The Sprout

Dan (Sub-Editor)

Commented 69 months ago - 14th September 2010 - 18:40pm

Hmm. I wonder whether this is something you could speak to Meic about?

http://www.meiccymru.org/

SamuelPatterson

Commented 69 months ago - 14th September 2010 - 19:52pm

Complain all you want! I agree with you. It's disgusting that the coucil have blocked it!

RoLouG

Commented 69 months ago - 14th September 2010 - 21:31pm

this is an interesting point. i never knew they blocked sites relating to homosexuality! I agree, it is giving the wrong image, implying that it is something that should be kept quiet. however, maybe it is only in place to stop younger, more immature users from looking up rude pictures things? not that there necessarilly are of course.

Pasternak

Commented 69 months ago - 14th September 2010 - 22:09pm

Out of interest, what happens if you type 'Heterosexual'?

Hi

I am the Equality Officer for Schools in Cardiff.
This blocking should not be happening. The council does not block these search terms, but I am checking with 'Schools IT' department to see if there are additional blocks on school PCs.

If those terms are blocked, I will be working to make sure that that is changed.

Can you please confirm if you were searching websites or images (which are automatically set to 'safe search').

Can you also let me know if the entire search was blocked, or if it was just some of the sites that were found during the search?

Thank you

PS Can you tell me which school this is?

Thanks

Sam Sprout (Editor)

Commented 69 months ago - 15th September 2010 - 14:13pm

@Equality Officer - If and when we get this information, we will pass it on but will not publish it here as it will fall foul of our personal information policy.

LoudandProud

Commented 69 months ago - 15th September 2010 - 18:13pm

Hi Shroukiepoo,

Just seen your post and I am replying that I have had similar situations where I have been looking for things relating to our project and LGBT some of the sites get blocked.

One site I have been on which is the Queer Youth Network which is an online Youth Group for LGBT young people and this site was blocked as it was supposedly a dating website which I know it is not.

If you can't post the information on here due to the Sprout's policies email me at lgbtyouthcardiff@googlemail.com and I will pass this onto the relevant people within the council.

@Sam(subeditor) Are you able to contact Shroukiepoo to find out the answers to the questions I have asked, as I am unable to act to change the situation without them.

@Loudandproud: if you get any info on this let me know, also if you want to email me on my work address (you know me, equality officer for schools and lifelong learning) so I can build some evidence please let me know. Also, if you do pass on any information from Shroukiepoo can you please make sure it's me you pass it on to, as I don't want different people in different parts of the council all working on this seperately.

Thanks

Tom_Bevan

Commented 68 months ago - 16th September 2010 - 17:08pm

this is utter madness! Hope the council sort it out ^^

Sam Sprout (Editor)

Commented 68 months ago - 17th September 2010 - 12:39pm

@EqualityOfficer - I'm currently running this past my editor before I proceed. Sorry for the slow response, I was up a mountain/really big hill yesterday.

LoudandProud

Commented 68 months ago - 17th September 2010 - 13:36pm

@Equalities Officer. I understand. I will get this information and pass it onto you.

It shouldn't be happening but sometimes from doing my own searches for things relating to homophobia or homosexuality google have been known to bring up innappropiate materials as well so I think that sometimes can be the case why it could be blocked.

ShroukiePoo!

Commented 68 months ago - 17th September 2010 - 18:49pm

Hey guys!
Wow that's a lot of comments (yaaay I'm popular T_T)
Okay so I was just having a quick look now at my e-mails as I have to go, I will be online again on Monday and I will answer your questions - for questions that can not be answered on here i.e school name; feel free to e-mail me on shroukie_poo@hotmail.com

=]

ShroukiePoo!

Commented 68 months ago - 20th September 2010 - 12:49pm

Okay I am using the school's internet now so it's easier to asnwer most questions =)
@RoLouG: If it is to keep immature children from viewing stuff like that they should atleast unblock it for sixthformers. However, I think it's alright to keep homosexuality from people just because they are under 16 because some of them are homosexuals themselves and don't understand what theyre going through so them and their friends who are probably their age should understand what it means to be a homosexual.

@Pasternak: I just researched heterosexuality; the image search and wikipedia were blocked which makes it a tad better I guess but if you search a famous hetersexual person it doesn't block it, while if you search people like Oscar Wild or Elton John it is blocked.. badly.

@Equality Officer: Elton John's search is etirely blocked, most sites related to Oscar Wilde are blocked, some of Andy Warhol related sites are blocked. Also a lot fo wikipedia pages of gay artists are blocked.

@Loud and Proud: yes Queer Youth Network is also blocked.

Please feel free to contact me on shroukie_poo@hotmail.com and feel free to pass any information on. Thanks =)

LoudandProud

Commented 68 months ago - 20th September 2010 - 14:59pm

Hi Shroukiepoo,

I have emailed what you have said to the equalities officer as I am not sure how regular he uses ther sprout.

Hopefully this can be sorted as soon as possible

Hi

I can confirm that the council doesn't block those sites (except the Queer Youth Network, and I am working to get that particular site unblocked).

This means that it is a school specific block, and so I will contact Shroukiepoo on the email given and find out which school and take it from there.

The fact that heterosexuality is blocked might indicate that the word "sex" or "sexuality" is blocked and it is an unhappy coincidence that LGBT people are more affected by that search block than others (which is an argument to get the filter better tuned).

You might find, for instance, that a search on "Essex" or "Middlesex" is also blocked. But that doesn't mean this situation doesn't need to be resolved.
I will report back.

Thanks

CeefaxOfLife

Commented 68 months ago - 21st September 2010 - 15:32pm

Searching for Elton John being banned in schools sound like something Armando Iannucci would come up with.

I'm all with you hear. Theres nothing wromg with gay or les or homesexuil people there totaly normal. And it's people like the ouncil who try and say that yet they block websites sick.

fattigalupo333

Commented 62 months ago - 30th March 2011 - 10:05am

i can hardly believe this, my freinds and i are outraged, this is so wrong something should be done. Nice article by the way its high time some one adressed this problem ;(

hermholland

Commented 62 months ago - 30th March 2011 - 11:18am

This article (and its accompanying comments) is a perfect example of the effectiveness of TheSprout as a method for getting your concerns/views recognised dealt with by the appropriate parties.

I know for a fact that I will use this article as an example when I talk to people about TheSprout in future.

SamuelPatterson

Commented 62 months ago - 30th March 2011 - 12:32pm

Everyone already uses this article as an example! Haha! It's just too perfect an example!