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'Computer Cop' casting a wide, embarrassing net
Southfield Eccentric ^ | 20 March 2005 | Pat Murphy

Posted on 03/22/2005 10:28:48 AM PST by Lorianne

A computer program designed to help parents protect youngsters from predators has received wide acceptance in Southfield, according to police Chief Joseph E. Thomas Jr.

It also has an unintended - and surprising - consequence, Thomas advised the council at its March 7 meeting, when he outlined some of his department's successes.

Some wives are surprised to learn their husbands may have been viewing pornography on the Internet, Thomas said.

The program, called "Computer Cop," was introduced last fall as police officials became increasingly concerned about youngsters talking to strangers in Internet chat rooms.

"Many of these youngsters who disappear from their homes are going out to meet somebody from the Internet," said Thomas, "and we urge parents to know what their children are doing on the Internet."

To that end, the department distributed 2,000 of the discs without charge, he said, mainly through the schools and churches. It enables parents to call up pictures and words that are considered questionable, the chief said.

Parents then decide what to do next, he said.

"It (Computer Cop) is not a blocking device," said Councilman Kenson J. Siver who is also deputy school superintendent in Southfield. "It merely calls up pictures and any references to vulgarity, possible death threats or drug usage.

"The schools distributed the discs," he said, "but we haven't gotten much in the way of feedback."

As for pornography that adults might view, Siver said, "I'm not a computer cop, and I'd never use it (the disc) to monitor what another adult might have been viewing."

But pornography is a different matter when adults are involved, he said.

"When wives tell me they've found questionable material on their youngsters' computer," Thomas said, "I say the next step is their business. They can do whatever they think is appropriate."

And, when wives complain about questionable material that may belong to their spouses?

"That's also their business," Thomas said.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: computers; computersecurity; hahahaha; kids; porn; privacy
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1 posted on 03/22/2005 10:28:48 AM PST by Lorianne
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To: Lorianne

You mean there's porn on the Internet? **SHOCKED**


2 posted on 03/22/2005 10:30:26 AM PST by FreedomCalls (It's the "Statue of Liberty," not the "Statue of Security.")
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To: FreedomCalls
You mean there's porn on the Internet?

One of my buddies in the lab calls it, "porndom".
Says every major step in speed, bandwidth, and picture clarity (both still and moving) has been driven by porn.

If true, I would think that the net was one od Satan's experiments.

3 posted on 03/22/2005 10:33:53 AM PST by Just another Joe (Warning: FReeping can be addictive and helpful to your mental health)
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To: FreedomCalls

The internet is in the porn supply!!!!! Nooooooooo!!!!


4 posted on 03/22/2005 10:36:03 AM PST by ruiner
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To: Just another Joe
"If true, I would think that the net was one of Satan's experiments."

The internet is nothing more than a vehicle. It makes just as much sense to say that BMWs are evil because you saw one sitting in a strip club parking lot.
5 posted on 03/22/2005 10:38:21 AM PST by j_k_l
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: Just another Joe
One of my buddies in the lab calls it, "porndom". Says every major step in speed, bandwidth, and picture clarity (both still and moving) has been driven by porn.

If true, I would think that the net was one od Satan's experiments.

He's right... Not just the Internet, but also most consumer electronics, especially video cassette and DVD players and recorders.

Porn has driven high speed internet and satelite TV as well. There have been studies done on the topic, and as much as 50% of all Internet traffic is related to porn.

Mark

7 posted on 03/22/2005 10:48:51 AM PST by MarkL (I didn't get to where I am today by worrying about what I'd feel like tomorrow!)
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To: j_k_l
If the vehicle was used, for the vast majority of the time, to transport people to the strip club, I might say that was one of Satan's experiments also.

As it is, I seriously doubt that BMWs are used in that manner.

The internet sure seems like it is being used in that manner for a good amount of the users.

I'm not saying that technology is inherently bad or that the internet needs to be shut down.
The internet is a useful tool for many things but when the advancements, in any field, are being driven by antisurvival causes it makes you wonder.

8 posted on 03/22/2005 10:57:32 AM PST by Just another Joe (Warning: FReeping can be addictive and helpful to your mental health)
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To: JB2008
Remember how the early videotapes were mostly porn movies?

No, really I don't. I remember back when Beta was king and porn wasn't really a factor. At least in the shops I was in.

9 posted on 03/22/2005 10:58:48 AM PST by Just another Joe (Warning: FReeping can be addictive and helpful to your mental health)
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To: Just another Joe

"One of my buddies in the lab calls it, "porndom"."

LOL--One of mine always responds to the question: "Why is there so much porn on the internet?", always responds with: "...because that's the reason it was built...What else is it good for?"


10 posted on 03/22/2005 11:30:43 AM PST by VMI70
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To: Lorianne
Some wives are surprised to learn their husbands may have been viewing pornography on the Internet, Thomas said.

Naive wives.

11 posted on 03/22/2005 11:32:28 AM PST by farmfriend ( Why oh why didn't I take the blue pill?!?)
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To: Lorianne

If there is nothing wrong with porn, why would it be embarassing?


12 posted on 03/22/2005 11:36:02 AM PST by AppyPappy (If You're Not A Part Of The Solution, There's Good Money To Be Made In Prolonging The Problem.)
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To: MarkL
In fact, most every innovation in communications technology has had porn among it's first commercially successful uses. This goes for printing, telephony, holography, the moving picture, etc.

Porn is just about the only form of online information people are actually willing to pay for. Beats out iTunes by a huge margin.
13 posted on 03/22/2005 11:37:45 AM PST by Nonesuch
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To: Just another Joe
Says every major step in speed, bandwidth, and picture clarity (both still and moving) has been driven by porn.

Not true. It was implemented to facilitate some fantasy idea of commercial success on the internet. The porn peddlers just took advantage of it. I have a friend who runs a porn site. It was the only job he could get coming out of prison. He says he makes a lot of money but never seems to have any.

Paying for porn on the internet is the FIRST sign you are a LoOser.

14 posted on 03/22/2005 11:38:44 AM PST by AppyPappy (If You're Not A Part Of The Solution, There's Good Money To Be Made In Prolonging The Problem.)
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To: Lorianne

Hey, you got internet in my porn!


15 posted on 03/22/2005 11:40:12 AM PST by ozzymandus
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To: AppyPappy
Paying for porn on the internet is the FIRST sign you are a LoOser.

Shoot, Appy, from what I understand, you don't even have to PAY for it anymore.

16 posted on 03/22/2005 11:55:51 AM PST by Just another Joe (Warning: FReeping can be addictive and helpful to your mental health)
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To: Just another Joe
First - "...Says every major step in speed, bandwidth, and picture clarity (both still and moving) has been driven by porn..."

One person's opinion does not make it the truth.

"The internet sure seems like it is being used in that manner for a good amount of the users."

The strip club has a good amount of BMWs in the parking lot so I will make the same leap of logic because it is easier than to blame the guy who drove it there.
17 posted on 03/22/2005 12:52:07 PM PST by j_k_l
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To: j_k_l
One person's opinion does not make it the truth.

This is true, but - I have heard this from several different people, all at the top of their field, which has to do with bandwidth allocations, speed tests, video clarity, etc. I work in the telecom industry and have some experience in this field myself.

If a majority of all BMWs sold are being parked at the strip clubs on a daily basis then I think I'll buy something other than a BMW. It might end up driving me to the strip club all by itself.

j_k_l, I understand what you are saying. The vehicle has nothing to do with where the driver takes it or what is done in the vehicle.
Other people are getting the usage of new innovations without having to participate in the activities that drive that new innovation.

My question to you, would you be willing to let others use moral improprieties, on a continuous basis, to advance those innovations?

18 posted on 03/22/2005 1:25:43 PM PST by Just another Joe (Warning: FReeping can be addictive and helpful to your mental health)
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To: Lorianne; Dan from Michigan

Hmm, I live in Southfield. Time to clear out the old cache memory, I guess. :-)


19 posted on 03/22/2005 1:31:33 PM PST by Larry Lucido
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To: AppyPappy
If there is nothing wrong with porn, why would it be embarassing?

Does your bathroom have glass walls and no curtains?

Regardless of how you perceive porn, you have to admit that not everything is embarassing because it's bad.

20 posted on 03/22/2005 1:33:02 PM PST by whd23
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