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Jonez
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Censorship and Access
September 24, 2003 - 03:26 AM
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Have you ever watched a movie or a show on television, and are disappointed that due to censorship words have been blocked out. Or right before your show starts, a warning like: “Due to some sexual content, viewer discretion is advised” appears? Many of us may think that they’re pointless, but take into consideration how effective they are.
I know from personal experience, if my family and I were sitting down watching a show, and a warning popped up, my mom would probably change the channel. She realizes that it’s impossible to raise a child in a completely sheltered environment, and my brother will eventually learn about it somewhere else, but the least she can do is limit the vulgar exposure.
There are many methods of avoiding such as, parental control on the internet and for Pay Per View subscribers. This also includes the arrangement of pornographic magazines at the corner store.
So if you see my point, you would agree that although these precautionaries can be easily evaded, are still a must in today’s society.
However it could be argued that time will eventually expose your children to these crude dispositions of our world. What do you think?
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Hugh Switzer
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Re: Censorship and Access
September 24, 2003 - 04:24 AM
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Nothing in the world can be completey stopped. By preventing or limiting though, I think it helps in the natural discovery of humans. I mean, in jail, people aren't supposed to have drugs but they get them.. even in the highest security prisons. Everything will happen. If your brother really wanted to learn some words, he would ask you or go to one of millions of websites or britanicaonline.com (yes, ass etc. is in the dictionary...)
If someone one wants something really badly and they're determined, they'll get it. Things like censorship allows people to choose to stop it if they see fit. In your case, your mom can turn off the TV because it told her that there will be violence etc.
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amy
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Re: Censorship and Access
September 25, 2003 - 12:26 PM
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I think that it's really easy to step over a thin line when it comes to censorship - how do you decide who has the power to decide who can view/read/listen to what? Usually, it seems like that the people with the power to decide are the people who have the largest share of resources (ie: MONEY), which is not necessarily representational of the rest of the population.
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amy
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Re: Censorship and Access
September 26, 2003 - 03:32 AM
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Originally posted by Roentgen
... Children are a vulnerable group. A free-for-all only works if everyone is already in a mature state and age and can act reasonably after viewing a sensitive material.
I agree that children are a vulnerable group, but who defines "mature" and "act reasonably"? I think this is the crux of the problem. "Reasonably" is a term that is so easily warped by a despotic government.
"Reason" depends on the times...
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Luke Lieberman
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Re: Censorship and Access
September 26, 2003 - 03:49 AM
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Roentgen - I think has hit upon a very important point.
It is not a matter of whether or not censorship is necissary - it is, there are certain thing we should make it difficult for young kids to see.
The question is who does the censoring - who decides these things.
I think it is best if censorship is kept out of the hands of the government (there are a million obvious problems there) and media outlets form mechanisms of self regulation. They have done this in many cases and I think it works fairly well. At the moment I think America has about the right balance of censorship and a system which is self correcting because ultimately the media providers answer to the consumers.
All the same - I still think I should be able to get my hands on an uncut copy of Eyes Wide Shut.
Another point just hit me -
In europe they censor violence on television, rather heavily - blood is not shown. Sexuality is not censored very tightly
In america we are fine with the violence - sex is what is censored.
In the end don't you think the Europeans have it right. Isn't blood more offensive and negative for a society then a bare breast?
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Roentgen
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Re: Censorship and Access
September 26, 2003 - 06:25 AM
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There is indeed a thin line between censorship and regulation. While it is ideal to have all the choices available to us, governments could not just do so. In special cases, it may even be necessary. Children are a vulnerable group. A free-for-all only works if everyone is already in a mature state and age and can act reasonably after viewing a sensitive material.
Censorhip however can be abused. It has been a tool for repression by some governments. That is the downside of it.
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Roentgen
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Re: Censorship and Access
September 27, 2003 - 08:22 AM
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A very important question is who does the regulation or the censoring. Luke, in America, self-regulation might have been working well, but not in some countries like ours, and in countries with similar conditions. Collusion is very common and you could not expect industry players to police (pardon the word) their own ranks. I believe though that the IDEAL situation is to remove censorship from government. A free flow of ideas is absolutely desirable.
I also agree with you that violence is more offensive than sex although there could be mixture of the two. I also find it odd that here, violence is not perceived to have more impact than sex. The great Schindler's List was almost not shown since the regulatory agency for films wanted the love scenes removed. Good thing, enlightened minds intervened. Yet, the market is constantly flooded by violent movies. I really don't get the logic of these authorities.
Amy, reason I agree is contextual, time dependent. Censorship has been employed by a lot of repressive regimes around the world. But there are just special cases. One basic determinant is education. In a country where there is a large percentage of people who have not been educated, I would hesistantly agree that there are certain materials which need to be reviewed, yes, by the government, before public viewing. As I said, non-censorship is an ideal situation but sadly, there are certian realities that come into play.
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amy
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Re: Censorship and Access
September 29, 2003 - 03:59 AM
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Originally posted by Roentgen
One basic determinant is education. In a country where there is a large percentage of people who have not been educated, I would hesistantly agree that there are certain materials which need to be reviewed, yes, by the government, before public viewing.
I know this isn't what you meant but being contrarian I have to point it out: despotic governments withhold education from its people, and apply censorship, because the people lack education.
See the kind of vicious circle censorship can lead to?
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