Comments on: What the hell is up with the Germans? http://www.geeksrus.com/2003/03/27/what-the-hell-is-up-with-the-germans/ We're geeky so you don't have to be Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:29:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Roger http://www.geeksrus.com/2003/03/27/what-the-hell-is-up-with-the-germans/comment-page-1/#comment-123 Roger Tue, 08 Apr 2003 14:12:25 +0000 http://www.geeksrus.com/steve_wp/?p=189#comment-123 <p>While in South Africa over Christmas break, I read one of Alan Dershowitz's first books. I love his explanation for why he dislikes censorship. Of course, Germany doesn't have the Bill of Rights but nonetheless, there is something fundementally wrong with a government or group of people or individuals deciding what other people read, see, touch, taste or even put onto their computers or videogame systems. What they define as bad is their own definition, not a global one.</p> <p>For example, how do we define violence as seen on television? I see a soldier firing a weapon at something off screen. To me, that's not violent. To my Mom, that's violent and shouldn't be shown.</p> <p>Censorship is someone taking their definition and running wild with it.</p> <p>WalMart bans a Sheryl Crow album because of a statement in a song about WalMart selling guns. They also announced a ban on violent videogames but hey, you can buy any of the Bruce Willis Die Hard movies there.</p> <p>Roger "Ranting like Dennis Miller without the obscure references" Smith</p> <p>"Then again, I could be wrong." - Dennis Miller</p> While in South Africa over Christmas break, I read one of Alan Dershowitz’s first books. I love his explanation for why he dislikes censorship. Of course, Germany doesn’t have the Bill of Rights but nonetheless, there is something fundementally wrong with a government or group of people or individuals deciding what other people read, see, touch, taste or even put onto their computers or videogame systems. What they define as bad is their own definition, not a global one.

For example, how do we define violence as seen on television? I see a soldier firing a weapon at something off screen. To me, that’s not violent. To my Mom, that’s violent and shouldn’t be shown.

Censorship is someone taking their definition and running wild with it.

WalMart bans a Sheryl Crow album because of a statement in a song about WalMart selling guns. They also announced a ban on violent videogames but hey, you can buy any of the Bruce Willis Die Hard movies there.

Roger “Ranting like Dennis Miller without the obscure references” Smith

“Then again, I could be wrong.” - Dennis Miller

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