Outrageous Homophobia by O2

[Anonymous]

O2's adult content filter is blocking gay advice website "Being Gay is OK" ( http://www.bgiok.org.uk ) on the basis that it contains inappropriate adult content.
I'm sorry, but I completely fail to see how a website that helps gay teens and gives them advice and support can be viewed as "inappropriate" content.

If you were a teen struggling to cope with your sexuality, how do you think it would make you feel if your phone company was telling you that getting advice about your sexuality was "wrong"?
So O2, is being gay wrong? If not, then why have you blocked this site?

[jonsie]

My word, there's some heavy reading in this thread! So, breaking things down, O2 have introduced an inane, ridiculous, banal and ludicrous age verification policy which we all denounce as farcical in the extreme.
Markle has taken umbrage, convinced that O2 are homophobic whilst all around, fellow forum members are the voice of reason.
I think markle, that you have taken this far too personally. I think LGBT blocked many sites based on domain name alone without actually accessing the sites. I do agree with AF that http://www.queeryouth.org.uk is a particularly unfortunate choice of name, no matter how well intentioned and makes a mockery of the good work done over the past 20 years by the gay community. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!
I can't see why you feel so affronted, you have been in touch with O2 who have agreed to put things right so hardly homophobic. So no problem there. The problem is that O2 have gone completely over the top with their stupid policy on age verification, totally unnecessary and completely illogical in today's society.
I would hate to hazzard a guess at the number of customers O2 lose through this.
for Brendan ::

[browni]

Well said Steve.
I'm certain that O2 did not intend to offend customers by blocking certain sites and they have given routes where that can be rectified.
From what I can see, the IMCB is a voluntary organisation that has been setup with the backing of the major ISPs in the UK and presume that had such a setup not been created there would be government control of said content delivery. Which would you prefer?

[Anonymous]

By the way Markle, have they now removed the bar on the site. I assume you did get in touch with them, so am interested in how long it takes to mark a site safe. Apart from a few who refuse to get in touch with o2 most who actually have seem to have been sorted fairly fast.

[Anonymous]

I think Markle has lost his way. The title of the thread is a clear allegation of homophobia on the part of O2, yet his argument is themed on O2's alleged "mistake" and not getting things right first time.
Markle.... make your mind up.

[Anonymous]

By the way Markle, have they now removed the bar on the site. I assume you did get in touch with them, so am interested in how long it takes to mark a site safe. Apart from a few who refuse to get in touch with o2 most who actually have seem to have been sorted fairly fast.

O2 removed the age verification from my account within about 30 minutes of my complaint... so I have no way of knowing whether or not the block was ever removed.

[Anonymous]

I think Markle has lost his way. The title of the thread is a clear allegation of homophobia on the part of O2, yet his argument is themed on O2's alleged "mistake" and not getting things right first time.
Markle.... make your mind up.

You're halfway there. The defence offered by some people in the thread was that it was an "innocent error" as opposed to O2 making a moral judgement on homosexuality. My points around "not getting things right first time" were in response to this specific defence.

[Anonymous]

Why are you continually making arguments with forum members here, who have no interest at all on this subject?
They haven't made the rules. you are continually going on and on barking about it.
Do you expect everyone here who are o2 customers to rally around and support you? As Beau said, 'get real'
Make your complaint to o2 and done with it. uugghh.
If I was religious I wouldn't come on here bible bashing everyone!

[Anonymous]

By the way Markle, have they now removed the bar on the site. I assume you did get in touch with them, so am interested in how long it takes to mark a site safe. Apart from a few who refuse to get in touch with o2 most who actually have seem to have been sorted fairly fast.

O2 removed the age verification from my account within about 30 minutes of my complaint... so I have no way of knowing whether or not the block was ever removed.

Well, as you made a big thing about it you could ask! Seems the first thing I would do for the other members!

[Anonymous]

I think some people are not taking into account the real reason o2 have parental controls! Would people rather children have access to anything on the web! If by adding the parental controls, it affects some sites that may NOT be harmful to children being blocked, due to the nature of the language on the site,and if it is affecting you, then contact o2!see if there is anything they can do. Also contact the site that you are trying to access, as maybe they could also be responsible by having language on there that they may be able to tone down,then the problem may not arise in the 1st place. Well done o2 for taking steps to protect children! Outrageous Homophobia! Outrageous Statement! How ridiculous!!

[Anonymous]

Why are you continually making arguments with forum members here, who have no interest at all on this subject?
They haven't made the rules. you are continually going on and on barking about it.

*ahem* It is O2 who decides how to implement the rules:

The IMCB has been in touch to clarify: the organisation creates the criteria by which commercial content is judged, rather than rating content itself. That remains the responsibility of the network operator, to whom any objections should be addressed.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03/04/o2_filter/
If you don't like the thread, you don't have to read it.