Poetic Justice

Hey all,

I was wondering what you all thought about censorship of poetry. Should people, on this site say, not be allowed to write about certain things, or in a manner that could be viewed as offensive?

I'd love to hear your opinions.

Kevin.

I dont believe in censorship of any kind. people should have the right to read/watch/look at whatever they like. films on tv are censored. why is that? my tv has a button which when pressed the tv goes off, that is the only censorship i need in my house. if i dont like it i dont view it simple really.

Angelina, take it easy, I'm not saying it's going to happen, I'm just interested, don't take my Modship as a Vanguard to bad news.

Personally, I do not think poetry should be censored. On a public website like this, it should be put into an explicit section, like we already have, with a clear and precise explanation of what you are likely to find should you read on. Sure this is enough? Like Davids Tv remote, you can switch it off if you don't like it.

Censorship should only happen in writing, I believe, if some is being unjustly attacked, or anti social messages are being circulated in a way that makes them hard to ignore.

Ps, Dave, that eye pic it freaking me out man...I keep feeling my heartbeat snyc in with it...and, who knows what sympathetic Pupil reaction it's provoking in my mind.

Trying to censor my eye pic aswell lol

Bob, as I've said before, if you want to define what is and isn't artistic poetry, you have to actually define it in realistic and simple terms. You must also have a definition of what is pornographic and also what is offensive, that encompasses and represents everyone on this website, or at least, the vast majority.

I am not saying you personally should do this, but if we are going to have rules for it, or against it, we must be able to justify ourselves with a clear background.

I know personally, there is alot of poetry that I don't like or understand that comes from published world respected writers, and I don't think they are very poetic, but who am I to say? It's the same with art, we all have different definitions, and that is fine, but on a shared public website, it's very complicated.

And to be fair. If a young person, lets say 10 years old, is surfing the internet, and the go to the explicit section and click yes to being over 18 and understanding the nature of the content, how is the our responsibility or fault? They could just as easily be watching porn rather than reading a poem that someone deems pornagraphic.

I'm agains the whole idea...

In general, poetry should be censored, or on this website? On this website, yes, I believe it should be. What's poetic about softcore porn? Yuck, if you can't write about sex beautifully, I pity you and your artistic skill, as well as your sexual experience. If there was a way to actually censor the young ones on this site from such writing, that would be fine--but clicking an extra button is not holding back anyone. I'm a bit selfish, so this issue doesn't bother me overly much, but hey...think of the kids! Haha, in general, poetry should not be limited. You can write an explicit/slang poem about f8329ng, that doesn't mean readers have to accept your work as poetry. I, for one, won't. But hey, you still can.

I get where you are coming from Jane.

The problem we face as Mods is that it usually falls to us to review complaints on poems, and seeing as every Mod has their own definitions of what is pornagraphic and what is not, along with what is good writing and what is not, I think we need to have a clear definition that everyone understands and can live with, so that we have a solid basis to judge each complaint.

I agree. I'll get back to you on this one.

I don't think anything should really be censored -- all that should be required is a warning; i.e. "explicit content" ... yadayada. Freedom of speech, Freedom of choice.

I think that having the section for explicit poems is probably enough since once again it falls to the parent to know what their kids are doing on the computer, on the other hand ,I say what I feel is appropriate and acceptable in the home that I own, I would not want someone to bring pornography into my home,If the owner wants a certain respectable image for his site I think that is his right.

Haha, if this site is meant to be kid friendly, of course there shouldn't be explicit poems. It would be a shame if there were none, but I'm not sure...this is confusing, and I honestly don't have to give a crap.

Kinda like telling artists what they cant draw.
or one of those constatution things? err.. freedom of. ..

i dunno..

^ You make a good point, but what constitutes art?

And reading all the replies on this site proves me that not
many members deserve to have that privilege!"

This reminds me of Saddam's regime, where he had to use brutality to get the three factions [Kurds, Sunnis, Shias] in line and together...

I mean it doesn't matter that we all are born into this world to live for ourselves, yet we are affliated with groups, silenced by many for our voices....Where does it stop...No man knows...

Kevin^^ as too your " clear definition that everyone understands and can live with", i don't see that as a possibility. i don't believe that there is any possible way this could exist. it will always be open ended, the decision will always be ultimately in the hands of the censor. i feel as if it opens the door for true censorship. give them an inch they take a mile type thing. its similar to the necessary and proper clause in the US constitution. it basically gives the gov. the power to do whatever they see fit.

also, i feel that having the explicit section is enough. its time that kids started taking responsibility for their actions rather than blaming adults. in my town 2 kids broke into a man's house, took a gun, and one accidentally shot his friend. guess whose fault it was? the man. his house was broken into yet it was his fault. something is wrong. if the kids choose to enter, its their fault not ours.