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  • THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 27 2007 9:00 AM

Verizon: No Fetus Texting!

Submitted by FearTheReaper

Edited by erin_broadley

Tags: Verizon, Naral, pro-choice,



The young kids today love to text message. This has caused political action groups to start text-messaging programs to get their message out. For the most part, the politicians and advocacy groups that use texts are liberal. The reason for that is because conservatives are usually too stupid to understand modern technology and they are poor, often only possessing an AM radio.

The National Right to Life Committee, an anti-abortion group, does not have anything to do with text messages. But their counterpart, Naral Pro-Choice America has a very active text-messaging program. Except on Verizon, because the company has rejected Naral’s request to set up a text-messaging program. Turns out that Verizon doesn't allow “controversial or unsavory” text messages.


In turning down the program, Verizon, one of the nation’s two largest wireless carriers, told Naral that it does not accept programs from any group “that seeks to promote an agenda or distribute content that, in its discretion, may be seen as controversial or unsavory to any of our users.”



    PLZ keep ABortIN LEGZ. 4EAE KEWL


Wow, I kind of get what Verizon is saying. That may be the most controversial and unsavory thing I have ever typed. My fingers need a bleach bath. If I had actually texted that, Verizon may have gotten AIDS.

Yet, Verizon has no obligation to accept every political action group that comes along. The First Amendment limits governments but private companies can do whatever the hell they want. What would stop Verizon from restricting text messages, is a threat by all their customers to drop the company if they did not change their policy. But that will never happen, because we live in America, home of the lazy complainer.

This is a very odd decision for a company to make, however. Verizon has decided to forgo profits for…what? So that people won’t communicate “controversial” messages? What the fuck is that? They are a communications company, whose sole purpose is to provide people ways to communicate and to make boat loads of cash. They shouldn’t give a shit what those communications are. And yet they do. This is the scary side of our massive corporate controlled world. This is why so many people are concerned about Net Neutrality.


“This is right at the heart of the problem,” said Susan Crawford, a visiting professor at the University of Michigan law school, referring to the treatment of text messages. “The fact that wireless companies can choose to discriminate is very troubling.”


Just a bit. Fortunately other wireless companies have accepted the Naral text program. Their customers can get messages from Naral, like this one.


End Bush’s global gag rule against birth control for world’s poorest women! Call Congress. (202) 224-3121. Thnx! Naral Text4Choice.


But Verizon customers, who are paying the company to provide them with wireless service, will not get any text messages. Even if they want them. Thankfully, we live in a free market world. All they have to do is break their contract, pay the massive fee and then sign up with another company. That way they can punish Verizon by giving them a big check. It’s the free market!

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FearTheReaper

FearTheReaper

NEWSWIRE

I'm lost

SEP 27, 2007 01:27 PM

Zarth said:

FearTheReaper said:

jimhaku said:
If I start getting spam texts from anyone I'm burning everything I own and living in a cave.


Right. This is not about spamming. You would sign up for it. sigh.


Man, I hate spam. Verizon is totally right to prevent spam from making it onto my cellphone. I'm switching to Verizon right now.



(cut to tear rolling down my cheek)

sarahg

sarahg

I'm lost
November 2004

SEP 27, 2007 01:28 PM

Verizon sent some shit out in the mail about changes to the way they share your information to outside companies and partners.

If you are a Verizon customer, you should have already received it. If not, contact them and ask. I cannot recall off the top of my head whether you have to opt-in or opt-out. But if it's opt-out, you will definitely have to look into doing so, or they will be sharing your info for spammy purposes.

Just sayin'.

Zarth

zarth

Seattle, WA
December 2004

SEP 27, 2007 01:31 PM

FearTheReaper said:

Zarth said:

FearTheReaper said:

jimhaku said:
If I start getting spam texts from anyone I'm burning everything I own and living in a cave.


Right. This is not about spamming. You would sign up for it. sigh.


Man, I hate spam. Verizon is totally right to prevent spam from making it onto my cellphone. I'm switching to Verizon right now.


(cut to tear rolling down my cheek)


Nice to know my work is appreciated.

dingoes8

dingoes8

Milwaukee, WI
March 2004

SEP 27, 2007 01:33 PM

OMG, INBD

LostLucy

LostLucy

USA
December 2006

SEP 27, 2007 02:20 PM

That was hilarious Zarth!! biggrin

seriously,
savetheinternet.com is a good source and cites both AT&T and Verizon as violating consumer right to neutraility -- even if Verizon might be caving in now! thanks .KUNGFOO

OK so....

my bad blush


_poptard_ said

That's not EMily Litella









NEVERMIND!!



RIP Gilda.

Gylrek

Gylrek

Chula Vista, CA
August 2007

SEP 27, 2007 03:11 PM

i don't really care what the message is . what I don't need is spam messages on my phone, it's not like there isn't enough on the internet.

joker_

joker_

Minneapolis, MN
October 2005

SEP 27, 2007 04:01 PM

Gylrek said:
i don't really care what the message is . what I don't need is spam messages on my phone, it's not like there isn't enough on the internet.



What part of "a service you sign up for" do you not understand?

Seriously, I'm curious as to how you could interpret this to be about spam messages.

Gringo

Gringo

Spokane, WA
May 2006

SEP 27, 2007 04:13 PM

joker_ said:

Gylrek said:
i don't really care what the message is . what I don't need is spam messages on my phone, it's not like there isn't enough on the internet.



What part of "a service you sign up for" do you not understand?

Seriously, I'm curious as to how you could interpret this to be about spam messages.


^ ^ ^ ^
Fuck, I signed up for SG and now I'm seeing these spam messages from joker_.

makebelieve

makebelieve

Winston Salem, NC
February 2007

SEP 27, 2007 04:57 PM

FearTheReaper said:

jimhaku said:
If I start getting spam texts from anyone I'm burning everything I own and living in a cave.



Right. This is not about spamming. You would sign up for it. sigh.



Should have mentioned that fact in your article. Sigh. Besides, you would always get that initial "sign up by replying to this text message", uh, text message. And that would piss me off if I got that shit being an evil pro-lifer and all. I think there are other ways to get your information out. Thanks Verizon for working for me!

Spoiled

Spoiled

San Francisco, CA
August 2006

SEP 27, 2007 05:21 PM

superkrzyamos said:

Should have mentioned that fact in your article. Sigh. Besides, you would always get that initial "sign up by replying to this text message", uh, text message. And that would piss me off if I got that shit being an evil pro-lifer and all. I think there are other ways to get your information out. Thanks Verizon for working for me!



I really think they're being smart as a company by not picking a side on such a controversial topic. If you were the second largest service provider, would you want to compromise that for a random company that will bombard your customers with anti-Bush as well as pro-choice messages? There are still a decent amount of people who voted for Bush in this country or who are pro-life or who just maybe don't want their phone company to have a political stance on the issue.

I don't even understand why people would sign up for something that they support anyway.. that makes no sense. Why would they sign up for someone to text them and remind them of their own opinion?

Varuka_Salt

Varuka_Salt

I'm lost
October 2006

SEP 27, 2007 06:03 PM

Spoiled said:

superkrzyamos said:

Should have mentioned that fact in your article. Sigh. Besides, you would always get that initial "sign up by replying to this text message", uh, text message. And that would piss me off if I got that shit being an evil pro-lifer and all. I think there are other ways to get your information out. Thanks Verizon for working for me!



I really think they're being smart as a company by not picking a side on such a controversial topic. If you were the second largest service provider, would you want to compromise that for a random company that will bombard your customers with anti-Bush as well as pro-choice messages? There are still a decent amount of people who voted for Bush in this country or who are pro-life or who just maybe don't want their phone company to have a political stance on the issue.

I don't even understand why people would sign up for something that they support anyway.. that makes no sense. Why would they sign up for someone to text them and remind them of their own opinion?


Um...maybe so you could get updates on those things that interest you. Maybe information on pending legislation, current actions, gatherings, forums....etc.
Personally, I prefer to choose what information I receive and not have some mega-corporation choose what might be "offensive" to me. Again, this is a VOLUNTARY PROGRAM that you have to SIGN UP FOR!!! This is not unsolicited spam.

FearTheReaper

FearTheReaper

NEWSWIRE

I'm lost

SEP 27, 2007 06:18 PM

superkrzyamos said:

FearTheReaper said:

jimhaku said:
If I start getting spam texts from anyone I'm burning everything I own and living in a cave.



Right. This is not about spamming. You would sign up for it. sigh.



Should have mentioned that fact in your article. Sigh. Besides, you would always get that initial "sign up by replying to this text message", uh, text message. And that would piss me off if I got that shit being an evil pro-lifer and all. I think there are other ways to get your information out. Thanks Verizon for working for me!



I honestly thought about it, but I didn't believe people would be this stupid. That is truly what occurred.

This entire thread is just making me aware of why our country is such a fucking disaster and why people don't put pressure on Congress. Because we choose not to be informed and when we hear about one way to stay informed, we immediately decide it's a nuisanse. The infomation was forced upon us, there is no way someone would seek it out!

Who would want to know about something they care about coming up for a vote in Congress! Fucking spammers!

I email my representatives all the time. It takes two seconds. Sometimes I phone, when I am really pissed. Such as when Feinstein voted for the Iran amendment the other day. Sorry for assuming people would read this story and know that people sign up to recieve information from groups. Carry on.

Clidna

Clidna

Canada
January 2005

SEP 27, 2007 10:39 PM

PLZ keep ABortIN LEGZ. 4EAE KEWL



I think at the moment I'm more concerned about the fact that I can apparently no longer read this kind of stuff... I used to be able to read it fluently, now I have to stop and think about it... "What the hell is that? Maybe it's..."

I never thought 28 was old until today frown

Dr_Pwnage

Dr_Pwnage

Gainesville, FL
February 2005

SEP 27, 2007 11:05 PM

joker_ said:

Gylrek said:
i don't really care what the message is . what I don't need is spam messages on my phone, it's not like there isn't enough on the internet.



What part of "a service you sign up for" do you not understand?

Seriously, I'm curious as to how you could interpret this to be about spam messages.



Do you mean to tell me that you do NOT get spam text messages? Because I certainly do. I got one right before I read this article. It was:

From 7542443806

Introducin Mobile CarWash Serv WeCome2U! Txt r Clik www.expressdetailers.com Show This Txt Get $8 off!


So, Gee, I WONDER how this could have been interpreted to be about spam. How could that leap have been made?

Tell me, where in the article does it say that this is a service you sign up for? It doesn't. So, then, CLEARLY we are to assume that this is an article about people who sign up for a service to get text messages reminding them of a political agenda to which they already subscribe...right.


Seems to me that it makes more sense that it is about spam.


_kungfoo_

_kungfoo_

Los Angeles, CA
April 2005

SEP 27, 2007 11:25 PM

buzzsaw71 said:

joker_ said:

Gylrek said:
i don't really care what the message is . what I don't need is spam messages on my phone, it's not like there isn't enough on the internet.



What part of "a service you sign up for" do you not understand?

Seriously, I'm curious as to how you could interpret this to be about spam messages.



Do you mean to tell me that you do NOT get spam text messages? Because I certainly do. I got one right before I read this article. It was:

From 7542443806

Introducin Mobile CarWash Serv WeCome2U! Txt r Clik www.expressdetailers.com Show This Txt Get $8 off!


So, Gee, I WONDER how this could have been interpreted to be about spam. How could that leap have been made?

Tell me, where in the article does it say that this is a service you sign up for? It doesn't. So, then, CLEARLY we are to assume that this is an article about people who sign up for a service to get text messages reminding them of a political agenda to which they already subscribe...right.


Seems to me that it makes more sense that it is about spam.




...

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