Censorship!
 

I was having a discussion a while back about censorship on the radio, but now I'd like to talk about censorship in general. To me, when something is censored, it's like we're being told "Well, you're not capable of making the decision whether this is acceptable or not, so we'll make it for you." The question is, who are "They" to make that decision for ME? Is it the churches, christian groups, the government, or some other self-appointed, self-important, meglomaniacal group just looking out for the "Common good"? I personally find censorship in any form to be offensive unto itself, regardless of the subject matter. Not to say that EVERYTHING should be allowable, but that persons over the age of majority should have the right to decide what they will see, and listen to FOR THEMSELVES.

Working in the Adult Industry we are privvy to all kinds of potentially offensive material, but as we all know, there is a market for damn near EVERYTHING, but as webmasters, designers, Photographers et. al., we are in a position to decide what people will be viewing on our websites. In a sense, we could all be considered censors, but what we decide is unacceptable does not neccessarily reflect how our clients feel, therefore we will allow them to make that decision for themselves.

Here is a good example: Bumfights. I personally find that kind of entertainment offensive, demeaning and disgusting, but if I were running a website and my members wanted to have access to it, I would of course do as they asked, regardless of my personal feelings. You have to keep your customers happy, right? Now the main question here is, where do you draw the line? When does your judgement suddenly become censorship? Opinions?

I think the Bumfights thing is bullshit. I's only seen parts of the Bumfights videos (whatever they've shown on the news) and I don't like it. I was homeless for over a year, myself, and I know better than most the truth of what it's like to be on the other side. However, I don't see how they are guilty of any crimes except maybe vandalism when they had these guys punch/knock over/break things that didn't belong to them.

The whole thingi is a bum rap (har!) and I don't think it's going to stick. There will be a pause while people consider their legal positions and then dozens of Bumfights knockoffs will start showing up and the law will be powerless to do anything about it.

SpaceAce

Two of those bums hired some fancy ass Santa Monica law firm and are now sueing for millions. I saw the press conference the other day.

Stealthy-

I have never seen someone so lost.

You contradict yourself.

Think about this subject for a while before you talk about it ....

You're lettting your emotions act before your brain.

Ok first of all, don't insult my intelligence. Second, please explain your position before casting aspersions... If I contradicted myself, tell me how.

To answer your question (sort of), those decisions get made by a group commonly referred to as the "moral majority". Now whose morals they base their decisions on is completely beyond me, but they do seem to have a pretty loud voice... or at least the name comes up in the news a lot... and they seem to have a frightening amount of influence over lawmakers.

Then there are these little things called "decency laws", which are, for the most part, extremely vague and wide open to a vast array of interpretations depending entirely, of course, upon who is reading them and what they are being applied to.

Personally, I am diametrically opposed to censorship in any form, which is exactly why I will never be elected to public office :winkwink:

I'm not even going to touch the BumFights thing, because I'm not sure about the relevancy in relationship to the cencorship argument.


And on a personal note... Hiya Dank! :Graucho

re: multiple edits - Yeah, one of these days I'll learn to spell as I type rather than after the fact lol

Ok, I'll admit the bumfights angle wasn't exactly the best example of potential censorship, I was merely trying to show that even though "I" don't like that kind of entertainment, what right do I have to keep my customers from viewing it? I guess from a financial point of view, I'd have to do it or I'd lose those clients, from a moral point of view, I'd be going against my personal beliefs in showing that material... This kind of thing can drive you nuts, that's why I'm sticking to Photography! Dank, I'm not trying to start a fight here, I'd just like to know how I contradicted myself, and I don't appreciate basically being called a moron. What right do YOU have to tell me "Think before I speak" if you can't back up your own argument?