Loudpacifist, I understand...I was just commenting, not upon your message, but upon the "Whole picture". Because I think when we use "Speech freedom" (or bad language, lol) I think that has a tendency to lower our standards, because if we are flippin' people off for no reason,or yelling obsenitys at them, then they think to themselves "Gah, another obnoxious teenager that doesn't know anything about life!" Well, I think there is a difference between Using "Speech Freedom" in a car with your close friends or at a party with people you know than standing in line at a grocery store where people can't get away and saying things that other people may think to be inappropriatte real loud. Because, most adults don't like being around people who say things that they consider to be innappropriatte, because of their children. Alot of children have a tendency to think "Those teenagers are so cool, and I want to be just like them!" So, they end up saying words in school or doing actions that are considered inappropriatte in our society because they have seen the "Cool Teenagers" doing it...Does that make sense???

We need a lot more regulation over the media. I'm not as concerned with the sex as the violence, since that is tightly correlated with real-life violence.

The old argument, "if you don't like it, change the channel", is a phony dodge. You can't "just change the channel" anymore, since violence and sex is on pretty much EVERY channel, constantly. Trying to dodge inappropriate content these days by just "changing the channel" is like trying to walk across a 12-lane highway at rush hour.

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"How easily the professional politicians and everyone else who is running our country forget what our founding fathers gave us. What I don't get is that they want to take away our right to say what we please, but the Vice President can say the F word and the head of CU can call a female, who was raped, a C**t. It is just wrong. But then of course, money runs this country and if you have money, you can do what you please."

I agree with you to a point. The government is trying to take away our right to freedom of speech and expression. And they can say what they want while berating us for saying what we want. But...

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"...what are the god given rights of man kind and when and where is it right to start to take those away."

God was not and is not our Founding Fathers. Our founding fathers wrote up the constitution and gave us the rights that today some of us hold dear while others are criticizing them and trying to take them away. God didnt give us these rights. If you go with the biblical way of explaining how life came to be on this earth, then yeah, God is technically a "founding father" because he gave life to the world. But, the founding fathers that you are talking about did not give us life, they gave us the rights and rules of our country today that we should follow and uphold.

I dont agree with the government and their view of how we should act if they arent going to follow the same way.Its like they are saying you have to do this but we dont have to because we are the people in power and we can do whatever we want. Thats wrong.

Now, as for ya'll that are arguing over whether or not you should change the channel or station because you dont like it, just do it!! if you dont agree with something you say so, right? and then you try to change it...well, this isnt any different. You dont necissarily have to go out and say to someone on the street that you dont like what is playing on the radio or the tv, just say it to yourself. and then change it-change the channel or station!!
its not that hard!

OK but it is just that is how I'm reflected apon. I'm not say to raise the standards beczuse by all means I try to do that. I just said that for some light. It was not meant to be taken seriously.

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I don't know why people want to control our behavior? We're only teens haha.
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-BUT, I also think that we should try to raise our standards a little. I don't want to be called "ONLY A TEEN" for the next 4 or 5 years of my life, I know that teens are supposed to party and have fun, (I do that alot!) But, I also think that we can start being succesfull at a young age. If you are between the ages of 13-20 we can make a difference too! I have a job, and I get quite a bit of money every month! I'm going to a wonderful Charter High School in my area, and I'm very proud of myself. Most of my friends are sitting at home eating and sleeping while I'm at my job. So, I think that we should start trying to use better language towards everyone to raise our standards a little. (That doesn't mean saying a certain word when you are with your friends in the car to a party!) BECAUSE, I don't know about you, but I know I would LOVE to not be looked down upon.

"However, there are millions of people out there who do not want to be offended by having tons and tons of generally raunchy or profane programming thrown at them whenever they try and change thier channel."

You all need to stop being so sensitive. It takes a grand total of about .25 seconds to change a channel, if you can't handle something offensive for that long you probably shouldnt be watching TV.


"Also, it's impossible to expect a parent to shield thier child from this stuff all the time. Granted, parental responsibility is important. But a kid can tune in some crap on the radio just scanning through the stations. It's not so much about censorship as it is civic respect."

What is so wrong with a kid hearing cuss words? Often times, unbeknownst to the parents kids encounter every cuss word imaginable before age 7, 8, 9. It is important to simply encourage children not to use those words. The reason this is an issue is that we make such a bug deal out of them. No one would use them if they didnt get any reaction from them.

"By your logic, I should be able to have kinky bondage sex on the sidewalk. Hey, if people don't want to see it, they don't have to walk down that street right?

That is public property, and violates several other laws. People pay for cable, and they have the right not to do so if they choose. However, many people must walk down the street in order to go places, and by doing such a thing as your suggestion, you are FORCING people to watch. No one is forcing people to listen to cuss words."

"I think censorship is a necessary and appreciated piece of our society. Many people believe censorship opresses the freedom of speech talked about in the Constitution, but forget about the promise of the government to protect its citizens."

We cant simply forget about that. That is what our laws revolve around, our society depends on. What you are saying is that we should have "exceptions" to the constitution. This is wrong.

"Think about it, if you had a ten year old child, would you want them to hear the same things as a 15 year old?? "

Why not. What is so bad about cuss words, people? They are only offensive because we make them out to be. When someone cusses, does it rain acid? Does the world break out in plague? Are we invaded by aliens? Of course not. They really have no physical purpose. If no one got offended, they would be meaningless.

"Censorship helps to make peoples ideas more accessible to all people by softening down harsh principles. Many people think that censorship is words blacked out in letters, but it also entails; the Tipper Act for music, making R rated movies harder for children to reach, having school libraries stock books appropriate for the age group, rating video games, and editing things that are posted in the newspaper, as well as many others. "

I have absolutley no problem with ratings systems. i think they are a good way to have to avoid censorship. I just think its unfair to the rest of us that we cant hear something because someone else thinks its "bad."

"I don't think that censorship opresses freedom of speech, but rather extends it."

This is the dictionary definition of censorship:
A person authorized to examine books, films, or other material and to remove or suppress what is considered morally, politically, or otherwise objectionable.

Basically what they are doing is inhibiting someones right to speak their mind. If I want to cuss, I have the constitutional right to do so. No one should be able to take that away from me.

"People, freedom of speech/expression is not limited by censorship at all. Censorship is put in place by privately owned third parties a large amount of the time. The ratings systems are not infringing on speech, just giving a brief estimate of what it is. If this site decides to bleep your words, LET THEM DO THAT. YOU KNOW WHY? Because it is THEIR site. And THEY have the choice to do that."

They can go ahead and do that because it is their site. I dont pay for it, they do. they can do whatever they want because i have the right to not go here anymore. If you dont like whats on cable, or the radio, or anything else, then dont watch or listen to it. Is that so hard?

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Censorship is put in place by privately owned third parties a large amount of the time.

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Except this is changing. The government is suddenyl censorship extremely important and are enforcing it. Your arguement doesn't apply to today's soceity.

New idea. Don't put the crap on there and nothing will have to be censored. Wow. Amazing concept. Something without sex and cuss words interesting? Weird...

I think censorship is wrong. cuss are bad but not always put in 'evil' ways. it's usually used as a slang term. and If they censor cd's and junk then people will think of other slang terms to mean the same thing. like 'Pimp' that came from a cuss but it's slang and some adults are too lazy to figure it out. There is almost no way to completely censorship our lives. I don't know why people want to control our behavior? We're only teens haha. Also people are bring ten year olds into the discussion. Well at age ten parents still montor the child. so why bring them in, your only making you self look like an ***.

People, freedom of speech/expression is not limited by censorship at all. Censorship is put in place by privately owned third parties a large amount of the time. The ratings systems are not infringing on speech, just giving a brief estimate of what it is. If this site decides to bleep your words, LET THEM DO THAT. YOU KNOW WHY? Because it is THEIR site. And THEY have the choice to do that.

I think censorship is a necessary and appreciated piece of our society. Many people believe censorship opresses the freedom of speech talked about in the Constitution, but forget about the promise of the government to protect its citizens. Think about it, if you had a ten year old child, would you want them to hear the same things as a 15 year old?? Censorship helps to make peoples ideas more accessible to all people by softening down harsh principles. Many people think that censorship is words blacked out in letters, but it also entails; the Tipper Act for music, making R rated movies harder for children to reach, having school libraries stock books appropriate for the age group, rating video games, and editing things that are posted in the newspaper, as well as many others. I don't think that censorship opresses freedom of speech, but rather extends it.

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By your logic, I should be able to have kinky bondage sex on the sidewalk. Hey, if people don't want to see it, they don't have to walk down that street right?

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Well actually the main reason you probably wouldn't see that is that the porn industry would be on your bum. That's my reasoning for that.

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Are you physically, emotionally, or mentally uncapable of turing something off or switching the channel? Obviosly not, because you were able to type that. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT YOU WATCH, no one else. If you see something you dont agree with, turn it off, or watch something else. Some people do want to watch what you dont, and thats their right. Why should their experience be inhibited because you were offended? And just because they dont pay for something, does that FORCE them to watch it? No. They choose to.

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However, there are millions of people out there who do not want to be offended by having tons and tons of generally raunchy or profane programming thrown at them whenever they try and change thier channel.

Also, it's impossible to expect a parent to shield thier child from this stuff all the time. Granted, parental responsibility is important. But a kid can tune in some crap on the radio just scanning through the stations. It's not so much about censorship as it is civic respect.

By your logic, I should be able to have kinky bondage sex on the sidewalk. Hey, if people don't want to see it, they don't have to walk down that street right?

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While I agree with you that things like videos cable and satellite should not be censored, because people pay for them, and they should get what they pay for. On the other hand, listeners telivision, and raido do not pay the radio and TV stations for what they hear and watch, so they should be censored.

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Voice-
Are you physically, emotionally, or mentally uncapable of turing something off or switching the channel? Obviosly not, because you were able to type that. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT YOU WATCH, no one else. If you see something you dont agree with, turn it off, or watch something else. Some people do want to watch what you dont, and thats their right. Why should their experience be inhibited because you were offended? And just because they dont pay for something, does that FORCE them to watch it? No. They choose to.

Censorship is wrong. It is my God given right to bash Bush and praise Michael Moore. I don't think it is right for anyone to tell me what I can or can not say just because they don't want me to say it. I'm entitled to say what I please. I believe that it is my first amendment right. How easily the professional politicians and everyone else who is running our country forget what our founding fathers gave us. What I don't get is that they want to take away our right to say what we please, but the Vice President can say the F word and the head of CU can call a female, who was raped, a C**t. It is just wrong. But then of course, money runs this country and if you have money, you can do what you please. I think that the issue of censorship is just the surface of what really needs to be discussed: what are the god given rights of man kind and when and where is it right to start to take those away.

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While I agree with you that things like videos cable and satellite should not be censored, because people pay for them, and they should get what they pay for. On the other hand, listeners telivision, and raido do not pay the radio and TV stations for what they hear and watch, so they should be censored.

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So if you pay for cuss words, you should get cuss words and if you don't, cuss words should be bleeped? I don't understand your reasoning VoiceofAmerica. Could you please elaborate on your theory.

While I agree with you that things like videos cable and satellite should not be censored, because people pay for them, and they should get what they pay for. On the other hand, listeners telivision, and raido do not pay the radio and TV stations for what they hear and watch, so they should be censored.

First off, I would like to say that the world has become way to politically correct. Everyone gets offended by everyone else speaking their mind.

Second, what makes cuss words so bad? Do they hurt anyone? Do they emotionally damage anyone? Do they impact anyones life? Of course not. Cuss words are only bad because we choose them to be. Because someone decides to get offended. If no one decided to be offended, this wouldnt be an issue. So really its just about tolerance.

People should be able to say whatever they want. They are guarunteed this, actually. It called Freedom of Speech. This does not say that "you can say whatever you want unless it offends someone else." It doesn't say that "you can say anything you want unless kids are watching." If you don't like what you are watching, you have the direct power to turn the TV off. If you don't want your kids seeing or hearing something, you have the direct power AND responsibility to turn it off. Television and movie producers, writers, directors, etc., ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE for whether or not what you or your children watch is "appropriate". YOU ARE. If you don't care enough to change the channel when something "bad" comes on, that should not be blamed on them. There are plenty of TV applications that can be used to block kids from watching "innapropriate" things. If you choose not to use them, thats on you. Not them. The shows that contain cussing, sex, drugs, violence, etc, are usually not made for children, and if you let your kids watch them, it is not the people who made these shows fault. It's your fault.

Whether parents like it or not, there kids are going to be exposed to things that they may not approve of. All you have to do is go to an elementary school to hear a whole rainbow and a half of colorful words. You cannot protect your kids forever. No amount of sheltering will keep them from turning into preteens, then teenagers, then young adults, and then adults. You just have to accept it and move on. Just lighten up, people, and uncurl from your little ball of fear and political correctness. Live your life with acceptance and tolerance!

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Yes because it is sooo easy to protect a child from something that's all around them. It you're going to take on this standpoint, you have to also consider how hard it is to be a parent.

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i agree in some ways, but ya gotta know that some parents dont care or want the teachers/media/whatever to do their job for them

I think people should be able to say whatever they want. We don't have freedom of speech when everything is bleeped. How can you get a message across with distracting bleeps? And of course you will have people say "Cant you get your emssage out without swearing?" Well I could, but after all of the processing to take out the swearing it wouldn't be MY message. If you don't like to hear the swearing, don't listen to it!

I think that censorship is good... Lots of people now are using bad words, even on tv and music videos. i think that should be eradicated. Censorship doesnt mean that you cannot say what you want to say. It is a means of controlling what people want to say so that there would be no trouble, and most of all there is respect. I think it is good to promote censorship because it is important, most of all to young kids these days.
If there would be no censorship, people on tv, especially in music videos and other media people will just continue using words that they think is ok just because they want to voice out what they fee. There should be a limit to freedom of speech. Having this kind of freedom should not be abused to the extent that we do not care about respecting others not listen to the other's opinions and beliefs.
Also, a little reply to you equality now: You know, just by saying the word hell and those other bad words you were using in your post implies that you might be "equalitynow" but you are not practicing it. Equality should be about respect, not a contest or not about who has the most words to say on something and it certainly is not about using bad words or obscene language that most teens are using now. Censorship is all about respect and limits.