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Censorship has been an ongoing argument since this country began, but why? What makes people want to taboo things and restrict what others say and make others believe that it is wrong? For years the government has censored ideas from the public to make sure society is “moral” and “humane” but by whose definition of this? Why should one person’s idea of humane or moral be forced on everyone? Should anyone really be able to decide what is “right” or “wrong?” and if so, how do they determine this? Why is one person’s opinion more important than someone else’s?
Censorship has been an ongoing argument since this country began, but why? What makes people want to taboo things and restrict what others say and make others believe that it is wrong? For years the government has censored ideas from the public to make sure society is “moral” and “humane” but by whose definition of this? Why should one person’s idea of humane or moral be forced on everyone? Should anyone really be able to decide what is “right” or “wrong?” and if so, how do they determine this? Why is one person’s opinion more important than someone else’s?10
“If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.” John Stuart Mill.
“If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.” John Stuart Mill.11
Who has the right to say that you cannot hear out the thoughts and ideas of someone else? What is the harm in viewing certain things? If you do not want your children to see or hear certain things in the media, then that is your choice to make. But it is selfish for one person to say that everyone else shouldn’t be able to view it just because they want to make sure their kids do not see it.
Who has the right to say that you cannot hear out the thoughts and ideas of someone else? What is the harm in viewing certain things? If you do not want your children to see or hear certain things in the media, then that is your choice to make. But it is selfish for one person to say that everyone else shouldn’t be able to view it just because they want to make sure their kids do not see it.12
Some say that certain things in the media are “harmful” especially to the minds of the innocent and that it can result in violent acts in children as they grow older. But when has the media ever inspired someone to commit an act of violence? And in my opinion if they use the media as an excuse, it is simply a scapegoat, people who commit crimes are disturbed to begin with, it wouldn’t develop from seeing someone get shot on TV, do you realize how bad the crime rates would be if being exposed to a form of media transformed children into criminals? I’ve seen many cop shows, and various action movies, does that make me want to go out and shoot people just for fun? Well, no. You see my point? It isn’t the media, it is the person.
Some say that certain things in the media are “harmful” especially to the minds of the innocent and that it can result in violent acts in children as they grow older. But when has the media ever inspired someone to commit an act of violence? And in my opinion if they use the media as an excuse, it is simply a scapegoat, people who commit crimes are disturbed to begin with, it wouldn’t develop from seeing someone get shot on TV, do you realize how bad the crime rates would be if being exposed to a form of media transformed children into criminals? I’ve seen many cop shows, and various action movies, does that make me want to go out and shoot people just for fun? Well, no. You see my point? It isn’t the media, it is the person.13
Many religious people argue that many things in the media are blasphemy, and that it offends them and the media is trying to persuade certain religious ideas or beliefs. That is not true. For one, if you are in good faith and are devoted in your beliefs then nothing could turn you away from that, what is the harm in it if it doesn’t make you, yourself turn away from your beliefs? And if it does make other people then that is their decision to make. You have no right to press your religious beliefs on anyone; everyone has the right to choose their religion whether they are inspired by something they view on TV or not.
Many religious people argue that many things in the media are blasphemy, and that it offends them and the media is trying to persuade certain religious ideas or beliefs. That is not true. For one, if you are in good faith and are devoted in your beliefs then nothing could turn you away from that, what is the harm in it if it doesn’t make you, yourself turn away from your beliefs? And if it does make other people then that is their decision to make. You have no right to press your religious beliefs on anyone; everyone has the right to choose their religion whether they are inspired by something they view on TV or not.14
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Another argument would be that the media can be over sexual. Like I have stated many times before it is your choice what you view, no one is making you watch porn, and if you are uncomfortable with sex scenes stray away from R rated movies. But sex is a natural act; it is a part of nature. You were created by sex, your parents were created by sex and yes even your next door neighbor was created by sex. If you are afraid that your children will start wanting to participate in sexual acts then educate them about it, don’t make them think that it is wrong and horrible and disgusting just because you don’t want them to do it. All you have to do is talk to them about it. Knowledge is power; don’t shield your children just because you are afraid that it will taint them.
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Another argument would be that the media can be over sexual. Like I have stated many times before it is your choice what you view, no one is making you watch porn, and if you are uncomfortable with sex scenes stray away from R rated movies. But sex is a natural act; it is a part of nature. You were created by sex, your parents were created by sex and yes even your next door neighbor was created by sex. If you are afraid that your children will start wanting to participate in sexual acts then educate them about it, don’t make them think that it is wrong and horrible and disgusting just because you don’t want them to do it. All you have to do is talk to them about it. Knowledge is power; don’t shield your children just because you are afraid that it will taint them.15
Something else that is always blamed for criminal acts in children is violent video games, or fictional role playing games. As I said before, the child must have been mentally unstable from the get go. The video game did not hypnotize the kid and tell him to go killing people, and if you are involved in a role playing game of any kind you should be mentally stable enough to distinguish an apparent difference in fiction and the real world.
Something else that is always blamed for criminal acts in children is violent video games, or fictional role playing games. As I said before, the child must have been mentally unstable from the get go. The video game did not hypnotize the kid and tell him to go killing people, and if you are involved in a role playing game of any kind you should be mentally stable enough to distinguish an apparent difference in fiction and the real world.16
My example of this is The Vampire Klan killings from Kentucky, if you haven’t heard of this, there were a group of teenagers who were involved in a Vampire role playing game to the point where they actually believed that they were all vampires; eventually the leader of the group, Roderick Ferrell, killed two people and actually digested their blood, which proves to me that it was not the actual game itself that made him kill, he was mentally unstable, like Dan Shaurette says, “My point here is that Rod Ferrell, now 24, is on death row for the murders he committed. Whether he is a vampire or not, he is a psychopath pure and simple.”
My example of this is The Vampire Klan killings from Kentucky, if you haven’t heard of this, there were a group of teenagers who were involved in a Vampire role playing game to the point where they actually believed that they were all vampires; eventually the leader of the group, Roderick Ferrell, killed two people and actually digested their blood, which proves to me that it was not the actual game itself that made him kill, he was mentally unstable, like Dan Shaurette says, “My point here is that Rod Ferrell, now 24, is on death row for the murders he committed. Whether he is a vampire or not, he is a psychopath pure and simple.”17
Ferrell was in fact already diagnosed with a mental illness and was seeing a psychiatrist on a regular basis.
Ferrell was in fact already diagnosed with a mental illness and was seeing a psychiatrist on a regular basis.18
Although I am against censorship, I do understand that you have the right to withhold certain things in your household, and that is up to you. And if you find certain things inappropriate, then that is completely your opinion and therefore you have the right to determine whether it enters your home or not, after all if you have children the way you raise them is your choice and no one can tell you to expose them to anything without your consent. This is also enforced in schools. I remember every time I was in a class that had to do research on the computer, we would receive a permission form to take home and get signed to make sure it was ok with our parents if we had access to the internet. I personally agree with that, and know if I were a parent I would like to be informed of everything my child was involved with at school just in case I did not approve. I also think censorship is needed in situations where you are protecting a victim, and if you are involved in some sort of witness protection, but to just block certain things from all of the public because someone says that it is wrong is absurd.
Although I am against censorship, I do understand that you have the right to withhold certain things in your household, and that is up to you. And if you find certain things inappropriate, then that is completely your opinion and therefore you have the right to determine whether it enters your home or not, after all if you have children the way you raise them is your choice and no one can tell you to expose them to anything without your consent. This is also enforced in schools. I remember every time I was in a class that had to do research on the computer, we would receive a permission form to take home and get signed to make sure it was ok with our parents if we had access to the internet. I personally agree with that, and know if I were a parent I would like to be informed of everything my child was involved with at school just in case I did not approve. I also think censorship is needed in situations where you are protecting a victim, and if you are involved in some sort of witness protection, but to just block certain things from all of the public because someone says that it is wrong is absurd.19
Some say that censorship is necessary to control and maintain a humane society, but I believe otherwise. I believe that censorship doesn’t benefit our society and that by stifling the thoughts and ideas of others out of fear will only harm us in the end. And just because you may not agree with something someone says, that doesn’t mean you have the right to tell them they cannot say it. Like Voltaire states, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Some say that censorship is necessary to control and maintain a humane society, but I believe otherwise. I believe that censorship doesn’t benefit our society and that by stifling the thoughts and ideas of others out of fear will only harm us in the end. And just because you may not agree with something someone says, that doesn’t mean you have the right to tell them they cannot say it. Like Voltaire states, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”20
But as for a solution for this matter, I think a compromise would have to be made in order for this problem to be resolved, because there will always be violent and or explicit things that go on in the media, and in the world itself, but it is your choice what you or your children view and bring into your own home. Just like I’ve argued earlier that someone cannot keep you from speaking your opinion, or expressing yourself. You cannot in turn force someone to listen either. Nothing you see or hear should be against your will.
But as for a solution for this matter, I think a compromise would have to be made in order for this problem to be resolved, because there will always be violent and or explicit things that go on in the media, and in the world itself, but it is your choice what you or your children view and bring into your own home. Just like I’ve argued earlier that someone cannot keep you from speaking your opinion, or expressing yourself. You cannot in turn force someone to listen either. Nothing you see or hear should be against your will.21
So in conclusion, I believe that censorship is wrong, but I think that everyone has free will and should use it. If you don’t want to watch violent movies, don’t. But I don’t think that things should be censored simply because someone does not like it. America is a democracy, we have our rights and we should be allowed to exercise those rights, whether one person agrees or not.
So in conclusion, I believe that censorship is wrong, but I think that everyone has free will and should use it. If you don’t want to watch violent movies, don’t. But I don’t think that things should be censored simply because someone does not like it. America is a democracy, we have our rights and we should be allowed to exercise those rights, whether one person agrees or not.
My nephew learned bad words from video games, but it was his mom who let him play the game. So, i agree that if you don’t want your child to see things you don’t want them to see then you should prevent them from seeing them yourselves.
I like it because i do believe that every individual has the right to watch what they choice without the government censoring it. however i don’t understand the question after the quote