advantage would I get from stealing Justin Raines' identity to gain a reputation for him on Ubersite?
3) How the hell would I know the exact named anchors to link RIGHT TO THE SPOT WHERE I PUT THE PICTURES ON VIRTUAL CITIZENS!!!
4) When I posted the article by my friend Andrew Bosworth, why wouldn't I just steal his work, too?
And to answer your question, I posted the entire article here out of respect to the Uber community. People are on Ubersite because they want to read stuff here, not on Virtual Citizens. The way I did it, they could go, see the video or pics, and come right back to Uber to praise me or bust my chops.
Seriously, man, plagiarism is a very serious accusation. Do a little more thinking before you go tossing it around.
P.S. Your second post was hilarious: http://www.ubersite.com/m/73206
See, I used the "user info" button to find them.
Submitted by EvolvedChicken (user info) at 2006-11-12 00:47:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by jraines (user info) at 2006-11-11 23:32:54 (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by EvolvedChicken (user info) at 2006-11-11 22:57:05 (#)
Ranking: -2
-2 because I like this article, but it isn't your work. Does anyone else realize that ZombieMan probably copied and pasted just about everything on the article? It even shows that on one of the links.
------------------
I probably spent six hours writing this and ordering it and the images together in a coherent manner. Look at the author listed on Virtual Citizens. It's me! I'm Justin Raines (hence, username jraines).
Also notice that I labeled all of the images that I modified with VirtualCitizens.com, so as to place credit.
Now if you don't believe me, take random quotes that you think are too good for me to have written. Place them in Google, and you'll find that the website credited is Virtual Citizens. Hmm... I wonder why? Could it be that I occasionally write for them?
Also notice the first message I put up here: it's a freaking article from Virtual Citizens! The author, Andrew Bosworth, is a friend of mine and formerly owned that site!
Seriously, I can take criticism. The comments by Doodles about how the kid could have used a proxy server are true (although I don't know that that's what the kid did), but this is an accusation of theft. In short, I am perturbed.
Also, what link are you talking about that shows I "copied and pasted just about everything on the article"?
---------------------------------
Then my next question is why bother copying and pasting all of the content for an article on this site? Why not just make a short page with the links you provided and just say in the ubersite article that here is a link to an article that you wrote?
I know I may seem very anal right now, but I'm always cautious as to which is stolen content and which is it. Before making my first comment, I thought there were 2 possibilities. 1) You used someone else's identity. 2) It actually is your material but you didn't feel like just making a few links your post. These were the only possibilities that I could think of and just went for the first one I listed.
God I hope what I just said makes sense. I need sleep.
Submitted by Thored (user info) at 2006-11-12 00:20:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'd usually say something like "Hey, let their legal department deal with it", but you get an A for effort.
Submitted by Confuzitron (user info) at 2006-11-12 00:00:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2006-11-11 18:42:06 (#)
Ranking: 2
Well there was a japanese kid that got to level 59.
----
But we can't use him, because Japanese people don't have souls.
Submitted by kuroneko_sama (user info) at 2006-11-11 23:50:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
respectthe effort, and outing the bs propiganda that many news networks have to resort to to make a marter, and to start a giant issue to keep the viewers interested in their petty networks
Submitted by jraines (user info) at 2006-11-11 23:32:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by EvolvedChicken (user info) at 2006-11-11 22:57:05 (#)
Ranking: -2
-2 because I like this article, but it isn't your work. Does anyone else realize that ZombieMan probably copied and pasted just about everything on the article? It even shows that on one of the links.
------------------
I probably spent six hours writing this and ordering it and the images together in a coherent manner. Look at the author listed on Virtual Citizens. It's me! I'm Justin Raines (hence, username jraines).
Also notice that I labeled all of the images that I modified with VirtualCitizens.com, so as to place credit.
Now if you don't believe me, take random quotes that you think are too good for me to have written. Place them in Google, and you'll find that the website credited is Virtual Citizens. Hmm... I wonder why? Could it be that I occasionally write for them?
Also notice the first message I put up here: it's a freaking article from Virtual Citizens! The author, Andrew Bosworth, is a friend of mine and formerly owned that site!
Seriously, I can take criticism. The comments by Doodles about how the kid could have used a proxy server are true (although I don't know that that's what the kid did), but this is an accusation of theft. In short, I am perturbed.
Also, what link are you talking about that shows I "copied and pasted just about everything on the article"?
Submitted by EvolvedChicken (user info) at 2006-11-11 22:57:05 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
-2 because I like this article, but it isn't your work. Does anyone else realize that ZombieMan probably copied and pasted just about everything on the article? It even shows that on one of the links.
Submitted by Doodles (user info) at 2006-11-11 21:37:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
On the school's behalf I would like to point out the following:
Most wireless networks aren't pass worded simply because it's a pain in the ass to log on every time.
I'm also willing to bet that there were firewalls and parental controls, but those are all easily bypassed with a proxy server, and it's impossible to block every one of them as the come up so quickly.
Lastly, most of the item if you password your server everyone needs to know the access code, so it would most likely be 'school name year' because kids have laptops that they might use in the library or something and need to know access. Blaming the school for not being able to pour untold millions for firewall programs isn't fair. The mother shouldn't have bought it without reading what it's capable of and she never should have let him bringing it to school. Honestly, she is the one I'd blame, if only because she's a lazy, hypocritical bitch who wants everyone else to do her job, and then gets mad when they don't. You can't honestly expect that the Sony would make everyone who buys a PSP sign a contract saying that they have been notified of its potential dangers. It's pure ignorance, and if I knew her, I would either tell her she's a fucking hypocrite or smack her.
People like her piss me off badly.
I'm not going to give this the +2 I would, just to see if you write to bart again.
Submitted by ilikesteak (user info) at 2006-11-11 20:50:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Said so perfectly like we've all said before in some way or another. This one is just taking the topicality of it to reinforce the truth, and it is done quite well. Good work.
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2006-11-11 19:44:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
fucking hell, how can people be arsed to do shit like this?
Submitted by IntangibleHands (user info) at 2006-11-11 19:19:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/06/02
Submitted by GaidinCanuck (user info) at 2006-11-11 18:56:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I really wanted to do something like this too, but being a Canuck I somehow don't think Fox News really would've given a shit about what I had to say.
So good on ya!
I'm going to raise one in your honour tonight. (Perhaps I'll even dedicate my whole night of drunken debauchery to you.)
Submitted by sweetcheebs (user info) at 2006-11-11 18:50:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Enjoyable.....yes
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2006-11-11 18:42:06 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Well there was a japanese kid that got to level 59.
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2006-11-11 18:40:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
PLUS
FUCKING
TWO
Man, I haven't given out THAT rating in a while...
Submitted by lungfish (user info) at 2006-11-11 18:20:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by MANICMOTHER (user info) at 2006-11-11 18:18:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2006-11-11 18:13:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Sinistral (user info) at 2006-11-11 18:09:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Dolson (user info) at 2006-11-11 18:05:00 (#)
Ranking: 2
The PSP will be used to fight off the armies of hell!!!
==============================
THEY HAVE A KEANU REEVES!
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Submitted by Dolson (user info) at 2006-11-11 18:05:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
The PSP will be used to fight off the armies of hell!!!
Seriously, this was good though. When are people going to learn to secure their bloody networks?
Submitted by maiorano84 (user info) at 2006-11-11 17:55:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
*ejaculates*
Submitted by Sinistral (user info) at 2006-11-11 17:54:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I like you.