Concerned Citizen comments

@ Cricky

To try to fausly say its a political move is strait out of trumps play book and as such to be completely ignored.

All politicians, left, right and middle would like to silence the opposition and limit the dissemination of thier messages. National emergencies, security threats and terrorism counter measures are easily piggy backed on as excuses to limit free speech, spy on the public, etc. This is nothing new.

Considering that in recent years big tech has brazenly censored conservative voices I think it's reasonable to be concerned that Ms Adern's and big tech's definition of 'questionable content' will extent beyond real violent terrorists to those whose ideas are simply politically disagreeable, or considered 'offensive', 'likely to incite violence', etc.. No one should be the least surprised.

protecting New Zealanders from objectionable content,” Ardern said in the statement.

@ Cricky

New Zealanders will have no part of political cencership but do support a block on live streaming massacre.

Agreed. NZ is good at allowing free speech of all sorts and should of course monitor the Internet for clues to head off violent terrorism.

To try to fausly say its a political move is strait out of trumps play book and as such to be completely ignored.

All politicians, left, right and middle would like to silence the opposition and

I do support the efforts to target and root out violent extremism, especially in light of the recent atrocity in NZ. Monitoring on line content to identify truly potentially violent actors is acceptable and necessary.

But how broad will the definition of 'extremism' extend? In light of recent efforts to silence, limit, demonetize, etc conservative on line content, I worry that Ms Ardern and big tech will go overboard to censorship of ideas they don't like.

@Andrew Crisp

> The New Zealand election is due Oct/November 2020 watch the definition of "extremist content", change to censor Jacinda Ardern's political opponents as the election gets closer.

Exactly.

It's become harder and harder to enjoy Hollywood productions that include De Niro types who lecture us about morality while at the same time behaving badly themselves and appearing in films that glorify violence and killing.

Where are the real class actors that don't insult 1/2 the movie goers that pay their earnings?

Ideally, mutual love, affection and respect by everyone involved will smooth over the eventual rough parts to navigate through when people get married.

This article refers mainly to political information, which is especially subject to personal opinion.

The deliberate dissemination of misinformation or biased information is something EVERY political group and its supporters does, both left, right and in-between. Any form of censorship by big tech is bound to stifle the free flow of information and ideas and is contrary to the sacred principle of free speech in a democracy.

Besides, who in big tech is so all knowing as to be able to judge truth? No one has a corner on ultimate truth, neither you nor I nor big tech.

@ripirez.....

"a majority of deliberately deceptive or false information shared on social media comes not from Russia or other foreign sources but from within the United States,"

Who decides what is true or false? This statement very subjective and thus open to debate.

@ripirez.....

Concerned Citizen: "a majority of deliberately deceptive or false information shared on social media comes not from Russia or other foreign sources but from within the United States,"

How did China get into this? The article makes no mention of China. More anti-China ranting.

My point is that I don't want big tech to decide what is true and what is false. That is for me and the rest of the public to decide. Censorship of ideas they don't like or arbitrarily consider false is something China does regularly. Big techs are generally American, not communist, and so should be platforms for the free flow of information regardless of the source.

Clearly a biased article. According to this, 'misinformation' only originates from President Trump and conservatives. If such 'misinformation' is censored by big tech then we will have become like China. Is that what we want?

Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc. must be platforms for the free flow of information regardless of the source. Let the people decide what is true or what is false. That is democracy and freedom.

One of the sad results of growing up in a cold, affection starved society? Could it be that this dad grew up in a dysfunctional home as well? Or are the effects of violent manga partly to blame. Hard to tell, but possibly so.

Raising our children in loving, affectionate homes with older siblings helping care for babies and other younger ones helps to prepare boys and girls for eventual parenthood, especially if thier parents are good examples to follow.

Switching off the TV and limiting Internet/social media will help too.

Good on them for trying. This is Japan, and as a resident foreigner I don't expect the Japanese govt to put anything in my language. Rather, the onus is on me to learn theirs. So nothing to complain about.

Having said that, I do really appreciate this type of thing when I need it. I'd suggest that IF they are going to generously bother to put out such notices to non Japanese reading folks here, they ought to first consult with foreign resident groups regarding the best way to go about it, and to have any translations checked. Purely internal attempts by Japanese organizations to communicate in foreign languages often results on comical translations and confusion.

PS: Google or other on line translators should never be used for such important notices. They are very inaccurate and could cause confusion or danger.

The NBA and players like LeBron James and Dwayne Wade supported the 'anti police brutality' Black Lives Matter movement.

The NBA pulled the All-Star Game from Charlotte in order to force withdrawal of the "bathroom bill" in support of transgender people. (the bill's creators claimed it was designed to protect little girls from men masquerading as women)

Let's see if the NBA and these socially conscious players will put thier money where their mouths are and boycott China to thier own hurt in order to protest police brutality in HK

Unemployment rate, particularly among minorities, at historical lows, and the Democratic Party wants to impeach the president whose policies made this possible? Show that the Democrat leadership doesn't really care about the welfare of the people, but rather only about obtaining power.

Many Republican members are not much better, but at least Trump is in it for the people and delivering on his promises. Drain the Dem and Republican swamp Mr. President.

The impeachment drive will backfire spectacularly.

Great to see the NBA standing up for freedom to criticise China.

Will they also officially criticize and boycott the Chinese for thier oppression and arrests of the HK freedom protesters like they removed the planned 2017 NBA All-Star Game from Charlotte as punishment for the bathroom bill which was designed to protect little girls from potential predator men masquerading as women?

Not expecting it. Hypocrites. Lecturing everyone else about morality.

This is just horrendous and very sad.

Obviously the the young woman got overwhelmed by the difficulty of caring for her grandma. Maybe there were other pressures as well. Work? Money? Time? No social life? I wonder why she live alone with grandma and seems to be the sole carer? If so, that's a huge ask of a young woman. Still, whatever pressure she was under, murdering her grandma is a horrible thing to do. And it won't relieve her of any pressure. First it means years in jail, then a lifetime of guilt. She's ended grandma's life in a terrible way and ruined her own as well,

Poor Japanese. So many of them have difficulty handling emotional stress.

@Yubaru

In Japan, at least one in 11 people identify as LGBT, according to a survey conducted last year by major advertising agency Dentsu Inc.

Meaning that there are at least 10,000,000 LGBT in Japan, divided equally among the 47 prefectures, (I know it's not, but for discussions sake) that is a HUGE block of voters that COULD easily get changes to the laws made in their own prefectures, paving the way for the national government to recognize gay marriage at the least!

Further proof that these figures are wildly inflated. If 10 million Japanese were truly LGBTQ then we'd see huge pressure on the govt to legalize gay marriage via massive demonstrations, voting pressure and more.

I believe either DENTSU's definition of identifying as LGBTQ was extremely broad or their survey methodology allowed overly representative responses by the LGBTQ community.

Sincere and open discussion on this topic must start from honest statistics and understanding of their situation.

@Jimizo

Here is LGBTQ demographic info re several advanced nations. Most reporting 1-5%.

DENTSU's is included. It's definition of LGBTQ must be very broad. I cannot believe that Japan wins the 2 mile LGBTQ race by a mile.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_sexual_orientation

Honest statistics would foster trust and fair discussion.

@Jimizo

I just did a quick Google and saw one poll that concluded the LGBT population of the UK is 10%.

Got a link?

It's an outlier, or their definition of LGBTQ is very broad ie including anyone who's ever had a LGB sexual experimentation as a teen etc. Definitely not 10% of British living as LGBTQ. No way.

The preponderance of surveys in the Western World show 2-5%

@Jimizo

Where are you getting your data on the percentages of LGBTQ people in different countries around the world to make that statement?

The many studies of western nations that I have seen generally estimate around 2-5%.

United States 4.5%

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_demographics_of_the_United_States

Australia 3.4%

https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/6263-exactly-how-many-australians-are-gay-december-2014-201506020136

Liberal societies like the US and OZ at less than 5% and conservative, repressed Japan at 9%? I don't think so.

@Jimizo

So, do you believe that Japan is far and away the most LGBTQ nation on the planet?

@Luddite

All that matters is that a child has a parent or parents that love them and care for them.

I mostly agree with this. I would rather a child be raised by loving LGBTQ parents than unloving or dysfunctional straight parents, for as Luddite touched on, love is the kid's foremost need.

Nevertheless, there are good, better and best scenarios. A loving single parent is wonderful. But having both loving natural parents is better.

Loving natural parents, biologically male and female, offering children role models and strengths of both sexes should be the gold standard preferred option for child raising. The Japanese government ought to emphasize this, while at the same time supporting all families regardless of their makeup.

In Japan, at least one in 11 people identify as LGBT, according to a survey conducted last year by major advertising agency Dentsu Inc. 

This cannot possibly be true. This would make Japan far and away the most LGBTQ nation on the planet.

It does not serve the interests of the LGBTQ community well for media to constantly quote DENTSU's dubios survey result.

The public may sense dishonesty and which might result in less sympathy to thier cause.

Heartbreaking.

Still hoping for a miracle.

@Andrew Crisp

....the best way to raise a child is to have both the mother and father in their developing years.

Agreed. Well said.

While children not raised in this ideal situation should be given the same govt support as those who are, the Japanese government ought to emphasize that is the preferred situation for children.

From all accounts his private life and behavior was questionable, but Cream's music sure was amazing.

Crossroads

Sunshine Of Your Love

N.S.U

I Feel Free

Etc!

I was approached by a predator too when I was a child, but my instinct told me something was wrong and I got away quickly

Same thing happened to me. I was propositioned to perform a sexual act. Such abusers often murder the poor victims.

So, we never allow our younger than 10 yr old kids to go out alone, play on the streets or go to school without adult supervision.

Cities are bad but there have also been tragic incidents in rural areas.

Our children are our most priceless possessions, so any effort ensure their safety is worth it.

@Burning Bush

they can even be transgender and do it the 'normal' way. 

I actually agree with you here.

I'll have to disagree with this. Ideally children need both biological male and female parents for a healthy upbringing and the respective role models. The Japanese government should continue to encourage this as the gold standard for marriage and child raising.

Of course, children of other types of unions should be given the same support in the form of child benefits etc.

Poor girl. This could have ended a lot worse.

Obviously, he is mostly to blame. Hopefully the law will deal with him accordingly.

Also, the girl hopefully will have learned to never, ever under any circumstance get into a car with a stranger, especially a man. Parents and educators must teach this to all children.

@Kumagaijin

Plenty of comments here saying that same sex couples can't have kids. Thats totally incorrect. They can adopt, they can have sperm donors, they can even be transgender and do it the 'normal' way. Anyways, I don't see why anyone should be bothered by whats happening behind closed doors. Most Japanese seem to accept that thousounds of hikikomori stay behind closed doors their entire life and don't bother anyone. Why should a couple gays bother them?

I think they are referring to the original reason why governments formalized and supported traditional marriage in the first place. It was a means of recognizing and supporting procreating couples, which ensured society's continuation and an ideal situation for child raising.

Comparatively, LGBTQ partnerships produce extremely few children. Such partnerships have not been considered the ideal combination for child raising due to one of the sexes being absent. While children raised by LGBTQ couples can in many cases do better than those raised by hetero couples, generally speaking the ideal is that children are raised by their natural parents who also offer male and female strengths and examples to follow.

Also, if we are going to allow LGBTQ marriage licences on the basis of 'equality' in that they are equally valid relationships equally capable of raising children, then what excuse do we have for not recognizing polyamorous unions (of any number and combination) or incestuous unions, or underage unions? Would not such people claim that they have equally valid unions capable of raising children as good as anyone else? You see where this is going? The line has to be drawn somewhere.

So, it's my opinion that society and governments ought to continue to promote heterosexual marriage as the gold standard situation in which children ought to be raised. At the same time other types of unions who have children should be given the same support as hetero couples, such as child benefits etc.

PS: I don't think anyone on this forum is 'bothered by what goes on behind closed doors', that is not the point they are making.