.XXX is a viable concept and here's why
ICANN
should be commended for bringing the .xxx TLD up for review once again however
despite the movement to make this a
*voluntary* effort, it should become a *mandatory*
requirement. I have some
concern regarding those that would advocate that this TLD be disillusioned or
for those that believe that this should be a voluntary movement. With the copious pornographic
content being proliferated across the Internet growing daily, the public is
becoming increasingly less tolerant of having it *pop* up under the noses of
their children, in their workplace in front of co-workers with the threat of
sexual harassment and for network administrators that must roll out newer and
more expensive techniques to filter porn from the workplace has already caused
enough controversy to re-introduce the .xxx TLD once
again. Since it's
inception, nobody has at least offered a viable solution to this ever-growing
problem, all they have are arguments of how and why the .xxx TLD will fail. Efforts and expertise should be focused
on making it a feasible concept instead of *shooting it in the
foot*. Let me
dispel any of the negative comments that can be argued here. Firstly, this approach is based on the
mandatory model and requires US governmental regulation and enforcement by the
FTC. It would be ludicrous to even
assume that making this voluntary that deceitful and unscrupulous websites that
use terms like Barbie, Mickey Mouse and others to lure children would
switch? Mandatory is the only way
and yes, this can work ~ here's how: Firstly,
the .xxx TLD does have the power to make other registries stop allowing adult
content by enacting legislation that requires websites that are pornographic in
nature regardless of the level of content be registered as .xxx and for those
that do not wish to comply will simply not be routed in the US. Those US based companies that do
not comply or US Based ISP's that do not *terminate* non-compliant websites will
be faced with hefty fines that by the way can be used to fund the enforcement of
this TLD so the argument that this new TLD will inflate services to outrageous
levels is absurd. Yes this will
cause a rate increase for an .xxx TLD but we see the same price model with
Alcohol and Tobacco. If an ISP
wants to get into the porn hosting business then they still have that ability,
only the content *must* be registered as .xxx. If you are addicted to porn then you
will spend the money necessary to feed your habit. Notwithstanding that other
countries that feel the same about this content can enact similar legislation
and ban or place restriction on
non-compliant porn sites. Secondly,
to assume that governmental intervention means a global movement is untrue. The US Government can enact legislative
requirements to not route non-compliant sites. For other less concerned countries that
do not wish to do this then it shall be their society that can suffer from the
economic loss from the billions of dollars the porn industry reaps and it will
be up to them to force their legislators to follow suit so they can still be in
the *game*. Do not assume
that the US needs to *force* other countries, they will do it on their own. countries with already strong rules
governing porn will not disengage their activities, in fact it will bolster
their message and serve as proclamation to their cause. For those that patron other countries to
push their porn, they will not reap the rewards of the US that contributes to
*half* of all porn traffic on the net so they will be forced to either comply or
use ISP's that comply with .xxx TLD regulations in order to be able to
re-saturate their market. (To consider a US based law in this regard as unconstitutional is
ridiculous. Firstly, it's the *Bill
of Rights* not the Constitution so let's re-educate those that were asleep
during history class. The law would
not infringe on these rights - read
the Bill of Rights, I have ~ to even think that it would violate First Amendment
is insane, pornographers still have the right to freedom of speech and fair and
equal access to same by using the proper channel *.xxx TLD* nobody is taking
away their ability to make their statement, just the venue has changed. Secondly there are those that believe
the *freedom of speech* applies to being able to say *you like porn* is not in
the spirit of the bill. It secures
the citizen from oppressive action if they happen to disagree with their
government and protects them from reciprocity from it... quote: *and to petition
the government for a redress of grievances* end quote. Making the argument that it would
violate the Declaration of Independence (once again, not the constitution) that
they have the unalienable right to the pursuit of happiness then please see the
above. Thirdly,
filtration of .xxx sites would become a highly effective way to eliminate porn
for those that do not wish to receive it if it were mandatory that the .xxx TLD
become effective. To address
the issue of *cyber squatters* this regulation would provide that you would not
be able to purchase an existing .whatever as .xxx unless the registrant of the
.whatever has declined to convert (not given permission). This gives the conversion process a fair
chance ~ again this can be articulated in
legislation. Lastly, if
you don't believe that for one minute that the pornographic proliferation of the
Internet is devastating to the social structure then you are sorely
mistaken. You cannot visit a
newsstand / magazine sales rack and see in plain sight the front cover of a
playboy or penthouse... All the .xxx TLD is merely a cover for porn on the
Internet. (For those
self-professed *constitutional* experts, tell me why nobody has argued that you
cannot have a cover blocking pornographic magazines at a news stand because it
is *unconstitutional* ~ why? BECAUSE IT'S NOT! You have fair and equal access to porn
the same way you did before only now you need to type .xxx ~ it's time to use
technology to make a safer place for children online, remove the garbage from
the inbox that was not asked for, and the useless *pop-ups* that invade the
computer at the workplace. Mandatory registration is the only action to take to emphasize that you are serious about the problem.
D. Evangelista / USICT
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