Those of us who hide are the biggest problem.
All of the people who usually generate and enjoying the conversations here have suddenly dissapeared. That is very sad.
You are censoring yourselves. This is not an attack, but rather a call to challenge what you all say you want, deserve and should have by all rights. Freedom. Of speech, the right to pursue happiness, freedom of expression and so on.
I have given interviews to the wrong people a couple of times. I'll never do it again for freakin FOX that for sure!
I think this is a much better forum for what I have to say. You all are censoring yourselves. But complain that you are BEING censored:
Censorship is the suppression of speech or deletion of communicative material which may be considered objectionable, harmful or sensitive, as determined by a censor. The rationale for censorship is different for various types of data censored. Censorship is the act or practice of removing material from things we encounter every day on the grounds that it is obscene, vulgar, and/or highly objectionable. Whether it is on TV, in music, books, or on the Internet, censorship is an inescapable part of human society. Censorship can be broken into different categories:
Moral censorship is the means by which any material that contains what the censor deems to be of questionable morality is removed. The censoring body disapproves of what it deems to be the values behind the material and limits access to it. Pornography, for example, is often censored under this rationale, especially child pornography, which is censored in most jurisdictions in the world. In another example, graphic violence resulted in the censorship of the "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" movie entitled Scarface originally completed in 1932.
Military censorship is the process of keeping military intelligence and tactics confidential and away from the enemy. This is used to counter espionage, which is the process of gleaning military information. Additionally, military censorship may involve a restriction on information or media coverage that can be released to the public.
Political censorship occurs when governments hold back secret information from their citizens. The logic is to prevent the free expression needed to rebel. Any dissent against the government is thought to be a "weakness" for the enemy to exploit.[citation needed] Campaign tactics are also often kept secret: see the Watergate scandal.
Religious censorship is the means by which any material objectionable to a certain faith is removed. This often involves a dominant religion forcing limitations on less prevalent ones. Alternatively, one religion may shun the works of another when they believe the content is not appropriate for their faith.
Corporate censorship is the process by which editors in corporate media outlets intervene to halt the publishing of information that portrays their business or business partners in a negative light. Privately owned corporations in the business of reporting the news also sometimes refuse to distribute information due to the potential loss of advertiser revenue or shareholder value which adverse publicity may bring. (see media bias)
(Definition of media Bias)
Media bias is a term used to describe a real or perceived bias of journalists and news producers within the mass media, in the selection of which events will be reported and how they are covered. The term "media bias" usually refers to a pervasive or widespread bias contravening the standards of journalism, rather than the perspective of an individual journalist or article.The direction and degree of media bias in various countries is widely disputed, although its causes are both practical and theoretical.
Practical limitations to media neutrality include the inability of journalists to report all available stories and facts, and the requirement that selected facts be linked into a coherent narrative (Newton 1989). Since it is impossible to report everything, some bias is inevitable. Government influence, including overt and covert censorship, biases the media in some countries. Market forces that can result in a biased presentation include the ownership of the news source, the selection of staff, the preferences of an intended audience, pressure from advertisers, or reduced funding due to lower ratings or governmental funding cuts. Political affiliations arise from ideological positions of media owners and journalists. The space or air time available for reports, as well as deadlines needing to be met, can lead to incomplete and apparently biased stories. (Wikipedia)
Why do you use this as one of the most important places you feel (felt) safe to express yourselves? And then abandon it and let it terrorize you so badly? Because you are afraid you will loose all the things that you have worked so hard for right? In the end, especially in this financial, political, social, religious climate, who the fuck cares?
Isn't it time to at least talk about seperation of religion and state and have the courage to use the handle or hallmark you chose for yourself? I think that might be a good conversation. It IS only a conversation here after all.
Lets stop feeding the the adulterous nazis with your talk of fear. Any law that is consistantly broken is inevitable, isn't that what you tell your children?
Isn't there one good ho lovin lawyer, senator, or governor out there, who could actually step up and and has the know how to help that does not censor himself?
Larry Flynt is a STUD! And I would not only pay but be grateful to get on my knees for him. Now that's what I call old time religion! Just put the money in the basket!
We should all try harder to live up to his example of exercising the 1st Amendment.
Thanks Larry!
-- Modified on 8/9/2008 11:21:31 PM
-- Modified on 8/9/2008 11:26:53 PM
