Blog #3 - NO - You can't! - Karla Erdman, writer

Blog #3 - NO - You can't!

2/25/2015

Think of the actual word "ban" or "censor". Write your thoughts about the word and how it has ever affected you personally.

Photo source: Wikimedia, Creative Commons

33 Comments

Sahitya

2/25/2015 12:24:43 pm

The words "ban" and "censor" have a negative connotation that make me feel confined and restrained. Literature is a gift that is often taken for granted and it should not be concealed for any reasons. Although some material is not suitable for young children, they should have the option to read that material when they become older. Personally, the only way banned books have ever affected me were through the Banned Book Unit in English class. I read "Native Son," by Richard Wright and it did not disturb me, but rather left me with a better insight of the world. Overall, the words "ban" and "censor" should be banned themselves.

Michaelyn

2/26/2015 10:00:37 am

I agree with this full-heartedly. People should be able to decided for themselves what they read or what music they listen to, etc. If someone does not like something, they simply should not subject themselves to it. If they do not want their kids reading something, they should not let their kids read it. The words "ban" and "censor" do have a negative connotation to them and they make me a little angry because I believe people should not be restricted to what they read, listen to, or watch. I agree with Sahitya.

Michaelyn

3/1/2015 05:20:08 am

When I think of the actual words "ban" or "censor" I feel restricted to my own thoughts and ideas. I think they are negative words in the sense that they do not allow people to express themselves freely. The words have not affected my personally up until this year when I had to read a banned book for English class. It bothered me that my book was banned because everything that has happened in it happens in real life. I believe things that are banned or censored should not be hidden but instead used to teach kids. Example) if a book has abuse in it and a kid has to read it for school, teach them about how abuse is wrong instead of trying to make the book banned. Use it as a life lesson for the kid. I also think the words "ban" and "censored" go against Freedom of Speech. Everyone has a right to say what they want. I think people should be able to write books about what they want or make songs about what they want as well.

Chris

3/1/2015 11:59:27 am

I agree with this, the words "ban" and "censor" do go against Freedom of Speech. Everyone should have the right to publicize their opinion. And sometimes the opinions that are publicized can speak what many others are thinking as well.

Sarah Beth

3/2/2015 10:14:09 am

I agree with what you are saying, Michaelyn, but I think censoring strong material is beneficial for younger kids. Objectionable content would be a useful tool to teach once the kids are mature enough to handle it; However, I don't think that banning is necessary.

jason

3/2/2015 02:54:49 pm

I think that you are right about how banning something is taking away someones freedom. I like the way you viewed this

Chris

3/1/2015 11:51:06 am

When I hear the words, "ban" and "censor", I think of restriction. They give a negative effect on anything they are applied to. Through my experiences, I feel that everyone can be affected by these words. Whether it is through music, literature, or society, those words affect everyone. The way that I think of it, I feel everyone has a say in all kinds of censorship, if it's through journalism, literature, or music.

3/2/2015 11:10:45 am

I agree with Chris, the words "ban" and "censor" can have a negative effect on things that they are applied to. The true colors of some things need to be shown.

Hannah

3/1/2015 11:52:02 am

When I think of the actual words, "ban," or, "censor," I feel as though I am restricted from experiencing something in a negative way. I feel as though I am being treated as a petulant, young child, rather than a young adult. People should have the freedom to see, read, or listen to whatever they wish. By banning or censoring books, you are censoring events that happen in the real world. By doing this you are creating an ignorance to these real life situations. Personally, I wasn't majorly effected by banned books until we began this unit. I didn't really know that books even were ban. But once I became informed and read my assigned novel, The Color Purple, I became angered by the fact that since one person was offended, they wanted no one to be able to read this book. In my opinion, I think you learn more about the real world than you would with a book that is censored. The book has more meaning when the main character is being beat by her husband. If you were to censor this by saying he yelled at her, pushed her, the book wouldn't have the same meaning. Everyone has freedom of speech, shouldn't the same apply to the freedom to read something?

Brianna

3/2/2015 07:34:01 am

When I hear the words "ban" and "censor", I think of being restricted. When this words are put in front of something, it gives it a negative meaning then. The books that are "ban" or "censor" gives you someone else perspective about society. I think books shouldn't be "ban" or "censor" because they give you another look into life.

Connor

3/2/2015 08:30:12 am

When I hear the words "ban" or "censor", I think of being not being allowed to do something. I think of being restricted to read, watch, or listen to something that I want to read, watch, or listen to. Things that are banned or censored are usually something that gives you someone else's perspective, and somebody else doesn't like that perspective. When I hear the words "ban" or "censor", I think that I can't say what I want to say, which goes against freedom of speech.

Troy

3/2/2015 10:04:20 am

To me the words "ban" and "censor" are something that is trying to control me. i don't like that I like being free to make my own choices,and if that choice is to read a book someone else thinks should be banned or censored then that is what I'm going to do. I will not be chained down by words that should be freeing me and taking me to other places. The words have never affected me personally as I have never really gone to see things that are banned or censored. But that does not change my opinion of it.

Sarah Beth

3/2/2015 10:07:36 am

Personally, I feel that "ban" has a negative connotation, but "censor" could go either way. When I hear the word "ban" I think of prohibiting or suppressing things or ideas. "Censor" on the other hand makes me think of monitoring what someone reads, watches, or listens to. I feel like it is more a concern for what a person reads without telling them exactly what they can and cannot do. For example, my parents "censor" what I read by reading the book before I do and warning me about the material. They never tell me I can't read it, but they do advise me to skip a page or a chapter. I think censoring material is helpful, but I don't think banning is necessary. If you have a problem with a book, then just don't read it.

Ruzylle

3/2/2015 11:23:14 am

I agree with you Sarah! If someone has a problem with a book, then they shouldn't read it or even look at it. They shouldn't ban something just because couple parents don't find it appropriate. They should just ban their kids from reading it, not everyone.

3/2/2015 11:07:46 am

When I hear the words "ban" or "censor," I feel restricted, especially if they are being directed towards me. For example, for the longest time my parents had parental control on my television and that would make me bad because I couldn't watch what I wanted to. I know that my parents were just trying to protect me and it worked for a while, but as I grew up I've learned things and seen things that nobody can protect somebody from. I like to be free and creative and I can't do that if I am being restricted.

Ryan

3/2/2015 12:20:40 pm

RJ I agree with you that I isn't right for parents to always restrict what you watch. My parents also restricted what I watched.

Cameron

3/2/2015 02:35:33 pm

In all honesty, I wish my parents had censored some of the things I watched when I was younger. I'm traumatized by the movie "Child's Play" because my parents let me watch it when I was 5 or 6 and I've had a constant fear of dolls of any kind since, so consider yourself lucky.

Ruzylle

3/2/2015 11:16:53 am

The words "ban" and "censor" are words that restrict someone from doing or seeing something. Banning something can be a good or bad thing. It could be banning very inappropriate books or banning kids from entering a club. Censoring something is when someone examines and suppress inappropriate parts. To me when I am banned from something, I feel like a little kid that can't be with the "big boys" yet. Censoring some explicit material can be pretty helpful especially to little kids. Little kids have lots of imagination and one better not hope that they're imagining about murder, sex, and etc.

Adam Li link

3/2/2015 11:27:40 am

The words "ban" and "censor" have different connotations to me. In many cases, the word "ban" has a very negative connotation in my mind, and "censor" has a much nicer, still negative, connotation to me; however, in many other cases, they don't evoke any emotion in me whatsoever. Because of that, writing this response is actually rather difficult for me because I have to force emotion into the words here. Censorship hasn't really had a profound effect on my life in terms of other's actions, but more in terms of my own, self imposed, restrictions. One huge example that other's may or may not realize is that I don't let myself "curse", I "banned" myself from doing so, only lifting that ban if I go insane (it's not like I have a choice), or if I'm using a "curse" word informatively. That self-imposed ban goes back to something like 2nd or 3rd grade. I actually do think that personal or familial censorship can help some people who understand an idea and choose to avoid it for a reason, avoid that idea. On the other hand, censorship on a larger scale can sometimes be harming or entirely unnecessary.

Adam Li

3/2/2015 11:30:17 am

*correction:
(it's not like I'd have a choice then anyway)

Alyssa

3/2/2015 12:09:57 pm

Thinking about the words "ban" and "censor" tend to give off a negative connotation. I feel as though these words are restricting not only my actions but my thoughts and feelings. It makes me feel trapped and isolated. No one should be able to stop me from feeling a certain way or try to change my view on something. That is for me to decide. Those words give me a negative connotation because they can make me feel trapped. They make me feel as if I do not have control of something, in this case my thoughts and feelings. Connecting this to banning books frustrates me because I do not believe any people should have the control of what others read. It is an abuse of power and it could potentially make others feel as I do. Trapped and restricted.

Mikayla

3/2/2015 01:48:47 pm

I agree with Alyssa's statements. The two words definitely have negative things associated with them which automatically may make some people feel uncomfortable. These words also make you feel like you don't have the option to express your opinion because someone may dislike it.

Grant

3/2/2015 12:11:39 pm

"Ban" and "Censor" have restricted people in one way or another. Specifically in books and in social media environments where people speak their mind and the sites or publishers not only censor, but remove their posts all together. Many sites, mostly forums, also have special censorship mechanisms to block certain content, such as competitions sites, and/or spam sites. Many are for the good, such as the banning of spam sites... Some are not for the better, such as removal of non-threatening items. These two words can be applied to many daily life situations. Many of the words that we all as a civilization, including myself as a worst offender, is using profanity, either casually or out of frustration. In many cases, people who use profanity that is deemed offensive, such as posts on social media or forums, are either banned from the site altogether, or have the words censored out with asterisks. In the form of banning books, such as mine, The Catcher in the Rye, the main character uses plenty of profanity, which doesn't bother the majority of human population because it is practically everywhere to be seen. Although censorship online hasn't personally affected me because I never posted anything to be banned. Unfortunately, to the human population, nothing is allowed to get by without being taken the wrong way and having society freak out about anything being posted. Good or bad.

Ryan

3/2/2015 12:16:00 pm

When I think of the words ban and censor I think of censoring bad words and banning media. Both words have a bad connotations to me but censor is not as deep to me. When I was little, my parents would censor the speech I use by not using it them selves. Also they would ban certain shows on TV for me to watch. My parent would always let me read what I wanted though because they trusted that I wouldn't get my hands on a book that I shouldn't be reading. One time my mom actually gave my a really big book called "Micro" that had cursing in it which showed me she wasn't going to censor my reading.

Tanner link

3/2/2015 12:22:11 pm

To ban or censor is to officially or legally make unavailable. This not only breaks the right of free speech and freedom of the press, but it also breaks many moral standards. I think of it like this, let's say you write a short story about ponies. Someone who reads this, may not like ponies to the extent that they don't want other people or even their kids reading about them. That person may do whatever it takes to get that short story unavailable to people and their kids. Stupid, right? It's just a story about ponies! Let's replace ponies with love. Let's change it from a short story to a descriptive novel. Is it still a stupid thing to do? The rules are constantly changing on moral standards, only you can decide what you want to read. Don't let somebody else tell you what you can or can't read just because they don't like ponies. That's my stance on the complete stupidity of censorship.

Lucy

3/2/2015 12:50:23 pm

The words "ban" or "censor" are words associated with silencing something or someone. Sometimes, things are banned because other people don't want to hear the opinion of the person who wrote it. Other times, things are banned or censored to protect people from hearing certain things. These two words are used often in society. Personally, these words make me feel restricted. I like to be able to express what I want in anyway that I want to. When I am told to censor my writings, I get upset because I should be able to have my own artistic freedom. The most common type of censorship, or banning, that occurs is our everyday life is curse words. We are told that curse words are very bad at a young age and we are raised on believing that they are not very nice words to say at people. In school, you can't curse at your teacher or put curse words in your writing because that is considered bad behavior. We never really stop to censor ourselves in front of teachers, or maybe parents, because it's just an automatic thing that we do. Censoring is something that many people do everyday, sometimes without even realizing it.

MIkayla

3/2/2015 01:45:48 pm

When I think of the words “censor” or “ban”, I think of things that are not appropriate or suitable for all people. I think of something that takes away a someones ability to express themselves how they would like to. I believe that censoring literature can take away from what the author would like to portray through their writing. Censorship has really only affected me through music and movies that have been cut to remove parts that some people found vulgar or not suitable to listen to or watch.

jason

3/2/2015 02:19:08 pm

The words "ban" and "censored" have many different meanings to many different people. Many people don't think banning something or censoring something is a bad thing, that it protects the ones that we care about. There are things in this cruel and messed up world that everyone will see at least once, weather its in a movie, when they read a new book, or a real life situation. Banning and censoring never really crossed my mind until this unit came along, I actually never really knew that banning books was still happening. People should be able to do with things as they please, meaning if a mother doesn't want a kid to read one book then that one kid won't read that one book that the one mother said so. Why should everyone be punished for a couple of opinions, everyone is different so everyone has their own idea of censorship and banishment, let people decide what they want to do.

Cameron

3/2/2015 02:31:54 pm

Personally when I think of "censor" and "ban" it has to do with someone telling you what you can and can't do, and limiting your freedoms based off of what someone else thinks is right or benefits someone if you are unable to do something. In my own life I've never really had many experiences of being banned from doing a certain thing, but censoring certain words or phrases in my house is frequent as well as in school.

Atticus

3/2/2015 05:15:34 pm

When I hear the words "ban" or "censor," I feel like someone is preventing me from trying to learn something. It makes me feel like I'm excluded from something, or that I'm not allowed to view something. Personally, I found it counterproductive if the topic at hand is in any way educational, controversial or able to affect my life. Being homosexual, I hear people say that my sexuality is something that should be censored. Many people do not realize the double standard in this. From small crushes at young ages to marriage, the concept of love is everywhere. Why should it matter if the person I love happens to be the same gender? When I was little, I was afraid to say anything because I felt like I'd be alone, and that has always been my number one fear, which is why it felt so liberating when I finally did. My parents didn't really bother censoring too many things from me when I was little. I can understand restricting something that offers no educational or thought provoking value, but censoring homosexuality is only going to hurt the homosexuals. If there's anything that traumatized me when I was younger, it was the idea of being alone.

Joe

3/2/2015 10:35:15 pm

When I think of "ban" or "censor", to me someone/something get banned or censored when they have done something wrong, or something that would fit this punishment. Like if you get in a fight at a restaurant, a reasonable punishment would be that they were banned from that place. I don't think it makes sense to ban/censor books. The author should be able to express himself in however way he wants to. The book I'm reading is called "black boy" by Richard Wright, and it is an autobiography. That means his book got censored from telling his own life story that he had to live through. And to me that's not right.

Kiara

3/2/2015 10:52:09 pm

When the words "ban" and "censor" come to mind, it is replaced with words like restrict, hide, and exile. To ban something for a person is one thing, but for a whole population? It objects to the first amendment, freedom of speech. I, myself have never experienced first hand any censorship whatsoever, but if I had, I would have been upset for not being able to further my education with the contents of a book.

Courtney

3/4/2015 11:14:37 am

When I hear the words "Ban" or "Censor" I think of someone trying to keep me from doing or saying something. Such as you're banned from watching TV. I think of this as mainly a punishment, not really a form of protection. Those words make me think of all the times that my parents banned me from doing something, like going on my phone or getting banned from leaving my room.

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