Censorship

[Emiliano]

Ah but that's the big question. Who get's to say what's is bad and what is good and by what moral values...

Now, I'd say most probably know I'm on a Frank Zappa binge. Back in the 80's the wives of congressmen formed this organization called the PMRC, the Parents Music Resource Center. They attempted to censor music albums based on their lyrical content. Orginally they wanted to rate music the same way movies were, G, PG, R, etc...

Here's one of many videos that covers the topic...





On the other hand one would have to speculate that if there no censors at all, would things be better or worse when it comes to things like hate speech or coming across pornographic billboards be an issue at all? Is there any chance at self regulation? Would being exposed to things of that nature make one more likely to realize that certain things are just bad?

What about other kinds of censorship? Say the more subtle type. For example. I'm on Facebook, if I were to post certain things I could lose my job for having a particular opinion on something. Might be that I'm gay for example.

A reporter on the Indy 500 was fired because he wrote that he was uncomfortable with a Japanese person winning the race on Memorial Day... Of course, the newspaper fired him to protect themselves over an unpopular view...Should he have been fired? Would an apology suffice? Not that I agree with the reporter or approve of what he said, but often enough censoring occurs beyond government reach, might be that we have to act a certain way or say and do certain things because our family, our employer requires us to be within a certain guidelines of behavior.

Oh and yes, it is a loaded question from hell. It is something I have given a lot of thought about and a great deal of the inspiration to think about it does have a lot to do with the things Frank Zappa had to say on the subject.

Hmm.. that was an interesting video, thanks.
I think I bit off more than I could chew with the response I was starting to write. Im sick today and my brain and ability to express myself is a little clouded right now. Ill have to come back to this when I'm feeling a little better and am better able to think it through. I want to give you a proper response, because those are good questions you ask, but I'm just confusing myself right now.