The IT Nerd

After being the only airline that had the balls to not install porn filters on their in-flight Internet access, American Airlines folded up like cheap suits changed their minds and decided to install porn filters after all. Why you ask? Here’s their reasoning:

American said Tuesday it was working with technology provider Aircell to allow filtering of its nascent Internet service. American, the nation’s largest carrier, said it hasn’t gotten reports of passengers viewing “inappropriate content” on the Gogo in-flight service but said filtering was “an appropriate measure to take.”

Right. Sure. Whatever. Thanks for the spin.

I think the real reason is that the pressure that right wing zealots group Focus On The Family put on American Airlines was too much for them to bear. But that would just be speculation of course. Even if they are the sole reason behind this, you can be sure that they were a factor in American Airlines decision making process.

From the “are you kidding me” file comes this story. American religious group Focus On The Family has put up this post urging people to bully encourage American Airlines to install filters for their on-board Internet access so that you can’t surf for porn while you fly:

An American Airlines spokesman said flight attendants will be trained to handle the situation if a passenger is viewing porn.

Daniel Weiss, senior analyst for media and sexuality at Focus on the Family Action, called the decision another example of pornography running amok.

“Because this nation has not been serious about vigorously attacking pornography, some believe it is appropriate to view in public,” he said. “Not only will the flight attendants be placed in a situation that could be considered sexual harassment, passengers who openly view porn where children can see it may be violating federal harmful-to-minor laws.”

Here’s a news flash dude: Nobody is that dumb!

Most individuals know how to behave in public. Those who don’t will get smacked around and they would totally deserve it. We don’t need filters (that don’t actually work properly and often filter out useful content) to do this for us. Besides, who appointed you the guardians of our moral standards?

Fortunately American Airlines isn’t as stupid as they are has seen the light and as noted above they will leave it to flight attendants to deal with any situation that arises (one would think that if an Air Marshall is on board, s/he would get involved as well). That’s the way it should be in a country like America.

Besides, if you want to live in a country that has filtered Internet access that keeps porn out, I hear China has a system for that which works well enough. Perhaps you guys should set up shop there. I’m sure you’d be happy living in that sort of environment.