http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWy3kMCdJoM
CENSORSHIP
Censorship is the control of information and ideas in a society. Both democratic and nondemocratic countries use it. With the explosion of communication technology, it has become allpervasive. There is a dispute as to whether censorship is good or bad.
Pros of Censorship
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Censorship of pornographic material prevents the corrupting of the
children.
Religious conflicts are avoided by the censorship of material deemed
insulting or offensive to a particular religious community.
Censorship is necessary to preserve the secrets of a nation.
Censorship is useful in hiding sensitive military information, which
could be used by an enemy state.
Scenes of people consuming alcohol or smoking influence people to
copy them. Hence censoring such scenes serves a useful purpose.
People may copy dangerous stunts shown on TV or movies.
Censorship proves necessary here.
Books may be used to portray wrong information about individuals or
groups that could incite violence against them. Censorship would
definitely prove helpful here.
It can be used to prevent politically motivated propaganda.
It protects the privacy of people.
Plagiarism is prevented.
Abusive scenes in movies may offend some people. Censorship
prevents that.
It protects indigenous cultures from the bad influence of foreign
cultures.
It prevents the public display of disrespect to any particular individual
or community.
It prevents companies from spreading inaccurate or grossly
exaggerated claims about their products.
It promotes political correctness.
Terrorists are prevented from learning about dangerous technology
like the atom bomb.
Children are prevented from learning things that could harm them
and others.
It prevents the ill effects of globalization affecting societies.
It shields the morals of society.
It restrains vulgarity and obscenity.
The surfeit of violence in movies and TV is restricted by it.
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It prevents violence by stopping the broadcast of events, which might
trigger it.
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If sex-related topics are completely censored it becomes difficult to
teach children and teenagers about the dangers of HIV/AIDS.
Dictators and dictatorship use it to promote a flattering image of
themselves and for removing any information that is negative to
them.
Freedom of speech is compromised.
Religious fundamentalists like the Taliban use them to coerce the
population.
It encroaches upon the freedom of the press.
It prevents the free flow of ideas.
It may intrude on the privacy of a person.
Withholding of information only leads to ignorance in the society.
Censoring of information may lead to a wrong image perceived by the
public.
It is generally associated with dictatorship.
Censorship in books, plays and movies may compromise their
entertainment value.
Censorship has been misused in the past.
It is a force against globalization.
It works against creativity.
If you hide something from people they will become extra curious
about it.
It has no place in a truly democratic society.
It gives rise to and hides human rights abuses.
It is used to control people.
There can be different standards of morals among different societies
quite different from the imposed ones by the censorship.
It may be used to block legitimate criticism.
Governments should not control people. It should be the other way
around.
Individuals have different tastes.
It stifles the opposition, broadcasting only a particular point of view.
People have a right to know.
Cons of Censorship
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Used properly, censorship serves as a valuable tool. However, it can also be easily misused.
Governments and other regulatory institutions must learn to use it judiciously.
The following is an article that talks about the pros and cons
of censorship. The author lists both sides of the censorship
argument, but ultimately believes that we should live in a
society free of censorship.
A Look at the Pros and Cons of Censorship
Aug 4, 2010 Brenna Coleman
What is Censorship Good For? - Mr. Enjoy
Free speech vs. censorship - what are the pros and cons of censoring the media and the public?
What are the terms of the censorship debate?
Can censorship be justified or should the voice of the media and freedom of expression have free
reign? What is the point of religious, corporate, and government censorship? Does anyone
benefit from the censoring of information? Does society as a whole benefit in any way? The pros
and cons of censorship deserve examining to decipher both the role of free speech in society and
the role of different types of censorship.
The Pros of Censorship
Censorship is on the internet, in the news, on the ingredient listing of food products. Why? What
purpose does it have in society today? Why censor the media and limit freedom of expression?
At first glance it may seem that the censorship debate is black and white — it is wrong to censor
information and limit free speech, right? There are reasons that governments, companies, and
groups of people have practiced censorship. What are they?
Censorship by the government has been justified as a means of protection of both the state and
the people within it. This protection is not so much about physical preservation, but a force or
guiding hand in the morals and values of the nation as a whole. According to the Beacon for
Freedom of Expression project, in ancient cultures censorship was accepted as a way to regulate
morals and the politics of the people. While there is not a focus on individual rights, it is a focus
on the well-being of the whole, of the nation.
For example, in America public radio stations cannot legally play anything they want —
obscenities and profanities are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. This is to
protect the sensibilities of the whole at the sacrifice of the free expression of the individual. As
another example, corporate news stations in the United States practice self-censorship; although
there are hundreds, if not thousands of relevant news stories nationally and internationally, only a
select few topics are covered by all of the major news stations. Does this not protect and stabilize
the moral compass of the nation?
Corporations may censor information as a means of self-preservation. Trade secrets are legally
kept from the public and other companies in order for the business to maintain legitimacy as a
unique entity. For example, if a restaurant makes the best tomato soup in the world, why would
customers go to the original restaurant if they could make the soup at home or if they could
purchase it at another location?
The Cons of Censorship
If the censoring of information acts as a form of protection, then it should exist without criticism,
right? While there are legitimate pros of censorship, the cons are just as important, if not more
so:
Read on
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Individuals are not able to express themselves freely
The press is not free to report what it believes to be important
The spread and sharing of information is stifled
Biases and homogeneous ideas prevail
All of these problems are the characteristics of a repressed society. Without the freedom for
expression and creativity, new ideas, methods, technological innovations, and art may not
happen. The more censorship in society the less creation by individuals.
Free Speech vs. Censorship
Just as the justification of censorship is more important for the group than the individual, the
negative impact of censorship is oppressive for the individual, but catastrophic for the whole.
Without free speech an individual may not be able to publish what they want, but the group loses
access to sources of information and is encouraged to follow a singular line of thinking rather
than to create, question, and inquire.
This is not only uncomfortable, it is dangerous. If people do not have the ability to seek as much
information as they want, and if new creative works are not encouraged then society as a whole
cannot evolve, or thrive. While there are pros of censorship and reasonable justifications, the
lack of a debate may be the first step backwards to a society that embraces the dictates of the
state, the corporation, and the institution rather than the inquiring, free-thinking mind of the
individual.
References
Beacon for Freedom of Expression
Censorship, Free Speech on the Internet
Search the net and find articles that have opposing views of censorship. While reading
these articles, try to develop your own thoughts and views of censorship. Answer the
following question;
Do you believe in censorship?
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Paper should be ¾ of a page in length
List 3 different articles, with their links, that you have read on censorship
Use your own thoughts and ideas on the topic of censorship
Talk about your pros and cons
Have a conclusion
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Save as Assignment 4
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Use 2 classes to complete