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 Posted:   Sep 29, 2023 - 9:12 AM   
 By:   nuts_score   (Member)

The other day I caught a snippet of Blackboard Jungle on a cable channel. It was the scene when the Puerto Rican kid talked into the tape recorder. The bully calls him a spic, he calls the bully a mick, and then the teacher uses the moment to segue into a wonderful classroom discussion on dangerous insults. When he introduces the N word it was blipped out, as if he uttered an obscenity. It threw me having seen this movie numerous times since I was a kid. That was the lingo back in the day and while I have no problem with the word treated as an obscenity today I hate blanket censorship devoid of context. Glad that TCM and others treat older films as the instructive museum pieces they are.

It's interesting that the "N word" was censored here. It is a word the FCC does not require being censored on cable airwaves, hence why the comedian Dave Chappelle brought such relevant attention to it on his Comedy Central series Chappelle's Show. TV series on channels like ABC, NBC, and FX have also used the word, uncensored, in various contexts in recent memory as well.

 
 Posted:   Sep 29, 2023 - 9:18 AM   
 By:   Nicolai P. Zwar   (Member)


I do think advertisers and politicians should be held to account.


Sure, they should be. And they are. (Of course, not always everybody is held to account the way we want, that's clear, the system sure ain't perfect.)

It's just, if in doubt (and there is often doubt), it's better to err in favor of free speech than it is to err in favor of censorship.

 
 Posted:   Sep 29, 2023 - 9:43 AM   
 By:   Solium   (Member)

The other day I caught a snippet of Blackboard Jungle on a cable channel. It was the scene when the Puerto Rican kid talked into the tape recorder. The bully calls him a spic, he calls the bully a mick, and then the teacher uses the moment to segue into a wonderful classroom discussion on dangerous insults. When he introduces the N word it was blipped out, as if he uttered an obscenity. It threw me having seen this movie numerous times since I was a kid. That was the lingo back in the day and while I have no problem with the word treated as an obscenity today I hate blanket censorship devoid of context. Glad that TCM and others treat older films as the instructive museum pieces they are.

It's interesting that the "N word" was censored here. It is a word the FCC does not require being censored on cable airwaves, hence why the comedian Dave Chappelle brought such relevant attention to it on his Comedy Central series Chappelle's Show. TV series on channels like ABC, NBC, and FX have also used the word, uncensored, in various contexts in recent memory as well.


Its just the company afraid of backlash either from some disgruntled viewer or advertisers. I hope for the day they understand you can't please everyone and the more you cave the more they're not satisfied.

 
 Posted:   Sep 29, 2023 - 10:14 AM   
 By:   Octoberman   (Member)

Just to be clear (because I don't want my previous comment to be misunderstood), I do not believe freedom of speech is a God-given right*.
I said it because that is something one hears a lot of so-called religious people say.
And I disagree with that idea strongly.
They, of course, can freely say it all they want--it makes no difference to me.

(* There probably is no such thing as a God-given right, for that matter. But that's a whole different discussion.)

 
 Posted:   Sep 29, 2023 - 10:28 AM   
 By:   Solium   (Member)

Just to be clear (because I don't want my previous comment to be misunderstood), I do not believe freedom of speech is a God-given right*.
I said it because that is something one hears a lot of so-called religious people say.
And I disagree with that idea strongly.
They, of course, can freely say it all they want--it makes no difference to me.

(* There probably is no such thing as a God-given right, for that matter. But that's a whole different discussion.)


I consider it a Solium's given right. I don't need anyone else's permission.

 
 Posted:   Sep 29, 2023 - 10:45 AM   
 By:   Bill Carson, Earl of Poncey   (Member)

"The more you cave, the more they're not satisfied."

Solium's best line ever

 
 Posted:   Sep 29, 2023 - 12:15 PM   
 By:   ibelin   (Member)

In the modern world there's nothing inherently authoritarian about religion. Most religions leave open the option for one to do whatever one wants, while reminding one of the repercussions that follow disobedience. The severity of the repercussions really depends on the religion. If a Christian rejects Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, then he'll supposedly go to Hell. If a Jew doesn't keep kosher, then... nothing happens to him. The Talmud states that a Jew who doesn't keep kosher shall be subjected to thirty-nine lashes, but I highly doubt that rule is being kept anywhere in the world. Apostasy in Islam is punishable by death in some Middle Eastern countries, but that has more to do with structure of government than it does with Islam itself (though I do think that Islam is the most flawed of the Abrahamic religions).

In the modern world, where it's becoming increasingly difficult to believe in anything supernatural, most of these repercussions ring hollow. Religions have had to make many concessions over the years to society, which is shaped primarily by technological development. Religion (with the exception of Islam) is now mostly harmless.

 
 
 Posted:   Sep 29, 2023 - 12:29 PM   
 By:   Bob DiMucci   (Member)

Just to be clear (because I don't want my previous comment to be misunderstood), I do not believe freedom of speech is a God-given right*.
I said it because that is something one hears a lot of so-called religious people say.
And I disagree with that idea strongly.



I'll bite. Do you believe that freedom of speech IS a right? If, so, from where does such a right originate?

 
 
 Posted:   Sep 29, 2023 - 12:29 PM   
 By:   Ado   (Member)

In the modern world there's nothing inherently authoritarian about religion. Most religions leave open the option for one to do whatever one wants, while reminding one of the repercussions that follow disobedience. The severity of the repercussions really depends on the religion. If a Christian rejects Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, then he'll supposedly go to Hell. If a Jew doesn't keep kosher, then... nothing happens to him. The Talmud states that a Jew who doesn't keep kosher shall be subjected to thirty-nine lashes, but I highly doubt that rule is being kept anywhere in the world. Apostasy in Islam is punishable by death in some Middle Eastern countries, but that has more to do with structure of government than it does with Islam itself (though I do think that Islam is the most flawed of the Abrahamic religions).

In the modern world, where it's becoming increasingly difficult to believe in anything supernatural, most of these repercussions ring hollow. Religions have had to make many concessions over the years to society, which is shaped primarily by technological development. Religion (with the exception of Islam) is now mostly harmless.


The rise of Christian Nationalism is not harmless. The close association between white nationalism and christian nationalism is well established at this point. A lot of the rioters prosecuted for January 6 wore Christian iconography, and embellish their favorite political icon with religious symbology, which makes it more of a cult than a religion. Either way, it is certainly not harmless. Even after being prosecuted for crimes a lot of these people stick with the same ideology, that violence and the overthrow of democracy is perfectly valid.

I wish this was not the reality in the US, but.. it is

 
 Posted:   Sep 29, 2023 - 1:18 PM   
 By:   Col. Flagg   (Member)

Religion (with the exception of Islam) is now mostly harmless.

Ha! The moment religion is used to galvanize a group into war, it's no longer harmless. Wars – mechanized, cultural or both – are currently ongoing in every single country, county, state, province, territory on the planet.

 
 Posted:   Sep 29, 2023 - 1:40 PM   
 By:   Solium   (Member)

"The more you cave, the more they're not satisfied."

Solium's best line ever


Well hell, I’ll never be able to top that! Guess I should just retire from commenting ever again.

 
 Posted:   Sep 29, 2023 - 2:09 PM   
 By:   ibelin   (Member)

Ha! The moment religion is used to galvanize a group into war, it's no longer harmless. Wars – mechanized, cultural or both – are currently ongoing in every single country, county, state, province, territory on the planet.

How many of those wars were caused by religion? From Wikipedia: 'According to the Encyclopedia of Wars, out of all 1,763 known/recorded historical conflicts, 121, or 6.87%, had religion as their primary cause.' 6.87% is not nothing, but there are more important factors that lead to conflict or war. There have been terrible tragedies caused by religion, such as the attacks of 11 September 2001, but the existential problems facing us today—climate change, the prospect of nuclear war, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, etc.—have very little to do with religion. In the modern era, religion is mostly harmless in the grand scheme of things.

Besides, the only contemporary religious conflicts I can think of are the situations in Kashmir, in Northern Ireland, and in Israel and Palestine. There are certainly others, but, owing to my ignorance of international relations, I can't name them. But I bet most of them involve Islam in some way. wink The Sunni and the Shia don't seem to be too fond of each other these days.

 
 Posted:   Sep 29, 2023 - 2:46 PM   
 By:   Nicolai P. Zwar   (Member)

Religion (with the exception of Islam) is now mostly harmless.

Ha! The moment religion is used to galvanize a group into war, it's no longer harmless. Wars – mechanized, cultural or both – are currently ongoing in every single country, county, state, province, territory on the planet.


If there is one state of being that seems most natural, it's war.




I don't mind.

 
 Posted:   Sep 29, 2023 - 3:26 PM   
 By:   Col. Flagg   (Member)

How many of those wars were caused by religion? From Wikipedia: 'According to the Encyclopedia of Wars, out of all 1,763 known/recorded historical conflicts, 121, or 6.87%, had religion as their primary cause.' 6.87% is not nothing, but there are more important factors that lead to conflict or war. There have been terrible tragedies caused by religion, such as the attacks of 11 September 2001, but the existential problems facing us today—climate change, the prospect of nuclear war, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, etc.—have very little to do with religion. In the modern era, religion is mostly harmless in the grand scheme of things.

Besides, the only contemporary religious conflicts I can think of are the situations in Kashmir, in Northern Ireland, and in Israel and Palestine. There are certainly others, but, owing to my ignorance of international relations, I can't name them. But I bet most of them involve Islam in some way. wink The Sunni and the Shia don't seem to be too fond of each other these days.


I think you have too narrow a view of "religion."

 
 Posted:   Sep 29, 2023 - 4:33 PM   
 By:   ibelin   (Member)

I think you have too narrow a view of "religion."

Christianity has circa 2.4 billion followers and Islam has circa 1.9 billion followers, so it only makes sense to focus on those two. Hinduism and Buddhism also have tons of followers, but those religions are way more harmless when compared to Islam or even Christianity. What harm is there in believing in an elephant god? And what harm is there in seeking nirvana? A Buddhist monk wouldn't hurt a fly. So numbers are important. But I will say that the number of followers a religion has isn't the sole determiner of how much influence it has. Judaism is a fairly small religion with only circa 14.7 million followers, yet it has had a big impact on world affairs.

Have you been including secular 'religions', such as scientism and communism, in your definition of the word 'religion'? If so, then you should've mentioned that in your previous post. Secular 'religions' are a whole other ball game. I was restricting my definition to include only religions whose followers believe in the supernatural.

I'd personally prefer to live in a world where people believe in the supernatural rather than the material, but that's just me.

 
 Posted:   Sep 29, 2023 - 4:39 PM   
 By:   ibelin   (Member)

If there is one state of being that seems most natural, it's war.




I don't mind.


War, what is it good for?

 
 Posted:   Sep 29, 2023 - 5:11 PM   
 By:   Col. Flagg   (Member)

Judaism is a fairly small religion with only circa 14.7 million followers, yet it has had a big impact on world affairs.

Just because close-minded, ignorant racists suggest this doesn't make it true, Ibelin.

 
 Posted:   Sep 29, 2023 - 8:06 PM   
 By:   nuts_score   (Member)

If a Christian rejects Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, then he'll supposedly go to Hell.

I've really gotta inquire about this one: why on Earth would a Christian reject Jesus of Nazareth as their Lord and Savior? This is a seemingly oxymoronic statement.

 
 Posted:   Sep 29, 2023 - 8:48 PM   
 By:   Octoberman   (Member)

Just to be clear (because I don't want my previous comment to be misunderstood), I do not believe freedom of speech is a God-given right*.
I said it because that is something one hears a lot of so-called religious people say.
And I disagree with that idea strongly.



I'll bite. Do you believe that freedom of speech IS a right? If, so, from where does such a right originate?



I don't think it is a right in particular.
Speaking for myself, I will always give someone opinion the time of day if they speak with insight and intelligence.
Good manners don't hurt either.

 
 Posted:   Sep 29, 2023 - 10:13 PM   
 By:   ibelin   (Member)

I've really gotta inquire about this one: why on Earth would a Christian reject Jesus of Nazareth as their Lord and Savior? This is a seemingly oxymoronic statement.

He'd be an ex-Christian. Use your head, man! eek If you need a simpler example, if someone sins without sincerely repenting to God afterward, then he'll go to Hell! So if you murder someone or if you play with your wiener, then you'd better pray to God to ask for His forgiveness.

 
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