Brigham Young University Lifts YouTube Ban

PROVO, Utah — Brigham Young University, the Mormon church school where students agree to live a chaste and virtuous life, has lifted its almost three-year policy of blocking access to YouTube.

Administrators lifted the ban on Friday, citing an increasing amount of educational material on the popular video-sharing site, university spokeswoman Carri Jenkins said.

YouTube has its own filters for porn, but BYU added it to the list of Web sites blocked by campus online filters in 2006 because administrators felt there was too much content that could violate the school's strict, conservative standards.

The university's software also blocks pornography, adult content and violence from other sites.

BYU cited limited bandwidth as another factor when explaining the decision. But some professors have since complained that they couldn't access relevant YouTube content in the classroom.

"I think there's no other way but to provide all of it," Jenkins said.

Students and faculty at the university agree to follow the school's honor code, a list of standards in line with the principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The code includes provisions against alcohol, tobacco and caffeine use, among other things. It also specifically labels pornography as taboo.

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Also on Friday, BYU launched its own new Web site _ besafe.byu.edu _ which explains the school's Internet guidelines and advises readers how to avoid online threats like phishing and viruses.

The site notes that students and faculty at BYU agree to avoid Internet content and activities that are not "virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy."

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Information from: The Daily Herald, http://www.heraldextra.com

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On the Net:

_ BeSafe Online at BYU, http://besafe.byu.edu/

Comments

[slwkf]

I'm active LDS and proud of it, but I have to agree with many of the posters saying that BYU forces an unreasonable degree of control on its students. Which is why I didn't go there.

GO USU AGGIES!!!

[Hospiton]

It seems clear that mrfreeze does not like Mormons. Well...I'll live with it. And so other million of Mormons and future Mormons.

[mrfreeze]

Solo per voi, stasera mi potranno godere di una splendida bottiglia di Barolo, con i miei amici e celebrare le buone cose della natura ci porta. Vorrei bere un bicchiere per voi!

[Hospiton]

Grazie, alla salute!

[caitymiln]

I find it pathetic and sad that you all feel the need to come bash the Latter-day Saint religion on here. Before you bash something, why don't you actually research it so you don't sound so ignorant, because honestly that's what you all are with all your inaccurate little "facts." And FYI to the author of this article, there is nothing in the "code" at BYU that says students cannot drink caffeine. Caffeine is a part of most Mormons daily lives. It's only the ignorant Mormons who tell people "Mormons do not drink caffeine."

[mrfreeze]

Part 1

FYI - If you took the time to read, carefully, some of our "criticisms" of the LDS Church, you would quickly realize that most of us are intelligent, thoughtful and well-educated with regard to the Mormon faith. Some have obviously spent years either being Mormon or living amongst the Mormons and we've done our research. So spare me the fake indignation and victim role.

Additionally, I'd like to turn your attention to one particular Mormon apologist on this thread who, after arguing with us and claiming to "take the higher ground" ends by stating that "THE Church" is 100% true, which only proves what we have been saying: Mormonism is impervious to self reflection and intellectual honesty. It's arguments are usually:

1) Blame the victim
2) Deflect the argument
3) Claim exaggeration on the part of critics
4) Claim a lack of knowledge about "THE Church"
5) And the Bernie Madoff defense: I'm so sorry you were treated so badly by "some members"

[mrfreeze]

Part 2

As I've mentioned on this and other threads about the Mormon Faith:

1) Their version of Pre-Columbian History is bunk. Throw in "reformed Egyptian," golden plates, and a "Harry Potter" version of historical events and you have a religion!
2) Their John Birch conservatism is regressive, oppressive and infantile.
3) Their women are treated one grade above chattel. Polygamy is "officially" banned but anyone paying attention knows it's still practiced and the sexual abuse of young women is hardly taken seriously by the authorities
4) Their "Word of Wisdom" doctrine regarding dietary and health issues would be fine if not for the fact that it's used to manipulate and coerce the faithful. How anyone can claim to know the Truth with a capital T and not be able to enjoy a good glass of Brunello is simply absurd.
5) And the notion that Mormons baptize for the dead is the ultimate religious hubris. It's pure marketing genius (you can live with mommy and daddy forever!). Just remember, "if it sounds too good to be true......."

Just as an aside: Mormonism has created no great public art (it has borrowed from the Masons), it has produced no large humanitarian network, it has produced few, if any, creative innovations....Probably the best thing it has done is compile a huge genealogical library (for the purpose of baptizing the dead........nice). Living with Mormons is a "punch and cookie" experience which sucks the life out of Life.

[mrfreeze]

Part 3

Caithymiln - Indeed, the whole point of this blog post was to point out that the most prestigious Mormon learning institution finds it necessary to control its students as if they are children even though they claim to be so inquisitive and open and "nice." And, yes, there are a lot of us out here who are committed to calling out charlatans and bullies even if they hide behind religious faith.

[caitymiln]

Wow. You have lots of time on your hands.

[Hospiton]

A lot of time and no much proofs to substantiate his arguments.

[euripedes923]

this just in:
BYU to allow co-eds to wear culottes in gym class
(but ankle socks still mandatory)

[NotYouAgain]

I doubt that the Mormon church is any less open minded that HP is.

[Tex1969]

Having been born and raised in the church along with being former BYU student I would have to disagree with you. While some members are open minded, these individuals are also many times at odds with the church. I observed this time and time again at BYU.

[NotYouAgain]

I have no doubt that there is a lot of closed mindedness within the church. However, my previous statement still applies. It's not a simple statement.

[MikeRdg]

members who are opened minded and view the organization as it is, is more than at odds with the church, often at odds with membership and with their families.

[UTHeretic]

There is intelligent life here in Utah you just have to look a little harder to find it.

[Jahbundance]

You all better prepare yourselves for a Mormon president. With their unlimited bankroll, national grassroots proselytizing, and handsome-slick politicians, it's just a matter of time. The great unlearned electorate has no knowledge of the intellectually-defying beliefs and racist history of this cult-turned-religion. Fortunately, they are not dangerous to our democracy because they conveniently re-invent themselves (God speaks to The Leader) to enable their climb to respectability and power (The American Way). Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses are like a non-violent benevolent Taliban. They profess to know all the answers to every spiritual question, they give you mandatory rules to follow, they are committed to furthering their hold on society. It's all about power, folks, all about who gets to make the rules. Put on your Mormon underwear everyday and God will bless you. OK Gov. Romney ( actually Bishop Romney).

[mrfreeze]

Jahbundance - Actually, I always do my part to educate everyone I know about the "world according to Mormonism." Anyone with one grain of humanity and common sense sees the LDS theological baloney for what it is. The living laboratory of the religion is the state of UT which, if it weren't for a growing non-Mormon population, would still be the cultural/intellectual/aesthetic black hole where I grew up.

Also, if you read down this thread you'll note that there are a lot of knowledgeable, intelligent people who know the Mormon religion for what it really is: a patriarchal theocracy led by a club of white control freaks. After the last decade of the constant bible-thumping and almost talabanish leaning right wing, a lot of Americans are fed up being told what to do, how to live their lives and what religion to believe in (if any).

Sooner or later Mormon politicians will have to come clean and explain how it is that they can lead a country believing in the ludicrous fake history, "reformed Egyptian Language" and baptism for the dead. If one can believe in those concepts, one would believe anything.

[mrfreeze]

An addition: I just read down the thread a ways and, low and behold, there are actually discussions about the mythical "golden plates" and "sacred" underwear and the "word of wisdom" (the Mormon dietary rules) etc..

How is it that adults can waste their time arguing about how many Maronis (the angel who appeared to Joseph Smith and showed him where the "golden plates" were) dance on the head of a pin?

It's time to put away childish things. This whole discussion started because of an inane, ridiculous policy of BYU, a Mormon institution which (like so many religiously based schools) stifles learning, restricts free thinking, demands submission and accepts no criticism. Once again, I have to wonder out-loud how a religion that believes it has a monopoly on THE TRUTH can be so utterly out-of-touch with reality.

[lesterbud]

So the LDS "un-bans" something that everyone was doing.

What an enlightened cult.

They still practicing the equivalent of Catholic indulgences? Good fund raising tool that is.

[Conservador-Rebelde]

You really ought to become informed about a subject before you speak out against it. There has never been any type of LDS "indulgence"... also, if you consider Mormonism a cult, so is every other religion.

[lesterbud]

Quite informed here - relatives went broke buying dead uncle into heaven.
Similar to the practice the Catholic Church instigated to re-fill coffers and fund massive building projects.
Your last sentence - absolutely!

[cavegal]

All religions are cults based around a philosophy used to exert political and taxable control over individuals.

The seven rings or levels of heaven reserves the top three levels for white men only.

[marylandtravelinman]

I'm confused, if everyone has to take a chasty pledge, why does BYU need to block anything. Aren't God and these Pledges stronger than the internet?

[HonorJusticeTruth]

I'm sure that the Mormons confuse being chaste with the lack of impure thought, a whole different matter. Being chaste is the refraining from sexual activity. Of course, we know that as weak human beings, seeing erotic material or reading erotic writings will surely drive us to do erotic activities. :-)

[GuidoVanHorn]

impure thoughts are not encouraged, but also not disciplined, we're taught that we should control our thoughts and keep them on pure things.

viewing pornography is an action, and though not as severe as improper relations, still falls within that spectrum of chastity.

[MikeRdg]

Also Ashtessa --
I pulled up an article in my file, on how NICE LDS people are, the son of Senate President Ken Bennett was arrested and accused of ASSULTING more than a dozen ( that is over 12) boys at a camp. The boys ages 14-16 were held down an assaulted with a broom handle.: -- ones doing the assaulting the camp counselors, Clifton Bennett --- Bennett, huh?

Ken Bennett (born 1959) is a Republican politician and businessman who served ... members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints --- grandfather wouldn’t happen to have been THE Prophet of the Mormon Church, now would he?

http://azdailysun.com/articles/2006/04/03/news/local/20060403_local_news_7.txt

See, what people do, who have been spoon-fed all their lives, they were such valiant spirits in the pre-existence, so blessed, so above everyone, that they were selected to be sent down to be children in the homes of the early mormon POLYGAMIST families. These children in these homes are the most valiant in all the world! ( seriously that is what they are told)

[myoungholt]

From the same paper on May 13, 2006:

"PRESCOTT (AP) -- A judge on Friday sentenced the son of Arizona Senate President Ken Bennett to 30 days in jail and his fellow counselor to 45 days for a series of hazings at a youth camp near Prescott last June.

"Clifton Bennett, 18, and fellow counselor Kyle Wheeler, 19, admitted to abusing 18 boys ages 11 to 14 -- who had been hand-picked for a weeklong leadership camp -- by poking them in the rear end with broomsticks, a flashlight and a cane as a punishment or just because they were in a bad mood. The boys wore underwear or swim trucks at the time of the "broomings," records show.

"Records also show Wheeler choked many of the boys until they passed out as a game.

"The Yavapai County Attorney's Office had asked that Bennett be sentenced to 90 days in jail and Wheeler to 180. The office also had asked for 500 hours of community service and probation for both.

"In addition to the jail time, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Thomas O'Toole ordered both Bennett and Wheeler to perform 200 hours of community service and spend three years on supervised probation. If they complete all the terms of probation, their crime will be considered a misdemeanor rather than a felony."

How's that for a misdemeanor? If Bennett's dad wasn't Ken Bennett, it surely would have remained a felony. A picture of young Bennett accompanies this article--he even looks scary.

[Conservador-Rebelde]

One case of one person making stupid actions doesn't include everyone in that religion, or include it in their beliefs.

[Hospiton]

Wow you discovered that there are bad people in any social group. Nobody has ever affirmed that goodness or badness belong only to one group (read religion).

[balrog221]

hahahaha...why not just consult directly with the allmighty and his oracle on this?

[ainfl]

If you want a good laugh, search "Mormon magic underpants" on Youtube...

Saying "Mormon magic underpants" in an Australian accent is comedy gold.

[Hospiton]

Sacred garments, not magic. Sacred cross not magic, Holy Bible not magic....you see, there is a difference.

[AcaciaJules]

No, there's not.

[NowWhatFolks]

Only if you are a believer.

[Hirnlego]

sacred = hocus pocus

[myoungholt]

"The code includes provisions against alcohol, tobacco and caffeine use, among other things. It also specifically labels pornography as taboo."

I'm seriously curious where this "...provision...against...caffeine use..." came from.

You see, a member of my family decided to join the LDS church, and I became an "investigator" because of having tried several other paths that had not satisfied.

Because of the call for strict adherence to the words of their prophet and the quest for honesty if one is to follow those words, and because I've been enjoying coffee and tea for most of my 70+ years, I asked why the ban on coffee and tea.

I challenged the answer that it was because of the caffeine, reminding the young men that LDS youth drink Mountain Dew and Coca-Cola in large quantities and that LDS allegedly own considerable stock in Coca-Cola. They came back later saying it was, in fact, not the caffeine but the tannin.

I also questioned the "sealing" of married partners so they would be in heaven forever, asking what about LDS and nonLDS who are married.

I asked about "atonement" and hanging around in a middle earth sort of place while someone decides your fate after death.

And I finally ended what was becoming a charade of unanswered honest questions. My family member ended the charade when told a relationship entered into with great affection was not appropriate because the other party was not LDS.

[myoungholt]

I was also told the "gold tablets" contained the entire set of words that became the Book of Mormon. When I asked how that could logically be so--considering that the Book of Mornon is 500+ pages, which would have required a way larger parcel of gold tablets than any young man could have dug up from alongside a tree without today's mechanical technology--I received no answer except that "we know it's true."

And I know the moon is green cheese.

[Hospiton]

"Different people estimated the weight of the plates differently. According to Smith's one-time-friend Willard Chase, Smith told him in 1827 that the plates weighed between 40 and 60 pounds (18–27 kg), most likely the latter.[175] Smith's father Joseph Smith, Sr., who was one of the Eight Witnesses, reportedly weighed them and said in 1830 that they "weighed thirty pounds" (14 kg).[176] Joseph Smith's brother, William, said that he lifted them in a pillowcase and thought they "weighed about sixty pounds [27 kg] according to the best of my judgment".[177] Others who lifted the plates while they were wrapped in cloth or enclosed in a box thought that they weighed about 60 pounds [27 kg]. Martin Harris said that he had "hefted the plates many times, and should think they weighed forty or fifty pounds [18–23 kg]".[178] Joseph Smith's wife Emma never estimated the weight of the plates but said they were light enough for her to "move them from place to place on the table, as it was necessary in doing my work".[179] Had the plates been made of 24-karat gold (which Smith never claimed), they would have weighed about 140 pounds (64 kg).[180]" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_plates#Described_format.2C_binding.2C_and_dimensions

[GuidoVanHorn]

though I applaud you for not stooping to bigoted claims and mean spirited claims as others have on this post, a few of your terms are misapplied.

for starters atonement pertains to the expiation of sins and resurrection of Christ (it's a pretty standard Christian concept), and is not a place or purgatory like state.

and though many Mormons (we can light heartedly call them orthodox...) claim the caffeine issue, the truth is the prohibition of coffee and tea has never directly or doctrinally been applied to caffeine...for sure caffeine is not good for you, but it has never been officially been banned by the LDS church. In fact most explanations to "WHY is so and so a commandment are generally hooey, the truth is that they are commandments and under most circumstances an explanation of why is not all that important...of course there are many self-evident reasons why certain commandments should be adhered to, (thou shalt not kill is pretty straight-forward)

also if I may ask what do you think happens to marriages made in other christian churches or secular marriages for that matter?...and how do your thoughts align with official doctrines of said denominations. It's also of good point to note that officially the eternal aspect of marriage is a seperate entity than "marriage" which is why we use the term sealing. You can be married and not sealed.

[itbcn8]

I went to BYU and used to be mormon. I got kicked out because they found out I was gay. So you think blocking YouTube is bad!? That is the least of the problems on campus.

You check free-thinking, self-expression, and freedom at the door.

[GuidoVanHorn]

what was the official reason you were expelled?

Honor code violation or loss of ecclesiastical endorsement...related to honor code violations. interestingly enough "being gay" isn't a honor code violation.

http://honorcode.byu.edu/content/honor-code-statement

[myoungholt]

"Honor code violation or loss of ecclesiastical endorsement"

Same thing, dude.

[Tex1969]

I had some good friends at BYU that were treated in ways that completely horrified me when they were outed by their roommates.

[ashtessa]

Mormons are good people for the most part, I know because I was raised in the church. I am no longer a member but I still respect the institution because of the many Mormoms I know and have met that are such nice, kind, loving, generous people. They are misguided in their beliefs in my opinion and very easily persuaded of believing crazy stories but so are most religious people. It's sad that they have to censor their campus computers, you'd think people would use the school computers for school related activities but I understand the reason. Youtube is blocked where I work, I see their censorship as the same kind of deal.

[MikeRdg]

You are dreaming if you claim 'Mormons are kind, loving, generous people, nice". They turn on people, abuse children, threaten mothers, they help ONLY those they consider 'faithful' within their group. Mormon kindness, is twisted, Mormons backstab, are petty on things which have NO importantance, are boastful, they say cutting remarks, excluded, catty, and two faced. They are overworked, over demanded in the organization, the money demands strains too many families, and the time demands over burdens many to the point their children are negelected. The men willingly will let their chidlren be sexaully harmed, and the mindless women who are unwilling to stand up to them, will go along also. If a woman dares to stand up, she is punished.



Their outward frinedlyness, is based on how they are instructed in their meeting to find and draw people into their church organization. they are taught how to approach, with a smile and a pie, with a seemly friendly 'hi', BECAUSE it is their responsiblity to bring people into the fold. They will protect a priesthood child abuser to the hilt.

AND then the words they use to describe themselves is 'they are nice'............ it is kind of like when someone says " You can trust me" ......... run for the hills.

[Conservador-Rebelde]

Man, I have no idea where you get any of this... yeah, there might be one or two instances of each of your "examples", but that doesn't mean that is how the entire church is. Oh, who am I kidding? You aren't going to change how you feel about Mormons. You'll continue to feel this way, so I guess I'm just trying to help others who may not know understand that you are exaggerating every one of your claims, if they are even true.