News Archives: September 2003

Tuesday, September 30, 2003

Witchalls Replies

Someone claiming to be Clint Witchalls has posted a comment in reply to my post on the closure of Microsoft chat rooms. If this is the real person, his comments online are even more extreme than those published in the Guardian. Click here to read his comments, and my reply.

Posted by graham @ 02:05 pm

Monday, September 29, 2003

That Revision Thing

The American and British government line on Iraq has shifted so often that it can be hard to keep track. Why did we go to war? What was the objective? And what the justification? If you are finding it hard to remember, try this handy summary. Then compare it to the truth...

Posted by graham @ 07:25 pm

Friday, September 26, 2003

Abdication of Responsibility

Microsoft's decision to shut its chat rooms has caused much discussion, perhaps best typified by the letters and comments in the Guardian from Clint Witchalls and Emily Bell. Witchalls claims that he doesn't "give a jot what Microsoft's motivation is" as long as the "outcome is good". He also accuses Bell of being a "chatroom apologist" for pointing out that Microsoft's actions will not make children one jot safer.

The problem with people like Witchalls is that they apparently do not realise that the Internet is entirely a communication medium. One chat service more or less makes no difference - there are still ample opportunities for children to meet dangerous people online. ICQ, IRC, chatrooms, email lists, instant messaging (which Microsoft is still pushing heavily...), newgroups - the list is endless.

The danger from the Internet is vastly exaggerated - the majority of abused children are abused by people well known to their parents - and the danger can be reduced by careful parenting. When I was a child, education about "stranger danger" was normal and effective. Now parents would apparently prefer Microsoft to protect their children rather than pass on the simple advice of "don't give out personal information on line" and "if you must meet someone you only know from online, meet them somewhere public, and tell several people where and when."

Posted by graham @ 09:24 am

Ironic State Visits

Am I the only one who sees the irony in one unelected head of state paying a state visit to another unelected head of state at a time when the two countries are involved in a war to enforce democracy on a third country. Let's face it, if our own democratic credentials were up to snuff neither Mr Bush nor Ms Windsor would have any position at all.

Posted by graham @ 08:53 am

It's About Time...

After fourteen years of neglect, it looks like the BBC is finally bringing back Doctor Who. First Blake Seven, now the Doctor. British sci-fi is back on the map.

Posted by graham @ 08:49 am

Thursday, September 25, 2003

Dear Tony

I don't believe that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction before the war. Now it has become clear, neither does the CIA. When will our beloved leader admit that there is no truth to his allegations about Iraqi weapons? The government is still attempting to claim that the BBC (and specifically Gilligan) lied when they claimed that the government's dossier on Iraq had been sexed up by Number Ten. Yet, John Scarlett (chairman of the joint intelligence committee) has stated that a claim that Iraq would only use its weapons defensively was removed only after Number Ten requested its removal. When will our beloved leader admit that the BBC report was essentially accurate?

Posted by graham @ 09:55 pm

Back from Holiday

It's been a while since I posted anything here. In the meantime, Scotscon has been and gone, friends have visited, and Claire and I have spent time in Yorkshire, relaxing and visiting relatives. The last couple of weeks have been full of highlights, and only one low point (the death of my laptop's hard drive).

Now, I'm slowly trying to catch up with everything else that needs done. Getting back to work is proving difficult - the routine of get up, wake up, work is taking time to re-establish, and my sleep patterns are shot to hell. Next week should be better - the first week after a holiday always effects me this way. I have managed to get a new Online Opinion column up (the first for a month - three columns missed due to holidays). Defending the BBC deals with the current threats against the world's finest broadcaster, and tries to suggest ways in which it could be best defended.

Projects on the go just now include layout for the long awaited Scotscon fundraiser, and a Java program to allow an avatar to fly over a 3d rendering of Glorantha. We've also (as a result of Scotscon) started a fortnightly Gloranthaphile pub night. First one was last night, in the Holyrood Tavern. We'll meet there again in a fortnight, then find somewhere else 'cos the Tavern is shutting down...

Posted by graham @ 09:44 pm

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