Orwell Prize 2014 launch panel: Internet and the modern self with Anna Chen

Had a fun time as a guest speaker for the Orwell Prize 2014 launch event held at the Frontline Club last month, talking about 'Internet and the modern self: manners and abuse online.' Paul Anderson took this video of my bit.

Also on the panel, Helen Goodman MP, Professor Suzanne Franks and Dr Aaron Balick. Chaired by Jean Seaton.
21st October 2013
http://theorwellprize.co.uk/events/launch-debate-2014/

SOPA bites the dust but how did the Chinese view the US firewall?

With a mixture of sympathy, schadenfreude and amusement, it seems.

Evan Osnos writes in The New Yorker:

After several years in which American diplomats have inveighed against Internet censorship in China, the proposals have inspired a bit of snickering. 'The Great Firewall turns out to be a visionary product; the American government is trying to copy us,' one commentator wrote. A Chinese message making the rounds on Thursday said: 'At last, the planet is becoming unified: We are ahead of the whole world, and the ‘American imperialists’ are racing to catch up.'

On Weibo, "a commentator known as Dr. Zhang wrote: 'I’ve come up with a perfect solution: You can come to China to download all your pirated media, and we’ll go to America to discuss politically sensitive subjects.'"

Ah well. At least the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act managed to achieve one good thing: uniting global netizens in their distaste for the clampdown. Netizens of the world unite: you have nothing to lose but your keychains.

Let A Thousand Shaggers Shag: China unblocks porn

Oh dear. I was hoping that the next liberating step in China would have been the end of the death penalty. Or the inclusion of some sort of Clause 4 in the constitution guaranteeing workers a share in the means of production. You know, all that old communist stuff.

But in their wisdom, and in a sneaky move to distract the masses from class struggle, the authorities have unblocked porn on the net.

I think I may still be blocked but who cares? Let them hand jive away. At least it relieves tension from the one-child-policy gender imbalance.

Watch out for bad news being buried while a nation judders to a climax. No, not all at once! You'll set off those tectonic plates.

Wanking is not a city in China.

Now, where can I find a picture to use for this blogpost ...?

Let A Thousand Shaggers Shag: China unblocks porn

Oh dear. I was hoping that the next liberating step in China would have been the end of the death penalty. Or the inclusion of some sort of Clause 4 in the constitution guaranteeing workers a share in the means of production. You know, all that old communist stuff.

But in their wisdom, and in a sneaky move to distract the masses from class struggle, the authorities have unblocked porn on the net.

I think I may still be blocked but who cares? Let them hand jive away. At least it relieves tension from the one-child-policy gender imbalance.

Watch out for bad news being buried while a nation judders to a climax. No, not all at once! You'll set off those tectonic plates.

Wanking is not a city in China.

Now, where can I find a picture to use for this blogpost ...?

Web addict killed by rehab counsellors

Well, that's one way of dealing with it. In the absence of proven technique, method, rhyme or reason, rehab staff in Nanning, China, beat to death a fifteen year old who wouldn't get off his computer. Allegedly. As internet horror stories go, that's an effective one.

I'd say the milk of human kindness has curdled in a big withered worldwide teat and may not be flowing for a while yet.

They said I had to go to rehab, I said, FOR GOD'S SAKE, NO-O-O! NO-O-O-O! AAARGH!

Web addict killed by rehab counsellors

Well, that's one way of dealing with it. In the absence of proven technique, method, rhyme or reason, rehab staff in Nanning, China, beat to death a fifteen year old who wouldn't get off his computer. Allegedly. As internet horror stories go, that's an effective one.

I'd say the milk of human kindness has curdled in a big withered worldwide teat and may not be flowing for a while yet.

They said I had to go to rehab, I said, FOR GOD'S SAKE, NO-O-O! NO-O-O-O! AAARGH!

Six New Personality Disorders Caused by the Internet

"Hey, someone's got something wrong on the net! I have to put them right."

One for my lefty buddies, especially some of the weirdos scumming up the otherwise useful Socialist Unity website. I particularly like the prolier-than-thou bullies yelling at working class people how to be properly working class who turn out to be public school educated nitwits. I never knew you could type in Mockney!

Ever wondered why no-one seems to be able to have a normal conversation on internet forums? Puzzled why you spend so long on dickheads you'd walk away from if you ever met them in a pub? Wondering why you give them the time of day when a spraycan of mace would do the trick so much better?

Jonathan Kimak at cracked.com nails psycho behaviour on the net in a great online guide.

The Internet makes people crazy. We all know this. The guy on the message board who just called you a shitclown for owning a different video game console than him probably would have been perfectly polite had you met in real life.

In fact, we're thinking it's time they updated the psychological diagnostic manuals with this list of new disorders that only seem to kick in once the person opens a web browser.

And, yes, we've all seen the "Internet Asperger's Syndrome" trolls: "Soon the thing you're communicating with isn't a person, they're just a bunch of words on a screen. A bunch of words that the little bastard didn't even bother to spellcheck."

See also David Wong's Five Ways To Stop Trolls Killing the Internet

Thank you for your good sense, JK. Hat tip Popbitch

No dicks allowed

UPDATE: Renegade Eye has found another illuminating article on the subject of Flamers. Note Number 12, "Denying/projecting: We cannot see reality honestly, but must constantly manipulate it by erasing some parts and distorting others."

Six New Personality Disorders Caused by the Internet

"Hey, someone's got something wrong on the net! I have to put them right."

One for my lefty buddies, especially some of the weirdos scumming up the otherwise useful Socialist Unity website. I particularly like the prolier-than-thou bullies yelling at working class people how to be properly working class who turn out to be public school educated nitwits. I never knew you could type in Mockney!

Ever wondered why no-one seems to be able to have a normal conversation on internet forums? Puzzled why you spend so long on dickheads you'd walk away from if you ever met them in a pub? Wondering why you give them the time of day when a spraycan of mace would do the trick so much better?

Jonathan Kimak at cracked.com nails psycho behaviour on the net in a great online guide.

The Internet makes people crazy. We all know this. The guy on the message board who just called you a shitclown for owning a different video game console than him probably would have been perfectly polite had you met in real life.

In fact, we're thinking it's time they updated the psychological diagnostic manuals with this list of new disorders that only seem to kick in once the person opens a web browser.

And, yes, we've all seen the "Internet Asperger's Syndrome" trolls: "Soon the thing you're communicating with isn't a person, they're just a bunch of words on a screen. A bunch of words that the little bastard didn't even bother to spellcheck."

See also David Wong's Five Ways To Stop Trolls Killing the Internet

Thank you for your good sense, JK. Hat tip Popbitch

No dicks allowed

UPDATE: Renegade Eye has found another illuminating article on the subject of Flamers. Note Number 12, "Denying/projecting: We cannot see reality honestly, but must constantly manipulate it by erasing some parts and distorting others."