Censorship Oddities?

[Cyberguy64]

The big problem I see whenever this argument pops up is that it's hard to reach the golden median between the extremes of "Be as offensive as you want and screw everyone who's put off by it!" which isn't a cool attitude, and "Keep everything locked away and censored because it might trigger someone!" which is just as bad.

[Koh]

I totally think there's a perfect way to do it. Every program has a thing about it in its info that lists what it contains.

Family Guy
Description

Contains
-Strong language
-Racial Jokes
-etc.

And then there'd be no need for censors. You see something you don't like in the list, you don't watch it, easy. If you flip to it without having checked the info, that'd be your fault for not informing yourself by pressing info on it first, not the producers for simply having it.

[recme]

the thing is, not everybody checks the info tab. some people just like going through channels and searching for what they like, until they finally find it. im pretty sure most people are not going to check the info tab whenever they see a new show that catches their eye.

[Koh]

Then like I said, that would be their fault for not using their resources, not the producers. Instead of relying on someone else to censor stuff you don't want to see, instead, you take care of that yourself by simply not partaking in it =x.

[TomGuycott]

Then like I said, that would be their fault for not using their resources, not the producers.  Instead of relying on someone else to censor stuff you don't want to see, instead, you take care of that yourself by simply not partaking in it =x.

Well, by that logic, if someone strips naked in the center of the mall, anyone not expecting it and coming upon it from around the corner is at fault for "partaking" in it.


Don't get me wrong, there's a big difference between broadcast television and actually being somewhere in a mall, but where the similarities lie is that it is more or less intended for public consumption. The idea is that you want to avoid controversial incidents by censoring what you know is going to cause problems.


Lastly, out of what I usually end up watching for entertainment purposes, censorship really doesn't come into play that much. I don't really understand what it is that you are mentioning being censored that is so strange, and I can't really get behind your stance about it simply because it doesn't effect me in any way.

[puggsoy]

Censorship is sometimes useful in the case that it allows a range of audiences to watch the same show. For example, in Bob's Burgers there's an episode where Linda and the kids pull the finger. However, they did it in a manner that their hands are just outside of the shot. This means that it's safe for children who don't actually know what the gesture is to watch it, while still getting the point. And for people who do know the gesture, it doesn't take anything away from the show. (Bob's Burgers is an arguable case since it has some references that might be inappropriate for kids, but it's just an example.)

And personally, in shows where characters are occasionally nude (or partly nude), for instance The Simpsons, I prefer censorship. I personally don't like seeing unnecessary nudity, especially with friends and family where it makes the atmosphere kinda awkward (at least for me). The humour and point of the occurrence is still there, but I don't have to see Marge's breasts or Bart's genitals to laugh about it, and I'm much more comfortable if I don't.

[E-Man]

While I'm mixed about the whole idea of censorship, my two cents is that I actually find it a lot more clever if they take adult themes and "disguise" (and occasionally parody) them for younger audiences. Much like Puggsoy touched upon, it allows for adults to get the reference, while kids just assume it's a harmless joke.

[Koh]

I just can't get behind defending the lazy, lol. If they're too lazy to just press one button and see a small grocery list of what the show contains, to protect theirself from being offended, why should they have our sympathy? It'd literally take like 1 minute tops to see that list, if it were a thing. Then no one has to deal with censors, and people can also watch things they'd know they'd like.

Parental blocks would be updated to have the ability to block shows, that contain whatever certain things that can appear in those lists, that the parents don't want their kids seeing. So also, the responsibility of parenting kids falls back on the....parents, and not the producers.

[Roxas358]

The thing is, you have plenty of sources where you can go and watch your shows without censorship. Like how dolfman got the Simsons on DVD and now he can go watch uncensored Simsons all he wants. But if someone like me wanted to watch something like Game of Thrones the only way I can watch it without the nude scenes for example would be if I can find a channel where they censor those scenes. It makes it so more people can watch great shows without having to be bothered with stuff they would rather not see. So to me censorship is a good thing even if sometimes things are ridiculous (like Blue Popo ).

[Kosheh]

But if someone like me wanted to watch something like Game of Thrones the only way I can watch it without the nude scenes for example would be if I can find a channel where they censor those scenes.

I hate to be that guy, but that's a lousy example, lol. Game of Thrones is exclusive to HBO, and if you were to attempt to stream it you'd have to do so via HBO Go - it's actually been kind of a hotbed for debate in streaming, actually - not because of the content, but because of licensing it and how defensive HBO is of the property.


You'd have to like, actually move somewhere that'll (a) actually show it on television and (b) censor those scenes due to a stringent censorship policy. I'm pretty sure if this was actually a thing and you moved to said area, they'd look at you like you had three heads and wondered why you passed up on watching it uncensored due to their absurd censorship policies.

---

And personally, in shows where characters are occasionally nude (or partly nude), for instance The Simpsons, I prefer censorship. I personally don't like seeing unnecessary nudity, especially with friends and family where it makes the atmosphere kinda awkward (at least for me).

So one time I watched Orange is the New Black with my mom.
Good show, but I honestly wished I didn't watch it in her company.

[my mom's pretty cool about these things but there's just SOMETHING about watching lesbian prison sex in front of your mother that's a wee bit awkward]

---

Also, uhm, to add to this, this is kind of a question directed directly to dolphman (or Lemonray, whoever wants to pick it up first)
Australia has some really weird TV censorship issues as you guys have already pointed out.

However, I usually stream music from triple J almost daily - however, it seems like things are almost the opposite. From my understanding, it streams online and is also syndicated, and can be tuned into on a plain ol' FM radio.
(for everyone else, "triple J" is government-funded, nationally-broadcasted radio network in Australia with a focus on alternative music, with an audience between 18 and 24. it's a really good station!)

Anyway - the music they play is never censored. Ever. The DJ just quickly states "heads up - mature language in this one!" and plays it, without a hitch, the word "fuck" just leaving the speakers several times like it's nothing. Coming from the states, where the word "sexy" is censored on FM stations here...

how?

[Dolphman]

Yeah some Australian programs are weird with censorship. I've seen kid's shows growing up and one, The Ferals, had the word "hell" in it.
Probably because some profanity here aren't considered swear words and we're not big on Christianity compared to America.

Japan has one censorship over four fingered hands, which has to do with the number of death and especially how the Yakuza punish people.
Some Pokemon after Gold and Silver were given either five or three digits, Mr. Mime, Haunter, and Charmander being some examples.
I know they get American cartoons. But in licensed products by the Japanese, characters like Master Splinter were drawn with an extra finger.

[psychospacecow]

Can this gif be the mascot of this thread?

[Helmo]

You guys want to talk about offensive? Watch the 4kids dub of One Piece, that's the most offensive thing I've ever seen. 

They skipped so many arcs that they had to make a new story line, they erased blood (even when it was a plot point), They redrew real guns as water guns... Oh yeah and they made Sanji's cigarettes a lollipop. There is so much more I can't list them all...


You should not be allowed to do this to someone's art. These kinds of changes should be illegal .

The only time I've ever seen an example of censorship that I thought was ok was Bravely Default. I actually thought the censored outfits looked more stylish than the originals where they covered almost nothing. That and they made them older so it's less creepy.

tl;dr If you don't like something just change the channel/station/etc. and let everybody else enjoy their content the way it's meant to be.

[Kosheh]

You guys want to talk about offensive? Watch the 4kids dub of One Piece, that's the most offensive thing I've ever seen. 

They skipped so many arcs that they had to make a new story line, they erased blood (even when it was a plot point), They redrew real guns as water guns... Oh yeah and they made Sanji's cigarettes a lollipop. There is so much more I can't list them all...

oh, yeah I remember that

[Lemonray]

Even poor Mr. Popo isn't safe.