is there ever a legitimate need for censorship?

Answer 1

The most legitimate kind of censorship is self-censorship.

Answer 2

I agree with the elderly gentleman. Self-censorship is the most legitimate form of censorship. The next most legitimate would be censoring something that would cause a particular group to suffer beyond being merely insulted.

Answer 3

Positively. There is a legitimate nature to everything that exists. Censorship is a barometer by which one may measure the degree to which a given form of leadership is attempting to control us. It is a red flag to encourage attention to a given subject which, if it were not being censored would probably elicit very little interest. It provides those of us whom desire less control over our environment a sense of added security, whether false or not. And, above all else, it is a source of endless debate in philosophical, social, and religious forums. Good luck and God Bless.

Answer 4

When you have censorship, you receive media information according to what the serves the interest and advancement of the prevailing partisan administration.

When censorship is removed, we then have what can be termed as a market place, where the loudest and most vociferous are heard. At the expense and in the stead of the great and good, and the peacemakers.

Hmmmm draw your own conclusion....

Answer 5

There is no purely ethical need for it but there certainly seems to be a political need for it.

Censorship is an attempt to control people's thoughts but it often falls short of this and only controls the use of certain words. Quite silly really.

The real issue here is that words don't hurt people, its the intent behind the words that hurt people. You can hurt someone with perfectly plain language and you can have 'good clean fun' with words that are considered taboo.

Answer 6

Yes , some things written go beyond the scope of free speech/expression. If the document solicites or intices violence or a unlawful or immoral act (say child porn or sexual inticement) then it needs to be censored or banned. Books or web sites that advocate suicide,child sex,or violent behavior need to have access to their content controlled. The decider should be does it advocate or intice an action or just express a veiw or idea. You have a right to freedom of speech too, however you cant Yell "FIRE" in a crowded theatre and use that as an excuse.

Answer 7

Only if you want to have absolute control over someone elses thinking so as to maintain some sort of status quo with whatever reality you are dealing with whether it be a paranoid one where you need to avoid people thinking certain things or one of just wanting to keep the kids away from certain material, like something that may put down the family ideal or social ideal and bring instability into the factor.

Answer 8

Censorship is essentially the imposing of someone else's beliefs on someone else, so no.

Answer 9

Yes.

"The truth has never been of any real value to any human being--it is a symbol for mathematicians and philosophers to pursue. In human relations kindness and lies are worth a thousand truths."
- - - Graham Greene

Answer 10

Depends on which side of the stick you stand on !