Censorship?

[poliphilo]

I don't suppose there's ever been a society which allowed complete freedom of speech.

Modern Britain is about as close as it gets. But there are still areas- race, terrorism, Islam, paedophilia- in which it's wise to tread carefully.

And then there are our libel laws- which make it problematical to draw attention to the criminal goings-on of the very rich.

Since 911 there's been a tightening up- as of the sphincter. The politicians are jumpy and would prefer us to shut up around them. For instance they've made it illegal for us to protest- without police permission- within a one mile radius of the Palace of Westminster. 

But that's not what concerns me today. I've just read (in zephyrcrow' s LJ) that LJ- under pressure from some noisy, self-righteous people- has been banning users whom it suspect sof nasty sexual habits.

If the rumours are true, it could be "fatal" to list things like "pedophilia" or "necrophilia" among your interests- even if you're doing it with irony, even if your interest is professional or academic.

I'm not happy about this. I don't particularly want to read about forbidden sexual pratices but I resent being told I can't. 

I know there are lines to be drawn, but lets draw them as far out as we possibly can. If I'm hurting someone, stop me. If I'm just talking about hurting someone,  let it pass.

But maybe the rumours aren't true. 

Free speech is precious. We need to be able to talk frankly about the things that trouble us.

Out there in the badlands is also where the prophets live.

Comments

[methodius.livejournal.com]

I was watching Top Gear on TV last night.

It was reality TV with a vengeance.

Jeremy Clarkson and two colleagues had to each buy a car for $1000 dolars in Florida, and after various trials drive to New Orleans with various tests on the way. One was to camp for the night and eat only what they had found dead at the side of the road.

Then they had to paint things on each other's cars that would be their colleagues shot or arrested as they crossed Alabama. So one had "Man to man love rules OK" another had "Hillary for President" and the had some derogatory remarks about country and western music. They stopped for petrol and the garage owner called some thugs to beat them up. It was sound radio for a while, as the thugs also beat up the camera crew.

How's that for freedom of speech?

When they reached New Orleans they were supposed to sell their cars. But what they showed was unbelievable. More than a year after hurricane Katrina street after street was full of wrecked houses, wrecked vehicles, and the richest country in the world had done nothing to clean up. Far from selling the cars, they couldn't even give them away.

Their conclusion: don't go to America.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Jeremy Clarkson is strong meat. I sort of don't like him on principle, but there was a programme he did a year ago about winners of the V.C. that was simply breathtaking.

How odd that a programme about motor cars should develop such a sharp political edge.

Say what you like about him, the guy's fearless.