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Indian Nationalists Forcibly Censor Orkut

Posted by Zonk on from the that's-one-way-to-do-it dept.

starkravingmad writes "The Economic Times is running a story on Hindu nationalists in India threatening to wreck internet cafes that don't block parts of Orkut that the vigilantes find offensive. From the article: '"Orkut is used by many destructive elements to spread canards about India, Hindus, our gods and cultural heritage," said Abhijit Phanse, president of Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena, the student group. "We are gently telling Internet cafe owners that it is their responsibility to see that surfers do not use their facility to carry out such hate campaigns ... Or else, we will have to do that job for them." Last week, dozens of Shiv Sena workers vandalised some Internet centres, saying they were not stopping their customers from accessing Orkut groups involved in sending hate messages.'"

2 of 360 comments (clear)

  1. dear sensitive religious types by circletimessquare · · Score: 5, Insightful

    hindus upset at orkut, muslims upset at muhammed cartoons, christians upset at crosses in pee, etc:

    i believe that your religion is strong and powerful and moving

    apparently, you don't

    for if you did, you would not be so threatened by such random fluff

    or, alternately, if these stupid offenses affect you, your religious faith is shallow

    you do not honor god/ allah/ shiva/ whomever by being moved by the most contrived of offenses that even a child could shrug off and roll his eyes at

    when you do, you make a mockery of what they stand for, by showing that some of your religions followers (you) are of small easily swayed faith

    you're a shame to your own religion, and your cheap outrage cheapens your religion

    signed,
    people with faith and maturity

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
  2. Re:why bother? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This has got absolutely nothing to do with religion.

    This is just another vote bank tactic to gain the votes of the poor and middle-class by using these "campaigns".

    The internet penetration is so low that nobody in India really cares about Orkut or any other site for that matter. This just a show to the larger middle-class population that they are taking steps to "preserve the culture".