Posted on 11/18/2011 5:08:39 AM PST by SJackson
Pakistan publishes list of "obscene" words now forbidden from text messages, reportedly including "athlete's foot" and "Jesus Christ"
This measure is not the first of its kind. In January, Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik "directed the authorities to block websites and [texts] 'propagating an anti-Islam agenda'." And now, part of the magic list, from a sidebar in the same link as this report:
Athlete's foot Flatulence Jesus Christ Monkey crotch Back door Bewaquf (foolish) Bakwaas (nonsense) Wuutang (a presumed reference to American rap group the Wu-Tang Clan)
The claim might be made that "Jesus Christ" was banned to ensure "respect." But the ban would have a unique and disproportionate potential impact on Christian users.
You can't make this stuff up, but the war on free speech is never held up by reason or practicality. "Pakistan telecoms authority to block 'obscene' texts," from BBC News, November 17:
The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) has told mobile phone companies to begin blocking text messages containing "obscene" words. Mobile phone companies Telenor Pakistan and Ufone confirmed to the BBC that the PTA has sent them a "dictionary" of banned words and expressions. The PTA has reportedly ordered operators to begin screening text messages by 21 November. Ufone say they are now working on how to block the offending words. Ban first, figure out the particulars later. In the meantime, will there be prosecutions for violating the ban?
A letter dated 14 November, apparently written by Muhammad Talib Doger, an official at the PTA, has been leaked to Pakistani media. It states that mobile phone operators should begin screening the words, provided on a list attached to the letter, within seven days. "We have received both the dictionary and the memo and we're discussing a way forward," said Anjum Nida Rahman, corporate communications director for Telenor Pakistan. The ban is a reaction to consumers' complaints of receiving offensive text messages, Mohammad Younis, a spokesman for the PTA, told The Guardian newspaper. "Nobody would like this happening to their young boy or girl," he said. He added that the list was not finished and that the authority would continue to add to it. 'What am I missing?' An unconfirmed version of the PTA's list is being circulated online, containing hundreds of words and expressions in both English and Urdu. According to this version, the entries range from those too obscene to repeat to the bizarre. Some of the choices on the list have baffled Pakistani mobile phone users, many of whom have taken to Twitter to ridicule the move. Syed Adnan Yousuf, tweeting as @AdnanWhy, asked: "Why is 'head lights' banned? What am I missing here?" People will find plenty of ways around the ban:
Some people have suggested bypassing the ban by replacing words with their number on the PTA's list. Pakistan has seen a big increase in mobile phone use in recent years - 100m Pakistanis are now estimated to be mobile phone users.
SEAL TEAM 6 didn’t make the list?
Good thing “Mohammed ****s pigs” is still OK.
Between the lines, this means they are watching each and every text.
Probably the same is true here. But we hope that fact matters less.
Well, it would be a laughable claim, since Mohammed (piss be upon him) was not included.
I wish the companies could figure out a way to ban women from sending text messages when they’re driving.
Pakistan led all nations who hunted for “dog sex”, and in all years and regions, it still tops the list. Pakistan leads the field in 2010 in hunts for web searches for “pig sex”, as it did in 2006 and in all hunts from 2004 to 2010. Both pigs and dogs are regarded as “unclean” in Islam, so such hunts may be seen as a rebellion against their upbringing. From the time period 2004 to 2010, Pakistan has consistently been far ahead of any other country in web hunts for “donkey sex”, and also “goat sex”, “horse sex” and “camel sex.”
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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Hell may be about to freeze over but for the first time in my life, I will agree with something with these crazies.
Islam treats the commandment “Do not say the Lords name in vain” very seriously. it extends it to their “prophets”
In fairness to these guys, I have never heard them use the words “Jesus Christ” in a blasphemous way. For them Jesus is the second most revered “prophet” after Moe.
What is happening in Moslem countries is that as they get “westernized” in terms of language and education, they are using american phrases like “Jesus Christ!” for expressions of anger etc. This is one of my GIANT pet peeves here in the US.
Now, the darn foriegners are doing it too. I see this in my trips to our India office also.
So, what the Pakis are saying over here is “STOP IT!”
As to why Moe was not included in the banned words, the fact is that every Moslem is taught since birth to respect the name of Moe. That is why all of them say “Moe, Peas be upon him” etc.
So, for once, and for the last time (I hope) I agree with this.
bacon/bacon/bacon
Good post my friend.
However to nitpick, Jesus is a prophet to them, not a “wise man”.
Oddly (and sickly) He is going to be the one that comes back on Judgement day and slays all the unbelievers (including Jews). Moe is never coming back.
So, the last prophet the Muslims expect to see on Judgement Day is Jesus Himself
Also, to give my opinion.. solely based on my pet peeve.. when people curse.. they normally say “Jesus Christ!”
“Jesus” is used more for surprises...
Again, one can never tell with these crazies...but just my 2 cents
More evidence that we should let everyone in this Hellhole kill each other. Any Pakistani Christians who want asylum should get it here and then let the rest of them slaughter each other.
>>However to nitpick, Jesus is a prophet to them, not a “wise man”.<<
Ooooo, sorry. The Chaldean I know always say “wise man” when explaining their former neighbors.
You are correct.
My Athlete's foot is acting up again, and now I'm also suffering from severe Flatulence and jock itch, or as I like to call it "Monkey Crotch". This morning my brother Jeff, who is a roadie with the Wuutang Clan knocked on my back door and suggested I visit a faith healer who claims he can heal in the name of Jesus Christ. I told him that was Bewaquf (foolish), and Bakwaas (nonsense) and that faith healer was just a charlatan after peoples money. (Thanks for teaching me those arabic words Muhammed!)
wise man? is that like a connected guy?
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