Censorsh*p!

[Medusa]

Questions: Should censorship every be allowed? And if so, in what context? Where do you use censorship in your life? How does censorship affect your daily life, if any? What are your ways around it? What forms do you agree with? What forms are you against?

Debate! :^^:

[ChainLightning]

Re: Censorsh*p!

Gah!

That is SUCH a tough call.


Personally, I'm against all forms of censorship simply because it takes away someone else's right to choose. However, I think there has to be a few caveats.

I censor myself on the public areas of this forum, for instance. Or, at least, I TRY to. Usually. I'll also attempt to censor myself around smallish children - those that have already adopted mimicking behaviors. I'll censor myself around elders, if I feel the setting requires it, of me. Strangers, if I'm trying to give them a sense of being respected.

To an extent, I'm all for censoring young kids, both in what they have access to AND what language or behavior they exhibit toward others.

I'm also of the opinion that a place like this forum can limit what a person can put in a post, in certain areas, with regard to language or content.

If a religious group doesn't want its congregation to watch sexually explicit programming, it can sure say that behavior, then, is unacceptable. But it shouldn't interfere with anyone outside of that specific group.



There may be a few other examples, ripe for the promotion of *limiting* the freedom of choice or speech, but on the whole? Censorship? F*** that $#!t!

[Denarius]

Re: Censorsh*p!

I'm fine-ish with censorship when it serves a purpose. Like protecting someone's identity or keeping sensitive military intelligence out of enemy hands. Not when it's based on political correctness or done to control or restrict the agency of the people.

When it comes to a democracy, political censorship is unjustifiable and obviously stupid.

[anubisa]

Re: Censorsh*p!

I agree with Denarius. I think there are some things in our lives that are okay to censor, but we shouldn't be censored from everything.

[anunitu]

Re: Censorsh*p!

If you grew up in the 50's and 60's you would remember the censorship of that time. I am older now,and am sometimes shocked only because I still have that censored image of life from the TV back then.

[MaskedOne]

Re: Censorsh*p!

As a matter of public policy, I'm against it. Governments with the ability to censor information have an easier than normal time getting into stupidity.

As a matter of private policy on say, a web forum? I gleefully edit, delete and move around posts with content that I deem to be a violation of PF's terms of service or contrary to PF's mission statement. I'm pretty sure my actions speak for themselves there.

[Hawkfeathers]

Re: Censorsh*p!

It's much harder to assert your right to freedom FROM something, than freedom TO something. Example: I don't want any kind of smoke on my property, but my neighbor has the right to burn leaves. So I lose my freedom to have my windows open for a while because they aren't containing their freedom on their own land. Or, I don't want to see or hear something regarding a topic, so if it comes up, I change the channel. BUT by then I've already been exposed to that which I want to be free from.

So it gets very tricky there.

[DanieMarie]

Re: Censorsh*p!

If you grew up in the 50's and 60's you would remember the censorship of that time. I am older now,and am sometimes shocked only because I still have that censored image of life from the TV back then.

I didn't, but when I look at stuff from back then, there was also a lot of clear propaganda. I find it really scary, because there was so much talk about how bad communism was, but our side of the world used a lot of the same tactics.

I'm anti-censorship. I don't think people should have to be afraid of speaking their minds. The only exception I can think of is in cases where allowing certain types of speech and images can seriously harm someone else. For example, I don't think child porn should be a legal form of expression and I think hate speech that is clearly meant to induce action can be limited.

[Tylluan Penry]

Re: Censorsh*p!

The general view I've come across can be summed up thus: "Yes, of course there should be censorship - for other people. I on the other hand, know what I'm doing and should be allowed free rein."

And therein lies the rub.

I don't think - given the levels of information, misinformation, disinformation and downright propaganda rampant in our society that I trust anyone to have the right to censor anything. Cos it's mostly bollix anyway.

[B. de Corbin]

Re: Censorsh*p!

Don't reveal troop/ship/etc. movements, don't give away defense secrets, don't incite violence, don't yell "Fire!" in a crowded place, don't make your boss look bad. I don't think these are censorship, they are more like anti-stupidship.

Do speak your mind as loudly as you wish. If you don't agree with me, either do it while you are alone, or remember that I can and will do the same thing in return.

[thalassa]

Re: Censorsh*p!

As a matter of public policy, I'm against it. Governments with the ability to censor information have an easier than normal time getting into stupidity.

As a matter of private policy on say, a web forum? I gleefully edit, delete and move around posts with content that I deem to be a violation of PF's terms of service or contrary to PF's mission statement. I'm pretty sure my actions speak for themselves there.

This.

And this:

Don't reveal troop/ship/etc. movements, don't give away defense secrets, don't incite violence, don't yell "Fire!" in a crowded place, don't make your boss look bad. I don't think these are censorship, they are more like anti-stupidship.

Also,

I'm anti-censorship. I don't think people should have to be afraid of speaking their minds. The only exception I can think of is in cases where allowing certain types of speech and images can seriously harm someone else. For example, I don't think child porn should be a legal form of expression and I think hate speech that is clearly meant to induce action can be limited.

...I think that pretty much covers the exceptions I can think of ATM.

[Medusa]

Re: Censorsh*p!

I want censorship for the good of you.
I don't want censorship for the good of me.

[jcaternolo]

Re: Censorsh*p!

My opinion on the matter is there should always be some form of censorship. Little kids (I'm talking like 5 year olds) do not need to see r34 or grimdark. Although there is a point where it can be too much. Kids should be exposed to certain things, it helps them get a sense to what the real world is like. To protect kids from every little profanity might be a bit overkill. I think kids should be allowed to play violent video games (although the parents should have a heart to heart talk before letting them play, not just "you can play this, but don't get any ideas")

[Luce]

Re: Censorsh*p!

Questions: Should censorship every be allowed? And if so, in what context? Where do you use censorship in your life? How does censorship affect your daily life, if any? What are your ways around it? What forms do you agree with? What forms are you against?

Debate! :^^:

Censorship in any form is bad. Period.

By this I do not include overtly criminal acts (child pornography, etc), but rather the transfer of ideas.

[Riothamus12]

Re: Censorsh*p!

I despise censorship deeply. There are few things I think should actually be discouraged or kept from broader circulation. Images and footage of people or animals actually being raped, brutalized, killed, or otherwise grievously harmed for the purpose of entertainment or to send a message. These are things I think we all would very likely agree are repulsive acts that ought to be stood up against. These are some of the only things I think ought to be subject to some manner of ban.

Granted there are some things I would not want children exposed to early for the sake of their mental health, but I don't think censorship is the answer.