Something has been censored. Let's get to those two obligatory statements.

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NiPah

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MarsAtlas said:
NiPah said:
Is that what this is all about? Protecting the value of a word that never had any value in the first place? Back in 1999 Dr. Dre released a "censored version" of his 2001 CD and yet people still understand when the Democratic People's Republic of Korea ban works deemed anti-government its a bad thing.
Apparently not, since when somebody gets fired for making statements that made the company look bad people still decry discrimination and censorship when its really just business. No business owes them a nice, cushy job yet people certainly seem to think that. For that matter, people seem to think that businesses are owned your patronage. I haven't patroned Chick-Fil-A since well before the big controversy in 2012 because unlike most people I knew about their homophobic donations years in advance. Whenever people bring it up apparently I'm hurting, even censoring Chick-Fil-A. Hell, when you say something like "I'm not interested in this game because its filled with bigotry" people still flip out, as if the developers are owed your hard-earned cash. Apparently consumer freedom is dead and we should all hail our corporate overlords.
You're all over the place with this one, you're not censoring Chick-Fil-A, you're judging their action, commenting on it to others, and boycotting their restaurant, none of which falls under the definition of censorship. Also the act of firing an employee is neither discrimination nor censorship, perhaps it falls under suppression of information (censorship) but its a stretch. Lastly saying you're not interested in a game because of bigotry, or people filling out because of this is not censorship either.

Pretty much all three examples have little to nothing to do with censorship, people calling it that does show they have a lack of understanding of what censorship and discrimination means, but to be honest (and not trying to be mean) I don't believe you understand what it means either. Both examples I made in my original comment are clear definitive examples of censorship, they meet all points of the definition.

As to consumer freedom, the people disagreed with you and bought the game does not mean consumer freedom is dead nor that there are powerful corporate overlords (rather there are or not is irrelevant).

Censorship is just a word with a pretty basic definition, when I say ****, well that's self censorship
No, thats freedom of expression. Its stupid use of your freedom of expression, at least in my opinion, but its freedom of expression. You used your words to express your thoughts. You using asterisks in the place of "fuck" or "shit" or "****" is no more censorship than it is for me to use English right now instead of Spanish or French.
You are correct, that is freedom is expression, however you are incorrect in saying it's not censorship.
"The exercising of control over what one says and does, especially to avoid castigation"
"The suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security"
If it meets the definition it's censorship.

when Cartoon Network edits out gay bits they deem inappropriate well that's corporate censorship, and when Germany banned mein kampf, well that was government censorship.
So when I describe my jacket as "maroon" instead of "dark red" I'm censoring myself? If thats the case then the word has no practical meaning of any kind whatsoever, too broad to be of any meaningful use.
It has a clear and practical meaning, as do most words with a definition.
 

DefunctTheory

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Pluvia said:
Not really getting involved with the larger scope here, just wanted to say I'm surprised of all the places CN wanted to remove lesbian overtones, it was for the UK.

I mean the UK is decidedly more progressive when it comes to gay people than the US, so this just seems bizarre. Anyone know why they did this specifically?
CN UK said:
Cartoon Network (in Europe) often shows amended versions of programs from US originals.

The US broadcast system requires that shows are marked with a rating ?in this case PG (parental guidance necessary). In the UK we have to ensure everything on air is suitable for kids of any age at any time.

We do feel that the slightly edited version is more comfortable for local kids and their parents.
Several people have pointed out that, technically, everything they've edited out falls under the 'U' category, which is basically appropriate for anyone outside of the womb, so it seems like Cartoon Network is just spewing crap.

I did see that CN UK is responsible for all European broadcast, however. Is it possible they're censoring it for a less homosexual friendly country, but don't want to anger them by calling them out?
 

Areloch

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MarsAtlas said:
If I've been censored from publishing a book because of it's content, I could still TALK about it, but I've still been censored.
If you've been censored from publishing a book you cannot publish it and any attempts to publish it yourself would result in the government coming to you and impose penalties upon you, some as severe as imprisonment. Cartoon Network can publish the original version of the scene in question. They chose not to, which is their freedom as a business.
Ok, I'm noting a trend here where you just seem to arbitrarily start and stop using certain words. Is this just things getting crossed, or are you intentionally trying to switch around contexts?

If my book, which is a written and attempted publish work, was censored, and then I go to TALK about the content of the book, such as to my friends, or on a show or some such, those are two entirely different things. You're correct, if I attempted to publish my book anyways, I'd probably face some kind of repercussion. But I thought your entire point was people could still talk about the show even though the show itself had been censored. You can't use that as a counter argument, and then when I use the exact same situation to point out that it's still censorship, act like it's different.

And as has been stated several times now. "Censorship" is not inheriently bad. I think it's fine that Cartoon Network would be disenclined to put Bible Black on their network. But the suppression of expression is, BY DEFINITION, censorship. Not "evil". Not "bad". Not "needs to be stopped". Merely censorship.
What you describe as "censorship" is the most basic filter possible. Saying that is censorship is like saying its censorship for me to not my hand on a hot stove. This definition of censorship you're purporting is so broad and nebulous that it has no practical application of any kind. Its useless. Worst than useless its insulting to victims of actual censorship and the ongoing struggles of those who face it because people still can't freely express certain words, ideas and images in developed nations like the UK, let alone the censorship of being thrown into a labour camp to be a work slave for saying something negative about the government in China.
Woah, woah. *I'm* purporting? Really? Ok, clearly you're not using the same definitions as me, so fair enough. Lets clear that up before we continue.

https://www.aclu.org/what-censorship

An except right from the top:

Censorship, the suppression of words, images, or ideas that are "offensive," happens whenever some people succeed in imposing their personal political or moral values on others. Censorship can be carried out by the government as well as private pressure groups. Censorship by the government is unconstitutional.
Further, the definition of censorship:

"The system or practice of censoring books, movies, letters, etc" [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/censorship]

The system or practice of censoring, as enacted by a censor. So what a 'censor'?

"A person who examines books, movies, letters, etc., and removes things that are considered to be offensive, immoral, harmful to society, etc." [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/censoring]

So the actual definition is the practice of someone(or a large body) examining books, movies, letters and thus the expressions or actions or ideas of a peice of content and removing things - obviously up to, and including, the entirety of the work.

Some more examples just so we can affirm I'm not cherry picking:

http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/censorship
http://www.yourdictionary.com/censorship
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/censorship
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=censorship+definition

I'll keep using words as their definitions actually apply, thanks. If using words by what they actually are defined by is "devaluing" then language is dead.
Okay then. Hey, why are you censoring yourself by posting on an internet forum instead of blowing all of your money on hookers and blow? Why are you censoring yourself by not strapping yourself onto a rocket to the ISS? Why are you censoring yourself by not setting your pubic hair on fire in the St. Patrick's Day parade?

See how useless the word becomes when you call any exercise of basic critical thought censorship?
You attempting to attach physical assault to 'censorship' doesn't really do anything, because yeah, that's censorship too. But censorship does not, itself, imply a LITERAL denial of speech. It is the suppression of spreading ideas, actions or thoughts.
So you agree that me supressing myself by not sticking my genitals in every single hole in the sidewalk is censorship.

Would you agree that such a broad and vague definition that allows for somebody choosing to not stick their dick in literally everything they can is a useless definition with no useful application in communication?
Well...

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/suppress

By definition, sure, you're self-censoring on moralistic grounds by suppressing the activity of boning everything you can see.

However, just because YOU dislike a word being used by the very definition that it operates under doesn't mean anyone else has this problem.

You're still conflating people using the term with it being bad in all contexts. You need to stop thinking like that because it's completely irrational. Censorship, as a function, is merely a tool. A tool to limit expression of actions, thoughts or ideas. As has been stated several times now, it isn't inheriently bad or evil. Oftentimes, censorship is a pretty great thing, like tossing people in jail for "expressing themselves" via serial murders.

It's society's job to decide when an act of censorship is a bad thing. All I'm arguing about is people claiming this sort of thing "isn't censorship". Because it absolutely is.

If someone is preventing you from expressing an idea, thought or action, then BY DEFINITION it is censorship.
So who is censoring Cartoon Network if its their own choice of self-expression to broadcast or not broadcast something?
Well, quite obviously, the UK side of the Cartoon Network channel is censoring the content. Cartoon Network UK does not act as an exclusive presentation element for the creators of the show. The fact that one network paid for the show and presented it in full and the other network decided to cut content - ostensibly because it may offend some people's sensibilities - is the definition of censorship, as I've detailed above.

As for the Shining bit, given that the scene was presented, just a particular variant of it, it wouldn't, by definition, be censorship. The idea of the scene was conveyed in full.
Every single cut is a unique expression. Thats the whole reason people do more than one take - because every tiniest little change is a change in how the script is expressed. Every single take is an individual expression. If you're going to purport that restraint of individual expression to only that which expresses what you intend to express is censorship then yes, its censorship not to include each and every single take in the final product.
Well, clearly Stanley Kubrick's intent was the final cut. He was a known perfecionist, so if that's what made it into the final cut, then that is what aligned with his vision. However, you could theoretically make a case that Kubrick was blocking the acting efforts of Nickleson.

So, as stated, several times, BY DEFINITION, the suppression - preventing the presentation or dissemination of - an action, idea or expression, is censorship. That's what the word means. That's what it is.
And nothing is preventing Cartoon Network from dissemination anything. Its their choice to do what they will with their stuff. If you're going to say that its censorship then its censorship that I don't disseminate my galcock in every crack and crevice in the sidewalk.
You do realize that cartoon network is the entity blocking dissemination. Right? The shows creators created a show, and then a particular branch of the network apparently deigned the content problematic and cut it. Censorship.

Well, given that my bills won't pay for themselves in the MONTHS it would take to weave through the court system, I'm still SOL, have no money and when I have to declare bankruptcy to stave off collections for all those bills I can't pay, my credit score would be bottomed out making it difficult to get loans for cars and houses and the like.
Then make more money. Maybe take out a loan. Get people to donate to your cause. Its not the government's job to make sure that you have enough money to deal with the consequences of every single you get yourself into. If you can't do that then, well, live in a box. Or alternatively either hire a cheaper lawyer, get a free lawyer or represent yourself. Those are all valid options, after all.
Excellent counter arguments to how corporations can use the legal system to censor someone they don't like. "Get richer".

And even then, you ignore the fact that while I MIGHT be able to recoup the damages, it was still a corperation abusing the legal system in order to cripple my livelyhood because of something I said.
If you can't keep up with the paperwork that isn't the company's fault. Maybe instead try to push for government reform when it comes to these sort of lawsuits to make it simpler. They're not obligated to go easy on you. In fact, forcing them to do that would being infringing on their ability to defend themselves in court.
It costs money just for court processing. The very act of someone going "I'm suing you" and filing their end of the paperwork to kick it into motion ensures that I have to pay money for legal fees.

If I wouldn't be able to pay for that, and as in the example, this could financially ruin me because someone filed a bit of paperwork that was chump change to them, but destructive to me, then that threat could stop me from saying something.

Which is censorship. As such, corporations can, indeed, censor people.

Put another way, they would be using the legal system(or threat of it) to prevent me from continuing to say what I'm saying.
Its no more their fault that the system is open to abuse than it is your fault. Don't blame them for something that isn't them.
I never blamed them for the system. But it is a system that could be used to stifle speech or expression they dislike. That was the entire point of the hypothetical.
 

Bat Vader

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Looked it up and the reason for censoring it seems pretty dumb. Kinda reminds me when Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was also censored in the UK too. http://www.rockethideout.com/articles/turtlecontroversy.html

http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=4688801
 

Dragonlayer

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I love that the only reason this thread exists is for the two sides from the Games Industry Discussion forum to passive-aggressively snark each other to death in their never-ending war over semantics.

And by "love", I of course mean "am horribly depressed".

Still, odd that Steven Universe is being cleansed of its "inappropriate" material in the UK of all places, I'd have thought we were pretty tolerant when it came to cartoons in this day and age.
 

Superbeast

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inmunitas said:
Apparently Cartoon Network want all their content aired in the UK to meet the "Universal [http://www.bbfc.co.uk/what-classification/u]" (U) BBFC classification, which means anything directly sexual in nature would need to be cut.
You've posted the link, but did you read it? It explicitly points out that things sexual in nature are allowed.

"Might U works contain any sexual behaviour?

Characters may be seen kissing or cuddling and there may be references to sexual behaviour. However, there will be no overt focus on sexual behaviour, language or innuendo.

Sex and sex references are treated the same irrespective of sexuality so there could be mild or undetailed references at U."
http://www.bbfc.co.uk/what-classification/u

The scenes that were cut are perfectly in-line with the U rating, which is why the excuse that Cartoon Network is using is ridiculous.

LegendaryGamer0 said:
So, they want to get a show that is rated stateside as "hey kid, you should be cool but maybe bring a parent" and have it fit a rating we roughly assign to preschoolers and up. GG CN.
See above reply to inmunitas, the scenes in the show were perfectly in-line with a "U" rating. Incidentally, here in the UK we also have "PG" ratings too, "U" is a level below that (suitable for kids 4-and-up).
 

inmunitas

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Superbeast said:
inmunitas said:
Apparently Cartoon Network want all their content aired in the UK to meet the "Universal [http://www.bbfc.co.uk/what-classification/u]" (U) BBFC classification, which means anything directly sexual in nature would need to be cut.
You've posted the link, but did you read it? It explicitly points out that things sexual in nature are allowed.
Did you read it? Because that's clearly not what it says.
Might U works contain any sexual behaviour?

Characters may be seen kissing or cuddling and there may be references to sexual behaviour. However, there will be no overt focus on sexual behaviour, language or innuendo.

Sex and sex references are treated the same irrespective of sexuality so there could be mild or undetailed references at U.
http://www.bbfc.co.uk/what-classification/u
 

Leg End

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Superbeast said:
See above reply to inmunitas, the scenes in the show were perfectly in-line with a "U" rating. Incidentally, here in the UK we also have "PG" ratings too, "U" is a level below that (suitable for kids 4-and-up).
Just wondering, do you actually watch the show? Quite a bit of it has skirted what would be a U rating and if I'm guessing right about the edits to the scene, they basically cut the bit where everyone watching was saying "AWW SHIT PEARL IS THIRSTY". I'm actually interested what they'll do with Message Received.

Though, I'm going to laugh if they cut the blatant lust and kept Rainbow's ass shots.
 

Superbeast

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inmunitas said:
Did you read it? Because that's clearly not what it says.
Might U works contain any sexual behaviour?

Characters may be seen kissing or cuddling and there may be references to sexual behaviour. However, there will be no overt focus on sexual behaviour, language or innuendo.
Yes, I'll bold some statements too:

inmunitas: Apparently Cartoon Network want all their content aired in the UK to meet the "Universal" (U) BBFC classification, which means anything directly sexual in nature would need to be cut.

BBFC: Characters may be seen kissing or cuddling and there may be references to sexual behaviour. However, there will be no overt focus on sexual behaviour, language or innuendo.

I suppose it will now come down to a semantic argument about the nature of "overt"? The clip in question is of a couple dancing and kissing, the latter of which is explicitly allowed in the first 5 words of the ratings description. The edited-out section does not appear to contain any overt focus on sexual behaviour, nor sexual language or innuendo.

LegendaryGamer0 said:
Just wondering, do you actually watch the show? Quite a bit of it has skirted what would be a U rating and if I'm guessing right about the edits to the scene, they basically cut the bit where everyone watching was saying "AWW SHIT PEARL IS THIRSTY". I'm actually interested what they'll do with Message Received.

Though, I'm going to laugh if they cut the blatant lust and kept Rainbow's ass shots.
I don't watch the show, I heard about this "controversy", looked up the clips and the rating and wondered why Cartoon Network was trying to use ratings as an excuse - unless CN wants to claim the show is aimed at kids under 4 years old then the lowest possible rating a TV show can have in the UK explicitly allows same-sex kissing and reference to sexual behaviour, the subject of the alteration.

CN saying they didn't want to show it, fine, their network and their choice. Debates ahoy about whether choice is censorship. CN claiming that it is for the "ratings" is utter bollocks and is pervading the discussion of the issue, thus needs correcting.
 

Tsun Tzu

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Dragonlayer said:
I love that the only reason this thread exists is for the two sides from the Games Industry Discussion forum to passive-aggressively snark each other to death in their never-ending war over semantics.

And by "love", I of course mean "am horribly depressed".

Still, odd that Steven Universe is being cleansed of its "inappropriate" material in the UK of all places, I'd have thought we were pretty tolerant when it came to cartoons in this day and age.
I think you've pretty much encapsulated the last year of vaguely controversial threads.

Well done.

I too am surprised that they'd alter the material, but, then, it's Cameron's UK. Porking your bacon is acceptable; cartoons kissing is not.
LegendaryGamer0 said:
Gengisgame said:
It's a CHILDRENS SHOW, I understand adults watch this but it's still a CHILDRENS SHOW, the idea of censorship should only ever apply to legal adults.
That's an insult to children.
...So?

Kids are dicks.
 

inmunitas

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undeadsuitor said:
inmunitas said:
Superbeast said:
inmunitas said:
Apparently Cartoon Network want all their content aired in the UK to meet the "Universal [http://www.bbfc.co.uk/what-classification/u]" (U) BBFC classification, which means anything directly sexual in nature would need to be cut.
You've posted the link, but did you read it? It explicitly points out that things sexual in nature are allowed.
Did you read it? Because that's clearly not what it says.
Might U works contain any sexual behaviour?

Characters may be seen kissing or cuddling and there may be references to sexual behaviour. However, there will be no overt focus on sexual behaviour, language or innuendo.

Sex and sex references are treated the same irrespective of sexuality so there could be mild or undetailed references at U.
http://www.bbfc.co.uk/what-classification/u
So, in order to gain a U rating, a show IS allowed to show characters kissing (which didn't even happen, they merely cut out two characters looking into eachothers eyes)

What is it about same-sex kissing that makes it OVERTLY sexual, as opposed to the kind of kissing that is certainly and regularly allowed under the Universal rating?
"Overt" does not mean "overly", which is what you seem to be confusing the term with. Kissing without sexual context is allowed, as it is explained right there in the classification. For example a parent kissing their child would be fine, or a "goodbye" kiss, or a "thank you" kiss. Public swimming pools in the UK typically have "No petting" among their rules, which is the same thing.
 

TheMysteriousGX

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The Rogue Wolf said:
This is kind of a weird discussion to be having when nobody can even nail down what "censorship" is. To me, while what CN is doing may be wrong and stupid, it's not effectively censorship- they are choosing not to display it, not preventing it from being displayed at all. But hey, in the interests of clarity, let's all play a little mental game. Suppose I'm an author and I'm writing the latest in a series of popular novels that includes gay characters. So what if:

- I write in a sex scene between two gay characters, and the publisher tells me to excise it or they won't publish. Is that censorship?
If you're under a contractual obligation not to publish elsewhere or not to self-publish, then yes. Because contracts have state backing.
The Rogue Wolf said:
- I write in the sex scene, and the publisher tells me to make it less graphic. Is that censorship?
If by "tell", you mean "ask", then no. If you mean "tell", see above.
The Rogue Wolf said:
- I write in the sex scene, but then later remove it because I fear there will be a backlash from the readers. Is that censorship?
Nope, editing.
The Rogue Wolf said:
- I write in the sex scene, but then later remove it because I find gay sex appaling. Is that censorship?
No, and I'd wonder how you finished writing it first.
The Rogue Wolf said:
- I write in the sex scene, but then later remove it because it doesn't help the story. Is that censorship?
Nope, editing.
The Rogue Wolf said:
- I don't even think to write in the sex scene because I don't like to think of gay people in a sexual manner. Is that censorship?

- I don't even think to write in the sex scene because I have no desire for sexual situations to be in the novel. Is that censorship?
Nope.

Good questions. Should help us nail down a baseline.
 

IOwnTheSpire

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I see a few people in this thread saying BY DEFINITION a lot, insisting on using strict definitions/technical definitions of a word, which I think can derail a conversation about these kinds of things, because these definitions are often too broad to be of any real use, as others in this thread have stated. Even though not all censorship could be considered bad/immoral, the word itself has a negative bias attached to it, which needs to be taken into account when discussing these issues.
 

Areloch

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IOwnTheSpire said:
I see a few people in this thread saying BY DEFINITION a lot, insisting on using strict definitions/technical definitions of a word, which I think can derail a conversation about these kinds of things, because these definitions are often too broad to be of any real use, as others in this thread have stated. Even though not all censorship could be considered bad/immoral, the word itself has a negative bias attached to it, which needs to be taken into account when discussing these issues.
Maybe there's a better word to nail down the particular negative intent?
Because if someone wants to state "X is not censorship", but it objectively fits the definition then they're kinda wrong. They may correctly mean that it's not a BAD censoring, or is entirely justified, but it's still censorship, and maybe a different, more specific word is better to use there.

Of course, I'm not thinking of any other singular word that would fit, so... hm.
 

JimB

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BarryMcCociner said:
You know the Steven Universe thing?
Yes, I do.

BarryMcCociner said:
Well, it's time to hear those dumb statements people make that show they don't understand what censorship actually is.

You know the ones:

"It's only censorship when the government does it."

When this statement was first originated, it was usually followed up with "Because the people would never censor each other, they're not total idiots."

"Nobody is trying to take your "X" away."

This is bullshit and even the people who are saying it know it's a paper thin shield at best.
BarryMcCoiner, I believe in specificity of language. I think we need to define censorship very strictly in order for the word to have any meaning, because if we don't, it simply means, "A bad thing bad people do which is bad because it's bad;" circular reasoning which robs the term of any use as a condemnatory. If you want to use the word to criticize Cartoon Network, then you really are going to define the term as you want it to be used, to establish why it is a bad thing for a private company to have the right to decide what content it wants to air, and why a creator who uses that network as a platform should have greater say over what the network will air than the network itself does.

Now, to be clear, I disagree with the choice to not show the lesbian scene. Lesbianism is not something kids need to be protected from, and to hell with any parents who disagree. But Cartoon Network is within its rights to do as they have done.