Fear causes self censorship

Monday, August 27, 2007 at 23:05 | Posted in censorship, Freedom of speech | Leave a comment

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Fear is a strange factor. It causes otherwise rational people and organizations to act irrationally. In the aftermath of the great comic bang a number of newspapers refuse to print a couple of episodes of the Opus comics:

Wyson said some client papers hesitated to run a sex joke and others won’t publish any Muslim-related humor, whether pro or con. “They just don’t want to touch that,” she said.

It is sad to note that the World is loosing one of its most valuable assets: the sense of humor. No religion or idea should be untouchable of humor. The ability to laugh at oneself and not get hurt is a healing force.

Self censorship is pitiful. If you have no intention to hurt, there is no point in anticipating somebody feel hurt of what you are about to say.

via Matti Lintulahti