Political correctness is defined as "the avoidance of forms of expression or action that are perceived to exclude, marginalize, or insult certain groups of people."
What examples of censorship can you think of that really restrict our rights to express ourselves?
I think we shouldn't censor things as much as we do. Because or censoring, people can not truly express themselves in the way they may want. If everything is censored, how can we express ourselves if almost everything we say or think is "wrong"?
ReplyDeleteI think that things such as the media restrict our rights in a way. If we really didn't care what people said or thought of our ideas and opinions we wouldn't refrain from saying or posting certain things for the public to see. We have become afraid to say what we wanted because it can sometimes create issues if someone else disagrees with our opinion.
ReplyDeleteI think censoring is taking a part in destroying our freedom to think how we want to think. Personally, I think censorship can also be a form of lying - of denying what is really going on, or even denying that awful things are going on in our world. The more we censor, the more we deny, the less action we take to change things. Censorship can lead to ignorance, which can have major consequences. Instead of censoring everything, I think we should be teaching our children about the world, and about free thought, and about how some things are bad, but they happen. Instead we leave them with little to no knowledge and then we wonder why they do bad things. I particularly dislike when books are banned, or censored. I've found that all the banned books I have read have taught me the most about life.
ReplyDeleteIn today's world, censoring is abused and used WAY TO MUCH !!! We are not able to express our true selves because of censorship. The right, given to us by our founding fathers is being restricted tremendously due to the fact that everything nowadays "offends" everyone. People need to stop judging and being so easily influenced and get new topics to discuss because it is quite ridiculous how everything offends people so easily.
ReplyDeleteI don't think censorship should be used too often because freedom of speech is what our whole country was built on. I don't think the original message or thought of a person should be altered. Not all forms of censorship are bad though. TV shows and radio shows edit out explicit words not to repress the artist, they censor their words because they are "unacceptable" to say on TV or the radio. It really doesn't make a big deal if the words are there or not. Now we don't care what songs or shows say, but think to when we have children of our own. Do we want them to learn these words so early and begin using them? We know what people are saying when they bleep something out, this censorship is for the young children. It doesn't change anyone's original point or message, it just eliminates profanities. Some versions of censorship aren't that bad.
ReplyDeleteTo me censorship is the destruction of our natural freedom as people with intelligence. Our diversity in race, intelligence, and opinion are important, otherwise we would all be the same. Obviously there are some things that are rude or too harsh but that doesn't that we should jump on every word or thought that another person or group of people have just because it contradicts our opinion. At some point every child is going to have to grow up and protecting them from every unconventional ideal or opinion is only going to be a disservice to them in the long run. Once again the phrase "everything in moderation" comes in handy. We should let others say what they want because that's who they are and although some might go over the line, it is mostly about common sense and knowing when to use it.
ReplyDeleteCensorship is the act of repressing ideas, impulses and feeling and preventing them from entering consciousness in their original, undisguised form. An example of censorship in our world is the media. When celebrities speak their mind or let the media know of their opinion, the media just jump all over them. Then they make the celebrity go to rehab to "cure them." Then they come back and apology and act like they are a new person. The censorship here does not let the celebrity be who they really are. They are making them sound so perfect, yet they have no say in anything anymore. They are too worried on what people might think so they do not give crucial opinions that could actually ruin their career.
ReplyDeleteTo me, censorship seems to prevent people from expressing their own personal opinions. In a way it opposes our right, that is freedom of speech. If we aren't allowed to express the way we feel because it may be "offensive" to some people, then it seems as if we really DON'T have freedom of speech. However, censorship for some things that may be inappropriate for younger children is understandable, but to a certain extent. Sometimes parents and adults can take censorship too far because they are afraid of their children getting wrong ideas or fantasies, so instead of censoring that material, they should just pay more attention to their children and tell them to be sure that they don't see or participate in that program. But of course to them it is easier to just get rid of the program all together. (It's not as much work.)
ReplyDeleteHonestly. censoring anything that is true is harmful to our free thought. If a person feels a certain way, he or she should be able to express that feeling, not bottle it up because he or she is scared be criticized by the public. It's not helping anyone, because all the government is doing is hiding the real facts. Everything restricts our rights to express ourselves. For example, if you feel a certain way, you have to basically get society's approval for that feeling. It's a shame.
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with censoring things, we are all entitled to the freedom of speech and to me, this takes that away from us. I feel that if this continues eventually we will have absolutely no freedom of speech and we will be controlled. I think that everyone has opinions and everyone should be able to state these opinions, out loud, freely. If something offends someone, such as a book or comment by someone, I believe people should simply ignore it. Such as the Barbie dolls, I do not believe that they should have been taken down from sale, just because it offends some people does not mean it offends everyone.
ReplyDeleteCensorship should be not be such a focus. It puts down free thought and opinion. There is a book by Colleen Hoover called "Point of Retreat". There is a scene where an 11 year old girl cusses in front of adults and the adults are just shocked. The little girl explains that its just they are just words and nothing more. We see them negatively because we associate them with a negative meaning. She went on to say how anything to a bad word. She used the example butterfly, and said if people said butterfly in a derogative manner it would become a bad word too and have to be bad. She ended her explanation by saying if we all just didn't censor ourselves that we would become immune to negativity.
ReplyDeleteCensoring should never take place in my opinion. Yes there are some things that people shouldn't see, such as young children being exposed to inappropriate things, but eventually they will be exposed to it! That's just life! Censoring sugar-coats many things and also doesn't tell every bit of information. It may tell you only what it wants you to know, and doesn't really let the mind wander. Which reminds me of some of Bradbury's writings. Every one should be able to have a mind of there own and think what they want about what ever they want (free country free mind!).
ReplyDeleteWhen you repress a idea you essentially are repressing the person who "wrote the idea."People these days have gone censor crazy. In other words now that they have power they are going to go nuts with it. They are censoring stuff that doesn't need to be. Before we know it there will be no more violence and no more comedy or anything else we enjoy. Think about celebrities they say one politically incorrect thing and the entire world freaks out. I will admit there is some stuff that should be censored, i.e. pregnant barbie, but stuff like Disney movies that are banned forever for no big reason is ridiculous!
ReplyDeleteCensoring may come in handy when young children should not be seeing our hearing something that is inappropriate. However, I believe that censorship is used way to much. Like others said, it is taking away our freedom of speech and freedom as a whole. Some stuff people say may not be liked by the government but sooner or later, you as a person, is going to come along the topic and you are going to have to face it even if you don't like it.
ReplyDeleteCensorship can mean to examine something (a book, movie, etc.) officially, and suppress (forcibly come to an end) unacceptable parts of it. To a certain extent, censorship is totally necessary, when things get out of hand or vulgar. It is not right to censor actions or words so that they become politically correct, because in reality how do we know what type of behavior is seen as seeking to minimize social offense towards other groups? Some people may take it too harshly while others will not care. Censorship may be harmful to the free of thought by making them feel oppressed, after having being subsequently censored. At Bishop Noll, and possibly other schools, they really restrict our rights to express ourselves through the uniforms we have to wear. This may harm students, by making them lose their identity, but may help others to fit in. Censorship can be both harmful and helpful simultaneously.
ReplyDeleteCensorship is used way too much. To me I really don't care if something is censored or not. If a parent does not want their child watching something, then clearly they need to watch their child. In one way or another everyone is going to get offended, so it really does not matter unless it is full out trying to make a group or one person upset. What I want to know is when they draw the line of freedom of speech and bullying. Then apparently if you say something about someone it is against the law and you have to pay. The sad thing about censorship is that some people don't even know about the Holocaust yet they have a twitter. Will one day people censor what happened years ago to "protect" their children from these horrific facts? I feel as censorship is really stupid, if a parent does not want a child to see it, then do not show it to them.
ReplyDeleteI think it's wrong to censor actions and words. We shouldn't have to watch what we say because in society it isn't politically correct. We have the right to say and do what we want. Our country is all about freedom, so we should have the freedom to express whatever we want to do and say. I feel that we shouldn't try to censor things to make them acceptable to society. If we keep censoring then it will progressively get worse and eventually we will have restrictions on everything we do.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I believe it is wrong to censor words and actions in our society today. We are created to all believe differently and I believe censoring something is affecting your train of thought. We are all born with free will to do what we please, and say what we please. Yes, things can have an impact on your life weather it is good or bad, but that should not mean we have to censor them. Most things aren't neccsarily "illegal" but are frowned upon in our country. We as people need to be open to the realities of life and prepare children and other people what can happen. If kids don't get to experience somethings than they will never learn. My personal opinion on life is that you live and you learn. Society needs to be accepting of what is going on in the world and the reality of life today.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think that its not right to censor actions or words to become politically correct. I think that their is situations where its fine to censor things that that are inappropriate for children but if we continue to censor things, soon enough we won't have any freedom of speech. I believe that each individual should be allowed to think and say whatever they desire.
ReplyDeleteI think it is right to censor things, like bad/derogative words, because I would not like swear words to be thrown out every 5 seconds. I know all about freedom of speech, but once it gets to the point when it makes a person feel uncomfortable it should stop. I also would not want to see little kids saying bad/derogative things. I think we ARE helping people by censoring things, especially for a younger audience. I get it if a kid gets mad and says a swear i understand, but a kid shouldn't even swear. They should be using a kid vocabulary Not an adolescence/ adult one. I don't think censorship, right now, is harmful, but once it gets to the point when a person speaks out against something ( not using vulgar terms) and that does get censored I think that is wrong. I don't think its harmful to express ourselves if we aren't taking it to the extreme, because you can express yourself in many safe ways.
ReplyDeleteI think it is not right to censor things because we were given the first amendment by or founders so why should we have the right to say and do as we please without persecution. People have the right to say anything we want even if we are in a way hurting someone's feeling. I think the public has the right to what the government censors even if it is bad. The government blackening out a piece of paper.
ReplyDeleteI think there's a difference between political correctness and structural oppression. Meaning throughout history if a group of people have been constantly put down in media and in politics (Which still happens today), It is easy to say that your "free thought" is being taken away if your're the saying something offensive. But what if it's not your free thought? What if that thought has already been instilled and in some cases internalized. Where did that thought come from? Why do you think that way? Is it really free thought or have you been conditioned to a certain mentality? The government wants you to believe that you have free thought but in reality they have already instilled what they want you to think. Now if we really wanted to promote free thought we should actually educate our people on controversial subjects. We should learn about WHY certain things may be offensive to certain people and cultures.
ReplyDeleteI think to a certain extent it is alright to use censorship. I think it depends on what the problem is that they are censoring. If it is blocking out nudity or language in a film, then I am alright with it, but I also think it is wrong to try to change the way of thinking. If we have freedom of speech, then how come people can't speak their mind without others saying they are wrong and try to put them in a home to help change their mind? That's way too extreme on censoring. The censoring I can think of is when Amanda Bynes said something bad about another celebrating and the press was bothering her, posting it everywhere on the internet so everyone can see. Soon, Amanda Bynes took down her tweet that she posted. People should have the right to speak their mind. We have voices to speak. Not to be controlled.
ReplyDeleteI think that its wrong to sensored things, everyone has the right to say what they want, its our first amendment, freedom of speech. I should be able to say whatever I want, whether it offends someone or not. Everyone has different views on things, and many of us disagree on things, but its just how life is. Everyone is going to hurt by what you say sooner or later, but no one agrees on everything. Although everyday things are sensored, those people are taking away our right to say what we want, eventually people are going to say what we can do, wear and go. Its not right, we need to fight against it before life becomes dull and lifeless, and everything we love is taken away from us.
ReplyDeleteI think it is wrong to censor things so that they become politically correct because everyone has the right to watch what ever they want, when ever they want and say what ever they want. Censoring things takes away what people enjoy to watch, people that complain about things should just block it from there kids or just ignore it and not make a big deal about it. We are not helping no one at all by censoring things whether its on T.V, radio, or advertisements people or kids are going to learn and experience things one day.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion censorship is right, although sometimes it is unnecessary. We live in a free country therefore we are able to speak our minds. Yes, we should be able to say what we want but you have to think about the younger people who listen and watch these things. Eventually they will learn but at the age that they are now they shouldn't know about such negativity. For an example, sex shouldn't be broadcasted on national television although some day they'll know about it. Although people should have the right to speak their minds, somethings may be disrespectful to other people.
ReplyDeleteCensoring actions and words is like having selective hearing, you only hear what you want to hear. By not censoring actions and words people may become offended, but they are becoming offended by what society really is. An example of censorship in today's society is rap songs. People can "bleep" out curse words in rap songs so children can not hear them, but eventually they will be exposed to these words and many other things in society.
ReplyDeleteCensoring words or actions so that they are politically correct isn't right because this is America so we have the freedom of speech. So we shouldn't have to censor what we say. We are helping the people who are majorly complaining about it because they think their thinking is better than everybody else's. But for example people who complain about TV shows or music, especially parents they complain about it but they are the ones who are letting their children watch or listen to them. It is harmful to our free thought because if they censor TV shows or songs we can't have an opinion in whether its a good or bad show/song, because the people who are complaining are basically ruining it for someone else.
ReplyDeletecensoring words is like keeping our freedom of expression. We don't have the freedom to state our mind. It might not offend anyone at the moment, but sooner or later someone will get offended.Censoring TV shows and movies doesn't really help in any way, we still figure out what they mean. that's why I don't see any good reason in censoring things.
ReplyDeleteCensoring words or actions from the world is wrong. I think they're taking away our freedom of speech, thought, and expression. Taking away our freedom of speech is going against the rules for our country so how is that ok? If we keep censoring everything that is "wrong" soon we won't be able to think what we want at all. We'll be thinking what they want us too and that's taking away our freedom from being in this country, this county was made so we could be free. Parents complain about TV shows and songs and internet but that's only because they want to protect their children. Things shouldn't be censored because of that though, the parents should just enforce more rules in thier household until the child moves out of the house and makes their own decisions because that's how parenting works. Not taking away things from the world to never be seen again because that's just ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI believe censorship in music, is one of the worst forms, of censorship there is. Personally, because it violates our first amendment to freedom of speech. Censorship in music has been around forever. From the days of Elvis on the "Ed Sullivan Show", to the Beatles "Yesterday and Today" album, to heavy metal bands being banned, due to controversies over satanic messages. What i find saddening about music censorship, is that it limits the free thinking of many musicians, that might have different beliefs from the status quo. However, I wouldn't be surprised if a kid's parent complained about the messaging of certain songs. But parents shouldn't be complaining to the music industry or the musicians themselves. They should tell their children what they believe is right and wrong, as far as music goes.
ReplyDeleteCensorship should not be happening. Politically correctness doesn't happen everywhere, so censoring certain things that certain people do not agree with is not preparing people for the real world. If too much is censored, many important things will be forgotten in society, just because some people did not agree with making it public. Not having knowledge about a certain subject does not help a person in any way, so censorship is pointless. For example, children aren't going to hear cursing on television shows, but they can still hear it from adults or even their parents, also not learning about the Holocaust in school will not affect watching something about it on television or someone talking about it.
ReplyDeleteCensorship should not be happening in today's world. The censoring of music gets me mad as a teenager today. Music on the radio being "bleeped" out on EVERY music station shouldn't be allowed. Maybe they could allow it on some music stations but not all of them. When I want to listen to my favorite songs on the radio. I want to hear them the way the artist originally made it, NOT the way it is on the radio.
ReplyDeleteI think censorship is okay to a certain extent. People have their freedom of speech and should be able to say whatever they want. However, some stuff can be really offensive such as racist comments or inappropriate song lyrics. Censoring other people's actions and words, though, because you personally do not agree is wrong. That person has every much the right to say or do what they want as you do.
ReplyDeleteI think some forms of censorship are good. For example, the censorship of mature content to young audiences is fine. However, just because something offends you does not mean it deserves to be censored. Also, censorship is wrong when it starts to try to manipulate the way we think. At the end of the day someone is always going to be offended, but that doesn't mean we should change the way we think, speak, or act.
ReplyDeleteI think for some things to be censored because , some things are uncalled for. Censorship is wrong because, they think different ways like were not stupid. also i think they should change how characters act in some shows.
ReplyDeleteI think censorship is okay to a certain extent. People have the right of freedom of speech, as well as expressing themselves in there own type of way. However, they should limit some things for underaged children because younger kids cant watch everything. Or even when something offends someone else, you have to be appropriate when it comes to that too.
ReplyDeleteI think censorship is kind of good. Sometimes its not ok for like tv shows, for example Family Guy, South Park etc.If people don't want their kids to watch it they should block it from the Tv. Sometimes it can offend people but they shouldn't take it seriously because it is television.
ReplyDeletecensorship is ok until people start using it to a certain extent and you wont be able to express yourself so you have to circum to the normality of your society,Which is WRONG! i think censorship should only be use for kids shows so little children's minds wont be corrupted.
ReplyDeleteCensorship is ok, until it starts to violate our first amendment rights. What people say or do, should not be censored to protect a group. It is our right as American citizens to say what we want to. That is why I feel that censorship in its most part should be removed.
ReplyDeleteCensorship can be considered a good thing and bad thing, depending on what extent you take it to. Censoring everything would be completely absurd, because nobody would be allowed to have an opinion. Opinions are what make the world go round in my opinion. Everyone states what they like, or how they feel, or what they would like to do based on their opinion. Censoring some things aren't all that bad; for instance censoring really scary or naughty movies/ shows for the younger generation. But, with too much censorship the whole idea and rule of freedom of speech would be lost; that is unreasonable.
ReplyDeleteI believe that were not helping anyone with censoring things. Its not changing anything at all. Its the way that people take things and its not all bad some people purposely just find things to pick on and that's when its wrong. Everyone has a right to their opinion but that doesn't mean we should hide and cover up things.
ReplyDelete