30 replies to this topic

[pr3dr49]

I peresonally believe that censorship resebmles cancer. Many books have been censored in the course of time, and there are many more being censored every day, all over the world.

Censored books should at least be published on the net.

Or maybe not?

What do you think?

[stevey]

well i personally i have no problem with censorship coz its done for a reason and well it should still be there , i mean jus imagine if it werent there , people would like jus go wild and madly out of control (esp the kidds lol)

[MoreCowbell]

I don't think anything should be censored, if someone doesn't want to see something they shouldn't look at it. Not only that, whos to say whats appropriate or inappropriate, because it isn't always clear. I think that many people overreact to something which isn't a very big deal. Just because you don't like something or think that it's inappropriate doesn't mean everyone thinks the same.

[emonerdx]

I think some censorship is reasonable, as the minds of young children are easily warped, but I think it's gotten out of hand. We shouldn't teach our children to be prudes, merely respectably modest (NOT perfect.) Our local library refuses to order "The Anarchist Cookbook" because of it's "suggestive" material, and I think that's pushing some limits...

[Donegal]

It depends on what has been censored...
Liteary censorship is one thing.
I think that popular music and anything else which directly infuences children should be more strictly censored.
Is it right that seven and eight year olds sing along to christina aguilera saying they want to get dirty?
There is a question of parental responsibility but its almost impossible to prevent children see something which is bradcast so widely.

[Gamesquare]

The only censorship I would condone is possibly censoring something that's blatantly intended to help or inciting people to commit malicious acts (but only in extreme cases), censoring false information (if it could be harmful or dangerous if distributed), censoring private information (obviously), or trying to protect children from material they can't handle. Besides that, people should be warned if they're going to see something disgusting (unlike some web sites I know of). Anyway, I would oppose censorship of literature or anything similar as long as the people who view or read it know what they're getting into and the people are mature enough to handle it.

[Shackman]

I think censorship hinders creativity. Lots of books are being censored. I mean, they should at least give people the choice to buy the 'censored' or the 'uncencored' version. For the 'uncensored' version, they sohuld warn what type of content is to be expected. I think that would be okay.

However, it responsible for the society to disallow material children can't handle. Its not too healthy...

I feel that we should be given a choice if we can to see the 'censored' or 'uncensored' version, be it books, movies and so on...

[BigEast55]

It is our duty as Americans to fight censorship.

We build this country on freedom of speech and other basic freedoms, and censorship is taking that away. The Patrior Act is a great example of horrible censorship not of just communication but of human life in general.

[spawn_syxx9]

Censorship to a certain extent is needed. Not everyone deserves to have their opinions known, especially if it is meant to personally attack another human being or race of human beings.

[dizilluziondmasokist]

The more something is censored, the more people are going to be attracted to it. Remember the parent advisory labels and how Walmart put those up in front because they sold more. If people said screw it to trying to control what the populus believed in then people would be more "mature" with what they are doing.

[Kovi]

I'm sure everyone here's read Fahrenheit 451. (If you haven't, do so, it's one of the best books ever.) I read in one of Ray Bradbury's (the author) introductions that F451 was published in a book for high school lit students -- with the bad language censored out! If that's not ironic, I don't know what is.

[henrytam]

i like it

[dizilluziondmasokist]

What is that book about might I ask?

[Zenchi]

I believe F 451 was about either 9/11 (Not referring to Farenheit 911) or a tale of Firemen. I could be wrong either way, I just know there was a movie aobut both, named similiarly.

[NTNguyen]

The documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 is a combination of 9/11 and this book Fahrenheit 451 - The temperature at which book burns (or something like that). It's about a fireman, well, they're called firemen. But it actually means book burner in this book. It reflects the problems of censorship in the US in the past - anti-communism, and burning of the books by the Nazis.

[biscuitrat]

What I don't like about literary censorship is that our Bill of Rights clearly states, "Freedom of Press." What I do approve of it video censorship. I surely don't want to see people stripping and cursing on shows that families could be watching together. It would be awkward. Back to literary censorship:

Books are products of imaginations. They could be on anything and we are guaranteed that right by the government.

But I do agree with the rest of the people who posted. If something is not ours, we desire it more. And censorship does limit creativity. Think of how you would feel if your masterpiece of literature was censored because some people up in congress thought it was "offensive". You (or at least I in this scenario) would go into a creative slump. And the ironic thing? Not all of America can agree on whether a book should be censored or not. I'm entirely open to all forms of literature being out there, but it's up to me and only me to choose what books I want to read, right? And people should be allowed to choose what version of a book or movie they want. Otherwise, you sort of feel restricted. The government isn't allowing you your right to choose what you want to read/watch.

[bob]

i think the best idea so far has been the censored and uncensored option giving readers the choice. If things are censored who then should have the right who can/cant see certain texts. This then may allow countries to dictate what they do or dont know allowing for manipulation of people which in my view is very wrong.

If you dont believe this could happen read "Wild Swans" by Jung Chang, this book tells the story of 3 generations of a chinese family which is one of the best books i've read. However, this book is still illegal to carry in China (as far as i was last aware) and so therefore stops chinese people from easily accessing information of their own country's history, i believe this is very worrying...

[Oblivion 9999]

BigEast55, on Aug 30 2004, 04:39 AM, said:

It is our duty as Americans to fight censorship.

We build this country on freedom of speech and other basic freedoms, and censorship is taking that away.  The Patrior Act is a great example of horrible censorship not of just communication but of human life in general.

Ther should be censorship, what if a 7 year old kid randomly picks up an a book with swearwords, like f*** or anything else thats bad. Anyways I'm not American. I'm not saying there should be censorship everywhere, its just there should be a way of preventing those things happening and since its pretty hard to, some people have to put in censorship. Thats just my view.

[clergyq]

Censorship definitely compromises aristic and self expression, but how do we discern what has expressive value and what is simply mean to sell. There is, by far, too much money involved in the entertainment industries, and much shameless employment of base psychological manipulations... It is widely known that certain concepts hook and lure the human psyche... concepts like sex and death. Hypnotic methods are now staple in advertisement and entertainment. These things are employed to attract our attention and our money.. unfortunately our children tend to be attracted to them as well.

How can we seperate what is intentional psychological victimization and what is genuine expression? I'm not sure we can while human greed has a hand in it. I dont think we should child-safe our entire society.. the populace shouldn't suffer expressive repression because Guardians aren't guarding... but the parents' job should at least be made possible.

I'm not sure what the answer is, but it seems to me the entire issue of censorship is based in a much larger problem... the psychological degeneration of our society based on nothing less than Greed. The question isn't "should people be allowed to express their views and opinions".. of that there is no question, American democracy demands it... the question is "should we willingly subject ourselves to brainwashing techniques by those who want our money."

[dontmaimyourself]

Well I think that censorship, where nessecery is a good thing eg if the subject matter is such that it would insite riots, or put people in danger etc, but on the other hand you cant just censor something because you dont agree with it or it makes fun of you, thats just childish. but in my opinion censorship for the good of the majority is required in this day and age.

[onie]

censorship is a MUST. with all the kids roaming around the house seing those uncencored books, or even movies have a very bad influence on them.. it could lead to violence, maliciousness or even rape and worst murder!! so why dont you think twice when you are pissed when you see those black or blured spots.. just think of it as a life saver...

[jjhou]

I think that popular music and anything else which directly infuences children should be more strictly censored. Is it right that seven and eight year olds sing along to christina aguilera saying they want to get dirty?There is a question of parental responsibility but its almost impossible to prevent children see something which is bradcast so widely.

[jjhou]

I think it's not resonable that anything should be censored, if someone doesn't want to see something they shouldn't look at it. Not only that, whos to say whats appropriate or inappropriate, because it isn't always clear. I think that many people overreact to something which isn't a very big deal. Just because you don't like something or think that it's inappropriate doesn't mean everyone thinks the same.

[adriantc]

There should be some censorship because not all the books are good intended. Has anyone seen that movie HITMAN (I think) where someone writes a book on how to kill someone and then calls for the 1fs amendment? That's why censorship is somethimes good.