Protracted argument with an internet ISP
I switched mobile network providers to Three Ireland. It turns out Three censor the internet and one of the sites they filter is called b3ta.com. I wrote a bunch of emails to tech support to get them to lift the filter.

Their first response explained how they filtered "sites of an adult nature" because of kids. And that I could simply present myself at a store to request the filter be lifted and to be laughed at for the filthy pervert I clearly am.

After several more emails themed along a "I'm not a pervert for wanting to visit a comedy site" they consented to lift it if I supplied my passport to them by email and eventually it was.

Total fucking overkill and nannyish for a several reasons.

Reason 1: They don't censor sites which contain far more adult content than B3TA. Such as Facebook, YouTube, LiveLeak, Vimeo. Amongst these sites, I would have no trouble finding:

* Execution videos
* Homophobia, racism, sexism and other bigotry / hate speech
* Religious extremism
* Drug paraphenalia
* Home made weapons, nunchucks, guns etc.
* Animal cruelty / slaughter
* Sex advice and nudity
* Fatal accident footage
* Dead bodies and other gross content

e.g. type "how to put on a condom" into YouTube. 3rd result is a very happy man demonstrating on himself.

Reason 2: They don't censor sites that are in some way similar to B3TA.

Reason 3: It's trivial to work around the filter, e.g. by using Opera Mini, but that isn't the point.

Reason 4: I shouldn't even have to have this bloody conversation to be treated like an adult. They asked my date of birth when I signed up. They could have asked a follow-up question "Do you want to use the parental control filter on your data?". And if I want to change my mind later include a checkbox on the self service screen to change the option.

Gah, such big deal over one bloody web site.
(MagicMoose, Thu 27 Mar 2014, 22:52, 9 replies)

I remember that problem when I was with Three.
The blocked site notification had a link to "enable adult content" which just led to them attempting to sell me access to their own dating/softcore porn services. Twats. Opera was the obvious answer.
( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Thu 27 Mar 2014, 23:00, closed)

Sadly not in Ireland
Blocked content just leads to some generic "content not available" error page. If it had a link where I could set the filter I would feel a little pissed off about it.
(MagicMoose, Thu 27 Mar 2014, 23:10, closed)

Same here. Confirming my age just allowed me access to Three's own smut services.
The internet stayed filtered.
( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Fri 28 Mar 2014, 10:30, closed)

Get yourself some CyberGhost.
You'll be grand after that.
( .Yeti., Thu 27 Mar 2014, 23:23, closed)

Couldn't you just proxy it?
jelly.b3ta.com/questions/
(The Magic Number is neither magic nor a number, Fri 28 Mar 2014, 8:41, closed)

I could but that's not the point
See reason 3. Why should I have to bypass a petty, arbitrary filter every time it deigns to block a site when I never asked to be censored in the first place.
(MagicMoose, Fri 28 Mar 2014, 9:23, closed)

I had
the same problem getting on to sickipedia, but a phone call to 3 sorted it out.
( social hand grenade I was a lurker before you were a lurker, Fri 28 Mar 2014, 10:35, closed)

Try moving to North Korea or China.

( edjogs Collared doves are shit., Fri 28 Mar 2014, 9:39, closed)

He did, but his ISP blocked him

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Fri 28 Mar 2014, 10:23, closed)

Clearly 3 don't realise that being blocked by them is a badge of honour
...or maybe someone who works there got trolled here?
(squigbobble existed, Fri 28 Mar 2014, 11:23, closed)