I didn't realize there were sites/blogs setup for this purpose, but I guess it shouldn't be surprised. These days, there's probably any and every type of info that you could ever think of that's only a few keystrokes away.

 

 

http://digitallife.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/24/10490934-tumblr-bans-anorexia-bulimia-and-other-self-harm

suppressing content deemed "inappropriate"......

 

 

wonder what will be deemed inappropriate next?

suppressing content deemed "inappropriate"......

 

 

wonder what will be deemed inappropriate next?

 

Who cares? Private website, their right to get rid of any content they don't want on there.

 

Unfortunately, the internet gives audience to those people whom otherwise would not be taken seriously.

WTH is tumblr?

WTH is tumblr?

Welcome to the 21st century! (Or 2007 for that matter)

Tumblr is pretty awesome and convenient, especially for the beginner/amateur blogger who doesn't want to necessarily chalk up the money or take the plunge into the deep end of blogging.

Tumblr is part of the new "Web 2.0", which is really the future-- and, as we've seen in recent times, governments are quite afraid of this new shift towards horizontal communication (user-based/drive content). To be more specific, this shift is being dubbed "2.0" because it is considered the second iteration of the internet, at least culturally. The technology of course has shifted as well, becoming more accessible and user-friendly, and, in part, helped drive this shift.

 

"This shift" refers to the change from vertical communication that society has been familiar with, such as mass communication mediums like the radio, TV (in the sense of the major broadcasting companies, like ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX-- and really the corporations behind those), and print media. These mediums had communication go in one direction, which was from the top-down, and because the flow of information only went in one direction, it was easily disseminated and manipulated.

Currently, and we're talking really in the last decade, the communication has become far more horizontal, in that information is sent across the space, and reproduced through many different facets. This forum would be an example of "horizontal" communication-- and Tumblr also being one (as well as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, etc.). Niche blogs are also considered in this realm, and as bills like NDAA show, even a "freedom loving" country like the US is cracking down on free speech (IIRC the NDAA has parts that allow the US government to define who are "legitimate" bloggers, and can shut down any blog and/or website). Other countries around the world are also cracking down on this access of horizontal communication, though we've seen the absolute failures of these movements by the government... like the Arab Spring, which was wholly powered through social media in most of the locations. Really, really powerful stuff.

 

I believe it was 4chan that attempted to censor their community, and that group rose up pretty quickly and 4chan backed down, instead putting up a disclaimer to cover their asses. Who knows what Tumblr will do. I have the feeling that they too might eventually back down, not because of legal precedent, but because their community will call for the removal of the censorship. We'll see.

Dam.... i think I just learned something new. Thats a very good explanation Ben!

Ken

Indeed a very good explaination. Being part of the computer technology generation, I should probably know more about this stuff. :/