IS THIS CENSORSHIP? YOU DECIDE.

Hi folks,

I had an exchange with a gentleman today that I thought some might enjoy seeing and even weighing in with your own opinions on the subject. It’s from a guy named Aaron (won’t give his last name or other identifying info). We linked up on LinkedIn.

I’d be very interested in your own thoughts on this if you can spare a couple of moments. Thanks!

>> Hello Les,
>> Thank you for connecting with me on LinkedIn!
>>
>> I create ratings for books based on the level of violence, language,
>> and sexual content.
>> What do you think of this idea?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Aaron

>> HI Aaron,
>> To be honest, on the surface I have mixed feelings. As long as it
>> doesn't constitute any form of censorship or political correctness,
>> it's fine with me. If it does touch on either of these things, then
>> it's not...
>>
>> Blue skies,
>> Les
>>

> Thanks Les,
> I've been thinking about that as well.
> A few people have mentioned that ratings can be a form of censorship
> especially when people have to pay for the ratings as opposed to being
> independent.
> I.e. The MPAA forces all movie producers to be rated by them, which
> can produce some undesirable consequences.
>
> Would you mind describing what you would consider to be censorship?
>
> Thank you for your time,
> Aaron
>

> Hi Aaron,
> First, I want to commend you for beginning a true dialog and not an
> argument! That's very promising... and civilized! Mucho respect.
>
> It's interesting that you mentioned movies. What I see there are
> these circumstances--since so much money is involved, studios bend
> over backwards to change their films often to fit into the more
> commercial parameters. There are those who view books and movies
> only as entertainments, but just as legitimately, there are artists
> who view them as beyond entertainment and at least somewhat
> messages, etc. When an artist is compelled by a studio or a
> publisher to alter their content, then it seems clear that
> censorship has reared its head. Make sense? That's mostly what I
> fear from a rating system. That publishers begin to pay heed to it
> and then compel their authors to change their product. Like a lot of
> concepts, there is often a good thought at the heart or beginning of
> it, and then it gets corrupted to appease either a monetary
> consideration or a "reputation" consideration. I think that's what
> makes me at least a bit leery. Fair?
>
> I am absolutely against any form of censorship and violently against
> the principle of political correctness that I personally feel is
> eroding our personal freedoms rapidly.
>
> Thanks so much for the opportunity to offer my opinion.
>
> Blue skies,
> Les
>

Hey Les,
Thank you for that level of detail!
Your definition of censorship seems to be a bit different from the one
I've been using, so it's great to see how you're looking at this.

To me, censorship is legally punishing or prohibiting free speech...
or exerting such social pressure on people who express uncomfortable
opinions that they do not feel free or are not free to express their
views. I've been rather troubled by the suppression of free speech in
our country. Some opinions are celebrated, while the opposite opinions
are now socially and sometimes even legally punished.

That is different from people choosing not to watch a movie or read a
book because they don't like the content.

It is also different from publishers and studios choosing not to
publish a film or book because they know people won't buy it. Most
publishers are corporations, not charities. So we can't expect them to
publish something people won't buy.

Is that the opposite of your position, or does it somewhat make sense?

Thanks for your time,
Aaron

Hi Aaron,

Good points! The key to me in your argument below is the part that states: exerting such social pressure on people who express uncomfortable  opinions that they do not feel free or are not free to express their  views.

This is the central problem, I feel. It's not the "legally punishing or prohibiting free speech" part that bothers me nearly as much as the social pressure. We're seeing this everywhere these days--from the so-called "safe spaces" college ninnies yap about and serve more to suppress other's opinions than anything else. One of my books recently underwent this kind of "censorship." A reviewer wrote a positive review of my novel "The Bitch" and when she went to publish it in a number of newspapers, they would publish the review, but demanded to block out the word "bitch" not only in the title but in any occurrence within the review. Not what you'd legally or technically call "censorship" perhaps but it had the same, chilling effect. What's really funny, is that the title has absolutely nothing to do with a pejorative term against females (nor was it a term for a female dog), but, rather, it's a common term used by both criminals and district attorneys to denote the "three strikes and you're out, ha-BITCH-ual criminal statute" ergo, "the bitch." This is just one of those insidious and seemingly righteous forms of covert censorship. As is the atmosphere today on many college campuses where you are bombarded on all sides by liberal thought and if you express a conservative idea, you are routinely hooted down and worse. The same thing is operating in publishing circles. My own opinion is a pox on both houses. If I don't like what you write or what you say I have a choice--don't listen or don't buy your work. If it comes with a label supplied, I maintain that already is influencing your decision to buy or not buy it and based on an arbitrary scheme of reasoning, by definition slanted.

Blue skies,

Les

That’s our conversation. Any and all opinions welcome!

Blue skies,
Les