I am kind of mad that the following XBOX360 commerical was banned from TV.
http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2684604
Now, there is a point where censorship becomes ridiculus. This is one of them. This has got to be one of the funniest commercials I have ever seen and yet people are still getting their panties in a bunch over nothing.
Government censorship is wrong in all forms. The only people who have the right to censor something is parents (for really young kids) and the choice that an individual can make not to view, read, do something.
I am sick and tired of all these groups telling me what I can and cannnot see. Thank god for the internet 
What are your thoughts? Do you want your government to tell you what you can see and when you can see it? | Quote: |
| What are your thoughts? Do you want your government to tell you what you can see and when you can see it? |
No I don't. Censorship, in my opinion, to any extent is WRONG. I don't care how explicit, violent, sexual or illegal it may be, I want to see it. Viewing something is ones own choice and should not be censored or banned from view.
Take China and such other countries for instance. The censorship rates in those countries are WAY out of proportion. The government in China censors U.S. politicial sites from being viewed. People in those countries rely on proxies and bypass sites to view what they SHOULD be able to view freely. Even then, the government in China finds and bans such sites thus making it a task just for the inhabitants to visit and view such sites.
All in all, screw censorship. | LumberJack wrote: |
| What are your thoughts? Do you want your government to tell you what you can see and when you can see it? |
No I don' t want to my government to tell me what to see and what not to see. Too bad it is happening all over the world. Sometimes it is only commercial but there are far more serious things covered up. for intance, consider the war in Iraq, the government doesn't inform the American people what really was going on at first. I thing right now the inhabitants of the USA are informed better, because it is not possible to cover up everything anymoreIt is not the governmet's job to inform the people of anything. (or to censor anything)
The ones doing a poor job of informing the public are the media.
Government is very out of proportion: it has made itself responsible for far more than it should.
| ocalhoun wrote: |
| It is not the governmet's job to inform the people....The ones doing a poor job of informing the public are the media. |
The only problem is that the media is often controlled by the government...Not all media is controlled by the government anymore. I agree with LumberJack | Quote: |
| Thank god for the Internet |
at least we don't have to try to get around the government censorship by passing paper by hand! FCC
It's not a matter of censorship, its a matter of the US goverment allowing you do use their stuff. The Goverment owns the airwaves and everyone who wants to use those airwaves has to pay for the usage of. It like a parent who lets thier kids live at home and charge them rent and lay down some simple rules. Did you know that all the frequencies in the US are divided up into categories for commercial and military use? Even the military has to request to use certain frequencies. It won't be long before the FCC gets their grip on Satellite data because it passes through US airspace.
Freedom of Speech means to have the freedom to speak your mind, it does not give you permission to US goverment owned property to do it.
Doh!
Peace,
Atomic
It's a controversial topic. I'm not taking a stand in it here, but wanted to illustrate the following. You will not often hear somebody speak out he supports censorship. Simply because that opinion is somewhat censored by the common opinion! For example if some guy would reply to this topic he supports censorship to a certain extent, you can be sure he gets masses of attacking replies. So most will refrain, and their opinion is suppressed by the public opinion. That's also censorship! He's not forced to be silent physically (removing the post, forbidding publication etc.) but mentally.
Get some willpower!
Are people really that afraid of rejection or rebuttal?
A lot of people are. Not hard to understand, considering the 'punishment' you get for going against the communis opinio. On a lot of forums you can get banned for that. (Nice example of censorship btw.)
Also, if they do speak out, the mass offense campaign started against them will often depict them as idiots etc. which is even beyond censorship. So though speaking they're still in a way censored.
I hate all sorts of censorship, but - as far as I know obviously - luckily I live in a country where censorship barely exists (apart from some universities who don't like controversial debates taking place, but that's a different matter).
And when I look at that advertisement, I think: WTF? That is nowhere near being violent. They don't even use prop guns. They're just playing in the same way that 5-year olds play. There's is absolutely nothing that deserves censorship, it's just make-believe.. without even using any violence. FCC suxxors and I'm glad I don't live in the US.
Land of the free, my ass!
edit: you know, an ass is an animal, I don't see why it should be censored on these forums. It's just like that mixed drink, called a cocktail.
Political-correctness reaches new, even more mundane depths.
I was recently informed by a member of this great nations armed forces that the soldiers currently serving in Iraq at different times (including the run up to the elections) are banned from watching any news other than foxnews. That ain't right.
I agree with most of the post but I also think that in certain circumstances the censorship is needed. There are people that don't need to see things at certain moments, like kids watching "adult" movies, or scenes of extreme violence. I know that violence is there and we need to deal with it but I also think that if we can avoid it then we should do. Media is a really, way too powerfull tool and we don't no even have a clue of the reach on us. As I said before not everybody is ready to see, hear or know everything.
Funny movie 
Can`t see why to censor it. I watched the clip and although I don't like it too much, I am against its ban. You are what you eat and we eat media - I'll take a pass on this one. Evenso, I would much rather have MS have it out with public opinion.
Something to consider though is that it may well be that the clip was designed not to pass the FCC regulations. Viral marketing through the internet is a heck of a lot cheaper than buying addspace on tv, and we seem to self-select and organize ourselves into social networks so that the advertising reaches the target audience very very fast. Some information on "viral marketing":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_marketing
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/aug2000/nf20000830_601.htm
The customers of MS are those of us with money to spend, being in the mid-twenties to mid thirties age range, and that carry on from their youth a certain addiction for video games. The clip mixes all kinds of archetypes in a very clever way. One of the most striking is that everyone has that glossy "older-young" look, and everyone dresses like a yup. The setting seems to be a large mall.
Here is some other viral news - some of the new xbox terminals have been found to overheat:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/xbox_suit.html | Quote: |
| Something to consider though is that it may well be that the clip was designed not to pass the FCC regulations. Viral marketing through the internet is a heck of a lot cheaper than buying addspace on tv, and we seem to self-select and organize ourselves into social networks so that the advertising reaches the target audience very very fast. |
Good thought withaar.
Censorship is important. I know it makes your porn more expensive but what we must think of is our society as a whole. Additionally, there is the ratings war in the media that will do whatever it takes to get a larger audience. I would like to think that we could lift all banns and our society would regulate its self. However, graphic images and pornography are not something our minds where meant to consume too often. We become desensitized and addicted just like its a drug. Censorship, like drug enforcement, protects our society.Another thing to think about in this whole debate:
This ad, pornographic images, and other 'censored' materials, are still available, but in a limited way. I think if these things disappeared completely it would be a whole different ball of wax.
I don't like censorship, and I'm not at all pleased that the thought-police get to choose what we see and what we don't.
But on the other hand, I don't want to be bombarded with pornography and violence at every turn. I think these things need to be in appropriate places... Like not on TV during the news hour or on the front row bottom shelf of the grocery store, where people (particularly with small children) don't have the choice to self-censor.
These companies are in the business of putting there images in as many places as they can, regardless of appropriatness. Someone has to draw a line somewhere.
For me, deciding where these images can be displayed is a necessary evil.
Does anyone know what the reason was for banning that fantastic video? I could see how it might mirror extreme violence, or even terrorism in an airport... But to me it seems to be trying to make fun of those things. This is precicely why it is really a threatening commercial - it's saying, look how you get up in arms about violence in video games! There are no real guns you idiots! This is all so silly, we're just having fun!
But of course, I doubt that was the reason why it was banned...
I agree that censorship is absolutely ridiculous. If someone wants to watch a certain video, they can watch it. If they are unable to make the decision to whether it's okay to watch something or not, someone should be there to censor things manually (like parents censoring things for children).
The real reason so many underage people watch things they're not supposed to is because they're not supposed to. Just like drugs. Younger people only want to do them because it's illegal. If we legalized all drugs, as we would lift all censors, people would only use them if they want to, instead of just because it's not allowed.
I loved it and thought it was really funny. I really don't see how the simulated action can be construed as psychologically harmful violoence.
| LumberJack wrote: |
I am kind of mad that the following XBOX360 commerical was banned from TV.
http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2684604
Now, there is a point where censorship becomes ridiculus. This is one of them. This has got to be one of the funniest commercials I have ever seen and yet people are still getting their panties in a bunch over nothing.
Government censorship is wrong in all forms. The only people who have the right to censor something is parents (for really young kids) and the choice that an individual can make not to view, read, do something.
I am sick and tired of all these groups telling me what I can and cannnot see. Thank god for the internet
What are your thoughts? Do you want your government to tell you what you can see and when you can see it? |
Agree!!I saw the advert for the xbox 360 and it is really funny. I don't know why they would ban that from tv. I mean after all if it is legal in some states to cary guns and shoot now and ask question later then the add should be alowed to be shown on tv.
| Code: |
No I don't. Censorship, in my opinion, to any extent is WRONG. I don't care how explicit, violent, sexual or illegal it may be, I want to see it. Viewing something is ones own choice and should not be censored or banned from view.
Take China and such other countries for instance. The censorship rates in those countries are WAY out of proportion. The government in China censors U.S. politicial sites from being viewed. People in those countries rely on proxies and bypass sites to view what they SHOULD be able to view freely. Even then, the government in China finds and bans such sites thus making it a task just for the inhabitants to visit and view such sites.
All in all, screw censorship. |
Agreed 
It's maybe because the "government" think that that advert will effect the mantality of childern (remember game is promoted for childern, and teenagers ) Going off on a slight tangent, censorship of an advert like this only makes the advert more interesting, more people will want to see it, more people wil buy the product. A very cheap way of promoting a product, compared to paying for air time at peak hours.
As to the basic concept of all censorship being wrong, this makes a presumption that all adults are responsible and will be able to self censor 'unsuitable' materials, especially where children are concerned. If only this was the case.
I tried to find information on the ban decision, but was unable to find any. The best I could find is this article on gamespot:
http://www.gamespot.com/pages/news/story.php?sid=6140730&page=4
To quote:
| gamespot.com wrote: |
| When contacted about the ad, Microsoft told GameSpot, "While these particular rumors are not substantiated, Microsoft did make the conscious decision to only preview the ad to select audiences and not to air on network TV. The ad is called Standoff and we did 'preview' it with the lucky gamers who attended the recent Zero Hour launch event in Palmdale, Calif., which presented an ideal hard core gaming audience to introduce this ad spot to." |
If I am right in assuming it never was submitted for approval, than this is pretty classic in viral marketing. Make a controversial ad, release it to selected members of your target audience, and let the net do the work for you. In their response the MS representative does neither confirm nor deny that the ad was banned. If they were honest about it, they would say one or the other - I am guessing they did not. They do however clearly say that they never intended to run the ad on network tv.
So here you are, perhaps hoodwinked by a company that is using your anger at the establishment for promoting their goods - not that you shouldn't be angry at your establishment.
