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South Park Game Censored On Consoles Outside North America

RogueyWon writes "South Park has long been vocal in its opposition to media censorship from any source, launching scathing attacks on everything from 'think of the children' moral crusades to the censorship of religious imagery. In a curious twist, therefore, Ubisoft, the publisher of the upcoming video game South Park: The Stick of Truth, has decided to censor certain scenes from the game's Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 versions from release in Europe, Australia, the Middle East and Africa. American versions, as well as the European PC release, so far appear to have escaped the censor's pen."

221 comments

  1. heh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Heh... You got in trouble! You got in trouble!

  2. Well... by nurb432 · · Score: 0

    Violate local laws, get censored. Dont like the laws, move and/or get them changed.

    --
    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
    1. Re:Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So, reporting instances of conflict with the the law are not part of them process?

      1. Don't like law

      2. ????

      3. Reform!!

    2. Re:Well... by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Censorship is typically used by the powerful to maintain their power. This is no different in a democracy -- the power hungry simply jump through an additional hoop of stirring up many people to join in the censorship. These people happily re-elect said censor.

      If this does not highlight the difference between freedom and democracy for those of you who think mass approval is the necessary and sufficient, indeed only, justification for wielding power, I don't know what will.

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
    3. Re:Well... by NotDrWho · · Score: 1

      If the local laws told you to suck dick, would you drop to your knees?

      --
      SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
    4. Re:Well... by interkin3tic · · Score: 3, Informative

      I'd suggest reading the summary and realizing that 1. The censor is Ubisoft and 2.Ubisoft is not a location or government. Although, if you weren't able to understand that from the short summary, I'm probably just talking to myself here.

    5. Re:Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why not?, sucking dick is not a bad thing at all. And compared to the US you would actually get the uncut version.

    6. Re:Well... by tepples · · Score: 1

      Dont like the laws, move

      How? It's usually a crime to enter any country but the one in which you were born.

      and/or get them changed

      How would someone ineligible to run for office go about getting a law changed?

    7. Re:Well... by DaveV1.0 · · Score: 1
      Here, let me make it clear to you:

      1. Don't like law

      2. move and/or get them changed.

      3. Reform!!

      --
      There is no "-1 offended" or "-1 you don't agree with me" mod options for a reason.
    8. Re:Well... by AudioEfex · · Score: 1

      Uh, WTF are you talking about?

      I'm sure you can find the article if you look for it - I can't recall where it was at the moment - but this has all been known for many months and the publishers explained it at length. It's not "censorship", it's localization. Particularly when a private company is doing it on a consumer product.

      The article went into each country and why they did it. And the graphic nature of the game was shocking even to me, who watches Game of Thrones and True Blood, LOL. Like, mini-games where you control a South Park child and your goal is to graphically perform an abortion on a woman by plucking out fetuses.

      Sure, I've preordered it, haha - but I can certainly see why bits here and there were edited - it's a commercial decision, not a moral one.

    9. Re:Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Raising awareness on sites like Slashdot is an important step towards getting the laws changed. If you don't like it, leave Slashdot.

    10. Re:Well... by nurb432 · · Score: 1

      If you had any reading comprehension at all, i did say 'move' was an option. That would imply you move to where you dont disagree with the law. ( or in your case, your parents rules )

      --
      ---- Booth was a patriot ----
    11. Re:Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nah, half the time it's used by people with no clue as to what they're doing just applying their morales to everyone else because it's in their job description. You can't have time travel stories in China now, why? Because "it's ridiculous". Unless they actually think Chinese Doc Brown is going to get inspired by Dr. Who and build a real life time machine, which they explicitly don't, there's no particular maliciousness here. Just rank stupidity.

      The saying goes "never attribute to malice what can be explained by incompetence." And if you look at most of the censorship laws in the world (cough* UK porn filter *cough) you can easily attribute them to incompetence and stupidity rather than malice.

  3. Why would you play that crap... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    ...when you could play Hello Kitty: Island Adventure instead?

  4. Damnit Australia by Sockatume · · Score: 1

    I dare say that it's a result of Ubisoft lazily deciding to produce and test only a single version for the quote-unquote international market, and having to meet the lowest-common-denominator levels of creative expression permitted in the Middle-Eastern and Australian regimes.

    --
    No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
    1. Re:Damnit Australia by marsu_k · · Score: 0

      I have to agree. I mean, seriously, abortion? Mostly a non-issue in Europe. Yes, there is Ireland and Spain, but even there one can't say the majority oppose abortion. As for the minority in those countries, fuck 'em (them being Catholic, chances are somebody already is).

    2. Re:Damnit Australia by NotDrWho · · Score: 5, Funny

      The Middle-Eastern version will just be a character sitting around in a empty room, sipping tea. And several imams will STILL condemn it as blasphemous.

      --
      SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
    3. Re:Damnit Australia by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Middle-Eastern version will just be a character sitting around in a empty room, sipping tea. And several imams will STILL condemn it as blasphemous.

      Of course, the tea was that blasphemous Great Satan mockery of tea, not a proper Maghrebi mint tea! (other imams immediately challenge the superiority of Maghrebi mint tea, resulting in the least violent Middle-Eastern conflict in recorded history as every nation participates in a massive tea-judging)

    4. Re:Damnit Australia by SuricouRaven · · Score: 2

      Tea is a symbol of the imperialist British empire.

    5. Re:Damnit Australia by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      resulting in the least violent Middle-Eastern conflict in recorded history as every nation participates in a massive tea-bagging

      FTFY.

    6. Re:Damnit Australia by marsu_k · · Score: 1

      ...or maybe, just maybe, I have better things to do than argue with schizophrenic ACs?

    7. Re:Damnit Australia by newcastlejon · · Score: 1

      Tea is a symbol of the imperialist British empire.

      That must be why it's so popular in Ireland.

      --
      If God forks the Universe every time you roll a die, he'd better have a damned good memory.
    8. Re:Damnit Australia by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No. You definitely got smoked and ran. You're also full of delusions of grandeur at being a psychiatric pro.

  5. Are you sure? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Are you sure that the US release wasn't also censored in some way?

    Here's how it works: US companies submit their games to US ratings boards FIRST, then they remove shit the US censors don't like, and once the US censors approve it, they sent it to ratings boards in other countries, who sometimes remove OTHER stuff.

    However, we, the consumers, never see the ORIGINAL version before the US censors make their cuts, because the game companies don't bother trying to put those things in non-US versions.

    When the Australian classification board said no to a few things in Saints Row IV, a big fuss was made, but Volition have mentioned in the past that US ratings board said no to a few things, and there was no outcry.

    From this, we learn: People are fine with censorship in the USA, but if it's allowed in the USA it should be allowed everywhere.

    1. Re:Are you sure? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's interesting do you have an article on what did they remove from the US version?
      I'm very interested in seeing what they cut.

    2. Re:Are you sure? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      No, what we learn from this is that you are an idiot. Modifiying your own work to meet your business goals (get the rating you want) is not censorship, no matter how you try to spin it. Having to modify a work because some of the content is illegal is censorship.

      I have no idea if they modified the other version because of laws (censorship) or because of business reasons (not censorship), but your 'lesson' is beyond idiotic.

    3. Re:Are you sure? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      1. There is a difference between 'remove this content or you'll get an M/T/AO rating' and 'remove this content or we will outlaw your product.'
      2. Not all cuts are equal. Bethesda got in trouble with the ESRB for omitting a graphically wounded hanging corpse when submitting Oblivion for review. Australia wanted zombified cops removed from L4D2. One is reasonable, one is ridiculous.

    4. Re:Are you sure? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Please go to school and learn some english. Or look up the word censorship in a dictionary.

    5. Re:Are you sure? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There are no laws that currently ban video games for offensive material. The gaming industry censors itself though. BUT a game can get an ADULTS ONLY rating via the ESRB.

    6. Re:Are you sure? by rsmith-mac · · Score: 1

      But is modifying it because "it won't be carried on store shelves because it's rated X" a business reason or a censorship reason?

      Businesses aren't the government and therefore what they do technically isn't censorship. But what else do you call refusing to sell a creative work based on the offensiveness of its content?

    7. Re:Are you sure? by Nam-Ereh-Won · · Score: 0

      It's possible they submitted something way over the top instead of what they really wanted to get the censors to object. Then, they submit the relatively tamer, original, version and get it approved. It's something South Park does all the time, so I wouldn't be surprised if anything cut from the American release was actually intended to be in it.

    8. Re:Are you sure? by Guppy06 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      /sigh

      Here's how it works: US companies

      Like Ubisoft?

      submit their games to US ratings boards

      The ESRB is a private industry group, and participation is entirely voluntary.

      then they remove shit the US censors don't like

      The ESRB doesn't care one way or the other. The "American" publishers tend to seek to avoid an AO ("Adults Only") rating, for marketing reasons, and will try to bring things down to an M ("Mature") rating so that certain big-name retailers will consent to carry the game. But games that get an AO rating are certainly free to keep that rating and have been published in the past, and publishers are free to skip the rating process entirely (e.g. I've seen more than a few localized Japanese H-games that don't bother formalizing the AO rating they'd obviously get).

      However, we, the consumers, never see the ORIGINAL version before the US censors make their cuts, because the game companies don't bother trying to put those things in non-US versions.

      Publishers don't sell an "unrated" version of a particular game in North America (ESRB includes Canada) because they know that not enough customers will go out of their way to find retail channels that will carry AO/unrated games to make the the prospect financially viable. Conversely, publishers don't sell an "unrated" version of a particular game in Germany or Australia because it would be illegal.

    9. Re:Are you sure? by Carewolf · · Score: 1

      Conversely, publishers don't sell an "unrated" version of a particular game in Germany or Australia because it would be illegal.

      Please don't make shit up.

    10. Re:Are you sure? by Guppy06 · · Score: 1

      Such as...?

    11. Re:Are you sure? by gIobaljustin · · Score: 1

      Businesses aren't the government and therefore what they do technically isn't censorship.

      *sigh* False. Look up the definition of censorship.

      --
      Thank you Dave Raggett
    12. Re:Are you sure? by gIobaljustin · · Score: 1

      2. Not all cuts are equal. Bethesda got in trouble with the ESRB for omitting a graphically wounded hanging corpse when submitting Oblivion for review. Australia wanted zombified cops removed from L4D2. One is reasonable, one is ridiculous.

      Neither is reasonable; both are ridiculous.

      --
      Thank you Dave Raggett
    13. Re:Are you sure? by AudioEfex · · Score: 2

      You are confusing the MPAA with the ESRB.

      In any case, this game is rated "M" - anything goes.

      Technically, none of this (even the MPAA) is censorship to begin with, because none of these entities are government related (at least in the U.S.) - the reason the studios have their films rated by the MPAA is because of commercial considerations (many theaters refuse to show unrated or even NC-17 films), same as the ESRB (the latter being so inconsequential that no chain or store I know of refuses to stock M-rated titles, in their case it's to appease parents), not because of regulation.

      When they make a kid show an ID to buy an M-rated game, or enter an R-rated film, it's also not governmental requirements, except in rare cases where local laws have been enacted to piggy-back on them. None of those local entities would have had the power to do anything about it aside bar children from entering theaters without an adult totally or only sell any games period to legal adults if the MPAA or ESRB didn't voluntarily exist and provide ratings guidelines for them to make local laws about.

      Both were created due to "scares" of government regulation, but the witch hunts on both fronts long ago died and the responsibility is on the parents, where it should have been to begin with. It never would have happened in either case, but the industry pretended to be scared so they could "enforce" the regulations by proxy on the creative talents involved without looking like the bad guys ("Hey, it's not our fault - it's the MPAA's!" when really they didn't want content to prevent a film from being as commercially successful as possible) and to appease parent groups.

      Considering the following is in the US version (per the article cited above), I don't think any "censorship" has gone on - nor do I think any changes were made at the behest of the game ratings board:

      A mini-game in which the doctor is performing an abortion on the player.

      A mini-game in which the player is performing an abortion on the character Randy.

      Five anal probing scenes involving someone actively being probed.

    14. Re:Are you sure? by idontgno · · Score: 1

      So the well-established phrase "self-censorship" (and the valid concept it expresses) either (A) doesn't actually exist, or (B) is used by experts in the fields of self-expression rights and chilling effects because they're dumber than you, Anonymous Coward.

      Riiiiight.

      --
      Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
    15. Re:Are you sure? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Conversely, publishers don't sell an "unrated" version of a particular game in Germany or Australia because it would be illegal.

      Please don't make shit up.

      Australia has the ratings board, don't know about Germany.

      If the classification board find the content unacceptable under the R-18 rating (Typically realistic Gorn, torture porn or simulated kiddie porn will not be accepted as R-18) then it will be Refused Classification (RC) which makes it illegal to sell commercially.

    16. Re:Are you sure? by HiThere · · Score: 1

      Well, it's not the original meaning. (OTOH, the original censor was a Roman governmental official. Later it was a Papal office. Other governments came later, and were named by analogy to the church office.)

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    17. Re:Are you sure? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The previous AC appears to understand censorship a lot better than you do. It's not censorship unless it's suppression enforced by a body in a position of legal authority. Deliberate removal of material from one's own work because one anticipates a better financial outcome is definitely not censorship. It's just good business acumen. You might argue that "self-censorship" in anticipation of censorship from authorities is censorship, but you'd be wrong.

    18. Re:Are you sure? by RyoShin · · Score: 1

      In any case, this game is rated "M" - anything goes.

      Not quite. "M" games can get away with a lot of stuff, mainly violence (even gory violence, like Manhunt 2[1] or MadWorld), but if you show too many boobies, sex scenes, or maybe even a single instance of fully-rendered genitals, you get the abhorred Adults-Only (AO) rating. From the ESRB's website:

      MATURE
      Content is generally suitable for ages 17 and up. May contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.
      ADULTS ONLY
      Content suitable only for adults ages 18 and up. May include prolonged scenes of intense violence, graphic sexual content and/or gambling with real currency.

      AO (roughly equivalent to the NC-17 movie rating you mentioned) is abhorred because no chain in America will stock games with that rating. Some indie video game stores might, but I'm not aware of any particular ones. This is why very few games have the rating. Leisure Suit Larry is probably the most well known AO series; Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas got a retroactive rating of AO after the Hot Coffee scandal. (Warning: NSFW image/details)

      Digital releases should make an AO rating far less of an issue, but it seems that even Steam won't allow them[2], so developers still have to release on their own. Were retailers less restrictive about this (perhaps stocking it behind the counter or something), in America they likely would have gone for and gotten the AO rating for Stick of Truth.

      When they make a kid show an ID to buy an M-rated game, or enter an R-rated film, it's also not governmental requirements, except in rare cases where local laws have been enacted to piggy-back on them.

      These have historically been thrown out as unconstitutional, as well, even when all most do is codify what most chains have as a policy (blocking the sale of M-rated games to minors). I don't know that any state has gone after the AO rating in any fashion or, if they have, that it has been challenged in court.

      [1] Manhunt 2 did receive an AO rating originally, but Rockstar edited the game and re-submitted to get the M rating. The "Uncut" edition still has the AO.
      [2] I can't find neither a specific policy or any AO games on Steam with a quick search, except for an article about them pulling a sex game from Greenlight on day one

    19. Re:Are you sure? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can split hairs all you want, but if someone says that something must be changed, for any reason, that is "censorship".

      I'm not a libertarian, I believe in regulation. But in the case of publication, I don't think there should be any outside regulation, censorship or ratings. Let games and movies contain anything, and let the actual market decide, instead of random boards and middle-men.

    20. Re:Are you sure? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think there has been a miscommunication somewhere along the way.

      The US constitution forbids the Government from engaging in censorship. But if a "media outlet or other controlling body" uses their influence to suppress something, it is still censorship, is not illegal/unconstitutional.

      The fact that a "media outlet or other controlling body" can legally censor something does not change the fact that it is censorship.

      Google removing something from youtube because it violates the TOS is still censorship too, and that's okay, because they're legally allowed to censor whatever they want. (I'm not talking about copyright infringement)

  6. artistic expression and game sales. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Each censored scene is replaced by an image background and a description text selected by South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, Ubisoft said.

    Apparently Trey and Matt are ok with releasing a censored version.

    1. Re:artistic expression and game sales. by NotDrWho · · Score: 1

      If they were really okay with it, they probably wouldn't have demanded to put in "an image background and a description text" to describe what was censored and where.

      --
      SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
  7. I disagree by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Anything to incite civil unrest against a group of people(no, the government doesn't count) and lies to discredit people.

    That pretty much means NO criticisms against religion - especially Islam.

    The things that are done in this World in the name of [insert religion - including Buddhists ] is appalling. The religious fundamentalists, unwilling and unable to adjust to the modern World, are bullying everyone else with violence, lobbying and other political maneuvering and outright lies - like Creation Museums.

    There's a point when you just have to stand up to the bully. Those people need to be told - shouted down - that they are backwards, full of shit, and if they are going to live among us, they need to STFU.

    Or compromise like the Amish do in the US. I highly respect those folks. They stick to their values, they don't try to force them on others, and they found a way to live peacefully and well with the modern World.

    1. Re: I disagree by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Didn't the episode on Muhammed get censored? You can criticize any religion except Islam or Judaism.

    2. Re: I disagree by TheP4st · · Score: 4, Informative

      or scientology

      Not true, South Park have poked fun at Scientology more than once. Example: http://www.southparkstudios.co...

      --
      "I have downloaded hundreds and hundreds of records, why would I care if somebody downloads ours?" Robin Pecknold
    3. Re: I disagree by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, Comedy Central censored it over the objections of Matt and Trey. Though, in fairness, they sort of dared CC to censor it.

    4. Re: I disagree by Warbothong · · Score: 1

      Didn't the episode on Muhammed get censored?

      AFAIK there's been no specific episode 'about Muhammad', but he's appeared in a few: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S...

      You can criticize any religion except Islam or Judaism.

      Because South Park never pokes fun at Judaism....

    5. Re: I disagree by DaveV1.0 · · Score: 0

      I think you mean Islam and Scientology.

      --
      There is no "-1 offended" or "-1 you don't agree with me" mod options for a reason.
    6. Re:I disagree by PRMan · · Score: 1

      What particular lie did you find at the Creation Museum? Can you please present your scientific evidence backing that up? Thanks.

      --
      Peter predicted that you would "deliberately forget" creation 2000 years ago...
    7. Re: I disagree by taustin · · Score: 1

      And lost a cast member over it (Isaac Hayes). They Parker and Stone say "no sacred cows," they mean it.

    8. Re:I disagree by Algae_94 · · Score: 1

      The things that are done in this World in the name of [insert religion - including Buddhists ] is appalling.

      Do you have any sources on horrible things done in the name of Buddhism? I'm not denying anything, but I'm not aware of anything either. Just looking to learn something.

    9. Re:I disagree by oobayly · · Score: 1

      Seriously?

    10. Re:I disagree by HiThere · · Score: 1

      I don't know if he's serious, but it *is* worth remembering that very few people have bothered to actually look at what the creationists are presenting as evidence. I haven't, for example.

      OTOH, it's also worth remembering that few people have actually looked at the evidence that the evolutionary folk have presented. There's too much of it.

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    11. Re: I disagree by wagnerrp · · Score: 1

      There was an episode where they had an episode of Family Guy briefly show Muhammad, and so in real life, everyone got pissed off at Family Guy for showing Muhammad, even though Family Guy had done nothing.

    12. Re:I disagree by Keith+Henson · · Score: 1

      "The things that are done in this World in the name of [insert religion - including Buddhists ] is appalling. "

      I make a case it is the other way around.

      In the former world of hunter-gatherers, the nut corp would fail or the game move away. When that happened ,it was necessary to go batshit crazy with xenophobic memes and kill the neighboring tribe. The trait was selected because it promoted genetic survival. It's the underlying resource crisis that causes the appalling behavior. The memes (religions) are in the chain, but not causal.

      --
      End MGM. Get prospective parents of boys to Google: Men do complain
    13. Re:I disagree by oobayly · · Score: 1

      ... it *is* worth remembering that very few people have bothered to actually look at what the creationists are presenting as evidence.

      I've tried, but all too often I cringe when confronted with circular arguments and the dreaded square brackets [to emphasize what was really meant] in a passage, so as to prove something - the Quran Project did exactly this in an advert in our local newspaper, it was littered with square brackets where the publicists had filled in what the prophets had "really meant" but clearly felt didn't need to be described unambiguously at the time of writing.

      As for the Creation Museum, they have displays showing dinosaurs alongside humans. I show it the same amount of respect that I'd show a "Science Museum" who had a display showing George Bush Snr. and Bill Clinton welcoming Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the moon. It's a painful disregard of observations collected from a myriad of verifiable sources.

  8. not their fault by fluffythdestroy · · Score: 2

    Ubisoft as nothing to do with this censorship btw. Ubisoft and other publishers do the games. It's the countries that makes the censorship so the main problem comes from those places...not the company. Look at Saint Row 4 problems in Australia. They dare censor and block the game but gave multiple different version of their blocking reasons...which changed from a day to day basis which made no sense. Censorship usually happens because of a lack of knowledge over computers, the game itself and the main reason of the censorship too oddly enough.

    --
    PC Gaming enthousiast that gives comments, opinions and reviews on Games. I'm just having fun with games while doing let
    1. Re:not their fault by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Actually, if a publisher "removes" content from a game, that he himself is publishing, without any legal interferrence from a government or more precisely law or court, then it is not censorship, but his own decission, for whatever reasons.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    2. Re:not their fault by Stolovaya · · Score: 1

      You'll want to review the meaning of "censoring". Non-government entities can censor. No where in the definition does it state that it has to be a government that censors.

      http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/censoring?show=0&t=1393353280

      censor noun \sen(t)-sr\

      : a person who examines books, movies, letters, etc., and removes things that are considered to be offensive, immoral, harmful to society, etc.

    3. Re:not their fault by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      You mix up 'The Censor', the person doing it, with the law making him do so.
      Without a law or institution enforcing censorship, there is no Censor and/or censoring ... pretty simple.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    4. Re:not their fault by Stolovaya · · Score: 1

      Incorrect. You're trying to force the government part when that's only one type of censorship. If you think you're right, I would suggest you contact Merriam-Webster, as they say that you're wrong.

    5. Re:not their fault by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Erm, is your english that bad?
      You cited from Merriam-Webster what a "censor" is, not what "censorship" is.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    6. Re:not their fault by Stolovaya · · Score: 1

      Nope, my English is just fine. I used "censor" since you don't fully understand what the word means. Don't just take my word for it. Wikipedia agrees as well (emphasis mine). If you have a counter resource, please provide it.

      From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship:

      "Censorship is the suppression of speech or other public communication which may be considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, politically incorrect or inconvenient as determined by a government, media outlet or other controlling body.

      Governments, private organizations, and individuals may engage in censorship.

    7. Re:not their fault by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Well, if you want to define it like this. That is your problem.

      Half of the world however will disagree, especially that half that was oppressed the last 50-75 years and suffered gravely under censorship.

      If at all you can argue that media outlet or and individual is performing self censoring/censorship. However self censoring is not the same as censoring.

      Finally: I don't realy care what wikipedia writes, it is mostly half wrong ;) E.g. check the article about fiat money ...

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    8. Re:not their fault by Stolovaya · · Score: 1

      I'm sorry, I didn't see a resource refuting what I wrote. Let me know if you find anything.

    9. Re:not their fault by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Feel free to google yourself or stay ignorant.

      We are here in an "international" forum. Your narrow minded US standpoint is only: narrow mined.

      Which simply means: it is not the universal truth.

      If you want to define Censoring like you do, fine :D

      We here define it different.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    10. Re:not their fault by Stolovaya · · Score: 1

      So instead of providing an actual link, you just decided to call me wrong and not provide any additional information. The burden of proof is on you as I've provided two links and you've provided no links. I haven't seen anything that indicates that "censor" means something different outside of the US, but I'm called "narrow-minded" when I ask you to provide evidence.

    11. Re:not their fault by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      I told you teh definition *I* use and we here in *europe* use, what good would do you a link?

      Here: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z... throw it at google translate. And have fun :D

      About what do you want to talk again? "Censor", the person doing the censoring or "censoring"?

      What does it mean that "free speech" is "good" and "censoring" is "evil" for a person or institution that is "censoring" "their own work"? Schizophrenia?

      So it obviously makes no sense if I restrict myself from publishing something to call myself a Censor. I'm an Editor then!

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    12. Re:not their fault by Stolovaya · · Score: 1

      I asked for a link because you can say anything you want, but just saying it doesn't make it true. You have to provide evidence of why you're right.

      But the article you provide doesn't provide the evidence you thought it would. From your Wikipedia article (emphasis mine):

      Censorship ( Latin censura) is a restrictive procedure of usually government agencies in order to mass media to control or in the personal transport mediated.

      Usually does not mean always, which is what you're trying to say.

      So the Catholic Church established its ban heretical writings

      The Catholic Church is a religious organization, not a government.

      Just take a look at the Motion Picture Association of America. When it was first started, it was led by Will H Hays, and he was not in the government at that time. He was censoring based on the perceived offensiveness of content.

      Either one. Censor is both a noun and a verb.

      The pressure to censor media comes from many different places. Government is one. Religious organizations are definitely another, as well as independent organizations (such as the MPAA).

      If you're editing to remove "offensive" content, then you are censoring (you can be both an editor and a censor, they're not exclusive). If you're editing to correct grammar, spelling, sentence flow, etc., then you're just editing. Schizophrenia has nothing to do with it.

      Here's an example of censorship not done by a government body. You ever play The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time? In the Fire Temple, Nintendo had originally put in some background chanting. However, the chanting was apparently sampled from an Islamic prayer. In the fear that it would offend Islamic people, Nintendo removed the chanting (see http://zelda.wikia.com/wiki/Controversy.

      Or how about Dragon Ball? In Japan, where casual nudity and sex isn't quite the big deal it is in the US, several images and scenes from censored. A list of examples are found at http://dragonball.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Censorship_in_the_Dragon_Ball_series.

    13. Re:not their fault by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      My point if you cnesor your own work,l it is not censorship but editing.
      You only can qualify to use the word censoring if it is forced on you and not voluntarily.
      I don't care if the government or the government like catholic church is forcing you, sigh at the time you refer to the catholic church was THE GOVERNMENT or the highest authority in europe bekond and behind and above any government (except the british who simply quickly invented their own church).
      Sorry, I don't get about what you are nitpcking.
      If there is no law or law like 'thing' and no 'police' enforcing it and no 'punishment' if you don't obey: then it is not censorship. Pretty simple concept. No need to search for citations and links.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    14. Re:not their fault by Stolovaya · · Score: 1

      You haven't provided any evidence to show that censoring means what you think it means. I've provided many links showing you're wrong.

      No, you don't understand. Oh well, I tried.

  9. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by NotDrWho · · Score: 5, Funny

    Those should be disallowed.

    And also, Canada, whose citizens I irrationally blame for this entire mess! Especially you, Scott!!!

    --
    SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
  10. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    This just encourages groups to be easily upset, does it not? That makes writing "Mohammed" under a stick figure illegal. "Hate speech" is a slippery slope.

  11. back that up a step by slashmydots · · Score: 1

    Wait, wait, wait...
    1. Be anti-censorship and control
    2. Have Ubisoft make your game

    I take it EA Games was busy that day? What the actual fuck were they thinking?

    1. Re:back that up a step by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You know who wasn't busy? THQ, the original publisher of this game. Ubisoft then bought the rights after THQ went under.

  12. Oh those crazy Germans by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Because you know. Germans are so strict an all with their cannibalism and nutty sex clubs.

    "That's a vague explanation, but it may have something to do with Ubisoft hoping to secure release in Germany, which employs stricter guidelines on video game content than other European countries."

    1. Re:Oh those crazy Germans by RogueyWon · · Score: 1

      Everybody's blaming Germany, but the nature of the content that was actually cut might imply that the cause is elsewhere. Not that I want for a moment to excuse Germany's censorship policies, which are ludicrous.

      But the cut content is basically - anal probe aside - mostly abortion related. The EU still contains some very, very Catholic countries. In Spain in particular, it's a real no-go topic. Also in the Republic of Ireland and Poland to some degree (though less so there than it would have been a couple of years ago). It's quite possible the EU version was censored due to fears about reaction in one or more of those countries.

    2. Re:Oh those crazy Germans by jonwil · · Score: 1

      What I want to know is why German gamers and other younger people (who are presumably sick and tired of getting censored versions of games and other media with e.g. robots replacing humans or e.g. suicide bombers who "run away" instead of blowing themselves up) aren't rising up and using some sort of political influence/lobbying/petitioning/etc to get the censorship crap removed...

      It worked in Australia and got the government to change the laws on video game censorship and classification with the addition of an R rating (although it still doesn't go far enough IMO with all the stupid stuff that remains banned like things that depict certain kinds of drug use) so whats different about Germany?

  13. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by nurb432 · · Score: 1

    Hate speech should be protected. Inciting a riot, ill give you that one.

    --
    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
  14. Get over it already.. by Gadget27 · · Score: 1

    Whats the point point in censoring something that clearly labelled as 18+?

    Hopefully the South Park guys will replace those scenes with obvious 'censored' graphics and text that lampoon the government/entity that caused said scenes to be removed from the game. They are good for doing things like that.

    1. Re:Get over it already.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Australia and other countries have laws that ban things like that. In fact until recently any mature rated game by US standards was illegal in Australia.

      Americans often assume those countries have all the freedoms the USA does, but they don't.

  15. Disappointed.. by NegroponteJ.Rabit · · Score: 1

    Considering South Park has been offending for decades, there's just 7 scenes in the game worth censoring? What about critter blood orgies, gay satan sex ir Martha Stewart? I had such high hopes.

    1. Re:Disappointed.. by NotDrWho · · Score: 1

      critter blood orgies

      You know, those Woodland Critters are pure evil and all. But damn, they're SO CUTE!

      --
      SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
    2. Re:Disappointed.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm going to agree with you on this one. How the hell did they only find objection to just 7 scenes in the entire game? Matt and Trey are slipping here.

  16. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by Brett+Buck · · Score: 2

    Given that the mere innocent mention of certain Prophets can incite a riot, I don't think even that is a good criterion.

        Doing otherwise gives the most irrational types a trump card on what constitutes free speech.

          Brett

  17. what the *beep* by mythix · · Score: 1

    Why would you sensor in the EU, we don't even *beep* on television, anything goes here! cmoooooon!

    1. Re:what the *beep* by NotDrWho · · Score: 1

      Probably due to libel and hate speech laws (and maybe Nazi stuff in Germany).

      --
      SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
    2. Re:what the *beep* by SuricouRaven · · Score: 1

      The general rule is that EU censors couldn't care much about sex, but will grow very concerned about violent content. The US censors are the other way around - violence is rarely any type of problem, but even a hint of sex can invoke their ire.

      The GTA Hot Coffee incident is a good example. Glorification of gang culture, player characters committing and rewarded for violent crime, gun fights, car theft, mowing down pedestrians for extra points and shooting police officers? That's all just harmless fantasy. But a mini-game that shows characters in sexual positions (Still clothed!), which can't even be accessed without hacking the game? That's instant grounds for an AO rating and for most retailers to refuse to carry the game.

    3. Re:what the *beep* by RogueyWon · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Actually, we're generally much more prone to censorship here in Europe. Many of the countries in the EU have hang-ups on particular issues for historical reasons (eg. Germany on Nazi imagery and violence, France on the use of other languages). Many countries are also developing exciting new hang-ups and things they can censor, driven mainly by the three prongs of the Islamic far-right (pushing hard for new blasphemy laws), the authoritarian left (in thrall to both multiculturalism and radical feminism, both of which depend upon censorship) and an overbearing security culture (well... see pretty much 50% of slashdot's front page stories). And the general approach taken by the EU is to adopt the most draconian elements of each member nation's policies. If we get through the next German presidency of the EU without its ridiculous censorship standards being forced on the whole of Europe, we shall be extremely lucky.

      Individuals and corporates in the US certainly practice self-censorship. But you are much more likely to encounter state-censorship in Europe - and it's getting more likely all the time.

      But we're generally ok with swearing. So it's all absolutely fine.

    4. Re:what the *beep* by mcvos · · Score: 1

      Usually it's the US version that gets censored. I guess it's a "nudity + drugs" versus "libel and hate speech" issue.

    5. Re:what the *beep* by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yea, but look at GTA V. There are scenes depicting sex without clothes throughout the game. And they're clearly fucking. Times change.

    6. Re:what the *beep* by Kojiro+Ganryu+Sasaki · · Score: 3, Informative

      I think you're overestimating the influence of the islamic far right in Europe while underestimating the christian far right.

    7. Re:what the *beep* by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1, Insightful

      We have no censorship laws in Europe ... you are mixing something up :D

      Yes, I know what you mean, and that is not censor ship.

      Read this field letter a soldier might write home to his wive:

      Dear Anabella,
      I'm xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and so far all is fine. The food xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. But it is all good. My friend Sebastian xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
      and his platoon in xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
      Love you and will be home soon,
      Angel

      The above, that is censorship.

      Or trying to publish a book in Soviet Russia or the eastern german republic, which you only could by giving it to a "Censor" who adviced you which parts to change or remove ... until your work is no longer recognizeable: that is censorship.

      If we get through the next German presidency of the EU without its ridiculous censorship standards being forced on the whole of Europe, we shall be extremely lucky.
      That is complete nonsense. No one is working on "new laws" and especially not on EU wide laws. Considering that most EU countries have much stricter laws regarding libel and difamation anyway your idea is just ridiculous.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    8. Re:what the *beep* by Pushpabon · · Score: 3, Informative

      You're wrong. We have both PRIOR RESTRAINT, approval rating process for media, AND after the fact banning (uk, germany, ...).

    9. Re:what the *beep* by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      I did not say we don't have that. (And in fact we don't have, to adults you can sell what ever game or movie you want)
      I said, that censorship is something very different than our parent claimed.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    10. Re:what the *beep* by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Is this post a joke ? Where do you live ? Not the same Europe than myself. I propose to all European to post down-here if they do not recognize Europe in this all bullshit post.

      >France on the use of other languages

      Nope. As French speaking (but not French nor living in France) and knowing enough about the laws in France, I think your are talking about what French people call "exception culturelle": this about quotas, not about censorship (ie 40% of French on air). But a movie with full nudity will never be rated inappropriate for children if nothing else (violence, hard sex, ...). Tits are not blacked and swearword are not beeped.

      >Many countries are also developing exciting new hang-ups and things they can censor, driven mainly by the three prongs of the Islamic far-right (pushing hard for new blasphemy laws)

      No facts except far-right/left FUD.

      >and the general approach taken by the EU is to adopt the most draconian elements of each member nation's policies.

      To the contrary most of directives, regulations, decisions, recommendations from Europeans bodies states minimums. Some nations choses to implements minimum other go far away from the minimums.

      >If we get through the next German presidency of the EU without its ridiculous censorship standards being forced on the whole of Europe, we shall be extremely lucky.

      President of EU have got near zero power. It just proves you really don't know how the European Institutions works !

      Please don't upvote this. This is the so typical far-left/right FUD, we have constantly to hear in Europe from minority but very vocal minorities. Nothing in this post is near to the reality.

    11. Re:what the *beep* by Type44Q · · Score: 1

      in thrall to both multiculturalism

      Multiculturalism isn't the problem; the contradiction of cultural relativity is.

    12. Re:what the *beep* by RogueyWon · · Score: 1

      Oh dear...

      The point about France was regarding the fact that the country has an official regulator for its language. A regulator which has quasi-legal (though thankfully no longer legal) powers to prohibit the use of languages other than French in public communications in France.

      The blasphemy laws point has been an active point of debate in many EU countries over the last few years - ever since the mohammed-cartoons controversy. There was a major debate in the UK around the Racial and Religous Hatred Act 2006, which, in its original form, would effectively have criminalised any speech that offended somebody on religious grounds. Happily, the bill was amended (against the Government's wishes) as it went through Parliament and ended up somewhat diluted; though it still arguably has a chilling effect. There are still active campaigns by religious groups (primarily though not exclusively Islamic) for legislation that would duplicate the intention of the original bill.

      The last time Germany had the presidency of the EU in 2007, it used that power to ensure the Commission (a terrifyingly unaccountable organisation) began the process of introducing legislation that would have effectively made Germany's censorship of video-game content mandatory Europe-wide. Happily, the clock ran out on it and the Portuguese presidency which followed was, depending on who you listen to, either more liberal-minded or more distracted by the looming economic crisis, so the whole thing dropped. Germany doesn't get another Presidency until 2020, but the smart money would be on them trying again - or leaning on another country to try again. Particularly if the Eurozone financial crisis does blow over, allowing social issues like this to return to the prominence they had in the middle part of the last decade.

      I'm extremely familiar with the workings of EU institutions and, indeed, have spent time working in Brussels. They do have some positives and produce the occasional outbreak of common sense, but if you wish to delude yourself that they are perfect - or even more good than bad - then that's your mistake.

    13. Re:what the *beep* by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Perhaps nationally, but other countries in the EU might consider such censorship as against their constitutions. And that is fine, such cultural issues are not in the "capacity" of the EU, although propaganda with the interest of inciting cross-EU violence do touch the police cooperation aspects and the values, principles and letter in the EU charter of fundamental rights.
        Certain people also confuse majority opinion with EU interference quite often these days. Too bad those same people don't consider contributing their energy in the EU parliament and actually influence the direction of the discussions and blocking of the Commission's more offensive proposals and contributions like on the curvature of bananas.

    14. Re:what the *beep* by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >"That is complete nonsense. No one is working on "new laws"."

      I'll take what is "Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership"* for 200£, Alex.

      TTIP is the European equivalent of TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership talks).

    15. Re:what the *beep* by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >The point about France was regarding the fact that the country has an official regulator for its language. A regulator which has quasi-legal (though thankfully no longer legal) powers to prohibit the use of languages other than French in public communications in France.

      an official regulator seems a little abstract. Being vague is one of the major technique to hide fallacy. Let me guess are you talking about the académie française **DRUM** **LAUGH** **APPLAUSE** **LAUGH**. A body composed of near death writers whose the job is creating a dictionary with no legislative nor executive nor juridical power. **DRUM** **LAUGH** **APPLAUSE** **LAUGH**

      >The blasphemy laws point has been an active point of debate in many EU countries over the last few years - ever since the mohammed-cartoons controversy.

      Still not a single law in Europe. Having a debate is the normal process in a democracy. Any single isolated member of the parliament may propose to vote on any stupid law he tries to force upon the others. BUT these laws where always rejected. These laws are clearly against European Union very foundations, to only cite that : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charter_of_Fundamental_Rights_of_the_European_Union giving official weight to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Convention_on_Human_Rights and this article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_9_of_the_European_Convention_on_Human_Rights . All religion being contradictory about what is blasphemous, if any anti-blasphemous went to pass, nobody will be able to practice his religion because anything he will make will be blasphemous for somebody else.

      Anyway, Charlie hebdo is still publishing caricature (https://www.google.com/search?q=charlie+hebdo+muhammad&&tbm=isch ), the guignols still cover politicaly incorrect subjects, both are national sport in France. In Sweden, cartoonist still produce this kind of thing http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/sweden/7712700/Swedish-Mohammed-cartoonist-attacked-during-free-speech-lecture.html . The mileage varies between countries and the culture but in any manner EU is pushing blasphemous laws nor is the opinion of the majority of people/official for.

      >The last time Germany had the presidency of the EU in 2007, it used that power to ensure

      First of all, presidency in European Union, is not the kind of presidency most people think about. To be accurate we have to say: Presidency of the Council of the European Union (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_the_Council_of_the_European_Union to not get mixed with http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Council ). What's the role (wikipedia) ?

      > The presidency's function is to chair meetings of the Council, determine its agendas, set a work programme and facilitate dialogue both at Council meetings and with other EU institutions.

      By consequence, the power of the president (abuse of language) is really very very limited. And the treaty of Lisbon still reduced the power of this function.

      >it used that power to ensure the Commission (a terrifyingly unaccountable organisation)

      To have worked in both National level (Official by now) and European Level (as a contractor), this is totally untrue. The European Institution are by a large extend more accountable than any national body. The transparency is the rule there. Corruption is minimal and everything possible is done when some illegal thing are uncovered. Most of the national institution across Europe are far away from strict policies of EU institutions. European Institutions are far from perfect but nationals institutions are worst.

      A lot of National politicians tries to diminish the power the EU institution very precisely because they have not the power to corrupt the system. They accuse EU for anything, too rainy this week, this the fault the EU, and so on. EU is the best thing done in Europe for the last 60 years. EU is on the average far better than any other previous political system across Europe. Imperfect b

    16. Re:what the *beep* by lars_stefan_axelsson · · Score: 1

      Actually, we're generally much more prone to censorship here in Europe. Many of the countries in the EU have hang-ups on particular issues for historical reasons (eg. Germany on Nazi imagery...

      Of course the reason they're sensoring Nazi imagery is that the US had it written into (west) German law as the new German law was being written past WWII.

      So having USians argue that there's never any reason for government censorship is ripe with irony (and of course good old double standards).

      Overall, I'm not sure I agree with your point. I find Europe much much freer, in that while some types of speech are regulated (not really "censored"), the rest of society is pretty free from censorship. While in the US the government doesn't abridge free speech much (well there are the seven words you allude to), the rest of society; corporations, special interest groups, media etc. are all too willing to self sensor.

      Case in point, it only takes a week for a previously European company that get American owners before email starts to randomly disappear due to random filters falsely flagging non US English words as "profanity/sexually charged" or some such nonsense. I've never worked for a European company that even considers that kind of shit. Though it was funny at Volvo here in Sweden where they all of a sudden weren't making any cars since email with the word "slut", i.e. "has run out" weren't reaching the people responsible for material flow. You'd think a few such incidents would get the email filter turned off. No, of course not, we can't run a company that doesn't silently drop email with the word "slut" in them, the filter stayed, and we had to learn to avoid certain words. (Which would have been easier had the list of forbidden words been public, but that would have actually made sense... I swear, the Chinese are easier to deal with that US owners when it comes to random corporate censorship.)

      --
      Stefan Axelsson
  18. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

    How do you incite a riot without physically assaulting someone?

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  19. And if you believe that... by Glires · · Score: 1

    The last two weeks we've been too busy to play video games and, look at what we did. There's been drama, action, romance... I mean honestly you guys, do we need video games to play? Maybe we started to rely on Microsoft and Sony so much that we forgot that all we need to play are the simplest things. Like, like this. [grabs a stick from the ground] We could just play with this. Screw video games, dude! Who needs them?!

    --
    -Glires
  20. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In this context, I think inciting a riot does not refer to "say something that might cause some group to riot", it means saying "let's riot".

  21. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Inciting a riot, ill give you that one.

    Wouldn't it be better to make rioting illegal, rather than speaking?

  22. Blocked Due to Stupidity by bchat · · Score: 0

    Really I can't sit through even a few minutes of that stupidity. I don't understand the fascination with crap like this. Like so many other shows on TV, I block it using my cable parental controls. I can block by time, channel, and rating. But, I say I'm blocking it "By stupidity" because it makes me want to puke. I'm sure most of you will disagree with me, but I don't really care. You can keep watching crap if you want to and I'll stick to the National Geographic and the History Channel. It's a free country. (Yes I know those channels show some junk too, but its best there is to choose from.)

    1. Re:Blocked Due to Stupidity by SuricouRaven · · Score: 1

      "History Channel."

      Maybe the aliens are behind the censorship.

    2. Re:Blocked Due to Stupidity by NotDrWho · · Score: 1

      the History Channel

      Look, I love shows about ancient aliens visiting the Vikings as much as the next guy. But I still have appreciation for some good satire too.

      --
      SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
    3. Re:Blocked Due to Stupidity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm sorry, but you say the history channel shows "some junk". This proves that you sir are in fact the idiot. The history channel shows mostly junk with "some good content". Lets see here, I can start off with ancient aliens, then lead in to "modern marvels: water", then lead into a sprint of pawn stars, with finishing off the evening with pickers. Yup, quality TV for intelligent people. Do they still have that restorations show and what was it, "kounts kars" or something like that on?

    4. Re:Blocked Due to Stupidity by bchat · · Score: 0

      the History Channel

      Look, I love shows about ancient aliens visiting the Vikings as much as the next guy. But I still have appreciation for some good satire too.

      I understand. But, ask yourself if you're just accepting whatever they decide to put on TV or are you evaluating it against some intelligent criteria? Does good satire have to be as disgusting, revolting, insulting, disrespectful and ugly as they can get away with, or could it be done with a little more class? What do you think other countries think of us when we export the basest kind of entertainment?

    5. Re:Blocked Due to Stupidity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Greetings, Marklar, I am Marklar. I come in marklar.

      Those Marklar want to marklar our marklar and that's not fair.

    6. Re:Blocked Due to Stupidity by bchat · · Score: 0

      Yes I agree those shows on the History Channel are junk. But, they also have good content: Vikings, Hatfield & McCoys, Ancient Discoveries, etc. I don't think I called anyone an idiot. If you took offense, I apologize. I was complaining about the content.

    7. Re:Blocked Due to Stupidity by NotDrWho · · Score: 1

      Does good satire have to be as disgusting, revolting, insulting, disrespectful and ugly as they can get away with

      Well preferably.

      --
      SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
    8. Re:Blocked Due to Stupidity by bussdriver · · Score: 1

      It could be more tasteful; but I'm not such a wimp that I can't handle the low brow stuff they need to appeal to all those people who barely grasp the satirical parts of it... People who probably would think Colbert is real or boring. If you get over some of your touchiness you may even find some of the vulgar elements humorous on a different level; I'm surprised when it happens and glad I decided to be open minded.

      Plus people who are willing to take on social mores and norms are usually going to take on some of yours - unless they think just like you do. I find it odd how people will be upset that somebody they admire for being different will fall short of their imaginary perception. It's like real life "heroes" and "role models" who end up disappointing some fans by not living their life according to everybody who likes them (and they don't have pollsters to help them either.)

      Furthermore, modern society is loaded with prissy wimps who can't ever deal with something uncomfortable - worse than previous generations because we can choose our own bubble to live within combined with the modern life of low social interaction you can be as delusional as the Unibomber while living downtown and not have to live as a hermit in a shack in the wilderness!

  23. Can't wait for the ubisoft episode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Will ubisoft rape America the way Lucas raped Indiana Jones?

  24. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by PPH · · Score: 1

    No thanks. That just places political power in the hands of the first group willing to turn to violence or foment some sort of insurrection to get their way.

    Your taking offense at something is entirely your problem. Not mine.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  25. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by Goetterdaemmerung · · Score: 2

    How do you incite a riot without physically assaulting someone?

    Draw a cartoon of the Prophet, of course!

    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/feb/19/muhammadcartoons.ameliahill

  26. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Anything to incite civil unrest against a group of people(no, the government doesn't count) and lies to discredit people.

    Those should be disallowed.

    Anything else should be free game.

    The problem with that standard is that it gives anyone who chooses to act "incited" the power to censor anyone else.

  27. Especially if you were a "volunteer" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    otherwise known as staff working 100+ hour weeks for 30 cents an hour.

  28. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by Patent+Lover · · Score: 1

    I'm not your friend buddy!

  29. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by i+kan+reed · · Score: 1

    FYI, the threatened riots(and death threats) with regard to South Park and said prophet were by a trolling organization dedicated to making American Muslims look bad. I don't doubt that there would have been some very angry people over it, but the cited reason Comedy Central actually pulled the segment was internet trolls. It's like if we took AC posters on slashdot seriously.

  30. Here are the censored scenes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A mini-game in which the doctor is performing an abortion on the player.
    A mini-game in which the player is performing an abortion on the character Randy.
    Five anal probing scenes involving someone actively being probed. The scenes play out as normal before and after the active probing sequences.

    Looks like part of the game is spent playing a Sea Org member of Scientology.

  31. Re:ITS LIKE RAAYEEAAN by khellendros1984 · · Score: 2

    Wikipedia says that there are 6 of them.

    --
    It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
  32. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Given that the mere innocent mention of certain Prophets can incite a riot, I don't think even that is a good criterion.

    Make it like a bazillion other more basic laws, and require actual intent to incite a riot. It won't be easy to prove some random asshole tried to rile people up enough to cause problems, but will be enough if you have someone standing there giving explicit instructions on what and where to loot, burn, etc.

  33. Region lock? by lmfr · · Score: 1

    Do region locks still apply?

    How, in a legal way, am I supposed to acquire this art piece in the version the artists wanted me to appreciate?

    1. Re:Region lock? by Spad · · Score: 1

      Get it on PC.

    2. Re:Region lock? by CronoCloud · · Score: 1

      PS3 disc based games are not region locked, same goes for PSP, Vita and PS4.

  34. Contributory rioting by tepples · · Score: 1

    To make an analogy to a copyright doctrine established in Sony v. Universal and other cases, perhaps some kinds of speech should be considered "contributory rioting" if they're made with the intent of causing others to riot.

    1. Re:Contributory rioting by gIobaljustin · · Score: 1

      To make an analogy to a copyright doctrine established in Sony v. Universal and other cases

      Why would you use garbage as an analogy?

      perhaps some kinds of speech should be considered "contributory rioting" if they're made with the intent of causing others to riot.

      Perhaps people should take responsibility for their own actions, rather than expecting government thugs to harass people who merely speak.

      --
      Thank you Dave Raggett
    2. Re:Contributory rioting by taustin · · Score: 1

      It's called "inciting to riot," and yes, it's been a crime for decades. Duh.

    3. Re:Contributory rioting by tepples · · Score: 1

      Why would you use garbage as an analogy?

      For one thing, in what way do you consider Sony v. Universal garbage? For another, alleged garbage is the law of the land.

      Perhaps people should take responsibility for their own actions

      Perhaps it's about protecting the public from people who would have reasonable grounds to plead not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.

    4. Re:Contributory rioting by gIobaljustin · · Score: 1

      For another, alleged garbage is the law of the land.

      You'll find that I disagree with many laws and do not think laws are necessarily moral.

      Perhaps it's about protecting the public from people who would have reasonable grounds to plead not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect

      That makes no sense to the topic at hand, which is about free speech.

      --
      Thank you Dave Raggett
    5. Re:Contributory rioting by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      Your not allowed to say anything that would set off a crazy person.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    6. Re:Contributory rioting by gIobaljustin · · Score: 1

      Land of the free, home of the brave.

      --
      Thank you Dave Raggett
  35. Console qualifications; crucifixes by tepples · · Score: 1

    here is a difference between 'remove this content or you'll get an M/T/AO rating' and 'remove this content or we will outlaw your product.'

    If a product is not censored down to M or lower, then Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony Computer Entertainment will outlaw it. Console makers don't want AO games on their platforms, and national legislation implementing the WIPO Copyright Treaty outlaws going around the console game vetting process.

    Bethesda got in trouble with the ESRB for omitting a graphically wounded hanging corpse when submitting Oblivion for review.

    I'd bet a lot of films submitted to MPAA and video games submitted to ESRB fail to declare the same thing, especially given the habit of displaying an image of Jesus of Nazareth nailed to a cross among members of certain Christian denominations.

    1. Re:Console qualifications; crucifixes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh come on, it's not like AO games are fun with play on a console. For one thing, you need both hands to hold the controller! Giggidy!

      (sorry, couldn't resist)

  36. Think of the children... by khr · · Score: 1

    They censored a game because of content? Ug, "think of the children."

    The children now deprived...

  37. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by DrGamez · · Score: 2

    sounds like a real dick to me

  38. Carmagenddon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If this is the case, will there be a legal addon to bring back the censored parts of the game?
    i.e... Carmageddon had (in the german version off the top of my head) the peds changed to zombies, and there was an official patch to change them back to peds?

    anyway... not like you can't accidentally download the US version.

  39. Abortion reference a problem? by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 1

    Perhaps they should use more family friendly content, say from the Woodland Critter Christmas episode.

  40. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm not your buddy, pal

  41. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by gIobaljustin · · Score: 1

    Anything to incite civil unrest against a group of people

    What people are offended by is their own problem, and no one else's. If they cause civil unrest, then it's completely their fault.

    If you say that such speech should be disallowed, you must despise freedom.

    --
    Thank you Dave Raggett
  42. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by Baloroth · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Inciting a riot, ill give you that one.

    Wouldn't it be better to make rioting illegal, rather than speaking?

    Encouraging people to commit a crime is also, generally, a crime. Speaking with the intent to cause a riot? Criminal. Speech that happens incidentally to cause a riot? Not criminal.

    --
    "None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license." --John Milton
  43. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by gIobaljustin · · Score: 1

    If people riot, then that is their own fault. How about some personal responsibility?

    --
    Thank you Dave Raggett
  44. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You realize that that would mean you would be thrown in jail for what you just said, right? Because you are inciting civil unrest among those of us that believe in free speech.

  45. That leads to a bad situation... by LongearedBat · · Score: 1

    What you describe is political correctness. Where does it stop? Each one of us is a member in various groups of people: male/female, some race(s), social level, fitness level, etc.

    PC is very bad for society because it stifles freedom of speech by creating polarised taboos. They're polarised in that, for any given topic, some people (usually the perceived underdogs) are allowed to speak negatively while others are not, regardless of the truth. Ironically, although PC tries to appear anti-bigotry, it is in itself bigoted because it establishes polarised taboos.

    Taboos are bad because they prevent people from voicing legitimate concerns, thereby preventing people from having complete and honest discussions about those concerns. If people can't discuss legitimate problems, then improving our societies becomes hit and miss, usually miss.

    That is why complete freedom of speech is so important, and why PC is do dangerous. And that is why your examples lead to a bad situation.

    Many people have fallen for the misconception (or rather: lie) that PC is an attempt at tact. Of course, PC and tact are very different. Tact enables one to honestly state ones point without breaking down communications. In doing so, one is able to continue to convey opinions and the overall mood is improved, leading to a greater desire to understand and cooperate - all without compromising the truth.

    Among those who confuse PC and tact there seem to be two camps:

    - Those in the pro-PC camp don't seem to understand that enforcing PC actually hurts people. Sometimes PC hurts the very people that it intends to protect.

    - Those in the militantly anti-PC camp seem to think that any attempt at tact is pandering to PC and fail to understand the value of respecting others, thereby "legitimising" the effort of the pro-PC group. (Well, at least that's how the pro-PC group sees it.) Not to mention that tactlessness breaks down communications, thereby rendering any speech (free or not) pointless.

  46. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by lgw · · Score: 1

    Some speech poses a clear and present danger of violence, when you have the attention of an angry crown. "That one over there, he don't look right to me, get him up against the wall!" Specific calls for immediate violence against available targets are really the only place where "prior restraint" makes sense.

    --
    Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
  47. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm not your pal, friend!

  48. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by lgw · · Score: 1

    Inciting to riot is basically a conspiracy charge, however it's a special one because it's being done in public and so violence could theoretically be prevented by law enforcement in some cases (though in practice I doubt it).

    --
    Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
  49. It is by fluffythdestroy · · Score: 1

    it is when the gov request censoring or you cant publish your game in that specific country... Ubisoft didn't want trouble so they decided to go pre-emptive on the sensorship business before the gov or organisation goes apeshit on it like it happened in Australia multiple times.

    --
    PC Gaming enthousiast that gives comments, opinions and reviews on Games. I'm just having fun with games while doing let
    1. Re:It is by Stolovaya · · Score: 1

      Censoring is not solely done by government entities. If you're removing content for the fear of offending someone, you're censoring your material.

  50. Where does TFA mention religion? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Per TFA the game is being stripped of two abortions and five anal probes, allegedly to gain access to the German market. Have no idea where your rant on religion has its basis.

  51. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

    Well then, blame the angry crowd. They gave their attention. The angry crowd needs to quit acting like a child, and learn to restrain itself. Don't go around blaming a guy just because someone reacted badly to what he said.

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  52. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm not your friend, guy!

  53. In Canada I can see it being "hate speech" by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 2

    We all know how envious South Park is of Canada.

    --
    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
  54. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 1

    exactly, the only good riot is a hockey riot.

    --
    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
  55. meh, no biggie by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They should just release both versions everywhere. Case solved.

  56. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Encouraging people to commit a crime is also, generally, a crime. Speaking with the intent to cause a riot? Criminal.

    This may just be me, but I'm well aware that unjust laws exist. That's what people are criticizing. So there's really no reason to come to people and say, "X is illegal!" We know. We don't care.

  57. Not scientology by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    South Park openly criticizes Scientology. They lost a voice actor over it, but that just inspired them to milk the Streisand effect and push the joke farther.

    1. Re:Not scientology by anubi · · Score: 1

      Actually, many times I find the South Park interpretation to be more believable and realistic than the real thing - especially when it comes to religions.

      Matt and Trey seem to have pretty good bullshit detectors and have the skill to illustrate their point.

      I think a lot of people that get poked at are pissed because they know he is right, but does not want him exposing them for what they are to the general public.

      Incidentally, I loved his run at the Mormons, and the way he wrapped up the episode. His Scientology run is a classic spot-on in my book.

      If one is so "touchy" on their beliefs, maybe one needs to re-examine whether those beliefs are based on truth or hearsay. Beliefs based on shaky ground in the first place will be threatened by stuff like this. If your belief system is firmly grounded in truth, you can watch anything like this without getting worked up over it.

      I think Matt and Trey do a helluva good job. They show more insight into the human condition than most I see on TV these days.

      --
      "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]

  58. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hate speech should be protected. It is a persons right to speak their mind. Hate actions are a different story. You call him a Nazi, but you're the one telling him what he should be able to say and do.

    Enjoy living in your dream world where no one is allowed to say anything that isn't nice about another person.

  59. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by lgw · · Score: 1

    It's not about blame, it's about responsibility. When you can avoid people being killed by choosing a better time, place, or manner in making your point, that's a reasonable expectation. Conspiracy to commit murder is certainly a crime, and it doesn't matter whether it a friend or stranger that you convince to murder someone you don't like, it's still quite reasonable that it's illegal.

    We're not talking about publication and censorship here. We're talking about telling people directly to go kill someone now, or indirectly with words that a reasonable person would expect to have the same result.

    --
    Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
  60. So how many Christian "far-rightests"... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...carried out beheadings in this century?

    How many synagogues did they burn?

    How many honor killings did they carry out?

    1. Re:So how many Christian "far-rightests"... by Kojiro+Ganryu+Sasaki · · Score: 1

      I'm talking about government influence, not random acts of violence.

      But if you want to argue random acts of violence I think Breivik takes the cake.

  61. Well. you should keep in mind by morgauxo · · Score: 1

    Well. you should keep in mind this is THEIR world. The various flavors of religious folk do outnumber us all across the planet. Maybe we should be grateful that at least they still let us live here. Well.. most of them do.. for now anyway...

  62. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by gIobaljustin · · Score: 1

    When you can avoid people being killed by choosing a better time, place, or manner in making your point, that's a reasonable expectation.

    It's "reasonable" only if you're anti-free speech. Blame (or 'hold responsible,' if you prefer) the idiots who riot or commit violence, not the speaker.

    --
    Thank you Dave Raggett
  63. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I misread "angry crown" as "angry clown", and was envisioning a homicidal clown just waiting for random passers-by to be singled out.

    Though, I do think you should watch what you should say in the presence of an angry clown.

  64. Also games can sell without ESRB raitings by Sycraft-fu · · Score: 1

    There have been a few games I've seen that didn't bother with the ESRB, they just got a PEGI rating and that keeps the retailers happy. Civ 4 was such a title. No ESRB rating, even in the US, just PEGI. Kept Target, BestBuy, etc happy. Retailers don't seem to be that fussy about the rating system used, they just seem to want one. So supposing the ESRB were being dicks, but PEGI was being reasonable, a company could use the PEGI rating instead and that would work just fine in the US.

    Of course on the PC side there's Steam, which is changing things because they have no fucks to give about ratings near as I can tell. They have plenty of indy titles that are unrated because the devs don't submit them for ratings. Given that Steam is becoming a major way of buying games it may lead to publishers being more willing to try games with content that would earn it a higher rating.

  65. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by lgw · · Score: 1

    Are you really saying that "conspiracy to commit murder" should be legal? That if I convince my friend to kill you on my behalf, as long as he does the actually killing then I'm just "exercising free speech"?

    Again, this isn't about publication and censorship, it's about something far more direct.

    --
    Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
  66. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by lgw · · Score: 1

    Nah, that's the Penny Arcade game, not the South Park game (the Mime Pope is an important boss fight in that game).

    --
    Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
  67. That is something many miss by Sycraft-fu · · Score: 1

    Most censorship in the US you see is self censorship of one variety or another. Like on TV, the only thing the government steps in on is over-the-air channels. The airwaves, belonging to the public, are regulated by the government. On cable? Do what you like.

    So why then do cable channels censor/regulate various things? Well they internally decide what they want to show, what they are ok with. Usually this is based around what advertisers want and what kind of audience they target. But they are welcome to change it as they wish. Some do vary rules by time of day or things like that.

    Same deal with game ratings. Publishers tend to avoid AO ratings because a number of retailers, like Walmart, refuse to carry AO games. So they shoot for M, or below. However the government isn't involved. You are free to make AO games, and you are free to sell games that are unrated at all. This is different from some places where a game gets refused classification by a government body and then cannot be legally sold.

    Though the government has rumbled about more mandatory ratings/censorship in the US so far it has been nothing but rumblings. The government is fairly hands off.

  68. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by gIobaljustin · · Score: 2

    Are you really saying that "conspiracy to commit murder" should be legal? That if I convince my friend to kill you on my behalf, as long as he does the actually killing then I'm just "exercising free speech"?

    Yes. The murderer is at fault.

    --
    Thank you Dave Raggett
  69. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How is this logic any different from "you were obviously asking to be raped because of what you wore"?

  70. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by lgw · · Score: 1

    Wow, really, not both? Well, I've never heard of a legal tradition that worked that way. Sounds iffy to me. I like the idea that the rich aren't just paying people full time to murder everyone who annoys them (hmmm, when I put it that way, I guess that's feudalism, so it has been tried!).

    --
    Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
  71. Incitement by tepples · · Score: 1

    in what way do you consider Sony v. Universal garbage?

    You'll find that I disagree with many laws and do not think laws are necessarily moral.

    So on what grounds do you disagree with the reasoning applied in MGM v. Grokster and other cases that establish an "inducement" or "incitement" legal theory?

    Perhaps it's about protecting the public from people who [could plead insanity]

    That makes no sense to the topic at hand, which is about free speech.

    I was referring to riot-related speech restriction. Let me reword it to tie it into the topic: Some people might not construe free speech to cover knowingly speaking in such a manner as to incite undiagnosed insane people within earshot to riot.

  72. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by HornWumpus · · Score: 2

    or indirectly with words that a reasonable person would expect to have the same result.

    Is where you lose your logic. Just because the world has unreasonable people that I know will react violently to the truth, does not mean I have to shut up.

    For example: It might be unwise to tell a Russian that the best evidence has Vodka being invented in Poland but it should not be illegal.

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  73. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by nurb432 · · Score: 1

    Correct. Its about intentionally setting the crowd off down the road with a command to go riot. If people choose to riot on their own after a speech, no matter how heated it may be, well, that is the way it goes.

    --
    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
  74. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by gIobaljustin · · Score: 2

    Well, I've never heard of a legal tradition that worked that way.

    You'll find that I have a mind of my own and am not a slave to legal traditions.

    I like the idea that the rich aren't just paying people full time to murder everyone who annoys them

    Since when is giving money to someone speech? I don't consider it so. Just asking someone to murder someone would be speech, though.

    --
    Thank you Dave Raggett
  75. Cant they do both? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Publish the censored and uncensored versions.
    Put them on the shelf side by side clearly labelled.
    Let the market choose its poison.

  76. Burma - aka Myanmar by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Myanmar.

    'Nuff said.

    Look it up. The Buddhist right wing clergy are being assholes.

    Buddhists in those countries (SE Asia) are assholes. We don't hear about it here because there are dipshit third World countries. And there's the cult of personality with the Dali Lama.

    But never the less, religion is evil.

    ALL religions suffer the same treatment. Brilliant founder - assholes fuck it up later. Same with Buddhism.

    The goddamn Japs fucked it up so bad as to make it a goddamn military cult.

  77. I am working on that. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well. you should keep in mind this is THEIR world. The various flavors of religious folk do outnumber us all across the planet. Maybe we should be grateful that at least they still let us live here. Well.. most of them do.. for now anyway...

    I am working on exterminating religion and its followers.

    Religion is Evil and so are its followers.

    There are no exceptions.

  78. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by lgw · · Score: 1

    "Fighting words" are one of the specific exceptions to free speech in US law. It doesn't come up much these days, because people are more restrained, but it used to be a big deal. Saying something that "everyone knows" will provoke violence means, legally, you started the fight, even though the other guy threw the first punch.

    You also don't have the right to speak though a bullhorn outside your neighbor's window at 2 AM. It's not the content of the speech, it's the time, place, and manner.

    Again again, this isn't about publication and censorship, but only about very direct speech -> violence here and now.

    --
    Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
  79. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by lgw · · Score: 0

    "Many years ago, you came to me for help and I said you would owe me a favor. This is the favor. Someone needs do make an example of Bob." Not a direct quid pro quo, but still.

    "Won't somebody rid me of this meddlesome priest?" Sometimes you only need to make the desire clear.

    "These Jews own the justice system, and the only way we'll get justice is if we take it ourselves. Those smug bastards are just down the block. Who's with me!"

    "I saw Jim plain as day, ogling my daughter, and now shes afraid to even go outside" she said, "ain't one of you man enough to find a rope and a lamp post?" There was a time in the South where those words would kill a man as sure as pulling a trigger.

    --
    Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
  80. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

    There are Russians who would consider anything critical of Vodka or implying a non Russian origin for Vodka fighting words. I'm surprised one hasn't spoken up.

    No court would buy it.

    'Fighting words' don't come up so much anymore, not because people are more restrained, but because it's recognized that the 'fighting word' doctrine only protected popular opinion.

    Otherwise anything critical of Islam would already make the speaker vulnerable to a legal ass kicking.

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  81. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by gIobaljustin · · Score: 2

    What are you trying to do here? You're not going to convince me of anything, as I believe in absolute free speech.

    In any case, let's talk about what's inside the deepest reaches of your bare undies...

    --
    Thank you Dave Raggett
  82. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by fustakrakich · · Score: 2

    ...direct speech -> violence...

    There is no such thing! There is ALWAYS a man in the middle. The man who acts, and only the man who acts is solely responsible for his actions. "Following orders" is no excuse. You either control yourself or you don't. The law exists only as political expediency to protect authority.

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  83. Corporations can do no wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Whether singly or in concert, so when they censor, it's OK, right? Sorry champ, both examples you gave are censorship, and the fact that Americans are happy to have corporations make their decisions for them doesn't change that one iota.

  84. Re:Burma - aka Myanmar by FunkDup · · Score: 1

    Myanmar. 'Nuff said. Look it up. The Buddhist right wing clergy are being assholes.

    That's disingenuous. Those assholes are dressing up as monks for fun and for profit, not "in the name of Buddhism" (even if that's what they say), and despite the great incentives in that country for assholes to dress up as monks, many of those monks are genuine Buddhists.

    Despite Buddhisms many wrong notions (like reincarnation), meditation is immensely powerful. It's like martial arts for your brain. It significantly improves concentration, focus and clarity as well as being a tool that can readily create happiness. Buddhism has done so much to improve peoples lives that assholes in Burma and Thailand don't make it bad.

    --
    Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds -- Albert Einstein
  85. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by fustakrakich · · Score: 2

    Since when is giving money to someone speech?

    Giving it is okay. Taking it is the crime. The sinner is Eve, not the serpent :-)

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  86. Huh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Or compromise like the Amish do in the US. I highly respect those folks. They stick to their values, they don't try to force them on others, and they found a way to live peacefully and well with the modern World.

    Have you ever lived --within-- an Amish community? While I agree they seem to respect outsiders [when they finally decided to accept them] they were the same way as Muslims, and you post is misleading.

    The Majority of Muslims can take a joke, it is the 'old guard' [if you will] of the Religion that has gone to extremes to protect what fundamentals they think God would want to protect there religion from ridicule. The Amish are the same way, and were extreme within there system when it come to making sure outsiders didn't poison there communities, or poison there religious beliefs, which are just as ridiculous as the old guard for Muslim religion.

  87. Re: Burma - aka Myanmar by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Misuse of a religion is always the problem.
    Well. Except abrahamic religions where only misuse can make it decent.

    The torah is fucked.

  88. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by Your.Master · · Score: 1

    It's hard to even debate this -- this is a pretty fundamental disagreement in ethics.

    If A should be a crime, then intentionally trying to cause A to happen should be a crime.

  89. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by lgw · · Score: 1

    So you're really in support of all those cases? Can't tell if you're trolling, but man, you should be.

    --
    Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
  90. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You point out that Muhammed was a pedophile and maybe drop some other truth-bombs from the Koran.

  91. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In the U.S. neither is criminal. There must be both the intent and the expectation that it will be successful. Yelling "Hey, everyone! Let's fucking riot! Right now! Everybody!", while picking up morning coffee would not pass the test; though doing the same during a protest as physical confrontations are beginning would.

  92. Re:Burma - aka Myanmar by aph0rism · · Score: 1

    Despite Buddhisms many wrong notions (like reincarnation)

    We do not know that, and neither do you. We live in a mystery in that regard. All we can do if we want to be truthful is admit we don't know what happens after death. We simply don't know. That's the truth. If you can't admit that to yourself, you are clinging to your notions the same way religious fundamentals cling to theirs. Its okay to have spiritual ideas, but none of us can honestly speak in certainties like that. You have no idea if reincarnation is true or false. To say you do is the type of arrogant/fearful clinging that keeps so many people from ever actually growing (I would say growing spiritually, but that is just my opinion based on the way I define spirituality). The idea is to live in wonder, not cling to fixed ideas about those things which are ultimately unknowable.

  93. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The problem with your logic, is you are inciting me to violence, thereby implicating yourself in any crimes I commit.

    But I'm sure you'll just come up with a convoluted reason for why "what I (lgw) say doesn't count".

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  95. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by lgw · · Score: 1

    No, that's really not what "inciting to violence" is. I think people who object to the restriction are imagining cases where the law simply doesn't apply.

    --
    Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
  96. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by lgw · · Score: 1

    "Giving orders" is still a war crime, though, right? RIght?

    --
    Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
  97. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by gIobaljustin · · Score: 1

    So you're really in support of all those cases?

    If it's just speech, I believe government thugs should stay out of it. Period.

    --
    Thank you Dave Raggett
  98. Re:Hate speech, and Libel/Slander by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

    Only because the law says so. If nobody follows there would be no war. The followers are always the danger. They must be taught to resist temptation, not prohibit it.

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  99. Re:Burma - aka Myanmar by FunkDup · · Score: 1

    Despite Buddhisms many wrong notions (like reincarnation)

    We do not know that, and neither do you. We live in a mystery in that regard. All we can do if we want to be truthful is admit we don't know what happens after death. We simply don't know. That's the truth

    There's lots of evidence that thinking and consciousness require a functioning brain, therefore it is reasonable to believe that you cease to exist if your brain decomposes. At this point, if you want to believe in an afterlife, you need to propose a mechanism for transmigration. The wikipedia page on Bardo says "The intermediate being ...existence is demonstrated by the fact that it cannot have any discontinuity in time and space between the place and moment of death and those of rebirth, and therefore it must be that the two existences belonging to the same series are linked in time and space by an intermediate stage." Which doesn't even constitute evidence let alone proof.

    you are clinging to your notions the same way religious fundamentals cling to theirs

    You're making wild assumptions about my convictions. I was open to the idea of reincarnation for many years, now once again I'm open to the idea that our universe is statistically likely to be a simulation, therefore an afterlife is possible. It's just that there's only worthless evidence for an afterlife and strong evidence against it.

    --
    Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds -- Albert Einstein
  100. Successful Slashvertisement. by RockDoctor · · Score: 1
    On the assumption. of course that it'll be available on Linux.

    I'll have to watch an episode of South Park all the way through though. The couple I've seen bits of are funny enough for that to possibly be worth the effort.

    will it be available on Wii? That might encourage me to actually use the thing.

    --
    Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"
    1. Re:Successful Slashvertisement. by timothy · · Score: 1

      No idea about availability, though I suspect that "available on Linux" is a distant pipedream. (Which is kind of a mixed metaphor, but hey.) The only game I play much of is Scrabble ;)

      Re: South Park, though: I used to hate it; for years, my only exposure was what I'd read about it and a few seconds at a time of the actual show. "Pfui!," I thought -- "vulgarity, crudity, profanity, childishness!"

      It took me a long time to figure out that they have a lot of really clever satire in there. The intentionally flat animation doesn't do all that much for, still, but I've come to like it *on South Park* because it just seems to match up well with the words. If I had kids, I don't think I'd want them watching it at a young age, but I think I *would* want them questioning authority and stupidity in the way it encourages.

      --
      jrnl: http://tinyurl.com/c2l8yr / foes: http://tinyurl.com/ckjno5
    2. Re:Successful Slashvertisement. by RockDoctor · · Score: 1

      Yeah, it took a long time for me to get round to watching any of it - I only got a TV a few years ago in any case - and it looks like shit. But there are diamonds in that shit.

      --
      Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"