O2, in their infinite wisdom, decided on Thursday to push out some age verification shit and block websites it deems 'unsuitable' for under 18s.
I discovered this the fun way - whilst sat on the loo trying to read Jem's website. Apparently I am no longer allowed to do this. Does occasional swearing and talk of breastfeeding make it that unsuitable for minors? fuck knows. B3ta's also blocked, but that's a lot less surprising. (as a side note, if I swear more (is that even possible?!) will I get blocked too...?)
So many things wrong with the way they've gone about this though:
NO PRIOR WARNING/NOTICE for customers. ffs, you can send me a billion spammy texts about using my phone abroad, etc etc, but you can't send one saying "in xx weeks time we will start filtering adult content, please verify your age if you don't want a disruption in service"
Seemingly random selection of websites getting filtered. I don't look at 'adult sites' on my phone, so if this really was only blocking porn, I'd probably have never realised or especially cared about it.
using some random 3rd party website for the verification part...
Yes, if I want to verify my age, I need to do so by handing over my credit card details! Or so says the web page I'd never heard of which loaded in place of where I wanted to go. Oh, it happens to have an o2 logo on it. DING DING DING, go the scam warning bells in my head. Am I being phished? Is a fake Nigerian prince going to run off with all my money? Apparently not in this case, but urgh.
Never mind that I have a contract sim, which you legally have to be over 18 to take out. No, say o2, you still need to verify your age because lots of people take out contract phones for their kids. Yeah, and none of those kids will think of getting a parent/friend to do the age verification bit for them as well...
Mind you, if there's one thing I've learnt from work in the past six months it's that mobile carriers are entirely lacking in both common sense and competence. O2 at least do man their twitter account, which kept someone very busy on Thursday sending replies to the many rants aimed in their direction..
The lovely pretty daffodils in my kitchen seem to think so:
However it is still February, so I suspect there's a little while to wait yet.
Not that I mind winter, as such.. it's just that this one has been soooo cold. I don't have gas in my flat, so have to rely on crap inefficient electric panel heaters to keep warm. Plus thermals, fleeces, fluffy socks etc. (current room temperature: 15° - and we won't get into how disgustingly massive the recent leccy bill was )
Two very important and exciting musically themed things this week:
The Manics are doing a mini-tour in May.
There's a new Radiohead album
oh, and the Brit awards, but that registers so low on my radar that it may as well not exist. As I displayed my massive lack of street cred during a discussion at work where I hadn't heard of any of the winners/nominees. No huge loss, given that I assume the charts are probably full of x factor type shite
Starting with point 2. Radiohead. Ahhhh! Whilst enjoying a lazy day off on monday, the internet informed me that a new album would be out for download on Saturday (ie today, though it actually appeared yesterday). As much as I'd love to say that I rushed off to pre-order it, I'm still part luddite when it comes to buying music so will be waiting till next month and buying the CD instead. I have been watching the delightfully odd Lotus Flower video though, mmm.
And then we have the Manics. My most favouritest band in the entire world, ever. I'd considered going to see them when they toured before christmas, but the nearest gig clashed with some canoe club thing so I didn't (I know, what a shit excuse, haha). But their most recent album is excellent, and I got entirely distracted watching the Blackwood gig on BBC red button the other week, so when they announced a few tour dates I was straight on it. (conveniently ignoring angry red bank balance and budget spreadsheet at this point!)
Cardiff, May 21st. I'm going on my own, and I fully intend to be somewhere near the front, covered in far too much glittery eyeliner. Not done that for a long while This'll be Manics gig #7, and the first time in Wales too, so that's exciting.
Last night brought up much reminiscing about a youth spend hurting my ear drums with loud live music, culminating in me attempting to make a list of every gig I've been to. It mostly consists of Manics and Super Furry Animals, and a 3 and a bit year gap since I last saw anyone. That's a bit pants, but shows quite how much my priorities/hobbies have changed over the last 10(!!) years..
tags: grr 
)
This'll be Manics gig #7, and the first time in Wales too, so that's exciting.
