But, if we take a step back, is it a good thing to do? I claim it isn't and I will try to explain why. Be aware that I will use epilepsy and a petition created by an epileptic as an explicit exampe further on. I will not pull punches, as and where I think they're deserved to not be pulled, but I will also try not to be offensive for the sake of being offensive.
So, what is this "moral outrage" on which I pontificate? It is an indignation over a wrong, perceived or real, that prompts an individual X to ask other individuals to regulate reality so that it suits X. It takes many forms, like forbidding support to programs trying to help the developed world and include information on family planning (like "use of condoms"), you can find it in law regulating Internet use, you can find it in semi-law (like the Internet Watch Foundation in the UK) and, in our specific example, a petition to YouTube to ban videos mocking epilepsy. What I am trying to say is that you have no moral right not to be offended. At all. You should, however, be provided with enough information to know where you are and are not likely to be offended. You also have the right to expect that a "no offense to sensibility Y" room (I use "room" in a very general sense here, as describing something that may be a physical or an informational space)
Moving from generalities to specifics, I've read the petition. I feel for Ms XXX YYY. I understand that she now sees YouTube as a hostile environment. That is, truly, sad. If she has been subjected to auto-starting YouTube videos embedded in a web page, I agree that the video should at the very least not have been auto-starting.
However, as the petition is worded, she has not asked for that. She has asked YouTube to forbid mockery of epilepsy and as much as I want to, I will not, nay cannot agree with this petition and think it should be politely ignored by Google, as it tries to curtail the very freedom of speech that the petitioner speaks so highly of. Had this been for a site (or a section of a site) specifically targetted towards providing those who suffers from epilepsy a forum, information, assistance or just mutual support, I think the petition would be spot-on, but to the best of my knowledeg, YouTube is none of these things.
Looking at what options are available for tagging and flagging videos on YouTube, I do not see any "may trigger seizure" (or, possibly better, "contains flashing images"). This would, in my opinion, be a better thing to petition for.
Note, I do not have epilepsy, but I know people who do. I do not find it funny to force videos with extensive flashing that is likely to trigger seizures. I, personally, have a problem with strobe lights, but it is not seizure-related. I find rapidly flashing images to be stressful and strobe lights in an otherwise dark room with people moving about is more than likely to induce stress-related anciety and aggression in me. So while I may not speak from the exact point of view that the petitioner wants me to see things from, I do have at least a smidgen of an idea where she is coming from. I still think it would be insane for me to even write a petition banning strobe lights to be used in dance halls (or whatever the young ones call it today), it is much easier for me to avoid these.
This is one of Ingvar's essays
By: nuvasoo
2011-03-07 01:55
Banning strobe lights completely is not needed. It's only the bright white flashing lights that are harmful. Red, blue, green are all fine. So what I should do is just avoid all concerts and dance clubs because people want to party with strobe lights? I like to go out but what I don't like to do is to pay $30 to get into a show and have to leave because of strobe lights. I like how this post is written by someone who has never experience first hand the isolation someone feels in that situation. Strobe lights should be banned. And btw I do have the moral right to be offended at someone mocking epilepsy on youtube, especially since I nearly bitten my tongue off and blacked my eye more than once. Epilepsy is the largest disability group in the world, higher than muscular distrophy and down syndrome. There are wheel chair ramps and special bathrooms everywhere. Not peoples disability being exploited for others amusement. In both cases the youtube videos and the strobe lights fall under that same catergory.
By: Lisanne van Vlaardingen
2011-06-20 18:12
I came across this 'controversy' while searching out why strobe lights have NOT been banned. Though, nuvasoo respectfully shares an opinion, I, too, agree that unless you have Epilepsy, weight cannot truly be granted to your arguments. Ever yone is entitled to an opinion, but that's like saying how cancer patients shoul d feel about chemo treatments. Having anxiety and aggression, though uncomfortab le, cannot compare to the physical and emotional beating of a seizure. Anxiety a nd aggression will disappear after a few short minutes. I have been battling wit h other physical ramifications due to seizures, such as spinal cord injuries fro m thrashing that have left me with chronic leg, hip, foor, arm, neck, hand and b ack pain for the last 9 months. It has tuned to neuropathy and nerve damage from neck compression. I have had to have two hand surgeries because the over extens ion during several violent seizures tore tendons in my wrists and the scar tissu e was pressing on the nerves in the carpal tunnel. The exhaustion upon waking fr om a seizure is equivalent to running a marathon. The blood all over from bitingSooooooooooo.....anyone with Epilesy, or a seizure disorder is usually very afraid about 'the next one' and prays that maybe...just maybe there won't be one. Unfortunately, that is NOT within our control, however, knowing that we can controThe whole world is fighting for their rights. Some have very obvious rights. Epileptics aren't wearing bandages on their heads. It is not a 'visual' disability...and even though we ALL know it is no longer 'evil spirits that have invaded the human body...it's in fact a neurological disorder...it's still misunderstood Truth is. Anyone can have a seizure at anytime in their life. The only difference between someone with Epilepsy and someone without is 'being prone to seizures'I developed Epilepsy from pregnancy. I had had 1 febrile seizure before the age of two and never again until I was 31. It was the hormonal changes in my body. I always laugh at people who make fun of people with Epilepsy because I know how Karma works. Good luck, I say! You'll know one day...whether it's you, or someonAnyways, I don't go to raves, so I don't care. But, I am a singer...and a strobeI have no choice but to take my meds, but I do have a choice to not be exposed tWhat's more important anyways...lights...or human life?possibly kill me.
By: Ingvar
2011-07-27 15:45
My problems with strobe lights are strong enough that I will not willingly enter places where I can reasonably expect people and strobe lights to be present. Even the thought of shelling out cash for a gig or a club that doesn't boldly state "does not have strobes" gives me the shivers. I am well aware of the isolation that causes, even though I haven't had a seizure induced by a strobe. <p> I still think that outright banning is the wrong thing. It would be brilliant if people arranging gigs had a "we will have strobes" or "we will be strobe-free" on the relevant posters. It would also be brilliant if YouTube could auto-tag "has strobing effects" and the ability to filter on it. <p> I think gigs/clubs clearly telling people if they have strobes or not is a good thing. I would even go as far as saying that I think a law requiring that would be a good thing. But as (some) people seem to think that strobes enhances their music experience (or dancing or whatever), I think an outright ban is the wrong thing.