Censorship: Has it Ever Happened to You?

[Mark Kaufman]

I disagree!

[toddt]

Hi Steve,Regarding that youtube clip, I thought long and hard about posting it - and as much as I (and all my friends who have seen it) completely loved it, probably because it juxtaposes something really rough, angry and bad with something at the opposite end of the spectrum, and does it incredibly well, I knew it would be a bit offensive to some which is why I made that very clear with a warning as the title and in the body of the post.However, it is what I thought to be a great example of musical creativity, and (unless you REALLY hate Thomas the Tank Engine ) the "offensive" bit is just a rap song which is not even subversive enough not to be on iTunes.With my warning I assumed - and still do - that anyone who was offended by, well, offensive things wouldn't therefore watch it, and that people would make that decision for themselves.Regardless, it seems that I may have put your nose out of joint, and I regret that.For the record and to clarify, my previous comments to pitterpatter were not regarding "songs about God" in general - I often listen to them when they are put up here and have even advised (albeit sheepishly) on one or two - my comments were in response to this "God did that in vengeance for [insert partisan political belief or prejudice here]"-type comment in the post a few after the first one. So pitterpatter believes that abortion is wrong and that Israel should not be split into a two-state solution (and I happen to think otherwise for at least one of those things), but that shouldn't mean you go around saying that God has, or will, exact vengeance on those who do. As I previously said, I can't personally see the difference between that mindset and that of, for example (by simply replacing abortion with homosexuality) Fred Phelps/Westboro Baptist Church - their actions so utterly despicable even we in the UK are aware of them - and is completely at odds with what I believe the major religions at their core generally preach; that of brotherly love, kindness, charity, self control etc.Though a Brit with no First Amendment rights, I still do not believe in "censoring" these types of comments by an authority because the best ideas will out and the only way to get to them is to expose all ideas to the scrutiny of public discussion. Which is ace fun when I have the time. I just don't think this is the best place for it, don't think it creates a happy atmosphere, and is not what I perceive (rightly or wrongly) to be in the spirit of this place - and I will respectfully call people on it when I think they have crossed a line, as we are all within our Taxi-given rights to do.Yet at the same time, with a strong appreciation of the irony involved, I'm happy to post something (with suitable warnings) containing expletive-riddled gangsta rap - and you called me on it.tt

[sgs4u]

Mar 7, 2009, 11:14am, toddt wrote:...it seems that I may have put your nose out of joint, and I regret that.tt Absolutely nothing to regret. My nose was not out of joint whatsoever. I thought there was considerable irony in the fact you were telling someone about avoiding a subject, when you'd just posted a vid with Biggie swearing like the rapper he is. I love both Thomas the Tank Engine (we have about $500 worth of the crap gathering dust now that the boys have outgrown it) and Biggie's rap. They both are part of my musical life and Biggie rappin over the Thomas theme was every bit as funny as you think it is. I just don't like censorship in general, and I'd rather we all leave the censorship up to Jimi. But Casey has valid opinions too. I'm good with all of it. Don't worry, be happy!

[heinsite]

i lost one friend here over religion and all of our rights to believe or not, and i'll be damned if i want this board to talk about it--unless it's relevent to a CCM listing!!i personally believe the subject of this problemt is not some conspiracy to/from/or about God, but a simple mistake that can be fixed.i believe everyone has the right to believe in what they believe...but should not HURT another with those beliefs--at least not INTENTIONALLY. too simple? probably. i'm of a pretty simple mind nowadays, black and white, good and bad, not as many grays as there used to be.damn do i hate this forum--but only sometimes!all the best,warren

[jonathanm]

Yeah, pitter was just posting a song, not trying to start a debate. We get songs about all kinds of stuff here. I like some. I don't like the message in several of them. No big deal.