Q. Children accessing website w/o any censorship

That is a good question Jenjen!

That's cool you are studying abt Singapore's censorships. I was a student in Australia at one point.

I personally think there's a huge disadvantage in censorship laws in Singapore not just for youth but for everyone. But i believe there's censorship in every country just the degree of it differs.

As for excessing any data, there need to be restriction to certain websites for under age kids. That is very essential to protect them. Australia has it's own strict laws in place for under age kids visiting adult sites. Although that's a huge topic altogether for discussion.

Singapore have placed their censorship laws quite boldly. In my opinion again is due to fear that the public will gain control in getting want they want. or to maintain so call 'peace'.

For a person who is living in Singapore most of their lives, they would not be aware of this impact in the society. Only someone who has lived away from their country would have an idea of the advantage and disadvantage that their country offers.

The impact of censorship law have caused people living in Singapore unable to discuss and lack of awareness in many important issues that surrounds us, like religion, politics, our politician, exposing the badness of companies or organisation to get our rights, truth and not to mention totally oblivious of what is really ( i mean REALLY, REALLY ) going on around the world.

But look the irony is...censorship or not...the government and the media always gets what they want from us. And we are living with restricted information on main stream media regardless of any country you are living in.

I'm in the opinion that censorship for the youth is an advantage because:

1) At a young age they must be protected from undesirable information which may corrupt their minds so that more time and energy can be spent on other thoughts or activities like studies, sports or other positive and useful pursuits. Young minds are easily influenced by any ideas.

2) These undesirable information or elements may affect their minds and actions that might drive them to act in a way which is not advantagous to the society or their elders or may even lead them to become a bane to society. If these negative or undesired elements are regarded like 'poison', then it is best to prevent them from getting access to them in the first place. Prevention is better than cure.

Censorship alone is not enough to obtain the results that we want. Society and government must also provide them with proper guidance and education, provide the right opportunities for them to grow and build their talents and so on and at the same time show them good and correct examples in our daily lives.

Thus in combination of the above factors - censorship plus good education and guidance - our youth will prosper to become good citizens which will not only benefit the country but to the world as well.

Just my two cents.

That's a really good Question.

Here's my 2 cents.

I'm actually against all forms of censorship.

In my opinion, censorship isn't for the betterment of society.

When governments choose to censor one thing, and not another, it's based on populist politics, fear, or any other politically manipuative device.

The assertion that governments (in our contemporary age, as I havent lived in say, 30-50 yrs ago, or last century for that matter) choose to block information (whatever that may be - politics, religion, or even porn), isn't based on their intention to make society 'better'

Take Australian politics for example.

When the government chooses not make documents that involve Australia's foreign or domestic policies, or other key decisions, available to the public, yet take the stand that 'children need to be protected from pornography', is a little self-righteous to me.

Not to mention unfair, that people have to bloody pay hundreds of thousands of dollars, plus legal expenses to get their hands on documents, because Freedom of Information laws in the country have been deteriorating for the past decade.

So i'm asking, do children need to be protected from issues (that parents should also explain) that are to effect them in the future, yet people going at it on TV is deemed 'too offensive'.?

No, I'm sorry, but censorship is a selective tool that i don't think is aimed 'in the best interests' of society.

Secondly, society is mature.

People aren't stupid.

They know what their govt's do. It's a little patronising for you to say that some sort of 'big brother' is needed to 'guide' people, when the very direction govts these days take their citizens is like....way off the yellow brick road.

"Thus in combination of the above factors - censorship plus good education and guidance - our youth will prosper to become good citizens which will not only benefit the country but to the world as well. "

LOL. ummm yes, that sounds exactly what governments like to promote.

Look. at the end of the day, it comes down to what you define the above terms to be (what's a good education, what's guidance, what's a good citizen???)

And please don't tell me that it's religion that defines these terms, because, ummm...if you go beyond the southern hemisphere and the Asia-Pacific (yes, there are more muslims up there too, you know :)

these terms are hotly contested, and thousands have died trying to define this.

But hey, if Singapore is a model for what you deem to be a 'peaceful' country, then thank your PM for the censorship.

Coz it's all about 'keeping the peace', right?

Sigh.