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The Big [Censored] Theory

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Re: The Big [Censored] Theory

#161

Post by CrispinS »

buscoquadnary wrote: post #101
jrm4 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your second sentence is absolutely correct, the others are not. Easy example: compare the Marvel "Civil War" comics to the movies. The former was critical of the military in a way that could not happen in any big blockbuster movie.

What? Plenty of movies are super critical of the military and the 3 letter agencies in tons of ways, heck there is a whole genre out there about Government military agent realizes he's doing bad things and goes rogue to correct those misdeeds. Then you've got things like Full Metal Jacket, which I don't think is getting anyone to sign up for the forces. Like Top Gun did well recently, but is one of the only movies I…

I agree with your last sentence, but on the subject of positive portrayals of US armed forces, the studios actually have an incentive to play nice. The DoD will let film productions use real equipment and personal, but only after vetting the script and making changes as they see fit.

For example, the Transformers movies: https://www.wired.com/2008/12/pentagon-holl-1/

The general concept: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military-entertainment_compl...

Re: The Big [Censored] Theory

#162

Post by Julesman »

How cringe-worthy is that tired racist joke about the Chinese eating dogs? It's like that one drunk great-uncle at Thanksgiving who just absolutely loves that joke and you know, every single year, you gotta hear it. And he can't tell you once single practical reason why he hates China. Really, he just likes the racism. That's it.

Re: The Big [Censored] Theory

#163

Post by ryanobjc »

lwansbrough wrote: post #78

Interesting to see what passes for a joke on The Big Bang Theory. I knew the show was bad but wow. Perhaps just as surprising is the author's suggestion that a xenophobic remark about a Chinese restaurant is "harmless". I'm not even particularly sensitive when it comes to race relations, but that's just such a negative stereotype it's hard to ignore. I despise Chinese censorship, but I would support the Chinese gover…

So here's the thing, is that joke making fun of a Chinese restaurant, or is it making fun of racist americans who make comments like that?

The reality is most Americans have someone like that in their family. Read the rest of the scene: Leonard is distinctly uncomfortable, tries to politely correct the wordage, the comment is lost and the originator moves on.

In any case, are you saying that... words that offend you should be removed from media? You know, like... some kind of... woke person who is really sensitive to racism?

Re: The Big [Censored] Theory

#164

Post by Beltalowda »

sltkr wrote: post #57
TazeTSchnitzel wrote: post #2

It's really interesting that such a bland, un-subversive show whose only mentions of sensitive topics are in bad throwaway jokes is so heavily censored. I guess a more interesting show would just not get aired at all.

Personally I'm mostly offended how stale and unoriginal a lot of these jokes are, but I can definitely see why the censors took offense at some of them. For example, the joke about the Chinese restaurant ("I'd be more concerned about what they're passing off as chicken") plays off of the stereotype that Chinese people eat dogs and cats, and the “passing off” remark implies that the Chinese restaurant owners are decep…

> The author labels that joke as "harmless" but you don't have to be a Chinese censor to interpret it as reinforcing harmful stereotypes.

Is it actually "harmful" though? People are still going to Chinese restaurants as far as I know. The "harmful" adjective is being thrown around a lot, but it's never been very clear to me there is actual harm. People will cite things such as "violence against Asian-Americans has been on the increase!", but that seems entirely disconnected from some jokes in some sitcom.

Re: The Big [Censored] Theory

#165

Post by domador »

lwansbrough wrote: post #78

Interesting to see what passes for a joke on The Big Bang Theory. I knew the show was bad but wow. Perhaps just as surprising is the author's suggestion that a xenophobic remark about a Chinese restaurant is "harmless". I'm not even particularly sensitive when it comes to race relations, but that's just such a negative stereotype it's hard to ignore. I despise Chinese censorship, but I would support the Chinese gover…

This could imply that according to Sturgeon's law, you'd support censoring 90% of everything out there.

(I don't know if your last, pro-censorship line was a joke, but if so, it was a lame one. But I'm against censoring or deleting it, though.)

Re: The Big [Censored] Theory

#166

Post by wizofaus »

dogleash wrote: post #158
wizofaus wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What "right wing point of view" exactly? That racism isn't a real problem? Are there mainstream right-wing organisations that actually promote that view?

No. The point of view that between being maximally uptight about race is different than acknowledging and working against racism.

That's my point of view and I don't consider myself the least bit right wing!

Re: The Big [Censored] Theory

#167

Post by didgetmaster »

joshstrange wrote: post #133
didgetmaster wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I remember watching a standup comedy show by either Eddie Murphy or Richard Pryor a long time ago that was heavily censored. There were so many bleeps in the program that you could barely follow it. It was similar to the recent heavily-redacted FBI affidavit that was released and where every other sentence seems to be blacked out.

You do realize those are in no way whatsoever related and are due to 2 completely different sets of circumstances? One is a private company (either first or third-party) offering a censored version of a piece of media and the other is the government redacting things from a document that would normally not be released at all (at this stage) and the redactions were specifically done to prevent witnesses tampering or si…

When I used the term 'similar' it had nothing to do with the reasoning or methodology behind the censoring. Only that the finished product in both cases was sufficiently censored that less than half the original content remained. It is not just a few select pieces that are cut out, it is creating a whole new product that is almost unrecognizable when compared to the original.

Re: The Big [Censored] Theory

#168

Post by izend »

We are heading to a world where every major country will be deploying a Great Firewall like censorship, especially as the cost of implementing and maintaining such a system drops.

Re: The Big [Censored] Theory

#169

Post by briantakita »

ryanobjc wrote: post #154
briantakita wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not Bullshit. If the Government & Corporations care so much about others censoring, they should lead by example. Lectures by hypocrites will otherwise be ignored...even if the censorship that you may like is categorized as being justified by you. If you don't like China's censorship policies, then appeal to China's sensibilities as their censorship is categorized as justified by them. Otherwise, the Chinese governmen…

Absolutely wrong, the founders knew it, you should know it, everyone knows it. There's a big difference between using the rule of law to shape what can and cannot be said or sold or published. Compared to different private publishers/agents/etc deciding what they wish to do. The marketplace solves the latter problem - and it has! People are getting caught up in the "chicken" joke, but if you read the read of the arti…

You can call me whatever you want. I'm saying practice what you preach otherwise you're going to be written off as a hypocrite & your criticisms will not have credibility. Consider that political censorship has been increasing & becoming a criminal & economic matter in the West. Julian Assange is an example of a journalist who is held in detention without being charged for political reasons.

Do you honestly think that America & the West have integrity with the Constitution & the spirit of the Founders? If you do, boy do I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.

Re: The Big [Censored] Theory

#170

Post by mc32 »

Julesman wrote: post #162

How cringe-worthy is that tired racist joke about the Chinese eating dogs? It's like that one drunk great-uncle at Thanksgiving who just absolutely loves that joke and you know, every single year, you gotta hear it. And he can't tell you once single practical reason why he hates China. Really, he just likes the racism. That's it.

While Chinese authorities have cracked down on dog-meat eating (especially around hosted international events), it's still consumed in some specific areas of the country.

However, I don't see much diff between that and joking how incestuous Southerners might be or how they might eat squirrels.

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