The Phoenix Network:
 
 
About  |  Advertise
Adult  |  Moonsigns  |  Band Guide  |  Blogs  |  In Pictures
 

MYSpace Exiles Atheists

By Wendy Kaminer
   
        MYSpace has deleted the 35,000 member “Atheist and Agnostic Group” in response to complaints from people who are offended by atheism, according to a press release posted by the Secular Student Alliance.  Group Moderator Bryan Pesta stressed that the atheist and agnostic group had not violated any terms of service, adding, “when the largest Christian group was hacked, MYSpace’s founder, Tom Anderson, personally restored the group, and promised to protect it from future deletions.”
       
        Rupert Murdoch, who owns MySpace, is not the government: he is not constrained by constitutional strictures against religious discrimination, which include discrimination against atheists, (although he could conceivably be bound by a contract or civil statute;) and while the non-theist movement is growing and becoming more visible, it’s not exactly a market force worthy of Murdoch’s notice.  So, if he can delete atheists from his social networking site, he can delete any religious, racial, ethnic, or demographic group that he doesn’t need to cultivate.  The exiling of atheists should not be a concern for atheists alone.
   
        Obviously, it demonstrates the perils of encouraging people to believe that they have a right not to be offended.  I can’t think of a good reason for anyone but atheists to care that atheists have a presence on MySpace, but people are entitled to their sensibilities, however foolish they appear to me.  The trouble is, they feel entitled to impose their sensibilities on others by restricting speech; and even, or especially, our higher education system seems partly devoted to imbuing students with this anti-libertarian sense of entitlement (a trend we often decry here at thefreeforall.) 
   
        As this belief in the right to suppress “offensive” speech is coupled with increasingly centralized, private control of both new and old media, it poses increasing and potentially overwhelming threats to free speech.  We can stand out on street corners and preach to passers-by, but our access to venues in which we might be heard becomes dependent on the whims of Rupert Murdoch and other gazillionaires; our constitutional remedies are moot.
 
        De facto, marketplace censorship is not a new problem for free speech advocates.  Some hoped that it would dissipate in cyberspace, where anyone can publish virtually anything, for distibution worldwide; and the Internet remains a realm of possibility.  But obscure websites are simply the virtual equivalents of street corner leaflets, while MySpace has an estimated 70 million users.  Whose standards of offensiveness should rule them?

  • Share:
  • Share this entry with Facebook
  • Share this entry with Digg
  • Share this entry with Delicious
  • Email this article to a friend
  • Print this article

11 Comments

  • Kmuzu said:

    It will finally teach atheists and agnostics not to use the  evil MySpace. Also, it is very difficult to spam market people who doubt. I think it is best for everyone.

    February 4, 2008 5:39 AM
  • Aion said:

    Maybe people wouldn't be so offended if Atheists weren't such assholes !

    February 4, 2008 6:41 AM
  • David said:

    I'm a born-again Christian and I find this to be an incredibly stupid and inconsiderate move by MySpace.  Deleting a group just because it's "offensive" to you reeks of stupidity.  The Christians on MySpace apparently need to grow up if they're going to cry over the existence of a group they don't like.  

    MySpace is stupid, so is FOX anyway; atheists and any other people who want coolness should leave it :P

    I did and I'm glad.  Custom pages are hideous.

    February 4, 2008 7:37 AM
  • David again said:

    That being said, I think it should be completely within his rights to delete it.  I just think it's an asshole thing to do and they won't be getting my business any longer.

    February 4, 2008 7:38 AM
  • Cody said:

    "They won't be getting my business any longer."

    Were you paying for your myspace service??? Unless you regularly purchased things from them, you weren't "doing business." And besides, myspace has gone to shit anyways, so who cares?!

    I am an Atheist and, well, I don't give a flying fuck. Moral of the story: Don't Use Myspace. Seriously, there is no reason to use myspace.... It sucks.

    February 4, 2008 1:34 PM
  • Lady Marie said:

    See, this is why I'm leaving MySpace.  I've spent a lot of time there over the last 2 and a half years, and it has become increasingly apparent to me that not only does MySpace not appreciate its' users, it controls their activities and communication.  

    Now they want to start mandating beliefs?

    Screw that.

    Join Yuwie instead!  r.yuwie.com/theladymarie

    February 5, 2008 12:20 AM
  • anon said:

    Its interesting to note that when the majority groups especially dealing with religion get offended, repressed or limited, they're just being "babies", "religious zealots" or even that they're being offensive for practicing their beliefs (thanks aclu) but when religious minorities face oppression its a travesty.

    Muslim and Christian beliefs have somehow been offending people for years for their accepting the existence of a god.  so why shouldn't it be offensive for people to negate such?  If I, as a Christian or Muslim, offend you for praying to God, why on that logical path should it not offend me when you say God doesn't exist.  

    Before i finish off my rant here, i want to accentuate the good point the writer had when she said, "it demonstrates the perils of encouraging people to believe that they have a right not to be offended."  The only right people have to not be offended is internal.  We as humans have the right to say or do basically anything that doesn't infringe upon the rights of others. Tough noogies those of you that are thin skinned

    February 5, 2008 5:17 PM
  • anonymouse said:

    Religion sucks, myspace sucks, god must sucks if he wants people to be offended for having different beliefs

    February 6, 2008 1:07 AM
  • John said:

    I'd like to hear what they were offended by. Should be some good warm-hearted complaints.

    February 6, 2008 8:36 PM
  • pip said:

    What about all the people who are offended by Christians? Will Tom delete all of their groups? Of course not.

    February 9, 2008 2:13 PM
  • Roger said:

    Dear MySpace,

    I am intensely offended by bad camera phone pics. I would ask that you kindly remove any and all Myspace pages with this offensive material.

    thanks.

    February 19, 2008 2:38 PM

Leave a Comment

Login | Not a member yet? Click here to Join
Follow the Boston Phoenix
twitter facebook myspace youtube rss
All Blogs
Related Articles

0911_luc_list5
Boston Phoenix
Critical Mass
Published 11/20/2009 by KYLE SMEALLIE AND HARVEY SILVERGLATE
Over the years, UMass Amherst has proven to be a reliable hotbed for political hypocrisy and squelching of free speech

0911_rayluc_list24
Boston Phoenix
Courthouse bomber to speak about social change
Published 11/13/2009 by RICK WORMWOOD
Censorship averted

more by Wendy Kaminer
Second Lady | August 30, 2008
Hillary's Harpies | August 27, 2008
No We Can't | July 10, 2008
Anti-Noose Laws | May 19, 2008
It's a Crime to Lie to MYSpace? | May 16, 2008

 See all articles by: Wendy Kaminer

ADVERTISEMENT
Latest Comments
Khazei Sneaking Up? - Mrs. Kennedy, why wouldn't you prefer Congressman Capuano to succeed the late Senator? Congressman Capuano...

By Ernie Boch, III on 11-27-2009 in Talking Politics

City Council Forums - сын насилует маму всегда на это дрочу!! http://pxgmyzzcug.jimdo.com анорексия фото http://vmpfpxkwxl...

By Homogon on 11-27-2009 in Talking Politics

City Council Forums - <b>GPS оборудование </b> GPS - глобальная система позиционирования, определение местоположения...

By BimaIdedirm on 11-27-2009 in Talking Politics

Climategate: It's not going away. - Congratulations. Way better coverage than The Boston Globe or The New York Times.

By Randy Moss on 11-27-2009 in Laser Orgy

City Council Forums - развратные девушки фото а вам такое нравится? ? http://hfonjvozrs.jimdo.com лив тайлер порно видео http...

By Kavrico on 11-27-2009 in Talking Politics

Latest Comments from Free For All
Most Viewed
Insane Clown Posse at the Palladium
A chat with Temper Trap lead singer Dougy Mandagi
Bands You've Never Heard of Dressing Up As Bands You Love
Recap: Snoop Dogg, Devin the Dude, and Redman and Method Man at the House of Blues
Say Anything at the House of Blues | October 30
REVIEW: Thao Nguyen and The Get Down Stay Down at Middle East
Ticket On-Sale Alert: Harry and the Potters, Mario, Passion Pit, The Lion King, more
Most Viewed from Free For All
Search Blogs
 
Free For All Archives
Friday, November 27, 2009  |  Sign In  |  Register
 
TODAY'S FEATURED ADVERTISERS
thePhoenix.com
Phoenix Media/Communications Group
Copyright © 2009 The Phoenix Media/Communications Group