So, some of you may have heard about the 'internet filter' that the Australian government is trying to push through. Obviously, this has angered geeks of many walks of life, because let's face it - we see ourselves as a very laidback, free country and they try and do this? Yeah, not cool. Australia does not need a net nanny, it needs more responsible parents.

Anyhow.

So in addition to protests IRL, for next week (which includes Australia Day) many Australian-based websites are going black and white to mark their anger and lack of support for the proposed filter. As an outraged Aussie admin, I will be turning Tally black. But... would you do the same? If your government was proposing something like this, could you? Would you?

http://www.internetblackout.com.au/ ... info on the blackout.

It's ridiculous for a country like Australia. I definitely wouldn't associate Oz with Internet censorship. I really hope that it collapses, because if it doesn't they'll spend heaps on implementing it and then heaps more on taking it out after the entirety of the Australian population rises up and threatens to strangle Kevin Rudd with his own underwear.

I'd go black and white. I don't know if it's an action that would bring any result whatsoever, but I'd do it anyway. It's exactly as you say -- you need more responsible parents, not a blanket filter that will interfere with millions of perfectly legitimate and harmless Internet pursuits.

Goodness, I think I would definitely do as much as I could to get this stopped if it were my country. Agreeing with you and Emma; it should be the parent's job to make sure their kids aren't viewing things they shouldn't be on the internet. x.x I hope you all manage to get this tossed out before it's even implemented.

All I can say is, they'd better not. :/ Why turn Australia into China? One my Chinese schoolmates just informed us last week about Google leaving China because of the harsh censorship - apparently they want them to leave Aussieland, too.

When did they start using 1984 as a how-to manual?

One of the world's largest websites (top 1000) is ran by an American that wants citizenship in Australia. I should hunt her down on MSN today; see if she'd reflect that.

The blackouts would annoy us, who aren't getting the filter. Hopefully the Western media would get ticked off, which would make the ratings of Australia plummet and people simply hate Australia, forcing Australia to reconsider the filter :X.

But, I would do the same. I'm glad President Clinton assured us they have no plans to do this! She said filters are used by governments that want to hurt their own population. :3.

I would totally do it, definitely because my co-admin is Australian herself (there was lots of raging when this filter was first mentioned!).

BUT (you felt this one coming) she's away on a cruise and I don't have the login details to the server. I could turn the forum B/W maybe, but all the frames on the sidebars would still be colour >.<

If only I'd know this earlier we could've gotten a head start!

Any ideas to fix this? (short of texting my co-admin out at sea for the login and pray the text goes through)

Anyone who wants to support the blackout -- please do. Internationals are quite alright. None of us want to see a cleanfeed implemented!

I've sorted Tally's blackout week skin, just need to make the images ready to put up tomorrow night. This is technically my first political protest, lol.

SRness, the code on the website should cover most, the CBox will be your only issue, really. But see if you can contact your co-admin, the more support this gets, the better. :D

When you say turn it black, d'you mean completely black, black/white or grayscale? Potter's Army has quite a few members (+ 1 staff) from Aussie. Am quite interested in this...*goes to read website*

Edit:
I can totally read websites *nods*.
Will talk over this with other admins, adding the script to our site would be good. Especially as quite a few Aussies visit it.

I must admit I hadn't heard about it but I can see why people would be angry about it, Australia is generally viewed as such a laid-back country, the idea of censorship of the internet is the total opposite of what you'd expect.

Tally is officially protesting! Grey skin went up about ten minutes ago.

It's kinda thrilling in all.

It's also awesome that you guys are willing to support us. If you do go black, don't forget to pledge through the website... so they can throw numbers at MPs and show them outraged people from across the world!

<<< I blacked out my avvie.

I'd black out my board, but it's not up yet.