Here's an essay I wrote in school about censorship. I hope to start a discussion about this topic, as it's something about which I feel strongly.
“Just Joking” - Has Censorship Gone Too Far?
Imagine living in a society where everything you say is censored because someone else did not like it. Well, welcome to today’s society.
It’s not a secret that everybody gets offended by something. Whether it’s something we hear when we’re sitting on the bus, something we see when we’re watching our daytime telévision, to something we see on Facebook or Twitter. We all have our personal tastes and distastes when it comes to humour; things we like to laugh at and poke fun at, and things that are seen as taboo. It may vary from society to society, person to person, but everyone has their own idea of “comedy”. That is why I am, and so a lot of other people are, so hesitant to talk about this matter; but that’s what I want to talk about today, should we really have to be so tentative when it comes to humour as a broader subject.
It is in my personal belief that - in some societies - most people are too offended by comedy about what is deemed to be “taboo”. Don’t get me wrong, people reserve the right to get offended by something if they feel it’s in poor taste, I am guilty of this to, it’s human nature after all, but when that distaste for obvious humour results in someone - usually a professional comic - being unable to reserve their right to freedom of speech, is it really justified? An example of this unjustifiable hatred for comedy is the time in 2012 when Scottish comedian Frankie Boyle managed to win a court case for libel and defamation against British media firm “The Daily Mirror” after they branded him a racist for his racy comedy on TV show “Mock The Week”. This resulted in the comedian being “forced to quit” the show by his agency to avoid further career devastation and more possible defamation. Is that okay? A man losing his job over someone’s distaste for slightly more “edgy” humour.
Unfortunately, the whole idea of “Free Speech” being a cornerstone in modern society, is no longer held with such high regard and it’s not just because of some slightly “oranger” demagogue in the White House, but it’s also because of people in my generation who have been brought up in this modern politically correct era where no-one can say anything about anything anymore without being branded a “racist”, “misogynist”, or “[insert term here]-phobic”.
Now you’re, hopefully, taking on board what I have said but are still thinking such thoughts as, for example, “What if a comedian makes a joke about the Holocaust but my relative died in the tragedy? Should I not take that to heart?” To that I must reassure you that comedians are not deliberately trying to offend the people who paid, usually too much, money to go and listen to their material, and to think that would be preposterous.
Let’s go back to everybody's favourite “orange oaf”. Now, I don’t want you to think that I have some sort of distaste for the Donald because I don’t. Infact, I much prefer him to the other options as I find myself relating to him and agreeing with him more, but that’s enough of my own political views. The reason I brought the “Golden Wrecking Ball” into this argument in the first place is because I feel as though he is a perfect example of someone who, through his own decisions, censors anything or anyone - Yes, I’m looking at you Rosie O’Donnell - that he does not like. For example, the EPA - Environmental Protection Agency, the guys behind technological advancement to combat climate change and pollution - who the “Don Daddy” stopped from speaking publicly to US citizens and media about subjects such as climate change as he does not believe in such an environmental hazard. Crazy, right?
So why is it that people whine constantly about Mr. President’s censorship of things he doesn’t approve of, but then will go on websites like Facebook, Twitter, Reddit etc. and say that certain subjects should “not be spoken about” or are “taboo”. Hypocrisy, or ignorance?
Another example of this unnecessary censorship is on social media, most notably Facebook, where women are not allowed to post “sexually explicit” photos of themselves topless, whilst men can, this lead to the creation of the infamous “Free The Nipple” campaign. This is a world famous movement which aims to allow women on social media to be allowed to have the freedom to post photos, and other forms of media, of themselves topless as men can. Come on, think about it; nearly one-hundred years and women still have to protest for full equality, and to stop themselves being silenced by the general public. That is utterly appalling and shows just how backwards our supposedly “modernised” society legitimately is.
So it is in the best interests of myself, but also our society, that the general public and the media take a “back-seat”, as the kids say, and stop trying to silence anything that they do not enjoy. It would greatly benefit most people if we - ALL - could say what we want, when we want. After all, freedom of speech is exactly that… “freedom”. So I shall keep pushing the envelope, and hopefully society’s views won’t stay stationary. Pun intended. I’m sorry, or am I?
Bibliography:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20033097 - Frankie Boyle sues for Daily Mirror for libel.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-gag-us-government-scientists-environment-stop-speaking-public-tweeting-twitter-climate-a7544971.html - Donald Trump stops EPA speaking publicly.