h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

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The trouble with censorship is as such:

Censorship is the outward expression of the inner fears of the powers that be. The powers that be have fears, but instead of dealing with their fears, they take them out on teens, who, unable to vote, can do nothing to protect themselves. Censorship leads to ignorance, which leads to censorship, which repeats the cycle. People shouldn't fear things that are censored, but the people censoring them, because they are the people that believe that it is their right to take away someone else's freedom to protect their illusions of saftey.

Censorship offends me. Please do all that you can to right it.

What really bothers me about censorship is this: You're taking away the right to people's freedom of speech. If people are allowed to say what they feel and think, but you take some parts out of which people think that it might be harmful matter, don't you do exactly the opposite of what many constitutions are about? Luckily here in the Netherlands it hasn't gone that far yet. When saw the records or books that are on the shelves in for instance the USA, and I compared that to what we have over here, it didn't lighten up my day very much.
For further references on censorship, you might want to listen to the "Spoken Word" albums by Jello Biafra. There are some very good speeches on there about the process of censoring and the minds behind it.

Kheldar

Censorship comes in different forms. I think it is not wrong to censor excessive swearing and cursing on Television.No one wants to watch people swearing, fighting, cheating, stealing, etc. all over the TV. These things tend to be either exaggerated or simplified on TV and try to cover up a Hollywood plot by saying that it is more realistic because of how the people react to their problems (by swearing at them usually). What I don't like being censored are important topics being smothered because they are "taboo". It is important for people to listen to and understand different views on religion, sex, politics, drugs and other things. People, not just teens, tend to think that one group or more than one group does not have a right to express their opinion because they are "bad". They've stopped teaching Darwinism in many schools because it challenges Christianity. A Muslim child, being "protected" from Christianity, should not be restricted from learning about Jesus from a historical point of view.

I agree with you on that, although I think that this statement could lead to a very tricky discussion. For instance, when the Muslim child learns about Jesus and decides he/she wants to be a Christian. Should the child be denied that right and if so, up to what age, or should it be encouraged for following his/her own ideas (even if it is a child of let's say 10 or 12 years old). Does a child have the life experience or knowledge to make decisions like that? How can that be measured? And so on...

I for one disagre. We need to be able to hear profanity, watch the fighting and etc. They shouldn't be censored, but it should be up to the individual to decide what (s)he wants to watch or listen to. No one should take that descision away from others, for any reason.

two things. Firstly, people clearly *DO* want to watch people "swearing, fighting, cheating, stealing, etc. all over the TV" - that's why the Jerry Springer show is so successful! Secondly, there is no "historical point of view" about Jesus - only a religious one. There is a historical point of view about the early christian church, council of Nicene, and suchlike, however.

The problem with censoring is reading an Ernest Hemmingway book with the words 'obscenity' and 'unprintable' instead of the word. It was /so/ confusing and dammit I want to read the curses! It is part of the setting! I also don't understand the TV. We all know what is going to be said, we can all imagine it being said, what's the diff?

Here, here. I'm 18,from the USA, but have been living in Germany for almost a year, and I don't think I can quite go back yet! We Amis really _are_ a bunch of prudes with shotguns. I would argue that the only television program that benefits from the bleeping out of "offensive" words is...South Park. Which is hilarious, partially _because_ of the bleeped-out content (in particular, the "Chicken Lover" episode! hee-hee-hee!) Yet we Americans continue to keep our blinders on and pretend that nobody ever says those..those WORDS!

Hmm, so Kenny's there to say the things which are to rude, even when bleeped?

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You're very correct in that it criticized teens for their apathy. But that doesn't stop us from moshing to it!!!!!!!!!

so you're exactly prooving kurt's point.. i'm still looking for a reason.. more and more... but i think you might have helped me find one... thank you...



StipeyZ.Rickenbacker

When I was a teen. Prince's 'Purple Rain' was a big hit. 'When Doves Cry' got to number 1 in teh states and top 5 in the UK. We all rushed out to buy the album. Well one track 'Darling Nikki' is all about a night with a protitute thank god there were no Parentla Advisory labels on things then. I learnt a lot of vocabualry with that album.

give me a hug, demon, we're the same age!

*hug*

*rehug*