Navy now limits access to DU!

[HawkerHurricane]

This is BS.

This lovely morning, I discovered that the Navy's internet cafe only allowed one hour of 'quota time' to DU and 'other' websites (I don't know what other sites...). Well, I spent about 40 minutes before going to work on DU, then logged out and headed to work... Since I'm on limited duty for medical reasons, I get to come back to the internet cafe, where I got on a different computer and discovered... I have 10 minutes left! And it told me this before I logged into DU! In other words, the Navy's internet cafe at 32nd street Naval Station limits access to DU to 1 hour a day TOTAL for all personnel! If more than one person wants to log on, too bad. This is a internet cafe for all hands, it has 20 odd computers, and is used by personnel from all over the base... After it bumps me off DU, I'm going to FR and seeing if it does the same thing. I'll post my results on this thread after I get home this afternoon.

I'm pissed.

[truthspeaker]

1. interesting - I know a guy in the Marines who comes here

and he says he can't post from his PC on base.

[GOPisEvil]

2. What the hell?!

So much for those freedoms you've fought for...

I'm interested in the results of your experiment.

[Crewleader]

3. That is a lousy thing HawkerHurricane

let us know friend...:hi:

[nini]

4. you should check and see if the same applies to free republic.

I wonder if it's just DU they're freaking out about.

[DBoon]

5. Can you post the message you get?

If possible, it would provide some clues as to what blocking software they are using

Is there anyone in your technology support group you can politely ask? Maybe a "gee what's the policy we have on Internet use? Can you tell me which sites are time-restricted?"

[HawkerHurricane]

19. The operator had no clue...

and paged his computer guru.

I'll see if I can post the page tommorrow...

(lets see, email it to my home address through AOL, then when I get home post it...)

[Wickerman]

6. I admire you, HH

for subjecting yourself to an hour of freeperville. Make certain you shower afterwards - use lye soap.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

7. He'll probably be there for a bit over an hour

Just enough to find out they're NOT blocking FR.

[Wickerman]

15. yeah, got it

thanks :hi:

[supernova]

8. That's bogus.

I'll be interested to know what you find out.

Perhaps it's that the machine can't spend more than 1 hour on any one site. You know, that someone might be using the machine heavy-duty for free, instead of light catching up, couple of emails, etc.

It takes me an hour just to slog through GD2004. :silly:

[proud patriot]

9. Yes keep us posted as what happens

:grr:

[BigDaddyLove]

10. I wish I had a way to block DU after an hour's usage.......

'cause sometimes it's rather hard to leave on my own.

:)

[truthspeaker]

11. If it's the internet cafe then "non-work related" can't be the excuse

An hour time limit per person makes sense, but not per site.

[lpbk2713]

12. Oh that Rummy's a rascal isn't he!

That weasel SOB is at it again. Must be they want to limit the opportunities that servicemen/women have to find out how their benefits are being whittled away by these assholes.

[myrna minx]

13. Find out if they are doing that to other liberal sites,

such as Buzzflash. I wonder if you would have free access to Drudge for as long as you desired. Freedom indeed. Take care. :hi:

[NoPasaran]

14. In related BS. . .

Some French members of a military history discussion group I participate in have noted that they can no longer access ".mil" websites.

[Kamika]

16. That can be their isp though

Stupidity goes two ways

[Rabrrrrrr]

17. or the .mil servers are blocking requests from french ISPs

That would be my guess.

[HawkerHurricane]

18. Here's the gouge...

Note that I have no 'why' in this answer, only what...

The server (which serves 20 computers at this cafe) bans outright some sites (porn, hate, gamebling, etc) and restricts access to 1 hour per day to others... that's TOTAL for all of the 'restricted' sites at all the computers... one computer spends a hour on one of these sites, then all are blocked for the rest of the day... the clock resets at midnight...

Sites that were blocked...
DU
Bartcop
MediaWhoresOnline
SkepticsAnnotatedBible
Yahoo! Message boards only
ebay

Sites NOT blocked
Free Republic
MediaHorseOnline (the other block might just be on the word 'whores')
Daily Howler
AOL
and several blogs that I accessed through MediaHorse.

I do not know what the scam is... the operator (a nice guy) is no computer expert; he's just the guy who serves the coffee and makes sure the printer has paper.

More info as events warrent

[HEyHEY]

20. OMG You HAVE TO REPORT THIS!

Go to any remotley Left wing, or even decent right wing paper and tell them.

[TXlib]

28. You should complain to your congressmen and senators.

Even if they're republicans, they should realise that blocking democratic sites and not republican sites is beyond wrong.

[rumguy]

21. That is fascinating, there is no RATIONAL reason why DU is on that list

and FR is not...

this is nutso!

[bobthedrummer]

31. I agree

on that one-why FR but not DU?:silly:

[Blue-Jay]

22. TOTAL BULLSHIT, Hawk!

I'll be interested in a follow-up. Let us know if there's anyone we can email to express our disgust. The taxpayers (I assume) are paying for Navy bandwidth, and we don't like (however limited) censorship.

I can't believe that shit.

[ProudGerman]

23. Anyone ever think this is the work of freepers?

Like for instance, maybe a local freeper got a hold of someone on that base, or even knew someone, who would be able to do something like this, and told them that DU is anti-American and hates the military. Maybe I'm being paranoid, but maybe Freepland has a thing where they see how many places they can get DU banned from. DU does hold a special place in their hearts ya know.

[SOteric]

25. That's what crossed my mind.

I can't state with any certainty that it isn't some bizarre interpretation of Patriot Act II, but the U.S. Navy doesn't seem on the face of it to be actively engaged in censorship.

I'm wondering if anyone has other contacts in the active Navy, - at a completely different location. That could help establish a baseline of the activity. If it's in San Diego AND Norfolk, VA, - then yeah, maybe it's the Navy. And if it's only in San Diego, - it's probably some cyberthug with a Freepish political bent.

[Jack Rabbit]

26. The scary thing is that it could be the work of the Freepers

who work in the Pentagon.

[HawkerHurricane]

24. from the warning page

COMMAND NAVY REGION SOUTHWEST

NAVAL STATION SAN DIEGO

ACCESS TO THIS WEB PAGE IS RESTRICTED



This page has been filtered by






If access this is authorized contact system administrator

[Jack Rabbit]

27. Please keep us appraised

I want to know who is behind this.

[dmr]

29. So do I, and then what we can do

I am so sorry Hawkeye.

This is an assault and an insult, not only to Navy personnel, but to all left thinking Americans. Our Constitution gives us the freedom to think, read and speak as we choose. DU, Bartcop and the others you mention do not jeopardize national security. The Right Wing thinking people do not have ownership to patriotism or flag-waving. I love my country, just as you do, and we are both entitled under our Constitution to disagree with the current political administration.

If there is anything we can do, I am ready, willing and able to get involved.

This is an election year, I suppose they believe that limiting access to left leaning sites will give them an edge.

[HawkerHurricane]

30. HAH!!

"This is an election year, I suppose they believe that limiting access to left leaning sites will give them an edge."

Little do they realize that I went from Middle Right to Middle Left BECAUSE they limited my access to non right wing radio (Rush, take a bow, you converted me to the opposite party) in the early '90's. I couldn't take 24/7 bs...

AND I went farther to the left every time I came across another Reich Wing arsehole with a phone arguement in TV, radio, and print... Fox News has convinced me that all the lying is done by the right about the left...

The Republican Party's spokespeople have convinced me that they are unworthy to hold power. And they did it by being the only voice in the media.

[TXlib]

32. The consensus of the IT staff at my company

is that it is probably the result of a rogue RW net admin, and not Navy policy.

They lean right, themselves, but find the idea that the military would block left leaning political sites, and not also right, abhorrant.

Why don't you go straight to a higher up, and see if the Navy has taken a stance on this. If it is a rogue admin, his supervisor might take a dim view of his actions.

[T Bone]

33. Censorship of your freedoms should not stand

since you serve to guarantee those freedoms for all of us.

[Ernesto]

34. Reminds me of 1968......

the time I was enjoying (along with others) "Laugh In" @ a NCO club @ Camp Pendlton. Up walks a F%$king lifer who shuts off the TV. He explains to us irrate Marines that we are only allowed to watch news & sports in his club........ I guess Rowan & Martin's satire was bad for our morale.... And then, the crazy bastards couldn't understand why I didn't want to re-enlist in their fine organization!

[GreenPartyVoter]

35. Unreal!

That sucks. :(