Is there EVER a reason for censorship? Are there any words or images which are SO distasteful, that mere exposure to them harms a "reasonable person"?

Children should be protected, certainly, but that IS the parents' job. Are children seeking out certain forms of expression or images? How are they hearing about them initially? Still, isn't it a parent's job to control what content their children view or hear?

are you talking about my photo fine I'll take it down

Have you seen 2 girls 1 cup.....???

THAT WAS NASTY

The bane of our existence.... One person's pursuit to the right to express themselves can often offend and defile others' rights to NOT see and hear.

There are several images that I've seen as a child and an adult that have stigmatized my psyche.

As for parents being in control, one can only control so much, protect so much. There are people who purposefully and not on purpose that behave in such a way as to cause trauma, in real life, not just on tv. There are pictures of dead bloated bodies on the news and in magazines from the tsunami. A parent cannot cover the kids' eyes 100% of the time. NOR THEIR EARS.

self censorship is always necessary. Very few other times is it warranted. National security is one that comes to mind. Other than that, only use of obscene or denigrating language on the airwaves needs to be censored because of the ppl who do not have the ability to censor themselves.

Nope. I'm not "offended" by anything. I can probably view anything in a detached manner. But then, I'm not actively looking for images or words that are going to offend me either.

that's fake. i mean the "substance" was fake

Censorship in and of itself is a violation of our right to freedom of speech! Nothing should be censored...AT ALL!

Just words. Or images. It opens up possibilities for discussion. You know what I say about people who express ideas that I don't agree with? "Well, at least we know you're out there...and where you're at." Keep the stuff underground, and you have no warning.

perhaps a bit outdated but do you include such things as war plans, nuke target lists as things that should not be censored but should be freely published without any repercussions? As for other things, I censor what I read and see and hear myself. If I don't like it, I turn it off or don't read it...lol...that is "incoming" censorship Do you run a spam filter on your puter? That is censorship, and isn't spam covered under "free speech/"

I am so controversial on this issue I will leave you with one thought
two people are in bed and expressing some most human expression there is a loving relationship

also there is this guy which has an axe in his hand blood is dripping of it crawls to another man and chops him in two.
One is R rated the other is PG 13 which one do you think and which would you prefer your child to see. enough said I have never used this smiley before

Information wants to be free. The only thing our government keeps secret are things they feel they'd have to lie about...whereas if they were open and upfront to begin with, there would be no reason to lie.

Honesty is the BEST policy, remember?

your thinking is in similar lines to me with reservations

so you think that there is no information that should not be free and available? You gotta be kidding, tell me that honesty would require that we share all our secrets with the entire global society. The precise design criteria for a nuke on the front page of the NY Times? The actual routing of Air Force 1 on a trip to the middle east on the front page of Arab Times? Some things are necessarily kept "censored." Since "information wants to be free" why don't you "free" yours, bank account numbers crediot card numbers, piin numbers, etc. It wants to be free to be disseminated also, I would think.

I don't have a bank account...I pick up a paycheck and go with cash.

I have no problem walking around with five, six hundred bucks in my pocket.

As far as the other stuff...if everyone knows everything about everything, you're all on equal footing!

that would be all well, if everyone had the moral standards not to misuse the information. The problem is, not everyone has those moral standards.

So you EXPECT what other people could do if they had the information. One of the reasons I don't HAVE credit...I don't WANT it.

In their own homes I agree. It is the parents responsibility. However, when out in the public, it is an entirely different matter. Take for instance the rating on music now (nc17 I think it is for a lot of "rap style" music, due to languaghe and violence): It is illegal for someune under the age of 17 to purchase certain music, for the very same reason it is illegal to go to what classically was rated "r" for a movie (dont knwo the current rating structure as well as I would like) if you are under 17.
This is to help ensure that parents CAN control at home what their kids listen to (or watch).
And let's say you are in a public park with your 7 year old daughter. Do you really want them listening to someone else play "hey nigger I'm gonna beat your white ass, then **** your ***** mother up her ass....."? I wouldnt think so. BUT, without the censorship, the only legal option yuo would have would be to remove your daughter from the public park, which would be unfair to her.

So yes, I agree with the censorship.

grow up. plain and simple, grow up.

You ahve the freedom of speach yes. You do NOT however have the freedom to abuse and offend other people.