New Zealand McDee's blocks Gay website - sign of things to come?

Daith · 12-01-2011 12:46PM

Yep, already said that it's their network. They can do what they want with it.

Though I do see why it's unfortunate that a helpful support website is being blocked it just the way their content software works.

MagicSean · 12-01-2011 12:46PM

General Zod wrote: »

you have to ask for the restrictions to be lifted ^^

Regarding the OP, McDonalds is a private company and as such has every right to block whatever it wants, just as consumers have the right not to use the facilities of such a company if it engages in such a practice.

Not very hard to understand, guys.

I think vodafone will lift them but I dont think 3 will remove them at all.

Coriolanus · 12-01-2011 12:50PM

Tell him to jail break it.

Anyway mountain over a molehill imo.

AnonoBoy · 12-01-2011 12:52PM

They probably use some NetNanny type program to block access to undesirable sites so really the issue should be with that program not McDonald's.

There was a big thing a few years ago about some Internet Protection program (not sure if it was NetNanny or what) that blocked youth gay sites like that Rainbow one which were not offensive but only provided information to young gay teens. This guy contacted them pointing out that they should lift the block on sites like this. They refused. He then started a web campaign to get them to lift access to gay youth information sites and they started blocking his site.

It's all fun and games until someone comes out.

But McDonald's can block what they want - they're providing limited free access to the net on their premises. It's their rules and it doesn't seem like they're on some anti-gay campaign. They're just blocking whole swathes of the internet. They don't want people sitting there with a Big Mac and cheese and Twisty Fries gambling away or jacking off to horse porn.

amacachi · 12-01-2011 12:54PM

Irish Guitarist wrote: »

I saw a video the other day where a comedian said that people were taking everything for granted. It was largely unfunny but he made a good point. He said that he was sitting on a plane with internet access and the internet cut out for a minute. The man sitting beside him with a laptop said "this is bullsh1t!" whereas he should have been glad he was sitting in a chair in the sky using the internet.

Louis CK.

Einhard · 12-01-2011 01:51PM

prinz wrote: »

No. If they are providing the wi-fi they should have the right to block what they want. Don't like it? Go somewhere else. Well done McD's tbh.

Actually, I'm not quite sure they would be allow to censor as they wish. They provide the wi-fi as part of a service they provide to the general public, and I doubt very much whether they'd be allowed to discriminate against specific groups as part of that service. I doubt they are actually doing it from a homophobic POV by the way.

Do you applaud them for restricting gay oriented sites, or just for the restrictions in general?

Einhard · 12-01-2011 01:56PM

Daith wrote: »

Yep, already said that it's their network. They can do what they want with it.

No, I don't think they can. If the sites are being blocked inadvertently (which is more than likely the case) then fair enough. But if they were specifically blocking non-pronographic gay sites, then I can't see how they wouldn't run foul of discriminatory laws. If you are a commerical enterprise open to the general public you can't discriminate as you like just because you own the premises. Just look at the B&B oweners in the UK who have to accept gay couples if they wish to remain open.

prinz · 12-01-2011 01:58PM

Einhard wrote: »

Do you applaud them for restricting gay oriented sites, or just for the restrictions in general?

The restrictions go far beyond gay orientated sites so that can be put to bed, notice how you say nothing about the rest of the restricted sites. I applaud Maccy D's for exercising their rights in a sensible way.

General Zod · 12-01-2011 02:01PM

Einhard wrote: »

Actually, I'm not quite sure they would be allow to censor as they wish. They provide the wi-fi as part of a service they provide to the general public

the "free" wifi is not to the general public, it is to mcdonalds customers. It is "free" in that it is at no cost to the consumer, it is not unfettered access to everything on the internet. Consumers can choose to use the service on McDonalds terms or not at all.

I'm certain that it's not McDonald's blocking certain websites for not being of "family values", rather they don't want to get sued by parents who find their child is using the free wi-fi to download porn.

They are simply covering their own back by using web filtering software, and it's the fault of the web filtering software policy, not McDonalds in particular that false positives get caught.

BizzyC · 12-01-2011 02:11PM

Seems a big deal made out of something small.

McD's are using filtering software to block content not suitable for children. The fact is that websites that use the terms "Gay", "Lesbian", "Sexuality" are likely to trigger most filtering software.

I'm sure you'd be hard pushed to find any websites relating to sex and sexual orientation through their network, not just the gay/lesbian ones.

Jesus Wept · 12-01-2011 09:41PM

Links234 wrote: »

This is one of the sites mentioned in the article that was blocked: http://www.rainbowyouth.org.nz/

Maybe it's the condoms and lube ad.

Dangerous Man · 12-01-2011 10:12PM

Yup, they're offering condoms and free lube. A lot of people would find that offensive, and not family friendly. There's no conspiracy here. The gay advocacy groups can put their placards away although by Christ I'm sure they'd love nothing more than to organize a big huge rainbow-coloured international protest against McDonald's. That'd get them attention, I'm sure...

sandmanporto · 12-01-2011 10:51PM

Mcdonalds food is disgusting. Their chips are the only thing I "ate"! I never eat that ****..
I notice their new advert with your man wearing the sweater that changes colour when he fancies her. In the advert your man says is she lookin and she's double eyed.. Saying ur man lookin is drunk... this kinda appeals to Irish audiences in a way..
I think mcdonalds should be shut down to be honest! I hate the place!

Fight_Night · 12-01-2011 11:19PM

Dangerous Man wrote: »

Yup, they're offering condoms and free lube. A lot of people would find that offensive, and not family friendly. There's no conspiracy here. The gay advocacy groups can put their placards away although by Christ I'm sure they'd love nothing more than to organize a big huge rainbow-coloured international protest against McDonald's. That'd get them attention, I'm sure...

:rolleyes:

sandmanporto wrote: »

Mcdonalds food is disgusting. Their chips are the only thing I "ate"! I never eat that ****..

Nothing better than 12 chicken mcnuggets and a bit of ketchup, you're missing out my friend.

Jesus Wept · 12-01-2011 11:45PM

sandmanporto wrote: »

Mcdonalds food is disgusting. Their chips are the only thing I "ate"! I never eat that ****..
I notice their new advert with your man wearing the sweater that changes colour when he fancies her. In the advert your man says is she lookin and she's double eyed.. Saying ur man lookin is drunk... this kinda appeals to Irish audiences in a way..
I think mcdonalds should be shut down to be honest! I hate the place!

What else do you hate so that we can shut it down? :P

Daith · 13-01-2011 12:15AM

Dangerous Man wrote: »

Yup, they're offering condoms and free lube. A lot of people would find that offensive, and not family friendly.

I find condoms very family friendly. Also kudos on the lube, its a pain in the hole when you dont have any!

efb · 13-01-2011 12:20AM

I hope they block all the religious bs websites too, flying spagetti monsters, pfft!

I never had a prob with social gay websites in McD's but not in NZ,I've never been.

Victoria tube blocked one tho! Ironic, dontcha think!!!

efb · 13-01-2011 12:21AM

Daith wrote: »

I find condoms very family friendly. Also kudos on the lube, its a pain in the hole when you dont have any!

Surely condoms by their nature, is family unfriendly!

durex 1-0 family

RichieC · 13-01-2011 12:32AM

amacachi wrote: »

Louis CK.

And he said it was "largely unfunny"... I feel sorry for people with no sense of humour

RichieC · 13-01-2011 12:34AM

sandmanporto wrote: »

Mcdonalds food is disgusting. Their chips are the only thing I "ate"! I never eat that ****..
I notice their new advert with your man wearing the sweater that changes colour when he fancies her. In the advert your man says is she lookin and she's double eyed.. Saying ur man lookin is drunk... this kinda appeals to Irish audiences in a way..
I think mcdonalds should be shut down to be honest! I hate the place!

yes, let's shut down everything YOU don't like!

what great world that would be! ....for you.

Rodin · 13-01-2011 12:40AM

The homepage of that site contains an apparently naked man in a hotel bed with only a sheet over him.
An advert for a gay sauna, and 'which all black would you like to score' poll

I think its fair to block that from kids eating their happy meal
If a parent saw another customer looking at that, they could well not bring their custom back

ixoy · 13-01-2011 12:45AM

If it was a deliberate policy, then yes it's discriminatory but I imagine it's just filter software playing up. In work, despite working in a Java environment, the idiotic filters are constantly blocking Java/IT sites as "time wasting content" because they're on someone's blog or some other idiotic reason. Yeah, because I'm really wasting time at work looking up a regex example.

Rabies · 13-01-2011 12:48AM

Biggins wrote: »

A strange and unusual situation from New Zealand.
What's worrying, is it a way of thinking that other companies might follow?

The English Times today:

McDonald’s New Zealand condemned over wi-fi gay site blocks

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/australia-newzealand/article2870203.ece

Is this a step too far in blocking and censorship? Are McDonalds trying to justify their censorship by using adverts as a convenient excuse.
I'd be interested to hear what others think. I'm unsure about this one myself.

That link left out other information that is in the media about this over here.

McDonalds NZ has not blocked all gay websites. Only some. TVNZ did a test in their locations and found that many gay dating sites and other gay information sites are still accessible.

For a site to get unblocked, it will be reviewed. Its doing its own version of Net Nanny I suppose. Would be the same for any house hold that has parental control software installed.

Laisurg · 13-01-2011 12:49AM

new zealand and australia are just arseholes for censorship in general.

New Zealand McDee's blocks Gay website - sign of things to come?

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