back to article Saudi royals seek ban on .virgin, .sex, .catholic, .wtf and 159 MORE

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has objected to the proposed new top-level internet domains .virgin and .baby – applied for by Virgin Group and Johnson & Johnson respectively – on the grounds that they will encourage pornography. The bizarre claims are among 163 complaints about new dot-word gTLD applications that the Saudi …

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  1. Jedit Silver badge
    Mushroom

    "Many societies ... consider homosexuality to be contrary to their culture [or] morality"

    Well, that's funny - my society considers the oppression of women to be contrary to its culture and morality. It's a big world, and if you don't want to live in it then you don't have to. Just don't tell US how to live our lives.

    I would also be looking askance at whichever member of that commission is automatically associating the word "baby" with pornography. I think it says a lot more about him than it does about "the decadent West".

    1. JDX Gold badge

      Re: "Many societies ... consider homosexuality to be contrary to their culture [or] morality"

      So in that case you won't be telling them that oppressing women is wrong, because it's their business not yours and you want to set a good example?

      1. h4rm0ny

        Re: "Many societies ... consider homosexuality to be contrary to their culture [or] morality"

        I doubt that Jedit meant that. Personally I'm fine with telling Saudi Arabia oppression of women is wrong whether they keep their noses out of our business or not. There's a point where minding your own business becomes looking the other way.

      2. Graham Marsden
        Thumb Down

        @JDX - Re: "Many societies ... consider homosexuality to be contrary to their culture [or] morality"

        There's a difference between saying "I don't like this and I don't think you should do it" and "I don't like this, so I want a law to *stop* you from doing it".

    2. Lord Voldemortgage

      @jedit

      "I would also be looking askance at whichever member of that commission is automatically associating the word "baby" with pornography."

      I imagine (and hope) they were thinking more of the popular music sense of 'baby' than that which Johnson & Johnson had in mind.

      Or maybe they just object to all things Johnson & Johnson as it might encourage men to rub cocks.

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: "Many societies ... consider homosexuality to be contrary to their culture [or] morality"

      I have to agree, it's appaling that they treat women in the way they do, perhaps like how Japanese porn has their genitalia hidden, perhaps they should work on face recognition to ensure women have a hijab or burqa covering women's faces.

      I couldn't give a hoot what they object to, perhaps they will just firewall any websites they object to and perhaps they will firewall our Government website to stop them seeing our Sex discrimination law websites, in the same way Chinese people are prevented to find out about what happened in Tieneman square.

      If you want sharia law in your own country, but don't expect US to follow those laws, this is the UK and women are actually allowed to drive a car over here! or allow people to drink alcohol! etc etc

      If a guy wants to poke another guy or do anything else gay, if they aren't doing it to you and your not being raped, then it doesn't concern you!! If two guys wanna do something gay, then it's up to them, not YOU! Keep your nose out of other people's business.

      I seem to remember a heterosexual couple getting into trouble for holding hands or giving each other a quick kiss and ending up in jail, FFS what is you acutally do in your boring country?!?

      1. Havin_it
        Coffee/keyboard

        @AC

        Sorry, couldn't help a little LOL at "do something gay". I'm determined to slyly slip it into my next conversation with a gay and see how it goes down.

        1. Dana W
          Happy

          Re: @AC

          Hey, I try to do something gay every day. Puts a shine on the day. :)

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Joke

        Re: "Many societies ... consider homosexuality to be contrary to their culture [or] morality"

        "FFS what is you acutally do in your boring country?!?"

        Camels, mostly.

        1. chriswakey

          Re: "Many societies ... consider homosexuality to be contrary to their culture [or] morality"

          "Camels, mostly."

          But only the female ones.....

      3. Psyx
        Pint

        Re: "Many societies ... consider homosexuality to be contrary to their culture [or] morality"

        "FFS what is you acutally do in your boring country?!?"

        I got drunk and hung out with Irish nurses, as a rule.

        Honestly; there's not much to do in the evenings. No theatre, cinema, bars, clubs. The redeeming fact is that the shops are open until 10:30 at night (but close for the various evening prayers), and there are plenty of restaurants. It's far too hot to hang around outside too much, with temperature in the 30s even after dark. There's no culture, as such. Religion is the culture there. Local cuisine is dead sheep on rice, and not recommended.

        Saudis shop, or go and see family generally. Young Saudis wander around malls, dropping contact cards onto members of the opposite sex walking by underneath, or leaving bluetooth connections open in order to contact boys/girls.

      4. davyclam
        FAIL

        Re: "Many societies ... consider homosexuality to be contrary to their culture [or] morality"

        They actually do a lot of the stuff they pretend to dislike.

        It's called Hypocrisy and it's ok as long as you don't get found out.

  2. TheresaJayne
    Paris Hilton

    Why doesnt someone apply for .anonymous

    or maybe .tory or .idiot

    of course el reg should apply for .reg .vulture and maybe .lohan

    1. FartingHippo
      Trollface

      .dot?

      or .forwardslash, just to mess with some brains.

      1. Sloppy Crapmonster
        Happy

        Re: .dot?

        aitch tee tee pee colon slash slash slashdot dot forwardslash ?

        1. OrsonX
          Happy

          aitch tee tee pee

          LOL

    2. diodesign (Written by Reg staff) Silver badge

      Re: .reg, .vulture, .lohan

      It costs $185,000 a pop to request those. In total, that's 100,000 pints of Soho-priced beer!

      C.

      1. Neill Mitchell

        Re: .reg, .vulture, .lohan

        Blimey, where do you drink in Soho for £1.20 a pint? Come on, spill the beans!

      2. Cliff

        Re: .reg, .vulture, .lohan

        You're not from London, are you? ;-)

        EDIT - AAAAAAAaaaahhhhh got it - 100kilopints for *all three*, that's more like it ;-)

      3. Trevor_Pott Gold badge
        Pint

        Re: .reg, .vulture, .lohan

        $185,000 across 6.6 million readers is ~$0.028 per reader.

        So where's the kickstarter for .reg?

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      so long as Saudi is OK with it

      I'll have .prophet, .mohammed and .islam

      1. Version 1.0 Silver badge

        Re: so long as Saudi is OK with it

        it's .goat for me!

  3. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Nice

    Pretty typical. We love using your technology, as long as it suits our means.

    Just for reference, remind me what "freedom of speech" is...

    1. Psyx

      Re: Nice

      "We love using your technology, as long as it suits our means."

      I wouldn't even go that far. Internet was only introduced publicly in Saudi in about 2001.

    2. JDX Gold badge

      remind me what "freedom of speech" is

      something which is decided on a nation by nation basis, not some world utopian ideal.

      1. Graham Marsden
        Big Brother

        @JDX - Re: remind me what "freedom of speech" is

        "something which is decided on a nation by nation basis, not some world utopian ideal."

        Ah, so you think Freedom of Speech means "you have the right to say things that *we*, the Government, agree with".

      2. Trevor_Pott Gold badge

        Re: remind me what "freedom of speech" is

        As a matter of fact, it is a world ideal. Defined in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. Signed by the overwhelming majority of nations in the world, it defines your rights as a human being, regardless of the government you live under. These are fundamental rights that are innate to being human, not rights "granted" by a government.

        It is our duty as citizens the world over to uphold and defend these rights. It is through our collective defense of these rights against all who would attempt to suppress them – governments, corporations and individuals – that we as a species give these rights their meaning.

        This isn’t a “Utopian Ideal.” This is the legacy – and duty – passed onto us by our forefathers. If we wish to remain free, to free others and to see our descendants enjoy freedom then we must indeed remain eternally vigilant. The rule of governments – and their laws, lawmakers and so forth – are granted by the governed. The rights outlined in the UDHR belong to every human being, no matter what any tin pot dictator – elected or not – chooses to say on the matter.

        I am willing to die, if necessary, defending the above. What kind of person are you – how self important and entitled must you be – that you would not be? What must you believe that you would tell someone – anyone – that they are aught but chattle, granted rights as a whim, to be retracted just as effortlessly?

        If that is what you truly espouse sir, then I think you are a terrible human being who is actively engaged in attempts to undermine one of the only great things our species has ever achieved…even if you are only doing through speech.

        As a fundamental human right, however, I would still defend your right to air your opinion. No matter how contemptible I believe it to be.

        1. Rampant Spaniel

          Re: remind me what "freedom of speech" is

          I agree with the vast majority of what you say, but the practical implementation of the freedoms differs somewhat from the original intention.

          Freedom of speach except in cases on libel, fraud, defamation, racial hatred etc etc. The vast majority of what I mention is quite sensible, giving people the right to open their mouth but making them responsible for what they say. The problem is who draws the line and where it is drawn. It isn't abolsute nor is the right to free speach. I'm not sure it should be because that would divorce people from being responsible for their actions. We have an ideal, but in practical terms we do not have free speach just as we do not have a true democracy. For as long as the line is drawn by vaguely sane, well motivated people it is not entirely bad that people be allowed to say what they think but are made responsible for untruths and hate, but if the line is manipulated by vested interests then there is a problem.

          Right now I can pass comments on our political leadership. say for instance there is a party called the pachyderms, and say perhaps they haven't put forward a presidential candidate in 20 years that could string together a coherant sentence. Now say their current leader (G Shrub) is involved in some shady things. I can pass comment on his leadership under most circumstances without fear of retribution. I cannot, without very strong evidence, suggest he has commited a crime or any other defamatory comment that isn't covered under exemption. In times of war the line is moved further. One view is that allowing people to speak but making them responsible for that speach is a way of keeping things honest and fair. However, truly free speach it is not.

          With rights come responsibilities, this is no bad thing, but it isn't fashionable these days to make people responsible for their actions.

        2. Steven Roper
          Thumb Up

          @ Trevor Pott

          Excellent post, Trevor, and sentiments I absolutely support. I also admire the measured and rational manner of your response to JDX, since what I felt like saying to him in response to his idiotic comment would not have passed moderation. Well said.

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    What's with the sadface Saudi Arabia?

    Not keen on stoning-children.wtf ?

  5. Tank boy
    Mushroom

    Oh wow

    They have internet in Saudi Arabia, and people actually know how to use it? Will wonders never cease?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Oh wow

      Question is are Saudi women allowed to use the internet?

    2. Nigel 11

      Re: Oh wow

      Yes, for certain restricted values of "internet", "know" and "people".

    3. Psyx
      Thumb Down

      Re: Oh wow

      "They have internet in Saudi Arabia, and people actually know how to use it? Will wonders never cease?"

      Yes. They are the same species as you. You do realise that, right?

      Given that thick bastards can 'use Internet' enough to update Facebook and watch TOWIE on streaming media, I think it's a bit racist of you to for a moment consider that it's beyond the capabilities of someone born in a different country.

  6. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    This from...

    ...control freaks who believe in imaginary friends.

    1. Oliver Mayes

      Re: This from...

      But only the right sort of imaginary friends. Imaginary friends that come from a different magical book are offensive and must be banned.

    2. Efros

      Re: This from...

      Imaginary friends who cannot ever be portrayed in any image whatsoever, ever!

      1. TeeCee Gold badge
        WTF?

        Re: This from...

        Actually the one that can't be portrayed was very much a real person and not imaginary at all.

        If you want to see what he looks like, you'll just have to use your imagination.........<HEAD EXPLODES>

  7. Anonymous Coward
    Thumb Down

    Objections

    I don't understand why the people in the societies that object to these Internet Domains don't just apply some self control. e.g. If it is morally wrong for you to look at a web site that has a suffix '.virgin' don't look?

    Is it that either the believers of these religions question there own beliefs, or is them some valid reason for these objections? I really can't see the objections being for any other reason than my first suggestion.

    FYI. If you happen to live in Saudi Arabia the last time I looked Virgin runs airplanes, and trains.

    1. DragonLord
      Big Brother

      Re: Objections

      The problem is that these people aren't questioning their own force of will, but that of their neighbours (of course in the event that these domains are registered, they will need to monitor them to ensure that they remain pure *cough* *cough*). As no one is of more pure soul than they are, and as such need to have an eye kept on them at all times.

      1. Stratman

        Re: Objections

        "The problem is that these people aren't questioning their own force of will, but that of their neighbours"

        Would these be the neighbours visited every weekend by Saudis in their droves, in order to drink, gamble and fornicate?

        1. Rampant Spaniel

          Re: Objections @ stratman

          But it's the men drinking, gambling and fornicating so thats ok. It's the women that need protecting.

          Presumably from the hypocritical, sadistic mentalist men. How they can keep a straight face when they say women are week and need protecting when the men are so easily swayed by any and every vice is beyond me.

    2. Graham Marsden
      Angel

      @Titus Technophobe - Re: Objections

      "I don't understand why the people in the societies that object to these Internet Domains don't just apply some self control."

      Ah, but you see it's not *their* self-control that they're worried about, because they're all morally upright and pure-of-mind people, it's *our* self-control they are worried about because we are weak-willed and morally bankrupt and cannot be trusted to see/ read/ watch all of this corrupting material without wanting to go out and do bad things!

      Oddly enough, the Government run by the Vicar of St Albions had similar views...

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Objections

      Actually that raises a good point; rather than objecting to these TLDs the Saudi's should be encouraging them. Then they can just block the site with the undesired addresses with relative ease.

      Personally I have no time for their opinions. With their lavish wealth what exactly do they contribute to the world these days apart from bigotted opinions.

      1. Richard Altmann
        Mushroom

        Re: Objections

        "With their lavish wealth what exactly do they contribute to the world these days apart from bigotted opinions."

        They are exporting Wahabism.That´s the most conservative interpretation of the Quoran.

        They where,and are setting up thousands of Madrasses (Quoran schools) in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

        Brainwashing boys from 3 years up who then end up being blown to pieces whereever there superious send them with a belt of explosives. Bringing dead and destruction to who ever happens to be nearby.

        IT angle? There´s a guy in safe distance who sends the explosive device a SMS.

  8. ByeLaw101
    Thumb Down

    Hmmm?

    Could this lead to a situation were countries end up blocking a whole TLD? Funny if it did, I think the whole TLD auction is a cynical attempt for ICANN to bring in more money anyway.

    1. Velv
      Flame

      Re: Hmmm?

      It shows that "unrestricted" TLDs was badly thought out in the first place.

      In reality we should be getting rid of all non-geographic TLDs (including .com, .net, .org, etc) so that all domains can be tied to a geographic country whose laws they will comply with. Registrants can choose which jurisdiction they want to have registrations in (no limit, just comply with the laws of the country of each registration for all content related to that registration no matter where it is hosted).

      Cuts through this messy "you've got a .com so you must be a Merkin" when you claim to be offering services elsewhere. .us - comply with us law. .gb, comply with UK law. Etc

      1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

        Re: Hmmm?

        Should make a few quid for ICAN as well as Google.co.uk,

        We need Google.co.england.uk, Google.co.Wales.uk. Google.co.ni.uk, Goolge.co.Wales.uk.

        Then of course if it effects any local bylaws you might have to have Google.barnsley.co.uk

  9. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Saudi...

    Such an advanced nation of forward and free thinkers.... I'm surprised we don't take more advice from them. They are so wise. Maybe then our country could be as free and fair as theirs.

    Ah... if they didn't happen by blind chance to find themselves standing on oil, we wouldn't even know who they are.

    1. DragonLord

      Re: Saudi...

      Correction : if they didn't happen to be standing on oil, they would have been absorbed into another country by now.

      1. Richard Altmann

        Re: Saudi...

        Who would want to absorb a wastness of sand?

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Saudi...

      In fairness the Saudi's of old did contribute a lot to the science, maths, commerce etc. It's after they found the oil they got lazy and developed an interest in booze and whores instead.

      1. Peter Murphy
        Stop

        Re: Saudi...

        Not many Saudis did the whole Math/Science thing - because Saudi Arabia was fairly well uninhabited before the 20th century. However, there were lots of scientific stuff from other parts of the Muslim world. For example, Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī was from Baghdad, while Omar Khayyám (yes, the "Jug of Wine" guy was also into math) lived in Persia.

      2. Steven Roper
        Stop

        Re: Saudi...

        Actually, most of the maths and science that we credit the Muslim nations for, they pinched from India before passing it on to Europe.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Saudi...

          "Actually, some of the maths and science that we credit the Muslim nations for, they pinched from India before passing it on to Europe."

          Fixed that for you.

          India did a lot of maths, but Muslim scholars did a crap-ton, too.

  10. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    `Baby` = `Pornography`??

    Still, it is the Saudi Royals... I expect these two words are nigh on synonymous to a lot of them. Nice culture you have there, by the way. Feel free to keep it to yourselves.

  11. Pete the not so great
    FAIL

    I wasn't aware that pr0nography needed encouragement

    B

    1. I ain't Spartacus Gold badge
      Happy

      Re: I wasn't aware that pr0nography needed encouragement

      Everyone in favour of pornography, raise your right hand!

      What do you mean you can't lift your right arm above your shoulder? Muscle strain? What kind of excuse is that? And when did you start needing to wear glasses?

  12. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Some Suggestions for Saudis..

    .wankers

    .Camelscrewers

    .bigotted

    .handchoppers

    .hypocrites

    .froginawell

    .oilmafia

    .publicfloggers

    and the list goes on.

    feel free to add more.

    1. Tom 38
      Stop

      Re: Some Suggestions for Saudis..

      Who upvoted this racist shit? Just because the government of Saudi Arabia objects to these things should not give some AC the right to call all saudis "camelscrewers".

      Get back in your hole.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Some Suggestions for Saudis..

        Calm down Tom.

        He was hardly saying all saudi's are camel screwers! Seesh!

        W O W, Over reaction.

      2. Richard Altmann
        Thumb Down

        Re: Some Suggestions for Saudis..

        You´ve never been to a conference of the Arab Youth League in Uganda where this towelheads started raping every

        female Conference Center worker not covering her hair. The girls went on strike,no money could convince them to go back to work until this babarian´s "conference" was over. The place was a mess. Dumps in the corridors,everything not nailed to the wall was stolen. I´ve a long history of conference desasters but this one topped everthing. 2200 delegates from all over Arabia let off the chain and going rampage. Tom38 go out and face the world behind your desk and stuff your racist accusations.You don´t know anything about the real world.GGFed

        1. h4rm0ny

          Re: Some Suggestions for Saudis..

          It becomes racism the moment you say another Arab who has nothing to do with them is culpable because of that shared race. Just as there have been some pretty horrendous things done by "Youth Leagues" of other races. Terms liek "towelheads" such as you use have no merit. If you truly want to get rid of such groups as you refer to in Uganda, then you would be better seeking the support of Arabs against them, than casting wide-ranging remarks that encompass people who would agree with you if you didn't treat them as the same as the people you despise.

          When you are specific in your criticism, you may find support. When you target a whole race, you promote an Us and Them feeling which is counter-productive.

  13. Greg D
    WTF?

    da fuq?

    what the fuck are these people on, seriously?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: da fuq?

      I believe it's called religion.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: da fuq?

      "what the fuck are these people on, seriously?"

      Nothing. That's the point.

      Well... in theory. In reality it's Johnny Walker Black Label, at £90 a bottle. The sanctimonious crap is all because they all want their fellow countrymen to think that they're actually good boys.

  14. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    however....

    ...they will allow .torture .humanrightsabuses and .backhanders

    1. John G Imrie

      Re: however....

      as well as .formula1 but apparently not .champagne

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: however....

      Oh right... because nothing in OUR country ever gets done in the upper echelons by merit of bribery, of course...

  15. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    tempting to suggest

    that these people are granted ".darkages" for their own private network - on condition that they leave the rest of it alone.

  16. Crisp

    In response

    The Saudi government has been told to grow up and join the rest of us in the 21st century.

  17. Alfred

    Don't like virgins as well now? Why don't they just admit it and outlaw being female.

    Given that being an unmarried female and not being one is some kind of crime, I'd have thought they would be in favour of virgins.

    1. Elmer Phud

      Re: Don't like virgins as well now? Why don't they just admit it and outlaw being female.

      Pedestals

      first say how they are revered, then put them on a pedestal to be looked at but also as it's easier to throw things at them.

      "Any of you lot women?"

  18. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    so I suppose .skyfairy would be banned as well?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      along with .clawfistedcockjugglers

  19. LinkOfHyrule
    Joke

    I've just had the producers of EastEnders on the phone to me shouting their arses off over my plans to register .cotton - they claim it infringes their rights as they had a character called of course - Dot Cotton!

    1. cottonfoo
      Happy

      .cotton

      No - that's mine ;)

      1. LinkOfHyrule
        Happy

        Re: .cotton

        I'm cybersquatting you too cottonfoo!

        That rhymes, I really should be poet laureate for Staines-upon-Thames or something with skills like that!

  20. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    You'd think -

    You'd think the Saudis would encourage the creation of immoral TLDs, as it surely makes it easier to set up blacklists?

    1. JDX Gold badge

      Re: You'd think -

      Isn't that the argument in favour of .xxx? People aren't wanting to make it easy for them to block it for themselves, they object the thing is wrong in the first place and we should be working to stop it, not implicitly condone it . Hardly a complex argument, regardless of whether you agree with it.

    2. Steve Knox
      Childcatcher

      Re: You'd think -

      Ah, but the problem is, then they have to admit to the blacklisting (or lack thereof).

      It's so much easier to claim moral high ground while acting the same as all base humans when "technical complexity" prevents clear delineation.

  21. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    erm

    FU.SA

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: erm

      Since sa is Saudia Arabia's TLD it is up to them whether or not that particular domain will ever exist.

  22. Kwac
    Unhappy

    Muslems & Christians United

    "Almost 800 of these comments were filed against applications for .sex, .porn and .adult by .xxx manager ICM Registry, following a campaign by US-based religious campaign group Morality In Media."

    Isn't the world a perfect place; or it will be as soon as the USA adopt stonings.

    1. Richard Altmann

      Re: Muslems & Christians United

      "Isn't the world a perfect place; or it will be as soon as the USA adopt stonings."

      The US of A is much more advanced nowadays.

      They just shoot stoners in the middle of NY without trial.

      www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cknljP1ckk

  23. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    ".....the fact that not a single blogger has so far commented on Google's plan to launch .blog as an in-house single-registrant name-space for its Blogger service shows how little attention the world is paying to the programme" and how extreme religious zealots are.

    Tell Saudi, Oi stop stoning your women and we might consider you to be 'decent'.

  24. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Btter still, just block saudi and rest from the net!

    Sorted!

    They keep their extereme views and we can ignore them.

  25. Vic
    Joke

    You know what's going through a large number of minds now...

    > The company does not plan to sell .virgin domain names to regular punters, so

    > the chances of it hosting pornography are pretty slim.

    "Challenge accepted"

    Vic.

  26. JDX Gold badge

    so-called “dot-brand” or “single-registrant” gTLD

    I think these are stupid. Being able to own a whole TLD for yourself in the first place just massively ruins the ability of getting a domain that's useful.

    1. Nigel 11
      WTF?

      Re: so-called “dot-brand” or “single-registrant” gTLD

      I still can't understand the rationale behind paying big bucks for these TLDs. Why is .virgin better than .virgin.com or .virgin.co.uk? Do people really go domain-name guessing, rather than putting what they want into a Google (or other) search box? Heck, if they use IE, there's only the one box in any case.

      Or is that the reason? Buy the .baby TLD and make it impossible for a not-very-smart mother-to-be to search for "Baby" using IE?

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: so-called “dot-brand” or “single-registrant” gTLD

        a) The whole idea is just a big money generator for the domain organisations involved.

        b) The companies bidding for these are probably trying to prevent them being hijacked by other companies. It's just a big name grab, Nobody really thinks there is a big need for these things :D

  27. Cameron Colley

    .aisha?

    .twelveyearoldsexslave?

    .stonedforbeingraped?

  28. Ru
    Paris Hilton

    "how little attention the world is paying to the programme"

    Is it that the world merely isn't paying attention, or more that they are totally disinterested?

    Seems like the vast amount of the proposed new $tlds are all but valueless. There are dozens of sparsely populated ccTlds out there for people who wanted a domain name that reflected their own special and unique snowflakey nature; but they're not dotcom, so uptake hasn't exactly been overwhelming. Why should dotblog et al be different?

  29. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Argentina has objected to .patagonia, wonder if malvinas is on the list?

    1. TeeCee Gold badge

      I think they'd approve of that.

      .falklands would cause 'em to throw a hissy fit though.

  30. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    The Saudis have a better moral compass

    At least some folks have a clue.

    1. Bumpy Cat

      Re: The Saudis have a better moral compass

      You forgot your trollface icon. A country that locks girls into a burning school because they would be fleeing without veils is a pit of amorality and cluelessness.

      1. Nigel 11
        Alert

        Re: The Saudis have a better moral compass

        a pit of amorality and cluelessness

        Completely valid righteous indignation, completely wrong argument. They have such a strong view on moral standards they they'll force children to be burned to death rather than see them break the moral code even in the most desperate of circumstances. It's not amorality, it's the even worse sort of dogmatic insanity at the complete other end of the spectrum. Give me a choice between someone with no moral compass and someone whose moral compass is glued immovably in a particular direction, and I'll unhesitatingly choose the former!

  31. Steve 6
    Thumb Down

    If you don't like what is on the TV....

    ... then turn it off.

    If they don't like it then they can adopt other (existing) methods to 'protect' themselves; it's not difficult.

    Why should a bunch of prudes be allowed dictate what the rest of the world cannot do?

  32. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    .blog and .baby

    Indeed, I hadn't noticed that Google had applied for .blog. One company having sole use of a generic term such as blog is equally as bad as another company having sole use of such a generic term as baby. Both should be rejected automatically, but as others have said, the whole thing is so badly thought through I can't see that happening.

    Oh well, something for our children to sort out once they've fixed the global warming business. :-(

    1. I ain't Spartacus Gold badge

      Re: .blog and .baby

      Oh I dunno.

      It's not too late for ICANN to say, 'sorry, this new TLD thing was a shit idea.' We're cancelling it.

      What do you mean you want your $185,000 registration fee back? Non-returnable I'm afraid...

  33. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    "...is responsible for...a range of social ills"

    By that criteria I expect anything religious/bothering of gods (of any description) will also be banned.

  34. Andus McCoatover
    Windows

    .saudi is of course behind a huge firewall...

    oh, wait......

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: .saudi is of course behind a huge firewall...

      It is. Or was, anyway.

      All traffic used to be routed through servers and censored in the capital.

  35. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    against alcohol/drugs - confused?

    I'm confused, I thought Saudis allowed alcohol and drugs...I distinctly remember hearing not so long ago about a Saudi woman who got stoned one day, and they surely couldn't have meant it literally.

  36. Anonymous Coward
    Alien

    This is why I prefer Omega.

    As there is only one rule on Omega.

    (check the name if you don't know it........)

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: This is why I prefer Omega.

      Would that be the Omega Directive?

  37. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Morality took a hit a long time ago

    Many people haven't a clue about morality and they aren't the least bit interested. Anything goes today. When you get caught blame it on the government or someone else. There is no such thing (for many people), as personal responsibility.

    1. Cameron Colley

      Re: Morality took a hit a long time ago

      "Anything goes today." -- very true. Feel like raping somebody, just go right ahead! Make sure your friends are the only ones to see it and that's fine. as a bonus, if the victim moans you can throw rocks (of a very specific size) at her until she's dead. Great fun :-D

  38. Maty

    okaaay

    I'm all for the Saudi royals trying to ban sex if this means they'll eventually go extinct.

    But the ban against .hot seems a bit outré. You'd think they'd be able to cope with a bit of heat over there. Are the Canadians planning to object to .cold?

    1. Psyx
      Stop

      Re: okaaay

      "I'm all for the Saudi royals trying to ban sex if this means they'll eventually go extinct."

      Nope. Massive population growth.

      Average Saudi woman (married, obviously) has 7 kids, I believe.

  39. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    A tad hypocritical coming from the country of the 9/11 bombers.

  40. mego

    I object to beheadings in response to minor infractions...

    but you don't see me telling your country what to do. Wankers.

  41. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Saudis and booze ..... lol

    Considering, that quite a few Saudi royals are alcoholics, it is quite funny that they are against it.

    Many years ago, when I lived there for some time, my dad more or less frequently had to speak to King Khalid and almost every time was offered anything from JW Blue Label to Heineken Export.

    I would love to start a flame war here, but after all, I love the people, but I dislike the religion (that's just my oppinion, each to their own...). Saudi is such a beautiful country and the people wonderful, I don't even mind the monarchy, but I just find these royals so hypocritical.

    AC: For obvious reasons.

  42. Deadlock Victim

    So...

    So is .jihad available?

  43. J.G.Harston Silver badge
    FAIL

    The only legitimate objections to the TLDs is that it is flattening and destroying the whole point of the hierarchial naming system.

    But then, this is the generation of "dump all my files in MyDocuments".

  44. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Fundamentally breaks DNS and the Internet

    I will refuse to use any of the new TLDs.

  45. theMightyAtom
    Go

    .pub

    .pub could mistakenly be pronounced ".pube" and then where would we be? Moral mayhem.

    Where do baby Saudi's come from if they've banned sex?

  46. Matthew Hale

    Who the f*ck...

    ...is associating the word `baby` with pornography? Let's play spot the nonce. Wow.

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