Music News
Pearl Jam not the first band censored by AT&T
By M&C News Aug 11, 2007, 11:53 GMT
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Just more proof, that slowly but surely our basic rights in this case 'freedom of speech' are being eroded away.
We might as well all go and live in North Korea.
The go live in North Korea and see how happy you are.
Screw you AT&T.
Nice try, but you are scum.
Why don't you just stick to taking advantage of our service men and women over seas. Selling them phone cards for 20 bucks to talk to their loved ones for 2 minutes.
I guess the blue room isn't worth watching.thanks at&t.
Corporate sleeze
AT&T has been providing Free webcasts of music events for years. They pay all the costs to produce and webcast the events. Let's call this what it is -- an unfortunate and big mistake on their part. But shouldn't we be thankful a company wants to take an event available to the hundreds and open it up to millions? I don't see Pearl Jam (or any other band) giving away free CD's, concerts, etc.
AT&T learn your lesson, but keep providing the webcasts on blue room because they are great.
I'm not entirely surprised that a corporation practices such boneheaded, overzealous self-interest (although they blame it on a 'vendor'). What does surprise me is that anyone can understand a word of Eddie Vedder's singing. I've seen PJ in concert a couple of times. Sure, they rock hard, but the guy sounds like he just downed a flaming Novocaine shooter.
A good reason to change my phone service today!
The revolution will not be televised--nor will AT&T sponsor it. America's corporate government now has the rights to know more about you than it ever has before, while every year, you have fewer avenues to learn about their doings--their thefts, their influence peddling, their fascist agenda. What a revelation. What a shock. And you don't get upset about it until Pearl Jam gets edited? How much will the next lollapalooza cost? One hundred or two hundred Ameros?
I'm not a Pearl Jam fan, but I do fear our country is creeping ever closer to becoming a state where those who hold power can marginalize anyone who disagrees with them through censorship and the promotion of the crazy idea that dissent is unpatriotic. I feel certain Mr Vedder loves this country as much as anyone in the Bush administration does. Our nation is only as strong as our power to dissent. That being said, I sure wish there was more outrage about limits being placed on information about the war in other media and not just on the opinions of one rock star.
To Korean, the statement was Hypothetical :-)
Remember it was Qwest alone that told The Bush KGB to get a warrant, when it wanted the phone records of it's customers. Att rolled over and said, thank you sir, may I get you anything else....
Some singer takes advantage of an audience who came to hear him sing to give vent to his views on world politics. Some company whose job was to transmit the concert responds by deleting them - whether because they disagree with them or just don't want the concert adulterated with Whatsit's political broadcasts I dont know.
Who cares either way? It's certainly very little to do with free speech. If anything it's one or possibly both self-indulgently abusing their platforms to screech out their views where they can't be answered.
Big Deal... Thanks for sparing me the drivel AT&T.
Stands for American Telephone and Telegraph which used to be a monopoly,then broken up and is now bcoming a monopoly again.
The last time I talked to customer service ,I was connected to the Phillipines and then India.
So much for the American part.
Bad customer service and censorship ,what more could you want from a company?
'Some singer takes advantage of an audience who came to hear him sing to give vent to his views on world politics.'
-G.Quinn
Take advantage of an audience? Please, Perl Jam fans are not attending such a concert to listen to 'escapist' or 'bubble gum' style lyrics. Perl Jam fans know exactly what to expect from Mr. Vedder.
'Who cares either way? It's certainly very little to do with free speech. ' -G. Quinn
I expect many people do, sir. It appears you do as well considering you made the effort to try and marginalize the larger issue here. Censorship has everything to do with free speech. I also suspect the framers of the constitution would care a great deal as they made such an effort to protect public discourse of political views.
I just got swithched, due to some big business deal to ATT.
I'm gonna dump 'em and get a diferent service provider.
What pompous ass'es they are.
It's not about where you live, it's about how you treat your fellow man, and how much we will tolerate and how much longer we will remain sheep to these maniacal devils who they put in power. (our parents or religious fanatics who can't live by the 10 commandments)(she-ite babtists)It's about stripping the executive privileges from the lot. Never vote for an incumbant!
What...
'Some company whose job was to transmit the concert responds by deleting them....It's certainly very little to do with free speech' - G. Quinn
Are you able to comprehend what you wrote? Deleting what someone says IS denying their right to free speech. A right courageous Americans died to gain and have died to protect and preserve. Whether you 'get it' or not.
Hey EmanAug,
AT&T do not present the webcasts for free. They have their name all over it. It is ADVERTISING. Don't be duped. If another company were to buy that ad space it would be a fortune. AT&T are not saints giving away anything for free. The branding they get by presenting such things as the Blue Room is worth its weight in gold. Don't be naive or a shill.
And remember exactly what content they 'mistakenly' removed. This was not a mistake.... getting caught was.
EmanAug Said:
'AT&T has been providing Free webcasts of music events for years. They pay all the costs to produce and webcast the events. Let's call this what it is -- an unfortunate and big mistake on their part. But shouldn't we be thankful a company wants to take an event available to the hundreds and open it up to millions? I don't see Pearl Jam (or any other band) giving away free CD's, concerts, etc.
AT&T learn your lesson, but keep providing the webcasts on blue room because they are great.'
I'm glad this was made known. Now we know what traitors Pearl Jam are and can start throwing away all their CDs!
While AT&T is definitely no friend - and could convincingly be argued as an outright enemy - of the American consumer, American citizenry, its own customers and serving American military personnel, neither is Pearl Jam qualified to say squat about politics or the presidency. One is utterly devoid of common decency in free enterprise, the other utterly devoid of common sense in free speech. What a particularly rotten combination.
why would someone want to pay to hear someone play music then have to listen to their political views. Entertainers should entertain, not campaign. As though they are so highly educated that we think what they say matters. sing your song and get your ass off the stage.
'Bad customer service and censorship ,what more could you want from a company?'
Get your own company, buddy. Hands off the private companies! Let me guess, you're a fan of Chavez, hey? Be your own--or pay for your own--mouthpiece if you want freedom of speech.
This is America! Even major corporations should respect freedom of speech!
As for the person who says 'Go live in North Korea then,' that is crazy. Why compete with a repressive police state -- sure it's worse -- bit it doesn't claim to be a free democracy. If the US is going to try to export 'freedom' overseas, with bullets and ballots, then we should work on improving it here at home.
The majority of US citizens are sick and tired of Bush and his war. In a democracy, the majority rules. Right?
End the war. Bring the troops home now.
BigBiz isn't stupid - they put the spin on everything. Most of us can tell the ones that are doing damage control on boards like this. The ones who can't are the sheep who believe every bit of advertising and sponsored newsbite (aka PROPAGANDA) that bombards us every day.
Let's break it down: bigbiz spends billions on lobbying efforts to get the govt.'s favor; govt. passes laws that favor bigbiz and erode any competition ...in the end we're left with only One choice (thus the monopoly). Better and cheaper technology gets squashed (see any VOIP co.), and the only choice rakes in the billions by overhyping their prices (like the war-profiteering example from an earlier post). The govt. doesn't regulate the phone co. (see Monopoly)...
And yes, PJ has used the same weapon (propaganda) to push their agenda and get their voice heard and the issue out there, that big biz OWNS our Govt. But, you have to fight fire with fire in some instances. It's obvious ATT wasn't going to voluntarily issue a release that said...'Oooops. Our bad'...
I'm cancelling my ATT, formerly Cingular, et al, even though I have to pay the $175 cancellation fee. How long until they start censoring my - OUR - private phone conversations and sending the tape to Homeland Security because I have a negative opinion about the Bu administration?
'The majority of US citizens are sick and tired of Bush and his war. In a democracy, the majority rules.'
Bob in Seattle, you don't speak for us. Please, you and PJ, stop shoving your political views down our throats; sing your song and move on...
Who's sensoring who? Why is it that you can talk smack about our president and not be censored, but when you try and speak out against homosexuality or some other liberal issue you are silenced in a heartbeat?
For those posters who don't think this is a free speech issue, then you're a duped idiot who stumbles through life, oblivious to real issues all around you. Go back and study the writings of James Madison.
You're ok with a third party intermediary between you and an artist or any other party, who can screen and selectively pass through what content they deem ok? This is fine when it happens with the full consent of all parties, but absolutely not when hidden from the audience. That's what happened to the AT&T audience.
I'm still waiting for more details to exactly explain how surgically modifying the Bush criticism was an 'unfortunate accident.' Pretty neat accident, huh?
I'm not a conspiracy guy, but here's another fact: AT&T has been in full compliance with the Bush warrantless wiretapping and domestic surveillance programs. In fact, the only telco who did not cooperate has been Qwest. Frontline had a great piece a few months ago called 'Spying On the Homefront' that showed how AT&T has basically given the NSA full access to their Internet and messaging backbones to basically mine and tap our communications as they see fit.
Check it out online on the PBS website, its scary and fascinating.
After all this, are you brain-dead lemmings even the littlest bit concerned with what's going on? Or are you still more interested in American Idol and that new Arby's bacon-cheddar? Yeah, me too...
Hey Smacky56,
How does this issue get you to 'fearing' that the U.S. is 'creeping closer' to 'where those who hold power can marginalize anyone who disagrees with them through censorship and the promotion of the crazy idea that dissent is unpatriotic'???
How did the actions of one person working for a subcontractor to AT&T prove the case for incipient fascism? Could it be that you (and many of the other hysterics posting on this topic) are just overreacting wildly? Why would you do that? Immaturity? Yeah, well, that's obvious. But what motivates all of you children to choose histrionics over rational thought? Just repeating the slogans you read on Media Matters, Democraticunderground, Dailykos, Huffingtonpost, Moveon, and the like so you don't actually have to think for yourself? And why are so many of you such bad spellers? Didn't want those oppressive parents and teachers to tell you what to do?
Believe it or not, it IS possible to oppose the Bush administration AND view the Pearl Jam/AT&T incident as something less than a government/corporate conspiracy to silence all dissent. But I guess the emotional self-gratification of throwing a partisan tantrum for all to see is just too irresistable.
So go ahead children - just keep proving to the world what a pathetic group of sheep most left-wing ideologues are: Chanting the same silly slogans about the erosion of first amendment rights, corporate 'sleeze,' 'fascist agenda[s],' 'maniacal devils,' 'censoring my private phone conversations...because I have a negative opinion about the Bush administration,' ad nauseam.
Good grief. What a sandbox full of pampered, spoiled, historically ignorant babies pretending that you're suffering under the jackboot of totalitarianism. You have no idea how good you have it here. Truly, what a bunch of self-indulgent naifs.
Why is everyone so shocked about AT&T's censoring this concert? We americans seem to have very short memories - isn't this the very same corporate entity that in complicity with our neofascist white house builds secret rooms in their buildings and routes all everything from their communication network into gov't super computers? I just shredded my AT&T calling card!!
'...neither is Pearl Jam qualified to say squat about politics or the presidency.' - Realist
ANY American is qualified to have an opinion. Is that a scary concept to you? Pearl Jam fans know their band has political opinions and not afraid to speak up. Check out the Dixie Chick's 'Just Shut Up and Sing'....it was made for those Americans who've lost their way.
hmm...since it seems the govt. - and heck, big biz - is so concerned with policing Morality - I'm sure any topic that doesn't fall into their 'approved list' will be 'accidentally' cut out. I see it at the big company I work at every day - our competitor's sites are blocked, any disparaging comment about The Co. are immediately 1)blocked 2)and actual neutralization is done BY A DEPT. whose sole job is to control communications!! So it seems BigBiz is the new State - just like China, if there is something they don't like because it doesn't make the State (BigBiz) look like good guys that care about the people (their consumers), they'll eliminate it.
In this case, maybe a handful of people will cancel their ATT service. Unless this story gets bigger...which it won't, unfortunately. So the attempt to quell 'bad press' will have succeeded. The media will move on to the next sensational soft story about some rich girl who partied, and 'aghast, aren't you so shocked at her behaviour?'
At least some of us will be aware because we're trying to pay attention.
So much for 'power to the people...' (ie. free speach).
The practices of this 'regime' are so like the Nazis of the 30's its frightening! Next they will be sending us off to the 'FEMA camps' they have already built...
Faciest creeps!
Get real, if Vedder was touting gay marriage or women’s right to choice, there would be some right-wing nut organizations trying to squash that also, and it wouldn’t surprise me that corporate controlled, AT&T would get in on it also. It’s becoming part of the norm in America. If you disdain this administration and/or their scorn-worthy policies, you’re labeled unpatriotic.
I'll never watch AT&T Blue Room, thanks to this. I suppose though they will try to get a monopoly on performances with exclusive rights, and then the only way you can see a show is through thier censored room
I noticed somebody said go live in Korea and see how happy you would be.
Since when did our once great and beautiful democracy fall so hard
that in order to show some sort of freedom we would first have to compare ourselves to the evil and worthless ideas in north Korean Government?
I see that a lot these days, people say 'well in this country its like this', 'and in that country its like that',
Well guess what, This is America! and last I knew we are supposed be the example of freedom not a country that must be compared to other country's to show any value.
I am boycotting At&t I was gonna get an I-phone but I'm not now.
If they are really sorry- They should completely sponsor a major freedom concert with bands like pearl jam and neil young and rage against the machine and it has to be wild and free and diverse like America is meant to be. Then I will buy their products again.
Corporate and mainstream political interests can buy as much air time as they like and dispense any 'truths' they find particularly convenient. Make any noises about that and you'll have a swarm of salaried lawyers screaming 'First Amendment!' all over you in no time. Have a singer try to raise his voice in a legitimate political protest and it's mysteriously edited out and dismissed with a shoulder shrug. Ain't America grand?
This is not an issue of freedom of speech. AT&T can publish which ever parts they want. Personally I hate going to concerts and hearing them talk about politics...thats stupid...I came to hear them play.
But back to the point, its AT&Ts site and they don't have to publish anything they do not want to.
Free speech is a particularly difficult problem for a corporate controlled government and censorship is required to keep folks from getting stirred up.
Whoa dude!? '...corporate controlled government.' Where did that come from? This is a government of the people, for the people and by the people!
Well, yeah, that's what it started out trying to be, but 'the people' got comfy and lazy and complacent.... and we also have a new (1862 variety I believe) class of people; known as a Corporate Personhood.
By some obscure and obscured marginal note made by a court clerk, in a Supreme Court decision, corporations are considered to be real people. It is this variety of people that are able to acquire incredible amounts of financial wealth with which they UNFAIRLY influence those that are elected to represent the rest of us.
The playing field MUST be re-leveled ... actually it's not a game, and we shouldn't be playing! This is a big work and we'd better get with it or we will not have to move to North Korea to feel the heel on our necks.
We need to throw the rascals out and end Corporate Personhood.
And do they censor lyrics about drugs,alchohol,rape,violence, abuse, etc., etc., etc.?
If given the same situation, but with a different artist, it would be interesting to see how AT&T would deal with James McMurtry’s song “Can’t Make It Here Anymore”, a very anti-corporate song indeed.
'its AT&Ts site and they don't have to publish anything they do not want to'
thinkaboutit
Hmmm. It's also ATTs phone equipment & network, and 'they don't have to (transmit) anything they do not want to'. How long until your conversation about say, bad customer service 'accidentally' cuts off? Or if you're surfing on a site that isn't favorable to them or their buddies in the govt., using their DSL? Do you want to be limited to just those sites approved by 9 guys in suits in a corporate boardroom who have never been shopping in a grocery store for their own ramen and orange juice? If they even know, or have had to eat, ramen...
Yes, it can be hard to take a clear and simple stand. I personally think we (Americans) need to:
1) break up AT&T into little, unrecognizable pieces and forbid its board of dictators to ever own shares or hold office in any publicly traded firm again (has anyone been reading lately what AT&T plans to do to its customers' privacy using their new video services, Homezone and U-verse? Basically, they will be tracking everything you watch and claim your specific viewing habits are their 'private' property, just like they do now with your Internet surfing habits and telephone calls, and that's just for starters! Start Googling the news and learn),
2) quadruple troop presence in Iraq,
3) launch a sustained bombing attack on Iran's nuclear weapons infrastructure and political command structure,
3) tell Pearl Jam to either get degrees in history or shut the heck up.
RickProv:
Name calling and quoting Charlie Brown are not convincing arguments--they're not arguments at all.
It's been a long time since I played in the sandbox, but it's time to pull your head out: do you honestly believe that there hasn't been an all-out assault on the U S Constitution and the Bill of Rights? Clearly you don't.
You're wrong.
As a single example of many, the Attorney General of the United States denied before a congressional committee that Habeaus Corpus even exists. Yet you fashion those of us who recognize what is happening as 'self-indulgent naifs.'
I really don't care what any rock singer has to say about anything--apparently many are duped into thinking that such people will save the world by singing about it. That won't happen--but I have no doubt there are many who benefit greatly from the belief.
For my part, my family lived peacefully in the oldest and most secure parliamentary democracy in Europe, when one day many of them were taken from their beds, marched into the street and shot. So don't tell me I don't know what fascism is. I do.
Let me add that this happened because the nazis knew exactly where to go and who to murder. IBM provided that information. My relatives wouldn't believe either--they were a great deal like you--and their disbelief endured right up to the moment Mauser rounds blew their brains out. Those of my family who evaded murder gave their youth, their health, and in other cases, their lives to defeat what people like you chose to ignore until it was too late.
RickProv You, and the people that think the way you do are the perpetrators of the theft of my, my children’s, and my grandchildren’s America…SAD SAD SAD….
Eddy Vetter is being intellectually dishonest for his own purposes by maintaining that this incident was some kind of corporate control kicking in. Bush is criticized regularly online and in media (including songs) that gets through to the populations of the world,
and of course any LWWJ you talk to will tell you that corporations control the media, so how does Vetter figure corporations are trying to censor him? Supposedly if Vetter is right and corporations control the media, then Mr Vetter would be one unheard voice, man.
Corporations as entities are about making money, and any politics they engage in is usually related to making money, or preventing losses.
I am a Pearl Jam fan. Eddy Vetter is very talented, and should leave the
propagandizing to the political low lifes.
What favor does AT&T think they're doing by sweeping comments about social/political problems under the rug. Would AT&T block comments of 'Support our .....'
Cy
Its not your country backatya.
See you in hell
Enlighten me “algone”….. Whose country is it?
Pearl Jam can say whatever they feel like on stage the same way you could if you were on stage...or the same way you do here. All the people complaining that they mentioned their political opinions are most likely more mad that it didn't coincide with their own beliefs, and if they had, they wouldn't have given it a second thought.
Second, for all anyone knows, the call to censor the lyrics could have come from some low level manager extremely low on the AT&T food chain trying to do his/her job and thinking at the moment it was what his/her boss wanted. Maybe they were just trying to play it safe?
Third, it's through AT&T's private webcast and not public airwaves. AT&T can do whatever the hell they want to do. If it were public airwaves, I'd be more outraged. But it's not, so if you don't like it, switch to another company. You don't have to use their services.
Yeah “get a grip”, Pearl Jam can say whatever they feel like on stage the same way we could if we were on stage. But AT&T decided who was going to hear it.
First, top the idea that pearl jam should get history degrees. I would note that most educated people who have studied history, studied culture and studied the region are horrified by US policy and the Bush admin on several levels. When we do get a group of people, highly educated and politically broadbased such as the Iraq study group, they come to much more dire and different conclusions then our President and his cheerleaders.
AT&T however addressed the issue, said its not thier policy to censor and promised to correct and clarify the policy, Ill take them at thier word at this point.
And BTW Pearl Jam are not traitors
Perhaps you missed the part where the loyalty of our citizens is supposed to be for the ideals of the nation, for our constitution and the spirit of freedom is has always promised, Its supposed to be for truth, not propaganda, its supposed to be for honor, not oil, its supposed to be for liberty, not wire taps and prison camps without rights.
Loyalty to America is about loyalty not to our Government, but to our people and our ideals.
Those who find fault in our government and do not raise up their voices, right or wrong, do our liberty a disservice.
Interesting that AT&T willingly handed over records when the Bush administration did domestic spying.
Hey OpenYrEyes,
Open yours. Yes, AT&T's name is 'all over' the webcast, but a smart guy like you is to bright to be pursuaded by these blatant marketing tactics and can benefit from the free content your receiving without feeling compelled to buy any of their services. That's what companies do today - they market. By and large, we the consumer benefit from these market messages via free content. And, low and behold, if we feel they have something of value to offer us...we buy it...novel concept.
Without such marketing, we'd be stuck buying CD's as last time i checked PJ wasn't willing to underwrite the costs to give their stuff away for free. You don't be naive -- work the system for what it is.
I'm a PJ fan, but personally don't give a rip about their political views. Hopefully fans can develop their own views based on the facts and not Eddie's rants. So boycott future webcasts if you want -- personally, it's a great way to see my favorit musicians without having to travel.
All Americans have the right to speak their minds including Vedder. AT&T also has the right to not broadcast a word he says. It's as simple as that. You don't have to like it either way but that's just the way it is.
When a story like this sparks such political and ideological conflict there is a problem and unfortunately this is happening all over the web/America.
The war was not fashioned to build a new democracy in Iraq. It was fashioned to weaken our own democracy in America. To weaken the strength, unity and resolve of the American people.
The more we fight amongst ourselves (right, left, WHATEVER), the more we become the sheople they want us to be. I mean seriously guys it's the oldest trick in the book.
Divide and Conquer
We're so busy fighting with each other over nothing that we don't realize they are taking everything. The people still rule America but not for long at this rate.
Sad days will follow, this has been snowballing since 911. Think about it..
Whenever someone speaks up an inconvenience truth, it makes SOMETHING naked. Who wants to be naked? especially, in front of the public.
But I propose,
Take off your inconvenience and feel be comfortable in the public.
Finally, It will be good for you.
Be naked!
In your clothes, you will never be free.
Thanks for the political commentary, Eddie. Does anyone know what Paris Hilton has to say about this? I definately think that if I pay to go to a concert and all I get is singing and music - and no political commentary - I have missed out on some important insights. Everybody knows that famous people know what's best.
Honestly, I would pay extra to not listen to my favorite musicians spouting off about their political views. On the other hand, if they want to put on free concerts, then I would be happy to hear what they have to say on the matter.
Marsmaphya, should we leave our Bush/Cheney hats on?
Like frogs in a pot of slowly-coming-to-a-boil water. There's nothing like an American flunking their civil rights test.
ETHAN--I went to a free Pearl Jam concert in Seattle. They would have kept doing it if the record company hadn't put the kill order on it. The corporations run it now, not the artists.
AT&T owes the Bush Administration for basically helping it rise from near bankruptcy to near monopoly status without any resistance despite some very unethical business maneuvers by AT&T and even greater unethical political practices by Bush’s camp.
In Iraq, no one has jobs, let alone a pot to piss in, but they all have cell phones now. But, not just any cell phone Verizon Wireless and AT&T cell phones. Ever wonder why...because your tax money has gone into thousands of infrastructure projects to rebuild Iraq and one of those projects was building the wireless cell phone infrastructure used by AT&T and Verizon Wireless to sell cell phone service to Iraq’s people, who despite the billions of your dollars spent on their infrastructure still only get 3 hours of water per day, and 3 hours of electricity per day – just enough time to charge their cell phones I guess. Go Google!
Damn, they editted out another uninformed eddie vedder rant. eddie stick with the singing and we'll love you even more. anyway, back to illegally downloading music, later.
Imagine what would have happened if he'd gone on about net neutrality. The broadcast would have looks something like, 'Ladies and gentlemen, Pearl Jam!' ::blank:: 'Thanks for joining us, have a good night!'
My Dad's not a big fan of AT&T ever since they tried to monopolize the phone business back in the 80s.
In all my years of listening to and playing music, i never once was influenced by comments made by air-headed rockers...In my opinion their only as good as their last song that i happened to like and as is the case, their not here all that long, in short, iam not a cool-aid drinker but sadly there are those that are easily led, iam a minority in that catagory...Freedom of speech has no bearing on the subject, non whatsoever...AT&T supplied the venue so you play by their rules..whats so hard to understand...............rchd
I'm surprised that anyone cares enough about Eddie Vedder to even waste their time making a big deal about it.
i wrote to bonnaroo's organizers to request they use another stremer. i'd rather pay to watch it elsewhere than ever, EVER watch another thing on blueroom. facist.
'Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger.'
-- Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials
It's not a mistake when it keeps happening, it's a policy. AT&T hate America.
RickProv-
'And why are so many of you such bad spellers? Didn't want those oppressive parents and teachers to tell you what to do?'
I have a question. How does a person point out spelling issues, with bad grammar? 'Didn't want those oppressive parents and teachers to tell you what to do?' This isn't a sentence.
I think RickProv should do less criticizing, and maybe pick up a book.
sorry folks
they own it all
they can do what they want
who's gonna stop 'em?
you?
you're all up in arms about some company censoring a cellphone broadcast
at a concert filled with rich pop musicians that only richies could afford to attend.
so either toss out your 300$ cell phones
or get in line and shut up.
you see!
they can even put an add right in my post!
(see above)
...But it's okay now, because they said they won't do it any more.
Here in America, the only freedom people seem passionate about is the freedom to buy a lot of stuff. Like a bunch of domesticated cattle.
Re: We might as well all go and live in North Korea.
No, just don't use AT&T services. Nobody is forcing you to do that.
Oh Woody Guthrie, where have you gone?
Music and art have always played a part in reflecting a social voice... Homer wrote about the grand ole' Roman state, DelaCroix painted the French Revolution, Bob Dylan revived the folk movement in the 1960's... heck, even Bruce Springsteen and U2 have brought important issues up in song.
Or would you rather just lip-synced performances by monkeys who are told how to look, act, sing, dance, etc. by -dang! - corporate suits who think they know what's best for the people!?!?! Not to mention, how many self-aggrandizing pop songs can you stand about 'this is why i'm hot', 'my humps', etc., etc.
You could eat cookies all the time, but sprinkle some meat and veggies in there every now and then!!!
I would have more respect for AT&T if they said the following:
'We are a corporation, not the government. AT&T Blue Room telecasts are corporate sponsored events, not free speech demonstrations. Our telecasts of our events will be edited as we see fit. We believed that this telecast should have remained a music event, so when Pearl Jam included a clear political agenda that was not approved for broadcast, we censored that content. This was not censorship of free speech. This was self-editing of the telecast that our corporation sponsored and endorsed. We regret any confusion that recent media reports have put forth, suggesting that we censored a live telecast not solely owned by AT&T.'
I'd still hate the jerks for their de factor promotion of our anti-American government, but I'd nevertheless support their right to put forth their own free speech, whether I agree with what they're saying or not. Right now, they're just back-peddling and freaking out because they got caught doing it, and they think it's easier to be wusses, blaming a subcontractor, than it is to own up to their obvious corporate doctrine.
Express your unhappiness with AT&T by not buying any of their services or products. I never will buy any thing AT&T (or Cingular) again.
When corporations get caught doing things they instantly apoligize and pretend it wasn't supposed to happen, anytime they feed you information, you should question it. It's not always WHAT they tell you, it's WHAT they DON'T tell you. If you keep information away from people they'll never know that there is a..... Revolution.
eff dot org/legal/cases/att/
youtube dot com/watch?v=OgfzqulvhlQ&mode=related&search=
our liberties, protected from the tyranny of government, are now threatened by large private (as in non governmental) entities such as incorporations. perhaps we will need an amendment to disallow the restriction of our principal rights through public airwaves and broadcast mediums that are commonplace for communication.
American Thieves & Thugs...
Seen?
To Rich and all the other non-lawyers who are incorrectly posting here, let me explain what even Lionel Hutz would know about this: yes, corporate entities are not afforded the same free speech protection or requirements as citizens. But the breach here was not about that, it was about transparency of action when it comes to a commercial agreement, and the expressed consent of all parties to the T&C's.
So AT&T did do malfeasance because the vast majority of the audience, and apparently PJ as well, did not know nor have expectations that censorship would occur.
Unless AT&T has fine print that stitpulates this condition in its contract with PJ or in the broadcast itself, they can be sued.
But two points remain, legalities notwithstanding: 1. You bozos out there who are not concerned about this, and acts like this, by our government and big business need to remove your head from ass or move to Venezuela. And 2. Please tell me how surgically censoring only the anti-Bush comments was an 'unfortunate accident.' Pretty neat accident, huh?
In addition to the most recent censorship issues with Pearl Jam, AT&T's Blue Room webcast bleeped the sound during performances by the Flaming Lips and the John Butler Trio at the Bonnaroo Festival in Tennessee in June.
A public forum on Butler's site, at www.johnbutlertrio.com, includes a discussion among fans about several audio gaps during a spoken introduction to the song 'Gov Did Nothin',' which included references critical of the government's response to Hurricane Katrina.
A representative for the Flaming Lips said the band had received reports from fans of some corruption of the webcast of its Bonnaroo set but added that the band had not been able to review the specifics as of Friday afternoon and would not comment.
I am sure there are more, but here are just a couple of additional SPECIFIC examples to add fuel to the debate...
PJ is a bunch of stoned has beens from Mars, and who cares what they think. Anyone who listens to those mindless stoners about politics is a mindless stoner themselves. PJ and politics is like dumb and dumber. You poor people who couldn't listen to Eddie tell you about our great country by talking about something he knows nothing about. Now when it comes to rolling a reefer you may get some good advice from PJ.
since when can't a musician not be able to have a point of view. the best ones typically do and that is what we are attracted to; their words = ideas. take them or leave them. but simply calling pj a bunch of stoners (not true)that have no right to have a point of view shows how small some people's minds are. get a clue. pj fans that are surprised by eddie's and the band's views simply aren't listening. 99.9% of pj fans like them precisely for their world viewpoint because pj says what their fans already think and feel in their hearts. pj fans are thinkers and good citizens. do your research.
for crying out loud, ATT acknowledged their error so why defend their censorship? the truth is scary for teeny minds.
Rock & Roll has a long history of political views being incorporated into the music and there is nothing wrong with that. Music is a form of communication as much as it is a form of entertainment and the two go hand in hand.
If you prefer listening to the inane blathering of rappers yammering on about bitches, hos and Bentleys, by all means, please do continue listening to it. If you prefer the MTV pop tart of the month and her vapid lyrics, then listen to that instead.
You have every right to listen that nonsense, and luckily for you, there are people out there who care enough to protect your right to do so...Even if it is turning you into a bunch of mindless drones.
Hi. I am the boogie person of this blog. Boogie BOOGIE boogie!!!! Everyone must boogie!
That's it. Now that this important announcement has been made, we will return to regular scheduled programming.
Their catch phrase says,'Sprint ! The new AT&T.' In other words,'Run ! Here comes the Ewe AT&T !'
Their catch phrase says,'Sprint ! The new AT&T.' In other words,'Run ! Here comes the Ewe AT&T !'
Their catch phrase says,'Sprint ! The new AT&T.' In other words,'Run ! Here comes the Ewe AT&T !'
then give an equal and opposite viewpoint, I hate artists that speak political opinions when no one can respond. Where is and was Pearl Jam when North Korea has been restricting and killing their own people. Liberals are pathetic and very hypocritcal.
then give an equal and opposite viewpoint, I hate artists that speak political opinions when no one can respond. Where is and was Pearl Jam when North Korea has been restricting and killing their own people. Liberals are pathetic and very hypocritcal.
Their catch phrase says,'Sprint ! The new AT&T.' In other words,'Run ! Here comes the Ewe AT&T !'
Their catch phrase says,'Sprint ! The new AT&T.' In other words,'Run ! Here comes the Ewe AT&T !'
Timmy, let us not forget the right’s all American mouthpiece, Toby Keith….And I could give a good rat’s ass about any of them!
Welcome to AFC (American Facist Corporatism) - Billions (of sheep) Served
'This was not a mistake.... getting caught was.' Bingo!
Although this doesn't exonerate Corporate Drone AT&T from their unconstitutional censoring and wiretapping actions, Pearl Jam also censors fans who post unfavorable opinions to their message forum on their site. Can anyone spell the word hypocrite?
More and more, this is looking like an elaborately contrived publicity stunt between PJ and AT&T. I, for one, did not know that PJ was still together as a band and I had no idea what the BlueRoom was before this stunt. It is no secret that washed up rock acts (U2 and the Rolling Stones included) are in bed with major corporations to increase their exposure and pad their wallets.
If PJ is 'SO CONCERNED' about big corporations and their stranglehold on telecommunications, maybe they should not have agreed to play on a stage adorned with corporate logos and have their content streamed by the same corporate giant.
Just goes to show, you can lead the American public to Kool-Aid and you can make them drink.
UNEVENFLOW I couldn't have said it better myself.
Hey, Sim? Comparing apples and tabletops isn’t an argument - it’s self-serving moral vanity. I don’t believe that a quick decision by some low-level employee of an AT&T subcontractor is evidence of any claim you've made about anyone in the Bush administration. You are inventing arguments that elevate that molehill into a completely different mountain.
You’re wrong.
And give me a break about how special your point of view is because of where your family came from. My mother’s side of the family was Eastern European and German Jewish – some of whom actually did disappear under Nazi rule. By your standards, I guess that makes my opinion irrefutable.
So yes, if you are making the argument that the Bush administration is morally equivalent to the Third Reich; if you sincerely believe that we in the U.S. are imminently at risk of being hauled away in the middle of the night, in spite of the completely different political, legal, and social conditions that exist between contemporary America and 1930’s fascist Germany, then I stand on my previous statements and paraphrase them here: What a pampered, spoiled, historically ignorant baby; pretending that you're suffering under the jackboot of totalitarianism. You have no idea how good you have it here. Truly, what a self-indulgent naif.
This is unbelievable. How was it edited to begin with? This is a disgrace to the art. Anyone who allows AT&T to run gunshot with our art is part of the problem. Remove ALL AT&T tents from EVERY music festival. Burn them if need be.
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