Lynda/WA
03-28-2001, 05:01 PM
Most people seem to believe in censorship at least in some situations. What kind and how much do you believe in? for movies? for TV? for books? for the internet? What things should be completely prohibited from all people? From children at school, at home, in public places?
I believe in as little government censorship as possible. At schools the censorship level should be the most stingent of beliefs. So, if people attending that school don't believe in homosexuality, it shouldn't be taught or books dealing with it in the library. The exception would be if the library is capable of allowing students to NOT check out certian books (code on library card). If Harry Potter offends some people it shouldn't be given to their children to read. In public libraries everything should be available to adults. Parent approval for children. Movie theaters should allow children in with the parents but be very strict about not allowing unsupervised children. Everything should be on TV but more explainationg about what is in the show should be available. For example, even if a show doesn't have swearing and violence it may have topics a family doesn't approve of (ie homosexuality). The parent should be able to find this out in advance not while watching it. Anyone really, really concerned can either tape and preview or not have the channel programmed in to their TV (most TVs allow you to add or deleat an entire channel). Nearly all censorship should take place at the family level.
If you feel Disney movies are too *dark* that's fine with me. I want to let my children watch them. A friend took her daughter over to a neighbors house to be babysat. She took The Little Mermaid with her. The neighbor said they don't allow that kind of movie because the little girl doesn't listen to her father. She should be able to prevent her children from watching there but I shouldn't have to follow HER rules at my house. If asked I will try to accomidate. For example, my BIL/SIL felt cartoons (especially Power Rangers) were to violent. We didn't turn them on for the couple of days they visited. My MIL bought DS a computer game for Christmas. My BIL chastised her for getting one that had a rating on it. I tried interrupting and pointing out that WE decide what DS can and can't play with but my BIL is so accustomed to making his rules that I was ignored and my MIL said she was sorry and would be more careful in the future.
I think any parent that is going to inflict their beliefs on others (ie whats allowed in schools) needs to actually preview the item first. Many of the people complaining about the Harry Potter books never even read the books. They were basing their judgement on a couple of sentences taken out of context.
One time I saw a Waltons show that dealt with this. The show takes place during the war and anything dealing with Germany is considered dangerous. The church had organized a book burning. John-Boy was the only person against it. His house and paper were being vandalized. He said you needed to read the item and look at things from the others viewpoint before condeming. When he got to the book burning he pulled a book from the pile ready to burn. He asked one of the women to begin reading it. She started in German. Some grumbling from the crowd and Pastor (John Ritter). Then he asked her to translate it ...In the beginning.... Horror dawned on the people as they realized at least one of those *dangerous* books was the bible.
I believe in as little government censorship as possible. At schools the censorship level should be the most stingent of beliefs. So, if people attending that school don't believe in homosexuality, it shouldn't be taught or books dealing with it in the library. The exception would be if the library is capable of allowing students to NOT check out certian books (code on library card). If Harry Potter offends some people it shouldn't be given to their children to read. In public libraries everything should be available to adults. Parent approval for children. Movie theaters should allow children in with the parents but be very strict about not allowing unsupervised children. Everything should be on TV but more explainationg about what is in the show should be available. For example, even if a show doesn't have swearing and violence it may have topics a family doesn't approve of (ie homosexuality). The parent should be able to find this out in advance not while watching it. Anyone really, really concerned can either tape and preview or not have the channel programmed in to their TV (most TVs allow you to add or deleat an entire channel). Nearly all censorship should take place at the family level.
If you feel Disney movies are too *dark* that's fine with me. I want to let my children watch them. A friend took her daughter over to a neighbors house to be babysat. She took The Little Mermaid with her. The neighbor said they don't allow that kind of movie because the little girl doesn't listen to her father. She should be able to prevent her children from watching there but I shouldn't have to follow HER rules at my house. If asked I will try to accomidate. For example, my BIL/SIL felt cartoons (especially Power Rangers) were to violent. We didn't turn them on for the couple of days they visited. My MIL bought DS a computer game for Christmas. My BIL chastised her for getting one that had a rating on it. I tried interrupting and pointing out that WE decide what DS can and can't play with but my BIL is so accustomed to making his rules that I was ignored and my MIL said she was sorry and would be more careful in the future.
I think any parent that is going to inflict their beliefs on others (ie whats allowed in schools) needs to actually preview the item first. Many of the people complaining about the Harry Potter books never even read the books. They were basing their judgement on a couple of sentences taken out of context.
One time I saw a Waltons show that dealt with this. The show takes place during the war and anything dealing with Germany is considered dangerous. The church had organized a book burning. John-Boy was the only person against it. His house and paper were being vandalized. He said you needed to read the item and look at things from the others viewpoint before condeming. When he got to the book burning he pulled a book from the pile ready to burn. He asked one of the women to begin reading it. She started in German. Some grumbling from the crowd and Pastor (John Ritter). Then he asked her to translate it ...In the beginning.... Horror dawned on the people as they realized at least one of those *dangerous* books was the bible.