We seem to be entering a new era of anti-censhorship frenzy at all costs. As though commenting on a ill-placed billboard is the first step toward Communist China.

Putting a billboard like this outside a school is just simply wrong and ill-thought out.

We are better than this people, lets just not give lip service to the rights of children and the importance of how we raise them, lets actually walk the talk.

The pursuit of profit should come with some responsibility, in fact we as consumers can retailiate by not buying the advertised goods. I don't think plain commonsense is working so the only option is to vote with your wallets.

PS: I should add I don't know the author or the litany of new posters who write in her support and I am not a member of any political party or fundamentalist group.

Thought I should clear that up in case I am lumped in with some political movement. :)

Pelican

Your posting history is exemplary and speaks for itself. No indication of 'sock puppetry' as Wendy's campaign has demonstrated.

I agree with you that we can simply vote with our wallets regarding any offensive advertising. Although I don't think my years of avoidance of certain fast food outlets have made much difference. However, I an angered by such as Wendy starting disingenuous campaigns such as this while there is so much more of greater import.

CJ Morgan

You have most definitely struck a nerve - keep on keeping on.

I'm just reading this thread and I'm shocked by the unfriendly tone of many of our regular posters. OLO isn't some private club that any of us owns. It's here to facilitate political debate. Wendy undoubtedly has a barrow to push - so do most of you. That doesn't make her comments illegitimate, it makes them just the sort of thing we are trying to attract and promote.

She has also obviously enlisted friends to come along and support her. Again, nothing wrong with this. I hope they do stick around and comment on other threads, but I wouldn't blame them if they didn't after the welcome they have received. I can't see any reason to call them "sock puppets" either. I've just scanned their email addresses etc. and nothing suggests they are just one person.

I am going to rule anything out of order in the rest of this thread that questions the bonafides of these posters. If you think you've spotted a genuine sock puppet then email me. I've got tools to make a better guess than you.

OLO has a lot of potential as a site for discussion. Discouraging new people because you happen to disagree with their point of view is a threat to its viability. Competition is pretty tough out there from other sites run by the MSM. If you want to give them a free-kick then keep on with your unfriendliness.

Rather than carry-on about someone new using the site and bringing their friends along, why don't you look at doing the same thing?

And for those who think advertising on this site is an unwarranted impost, perhaps we should start a thread about making it a subscription one?

Pelican,

Having spent time traveling around the world on business, I can confidently state that Australia has the strictest censorship regulations in any of the OECD countries, and is only exceeded by the muslim countries, and by the authoritarian regimes.

To add to this already stifling priggishness, there are legions of fuddy duddies clamoring to inflict their versions of "appropriateness" on all and sundry, to protect those that neither need nor want their protection.

Here comes some more new blood.. someone who thinks this issue is a simple place to start a discussion of a pervasive issue.. if someone doesnt say something and make some comments about the degeneration of our society where will we end up??
Im sure Wendy is very concerned and distressed about the mutilation of female genitalia..and many other things as well.
Once again, a simple place to start a discussion and gain concencess(how do u spell concencuss??lol) shame such programs dont have a spell checker lol.. It is glaringly obvious that this is such a simple issue to gain huge concencis (LOL) on..simply because it is public and all time zones.
In other forums i have seen an owner(at this stage one only that i know of)of a strip club agree with this campaign.. choice is the question here..Ps cant wait to see what i'll be classified as by the detractors/hecklers..lol..