# Wikipedia is Blocked by Censors **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 14, 2005, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-is-blocked-by-censors/335569 "2005-12-14T12:19:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-is-blocked-by-censors/335569/1 "2005-12-14T12:19:50Z")
I went over to the Wikipedia to check on my watch list as I do every day. For some reason the Saudi censors have decided to block it. I feel so darn … protected, safe. Sometimes I suspect the Saudis have elected Republicans, and a particularly radical form of Republican at that. I can hardly wait for my uncensored satellite system is back up. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-is-blocked-by-censors/335569/2 "2005-12-14T13:05:34Z")
I heard the religious police go around shooting at those satellite dishes. Can’t recall the Republican Party doing stuff like that here. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-is-blocked-by-censors/335569/3 "2005-12-14T13:34:09Z")
yet… ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-is-blocked-by-censors/335569/4 "2005-12-14T14:11:19Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > I went over to the Wikipedia to check on my watch list as I do every day. For some reason the Saudi censors have decided to block it. > > I feel so darn … protected, safe. Sometimes I suspect the Saudis have elected Republicans, and a particularly radical form of Republican at that. Are you really that fucking dense? They haven’t elected anybody except for the occasional powerless local committee. NEWS FLASH: **YOU LIVE IN A FUCKING DICTATORSHIP.** If the complete lack of freedom is grinding your gears, get the fuck out. It’s not like you’re a slave, like the native population. You can go when you want. Yeah, yeah, I know. It’s really not all that bad. You don’t get your balls chopped off until _after_ the show trial. They have due process! Give it a rest, man. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-is-blocked-by-censors/335569/5 "2005-12-14T16:18:08Z")
So … your saying you have no sympathy for me then? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-is-blocked-by-censors/335569/6 "2005-12-14T16:41:48Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > So … your saying you have no sympathy for me then? 😃 Well there’s that. Also I’m saying that the comparison between an unelected theocratic aristocracy and the Uppity Faction of the US Republican Party lacks perspective at best and is offensively ignorant at worst. ---
**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-is-blocked-by-censors/335569/7 "2005-12-14T17:00:24Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > I went over to the Wikipedia to check on my watch list as I do every day. For some reason the Saudi censors have decided to block it. > > I feel so darn … protected, safe. Sometimes I suspect the Saudis have elected Republicans, and a particularly radical form of Republican at that. > > I can hardly wait for my uncensored satellite system is back up. If it makes you feel any better, Wikipedia is blocked here in China most of the time, as well. The People’s Republic evidently doesn’t like the People’s Encyclopedia… ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-is-blocked-by-censors/335569/8 "2005-12-14T17:35:25Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Also I’m saying that the comparison between an unelected theocratic aristocracy and the Uppity Faction of the US Republican Party lacks perspective at best and is offensively ignorant at worst. Yeah!! Apologize to the unelected theocratic aristocracy!! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-is-blocked-by-censors/335569/9 "2005-12-14T18:06:01Z")
> [@Who\_me?](#): > > Yeah!! Apologize to the unelected theocratic aristocracy!! 😃 Very good. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-is-blocked-by-censors/335569/10 "2005-12-14T18:38:52Z")
Just be careful what you post **Paul in Saudi** , next they’ll block SDMB. Jim ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-is-blocked-by-censors/335569/11 "2005-12-14T20:09:49Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Well there’s that. > > Also I’m saying that the comparison between an unelected theocratic aristocracy and the Uppity Faction of the US Republican Party lacks perspective at best and is offensively ignorant at worst. While I really like **Who\_me?**'s response, I think the knee-jerk Republican protectionism (which, really, is no different than the knee-jerk Democratic protectionism, or the knee-jerk Islamic protectionism, or the knee-jerk any protectionism) was unwarranted. The previous sentence, _“I feel so darn … protected, safe,”_ set the sarcastic tone for the follow-up. It was meant to be an over-the-top statement meant for amusement. Of course, I could be reading **Paul in Saudi** all wrong and he could have meant it as an indictment of the Republican party…either that or **Reeder** found out **Paul** ’s password and is posting under his ID. ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-is-blocked-by-censors/335569/12 "2005-12-14T21:13:37Z")
I thought it was a good rant. I could dance to it, and hey, look I learned something about the world that I didn’t know yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-is-blocked-by-censors/335569/13 "2005-12-15T03:50:50Z")
In truth, I may have gone over the top a bit. I wrote the first short paragraph and realized I had nothing more to say. I added the Republican thing to add some heft to it. I almost used the term “Good Tory Government,” but the Conservatives have had a hard time of it of late. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-is-blocked-by-censors/335569/14 "2005-12-15T04:03:46Z")
Must… Not… Create… “Paul\_in\_Saudi” article… About… Kennedy assination… “Paul in Saudi is widely suspected of being involved in the assination of JFK. He was one of the characters covered in gold paint in the Oliver Stone film.” ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-is-blocked-by-censors/335569/15 "2005-12-15T04:25:34Z")
(OMG! They’re on to me!) ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-is-blocked-by-censors/335569/16 "2005-12-15T05:40:32Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > (OMG! They’re on to me!) Serious question - **Paul** do you have backup notification system in place just in case they do pick you up? I mean, all we would know here is you’re not posting anymore. On second thought, this applies to **Windwalker** as ell. ---
**Author:** ![Testy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Testy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Testy)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-is-blocked-by-censors/335569/17 "2005-12-15T07:36:23Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > \ > > I can hardly wait for my uncensored satellite system is back up. Are you on that as well? Mine is working but at about the speed of a slow dial-up line. Regards Testy ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-is-blocked-by-censors/335569/18 "2005-12-15T08:29:43Z")
I guess I don’t have a Backup Notification System, as I have no idea what it is. Can you enlighten me? They say our uncensored system will be back up in a week or two. Keep your eyes crossed. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-is-blocked-by-censors/335569/19 "2005-12-15T14:20:05Z")
If an air conditioner should happen to fall on you and kill you (Og forbid.), then will a wife, son or daughter be able to post to these forums to let us know your taking leave of posting was not voluntary? ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-is-blocked-by-censors/335569/20 "2005-12-15T17:31:06Z")
Yes, I have already prepared an obituary for publication and a number of messages to be posted as my valedictory. Prepared I am. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikipedia-is-blocked-by-censors/335569.md?page=2)