YouTube is permanently blocked here… at least it has been since I arrived! And some Wikipedia pages (like the one listing what sites are blocked in China) are also blocked.

China blocked Google for a short time, as a threat to the search engine giants to put better filters on their system.

China was even going mandate a filtering software be put into all new computers in an attempt to block out porn (and anything else their little hearts desired). But, according to CNN, the government-set deadline that would have required the software, called Green Dam-Youth Escort, which was to come with all PCs, is being postponed indefinitely. (The postponement wasn’t because they decided to allow some freedom of search but rather because the Green Dam software is filled with technical glitches!)

And of course, they’ve done it again. As of this morning sites like FACEBOOK, and Twitter are blocked! As in no soup for you, you’re not cool enough to get in, stand behind the velvet rope!

This revelation brings me to tears because of my severe addiction to my favorite networking site. As I sit here and type this very entry. the symptoms of withdrawal all sit in.

First the denial

As part of my job I am in charge of some of the online networking sites that my company participates in, so this morning when I tried ever so gently to log into Facebook and Twitter, I was blinded by the big yellow triangle and the words:

Connection Interrupted
The connection to the server was reset while the page was loading.
The network link was interrupted while negotiating a connection. Please try again.

Assuming it was my Internet connection, I tried again.

And again…

And again…

Then the anger

As the frustration from the yellow triangle flashes before me I become livid with all things electronic. Cursing under my breathe, and hoping nothing but negative things for those who would do this to me!

Then the depression

Slowly as I realize my anger will not change the out come I begin to mope. Imagining all the amazing things that I am missing. All the inside jokes that I will not be privy to. All the surveys my friends post because they think people care. All the photos of random people’s drunk 4th of July celebrations… all gone.

Then the acceptance

As people stroll into the office I grab their attention with the news that Facebook, is blocked. Stunned, I see the look in their eyes as they swallow the fact that the site that allowed them to cyber stalk people was now forbidden. Seeing their pain I stay strong and continue trying to access… just hoping that they don’t block my site!

To see a list of a few of the blocked sites click here!

or here!