The video is probably already blocked in the country

Sep 17, 2012 18:01 GMT  ·  By
The video is offensive, but it's very poorly made and so obviously made to stir things up
   The video is offensive, but it's very poorly made and so obviously made to stir things up

The ridiculously bad "innocence of Muslims" video that's been agitating spirits for about a week now continues to gain attention and create unrest. Granted, the video itself is as good an as any and it's doubtful that many of those being outraged by it actually saw it.

If they did they'd perhaps realize just how ridiculous it is, how no in in the right mind would take it seriously and how they're playing right into the hands of the video's creator by being violent and outraged.

Still, people are being agitated by it and, as always, the easiest response seems to be censorship. Pakistan adds to the list of countries banning YouTube over the video.

YouTube itself blocked the video in any country that it would be illegal or where it was likely to cause violence. It's unclear whether this includes Pakistan.

YouTube mentioned India which has a small Muslim population so it would make sense that YouTube also blocked the video in neighboring Pakistan which has a majority Muslim population.

The Pakistani prime minister may just be looking to score some political points by threatening to block the entire YouTube over the "blasphemous" video even though the video may actually have already been blocked. But it wouldn't be the first time the site has been blocked in the country.

This highlights the problem with censorship. YouTube tried to create a compromise between free speech and preventing violence and getting itself off the hook.

As it's rather obvious, none of this is happening. People needing to point a finger will point it at YouTube, the US and anyone they can think of. And those that need only the slightest provocation to result to violence are not going to stop just because YouTube blocked the video. Again, most of them probably haven't even seen the video.