The "Freeola Customer Forum" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
The Internet was originally coneceived by The US Military as a communications system which could survive an all out nuclear exchange between the USA and Russia. Unlike regular communication systems it would simply reroute past detroyed places in the communications system. From this point it swiftly grew into a global "world wide web" with various people promoting it as a place for the free exchange of ideas and freedom from censorship. Growth was slow at first but as more PC's entered homes internet usage began to grow in western countries and some asian countries such as China. By the mid 90's the internet exploded as hundreds of new sites appeared every day, businesses sprang up overnight and the media finally realised it existed.
"Why do we want to be able to use the internet?" was the question people who had never before used computers were asking, and the salesmen and software/internet companies were ready for it.
"It'll help educate your children, they can do their homework." "
"You can get anything you want to find on the internet."
"Email, its a great communication tool"
"Meet new people in chat rooms and forums."
"Create your own website."
"Buy online."
"Its the future."
All these and many other points were true, to a degree. But as internet usage rose rapidly a few objectors began to ask those awkward questions, "who controls it ?" "how do you know who you're talking to ?" "your credit card details aren't secure are they ?" I, like nearly everyone at the time, ignored these annoying people because to me the internet was great and they knew nothing. Someone always wants to spoil the party don't they ? They were old people who just simply couldn't use the technology, weren't they ?
Then, starting around 1999, the media ended its love for the internet as dotcom companies fell, the dangers of internet stalkers became publicly known and the exploits of hackers made the news far more often than before. Instead of being this bright friendly place the internet was being protrayed as a dark world full of the worst/darkest/weirdest/extreme parts of life. Around Christmas 200 Sci-Fi channel showed a film called "net force". A sentence from that film always sticks in my mind -
"The growth of technology is rapidly out-stripping our ability to police it."
All things can be used for good or evil, legal or illegal e.t.c so why is the internet any worse than anything else ? Currently the internet has no police force and any prosecutions against internet criminals are hampered by lack of understanding and laws which were made bfore the internet was ever conceived. Similarily most ISP's take the attitude that they are not responsible for their users actions and website content, effectively turning a blind eye to them.
Some people say the internet should remain uncensored, that "Big Brother" is not far away, that any poilce force would monitor emails and shut down legal sites. Maybe they are right, but what if they aren't ? No monitoring system would be able to look at every email, instead its likely that keywords or code phrases would be looked for. Another common reply from people who want the internet policed is that those who don't want it policed are the ones with something to hide. Back in the 80's when campaigners picketed Uk/US missile bases in England they appeared innocent but released intelligence files prove many were soviet agents. The point is how do you know ?
A major problem is determining when a site/person breaks the law. Which countries law is it they've broken, does it even matter if they've harmed no one ? Surely just looking at one XXX site is doing any harm ? Or downloading that game you always meant to buy but found in full on a geocities site ? Well would you do similar things in real life i.e steal a game or pick up an xxx magazine from the top shelf of WH Smiths ? Might you be bothered about what other people would think ?
The debate over sex sites themselves could fill millions of books. One question is are they morally right ? Yeah sure they're legal but should people be able to make money from it ? Many sites contain content only legal in their host country yet the very moment you view it the content downloads onto your HD and is governed by your own country's laws. A counter point to this is that people have the freedom to do what they want, if thats how they want to earn a living then they can. Another is are they legally right ? Just because a site says the models/etc are how do you know they are ? Can you trust site operators because they fear breaking the law...erm but who polices the net ? At the moment many countries govern what is acceptable by using old outdated publishing laws which never envisioned what the future would become.
I know many people reading this ( lol ) will have the knee jerk reaction of "he's an idiot, I like the internet how it is." But just think, in the years ahead some of you will be parents, and your kids will be on the internet - because there's no way it will be destroyed now - and unless something happens then the internet will continue to become a more dangerous place and more crime will be committed by the internet. Do a search for hacking tools, install a firewall and see how many people are right this minute probing your PC's ports. Theyre not kids with fun in mind, they want your email, your credit cards, anything they can get. Is this the internet you want your kids to have inthe future ?
So...:) what does everyone else think eh ?
"Why do we want to be able to use the internet?" was the question people who had never before used computers were asking, and the salesmen and software/internet companies were ready for it.
"It'll help educate your children, they can do their homework." "
"You can get anything you want to find on the internet."
"Email, its a great communication tool"
"Meet new people in chat rooms and forums."
"Create your own website."
"Buy online."
"Its the future."
All these and many other points were true, to a degree. But as internet usage rose rapidly a few objectors began to ask those awkward questions, "who controls it ?" "how do you know who you're talking to ?" "your credit card details aren't secure are they ?" I, like nearly everyone at the time, ignored these annoying people because to me the internet was great and they knew nothing. Someone always wants to spoil the party don't they ? They were old people who just simply couldn't use the technology, weren't they ?
Then, starting around 1999, the media ended its love for the internet as dotcom companies fell, the dangers of internet stalkers became publicly known and the exploits of hackers made the news far more often than before. Instead of being this bright friendly place the internet was being protrayed as a dark world full of the worst/darkest/weirdest/extreme parts of life. Around Christmas 200 Sci-Fi channel showed a film called "net force". A sentence from that film always sticks in my mind -
"The growth of technology is rapidly out-stripping our ability to police it."
All things can be used for good or evil, legal or illegal e.t.c so why is the internet any worse than anything else ? Currently the internet has no police force and any prosecutions against internet criminals are hampered by lack of understanding and laws which were made bfore the internet was ever conceived. Similarily most ISP's take the attitude that they are not responsible for their users actions and website content, effectively turning a blind eye to them.
Some people say the internet should remain uncensored, that "Big Brother" is not far away, that any poilce force would monitor emails and shut down legal sites. Maybe they are right, but what if they aren't ? No monitoring system would be able to look at every email, instead its likely that keywords or code phrases would be looked for. Another common reply from people who want the internet policed is that those who don't want it policed are the ones with something to hide. Back in the 80's when campaigners picketed Uk/US missile bases in England they appeared innocent but released intelligence files prove many were soviet agents. The point is how do you know ?
A major problem is determining when a site/person breaks the law. Which countries law is it they've broken, does it even matter if they've harmed no one ? Surely just looking at one XXX site is doing any harm ? Or downloading that game you always meant to buy but found in full on a geocities site ? Well would you do similar things in real life i.e steal a game or pick up an xxx magazine from the top shelf of WH Smiths ? Might you be bothered about what other people would think ?
The debate over sex sites themselves could fill millions of books. One question is are they morally right ? Yeah sure they're legal but should people be able to make money from it ? Many sites contain content only legal in their host country yet the very moment you view it the content downloads onto your HD and is governed by your own country's laws. A counter point to this is that people have the freedom to do what they want, if thats how they want to earn a living then they can. Another is are they legally right ? Just because a site says the models/etc are how do you know they are ? Can you trust site operators because they fear breaking the law...erm but who polices the net ? At the moment many countries govern what is acceptable by using old outdated publishing laws which never envisioned what the future would become.
I know many people reading this ( lol ) will have the knee jerk reaction of "he's an idiot, I like the internet how it is." But just think, in the years ahead some of you will be parents, and your kids will be on the internet - because there's no way it will be destroyed now - and unless something happens then the internet will continue to become a more dangerous place and more crime will be committed by the internet. Do a search for hacking tools, install a firewall and see how many people are right this minute probing your PC's ports. Theyre not kids with fun in mind, they want your email, your credit cards, anything they can get. Is this the internet you want your kids to have inthe future ?
So...:) what does everyone else think eh ?
The vast amount of information that is transmitted when you go onto a website is scarey. I put a tracker on my website, so that I can see howmany people have viewed my site. I was shocked when I looked at all the information it gave me about the people who accessed it. I found out what OS they are using. Their no of colours. which isp theyre on which country they live in etc. I get that free. I can get even more info if I pay for a tracker. Can you believe that so much information is given about you every second you are on the internet. When I have kids I will have all the net nannies and programs which let you see wjich sites have been visited. It is a very dangerous place as I have found out, and now I will be a lot more carefull.
The Internet was originally coneceived by The US Military as a communications system which could survive an all out nuclear exchange between the USA and Russia. Unlike regular communication systems it would simply reroute past detroyed places in the communications system. From this point it swiftly grew into a global "world wide web" with various people promoting it as a place for the free exchange of ideas and freedom from censorship. Growth was slow at first but as more PC's entered homes internet usage began to grow in western countries and some asian countries such as China. By the mid 90's the internet exploded as hundreds of new sites appeared every day, businesses sprang up overnight and the media finally realised it existed.
"Why do we want to be able to use the internet?" was the question people who had never before used computers were asking, and the salesmen and software/internet companies were ready for it.
"It'll help educate your children, they can do their homework." "
"You can get anything you want to find on the internet."
"Email, its a great communication tool"
"Meet new people in chat rooms and forums."
"Create your own website."
"Buy online."
"Its the future."
All these and many other points were true, to a degree. But as internet usage rose rapidly a few objectors began to ask those awkward questions, "who controls it ?" "how do you know who you're talking to ?" "your credit card details aren't secure are they ?" I, like nearly everyone at the time, ignored these annoying people because to me the internet was great and they knew nothing. Someone always wants to spoil the party don't they ? They were old people who just simply couldn't use the technology, weren't they ?
Then, starting around 1999, the media ended its love for the internet as dotcom companies fell, the dangers of internet stalkers became publicly known and the exploits of hackers made the news far more often than before. Instead of being this bright friendly place the internet was being protrayed as a dark world full of the worst/darkest/weirdest/extreme parts of life. Around Christmas 200 Sci-Fi channel showed a film called "net force". A sentence from that film always sticks in my mind -
"The growth of technology is rapidly out-stripping our ability to police it."
All things can be used for good or evil, legal or illegal e.t.c so why is the internet any worse than anything else ? Currently the internet has no police force and any prosecutions against internet criminals are hampered by lack of understanding and laws which were made bfore the internet was ever conceived. Similarily most ISP's take the attitude that they are not responsible for their users actions and website content, effectively turning a blind eye to them.
Some people say the internet should remain uncensored, that "Big Brother" is not far away, that any poilce force would monitor emails and shut down legal sites. Maybe they are right, but what if they aren't ? No monitoring system would be able to look at every email, instead its likely that keywords or code phrases would be looked for. Another common reply from people who want the internet policed is that those who don't want it policed are the ones with something to hide. Back in the 80's when campaigners picketed Uk/US missile bases in England they appeared innocent but released intelligence files prove many were soviet agents. The point is how do you know ?
A major problem is determining when a site/person breaks the law. Which countries law is it they've broken, does it even matter if they've harmed no one ? Surely just looking at one XXX site is doing any harm ? Or downloading that game you always meant to buy but found in full on a geocities site ? Well would you do similar things in real life i.e steal a game or pick up an xxx magazine from the top shelf of WH Smiths ? Might you be bothered about what other people would think ?
The debate over sex sites themselves could fill millions of books. One question is are they morally right ? Yeah sure they're legal but should people be able to make money from it ? Many sites contain content only legal in their host country yet the very moment you view it the content downloads onto your HD and is governed by your own country's laws. A counter point to this is that people have the freedom to do what they want, if thats how they want to earn a living then they can. Another is are they legally right ? Just because a site says the models/etc are how do you know they are ? Can you trust site operators because they fear breaking the law...erm but who polices the net ? At the moment many countries govern what is acceptable by using old outdated publishing laws which never envisioned what the future would become.
I know many people reading this ( lol ) will have the knee jerk reaction of "he's an idiot, I like the internet how it is." But just think, in the years ahead some of you will be parents, and your kids will be on the internet - because there's no way it will be destroyed now - and unless something happens then the internet will continue to become a more dangerous place and more crime will be committed by the internet. Do a search for hacking tools, install a firewall and see how many people are right this minute probing your PC's ports. Theyre not kids with fun in mind, they want your email, your credit cards, anything they can get. Is this the internet you want your kids to have inthe future ?
So...:) what does everyone else think eh ?
"Why do we want to be able to use the internet?" was the question people who had never before used computers were asking, and the salesmen and software/internet companies were ready for it.
"It'll help educate your children, they can do their homework." "
"You can get anything you want to find on the internet."
"Email, its a great communication tool"
"Meet new people in chat rooms and forums."
"Create your own website."
"Buy online."
"Its the future."
All these and many other points were true, to a degree. But as internet usage rose rapidly a few objectors began to ask those awkward questions, "who controls it ?" "how do you know who you're talking to ?" "your credit card details aren't secure are they ?" I, like nearly everyone at the time, ignored these annoying people because to me the internet was great and they knew nothing. Someone always wants to spoil the party don't they ? They were old people who just simply couldn't use the technology, weren't they ?
Then, starting around 1999, the media ended its love for the internet as dotcom companies fell, the dangers of internet stalkers became publicly known and the exploits of hackers made the news far more often than before. Instead of being this bright friendly place the internet was being protrayed as a dark world full of the worst/darkest/weirdest/extreme parts of life. Around Christmas 200 Sci-Fi channel showed a film called "net force". A sentence from that film always sticks in my mind -
"The growth of technology is rapidly out-stripping our ability to police it."
All things can be used for good or evil, legal or illegal e.t.c so why is the internet any worse than anything else ? Currently the internet has no police force and any prosecutions against internet criminals are hampered by lack of understanding and laws which were made bfore the internet was ever conceived. Similarily most ISP's take the attitude that they are not responsible for their users actions and website content, effectively turning a blind eye to them.
Some people say the internet should remain uncensored, that "Big Brother" is not far away, that any poilce force would monitor emails and shut down legal sites. Maybe they are right, but what if they aren't ? No monitoring system would be able to look at every email, instead its likely that keywords or code phrases would be looked for. Another common reply from people who want the internet policed is that those who don't want it policed are the ones with something to hide. Back in the 80's when campaigners picketed Uk/US missile bases in England they appeared innocent but released intelligence files prove many were soviet agents. The point is how do you know ?
A major problem is determining when a site/person breaks the law. Which countries law is it they've broken, does it even matter if they've harmed no one ? Surely just looking at one XXX site is doing any harm ? Or downloading that game you always meant to buy but found in full on a geocities site ? Well would you do similar things in real life i.e steal a game or pick up an xxx magazine from the top shelf of WH Smiths ? Might you be bothered about what other people would think ?
The debate over sex sites themselves could fill millions of books. One question is are they morally right ? Yeah sure they're legal but should people be able to make money from it ? Many sites contain content only legal in their host country yet the very moment you view it the content downloads onto your HD and is governed by your own country's laws. A counter point to this is that people have the freedom to do what they want, if thats how they want to earn a living then they can. Another is are they legally right ? Just because a site says the models/etc are how do you know they are ? Can you trust site operators because they fear breaking the law...erm but who polices the net ? At the moment many countries govern what is acceptable by using old outdated publishing laws which never envisioned what the future would become.
I know many people reading this ( lol ) will have the knee jerk reaction of "he's an idiot, I like the internet how it is." But just think, in the years ahead some of you will be parents, and your kids will be on the internet - because there's no way it will be destroyed now - and unless something happens then the internet will continue to become a more dangerous place and more crime will be committed by the internet. Do a search for hacking tools, install a firewall and see how many people are right this minute probing your PC's ports. Theyre not kids with fun in mind, they want your email, your credit cards, anything they can get. Is this the internet you want your kids to have inthe future ?
So...:) what does everyone else think eh ?