What are the pros and cons of censorship? Is it necessary to protect society, and if so, how much and what do we censor? Or can we do without it? Censorship is such a part of the culture we don’t see it. And censorship is the most dangerous when it is invisible and unseen.
A Healthy society has fair and just standards. A healthy culture finds the right balance of rules and regulations that allow freedom of expression and still protect the interests of everyone. It must not allow special interest groups to institute control because this leads to the suppression and oppression of legitimate ideas and points of view.
What is censorship in a democratic society? Should everyone be able to voice their opinions? Don’t we vote on these standards? In theory, the only communication that should be prohibited would be that which causes harm or places people in danger. An example is shouting fire in a crowded theater when there isn’t a fire. These actions place people at risk and are against the law. If the theater is on fire, then it’s okay. (1)
The Pros And Cons of Censorship
There is a constant battle for control of what is acceptable and what is not. Those with the most control get to determine the standards. These standards need not be fair. You can create laws based on arbitrary guidelines as long as you have the power.
What is censorship in media? Media includes all forms and types of information and information delivery systems. It comes through some form of media if you see or hear it.
If you control the media space, then censorship and suppression at positive tools that help you control things. You tell people what you want them to see and hear, then tell them it’s for their own good.
If you don’t control the space, there aren’t any pros, just cons. If you don’t control the data, you don’t see or hear anything the people in charge want.
“All censorships exist to prevent anyone from challenging current conceptions and existing institutions. All progress is initiated by challenging current conceptions and executed by supplanting existing institutions. Consequently, the first condition of progress is the removal of censorship.” ― George Bernard Shaw, Mrs. Warren’s Profession
Censorship and Oppression
Implementing this balance in large social groups can become too cumbersome, so some people specialize in this area we call law. Ideally, they set standards that protect and support the people’s general welfare. In theory, these laws need to be fair so that everyone has the same opportunities, but this isn’t the case. Many laws are rules based on arbitrary or prejudiced points of view. (2)
Do censorship and oppression protect us, or is something else going on? Does the suppression support the cultural narrative or us? Or does it just keep us in the dark?
“Censorship is telling a man he can’t have a steak just because a baby can’t chew it.” ― Mark Twain
Subcultures set standards to support the interests of those who control the entity. These rules don’t have to be fair. A popular form of media censorship hides under the guise of community standards or similar innocuous terms. You must accept the pros and cons of censorship if you want to enter their space. Censorship and oppression are tools that make it appear as if the space is safe.
Censorship is a strategy to promote values while excluding opposing views. It’s a type of propaganda. Propaganda is any communication that advances biased and prejudiced arguments and distorts opposing points of view. Suppressing or excluding ideas is one of the mind control tactics of self-hypnosis, group hypnosis, or groupthink Manipulation. If you aren’t familiar with this, it’s an overall strategy for programming beliefs and actions.
Accepting media censorship protects the values of those in charge of the group. The bottom line, censorship, and oppression are linked. Censorship is a form of oppression.
What is Censorship Resistance
Many people think censorship violates our fundamental right to free speech. Do we have the need or the right to see unfiltered information? Unfortunately, if you don’t control the space, you don’t have the right to other points of view.
Facebook is a company that applies censorship arbitrarily. It censors the opinions of individuals while allowing large advertisers to promote false information.
So, we come to expect censorship and oppression of certain things. First, we know we don’t control the groups we join. Second, people are more comfortable seeing and hearing things that validate their thinking and values. However, this thinking also makes people easier to control.
Because we expect censorship, it becomes almost invisible. Many groups have community standards, Facebook and your Church, for example. It is another way of saying you agree with their values. If you disagree, you can’t take part.
So what is censorship resistance? There are two basic ways to resist the control of information. First, you can voice your opinion where you can. Second, you can leave control of the space. Some people do both. They leave the confines of the controlled space and place their opinions on other sites.
You are mistaken if you don’t think the media giants like Facebook don’t monitor their reputation in other spaces.
Censorship Resistance — How to Combat Censorship
1) Express your opinion to those who own the group. Chances are, it will not change their minds. They created these boundaries to protect their financial interests, such as advertisers or paying members.
2) Seek other outlets that allow more freedom of expression. Find others with the same interests.
3) Enhance your critical thinking skills. Follow the inner quest of consciousness development. The more aware you become, the more options you’ll find. We call these processes spiritual exploration. Become a freethinker. The better you can discern the facts from fiction, the better it is for everyone.
4) Above all, practice self-control. Practice guarding your words and actions; self-censorship keeps you from infringing upon the boundaries. It’s a form of self-policing that helps to keep us safe. Think of it as an exercise in self-control and self-protection.
Thinking before you act is mindfulness. Avoiding unnecessary conflict is an intelligent tactic. But this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t speak up. If you see injustice and prejudice, speak up to the source that can help. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t strive to be a freethinker. Learning to guard your words and actions can help you survive in any culture.
Questions About Censorship and Suppression
Why are most books banned? That’s simple. The book presents ideas, subjects, or facts that don’t support the prevalent cultural narrative.
“Secrecy is the keystone to all tyranny. Not force, but secrecy and censorship. When any government or church for that matter undertakes to say to its subjects, This you may not read, this you must not know, the result is tyranny and oppression, no matter how holy the motives. Mighty little force is needed to control a man who has been hoodwinked in this fashion; contrariwise, no amount of force can control a free man, whose mind is free. No, not the rack nor the atomic bomb, not anything. You can’t conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him.” ― Robert A Heinlein
What are the basic arguments for and against the suppression of information? As stated above, the primary argument for media censorship is that we need protection from some threats. Freedom of expression is the central argument against suppression. It is better to know than to stay in the dark.
Why Do We Accept Censorship?
Many things are subject to censoring. Books, films, and social media are banned or edited to remove things they don’t like. Restricting language, art, and pictures is a form of censorship. There are obvious and subtle types of censoring. Promoting biased and prejudiced opinions while excluding differing viewpoints or facts is censoring all other points of view.
Censorship in Religion
Western organized religions have perfected the art of censorship and suppression. They say the suppression of facts protects us. It is how they justify the persecution while giving preferential treatment to some. They sponsor wars and genocide in the name of God. No one can escape the authority of the Church. They intentionally blur the lines between the pros and cons of censorship so that their parishioners don’t see it happening.
Galileo Galilei is a good example. Despite creating many works of art for the Church, they tried him for heresy in 1632. His book Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (3) threatened their theology of cosmology. His theory of our solar system places the sun at the center instead of the Earth. This idea was a challenge to the teachings of the Church.
Western organized religion uses its social mass to get people to accept censorship and suppression on its behalf. It involves weekly meetings where people subject themselves to mythology masquerading as fact. Along with their mythology are values and ideas that political entities can manipulate.
Think about it. Anything is possible if you can get people to accept mythology as fact. Get them to believe in talking snakes and animals marching worldwide to get on a boat. Once you can do this, you can promote any ideas or values.
Remember, any content that presents a potential financial liability or threat to membership is the group owners’ enemy. That’s because maintaining a paying membership is a vital source of cash flow. So maintaining control of what you see and hear is essential.
Censorship and Suppression in the Corporate World
We accept censorship in the workplace. It’s a mistake to think corporate policies protect employees. Non-compete clauses and intellectual property policies extend and protect the rights of the company over the individual. Even policies like those against discrimination are in place to protect the company’s liability. Policies do not prevent undesirable behavior. They are an affirmative defense against lawsuits. It doesn’t protect you. It protects the corporation. Ending someone’s employment doesn’t change their behavior. They go to another company where they engage in the same behavior. Only now do they know how to hide their activities?
Learn the importance of unplugging from the cultural narrative. When you disconnect from it, then you have space to think. It helps you to spot the use of other forms of censorship.
Is Censorship Necessary?
The argument we hear is that censorship for our protection is necessary because it protects us from awful stuff. Hearing or seeing things that don’t support their agenda is a threat. But who decides what is threatening? Those in charge of the social group choose what is appropriate. They determine what is right and what is wrong. This way, you don’t have to decide for yourself. Above all, censoring protects the financial interests of those who profit from the group.
In Conclusion
Repressing information, ideas, and art is a standard social control tool. Those in power want us to accept their rationale for censorship. This strategy is a part of our culture; we do not see it, and that’s when it’s the most dangerous. So, learn to be a freethinker and spot this tactic. Once you can do this, then you can get around it.
Learn to question the cultural narrative which hides this tactic. The pros and cons of censorship are all one-sided in favor of those who control the space.
References
(1) Freedom of Speech:
(2) Freedom of Expression Challenged: Scientists’ Perspectives on Hidden Forms of Suppression and Self-censorship:
(3) Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems:
