Sometimes when we censor things, people wind up saying things they didn't mean to say. Watch this and see what I mean. Oh. Can I add I also feel the "sound byte" does the same thing? Pull a few words out of context and we have all kinds of crazy things going on. That doesn't mean that I necessarily want a free-for-all in which people can be verbally threatened and pornography is blatantly visible in the checkout line next to the candy. But... you know. I had real reservations about including this video because it is NOT lovely, pure, and of good report... the things that God commands us to "think about." But it's important, I think, to note that in most TV shows, etc., when a word is "censored," you know EXACTLY what the word really is. The reason takeoffs like this on YouTube are so popular is that eventually, your mind will FILL IN THE BAD WORD in place of the beep. It's almost like we're trained to think of certain words depending on where the beep is placed. If I were to say "What a (beep)ing beep," you would automatically make up something really bad in your head now, wouldn't you? So... what's the point of censoring it? Either it's speech that is reasonably edifying and important despite a few bad words, or it ought to be scrapped entirely. Sure, warn people bad language is coming up. But what's the point of beeping out words...? What do you think...?
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Look Out, Dad!!
My father is the purple dot above the blue weather station. He's juuust outside Milton's evacuation zone. Well! My brother and I jus...
I agree with much of what you say, and am against most types of censorship. However, the example you give here is simply because of politeness (public censorship for reasons of decency, as opposed to censorship of ideas). I don't appreciate the movies where I am subjected to a stream of four-letter words, and I actually appreciate the TV programs that bleep them out. Another reason I think it's important is that even though we know what they are, it sends the message (especially to impressionable youth and teenagers) that this vocabulary is not acceptable in common use. If you saw programs from England, you would see that those words are not bleeped out, and I find it offensive.
ReplyDeleteAnother example of the same thing is here in the Middle East I used to think it was SO hypocritical that the country I live in does not permit country nationals to drink alcohol outside in a streetside cafe, yet permits foreigners (or foreign-looking people) to do so. I later found out, as it was explained to me by a Muslim woman attorney, that it is because it offends the sensibilities of Muslims more to see other Muslims (or Muslim-appearing people) drinking alcohol than it does to see non-Muslims (or non-Muslim appearing people) drinking it. Muslims are allowed to drink alcohol here, but it must be done indoors, inside the establishment, even if there is an outdoor area to the establishment.
Eileen
Dedicated Elementary Teacher Overseas, in the Middle East
elementaryteacher.wordpress.com
Well, and I wouldn't WANT a stream of profanity in my face, either. Politeness is a good reason, though I think it's really a way to get away with saying a lot of things you shouldn't because you've censored yourself.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of Muslims drinking only indoors is an interesting one, though I don't think I'd want to be mandated into politeness by law. But seeing ladies puking into the gutter while wearing the hijab wouldn't speak well for Islam, either, I grant you.