TSA Denies Blocking Access to 'Critical Commentary'

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Fox News:

The Transportation Security Administration said Tuesday it would not block its employees from accessing websites with "critical commentary," following a report that the agency instituted a new policy barring "controversial opinion" sites in the workplace.

The agency released a broad statement acknowledging that it restricts websites internally but denying that any sites would make the blacklist based on editorial content.

"TSA routinely makes improvements to our information technology systems to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats to keep our systems secure. As part of this continued effort, TSA uses a security technology to limit access to categories of web sites that pose an increased security risk," the TSA statement said. "TSA does not block access to critical commentary about the organization."

The agency later clarified for FoxNews.com that it decided against including the "controversial opinion" category in the software it is using to restrict websites.

CBS News first reported that the TSA sent around an e-mail to staff informing them that five categories of websites had been determined "inappropriate for government access" and would be cut off. According to CBS News, those categories included: chat, controversial opinion, criminal activity, extreme violence and gaming.

The TSA later said in its written statement that employees "will be able to access web sites required for work purposes." The statement also said the agency created websites like The TSA Blog to "promote diverse opinions."
________

Maybe the TSA just got ahead of itself in getting ready for what the Obama administration wants for the rest of us...

[Valin]

WestVirginiaRebel

Rush pointed out today they didn't ban porn sites.

 

 

 

On a completely unrelated be very fun note!

 

Democratic Underground is changing. It's time to change the way we run it.

 

The DU Administrators have long been frustrated with the persistent undercurrent of negativity and conflict here, which has been exacerbated by the lack of a common villain in the form of George W. Bush. But we have been reluctant to make changes to the way we run the site out of fear that we might do more harm than good. The problems we face are extraordinarily complicated, and despite (or perhaps because of) nearly a decade of administering this site we tend to be fairly skeptical of our own ability to effect broad-based changes that will improve DU for the majority of our members.

 

 

 

(snip)

 

Broad-brush or Extreme Group Attack - When discussing groups of DU members, the following are considered broad-brush group attacks:

- Broad-brush attack - intended to paint all people belonging to a particular group in a negative light. (The word "all" can be explicitly stated or implied.)

- Name-calling - Referring to any group of DU members by names intended to paint them in a negative light.

- Suggesting that any group of DU members are conservatives, disruptors, or similar.

- Belittling people who are new or have a low post count.

- Suggesting that any group of DU members are not Democrats, liberals, or progressives.

- Suggesting that a particular point of view is required in order to be a Democrat, liberal, or progressive.

 

(Snip)

 

Insensitive - Includes bigotry, hate, ridicule, stereotyping, or insensitivity based on:

- Race or ethnicity.

- Gender (women or men).

- Sexual Orientation.

- Religion or lack of religion (Christians, Jews, Muslims, Atheists, Agnostics, etc.).

- Geographic region or place of origin.

- Disability (mental or physical).

- Weight or other physical characteristics.

- Use of insensitive terminology (Valin says: use your imagination, This is going to severely limit the debating style there)

 

(Snip)

 

And now!!!!!

 

 

Inappropriate attacks against Democrats

- Insults against prominent Democrats, such as "F*** Obama."

- Name-calling against prominent Democrats. Calling Barack Obama "Barry" or some other name. (Valin says: I wonder if it's ok to call him Barack Hussin Obama")

- Repeating Republican partisan attacks against Democrats.

- Broadly suggesting that there is no difference between Barack Obama and George W. Bush, or that there is no difference between Democrats and Republicans. (Arguing that specific policies are the same would be permitted.)

- Suggesting that President Obama has perpetrated a "con job" or "fraud," or similarly over-the-top assertions of bad faith.

- Advocating voting against Democrats, or in favor of third-party or GOP candidates.

- Broad-brush smears against Democrats generally. Broad expressions of contempt toward Democrats generally.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

"Diversity" in action!

 

At least all TOS did was launch purges...