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CBS said "This is the creative solution that we agreed upon with the producers". I have been wondering if the producers insisted that the segment be censored in
by mikequinlan 7y ago
CBS said "This is the creative solution that we agreed upon with the producers". I have been wondering if the producers insisted that the segment be censored in all regions so that everyone would know about it. Otherwise Americans would never know about the censorship.
- fucking_tragedy 7y agoYou don't fight censorship by doubling down on censorship. It's entirely possible to show the uncensored version in America and raise awareness that the segment was censored in other regions.
- mgbmtl 7y agoBut then it wouldn't be on the front page of HN or a NY Times article. I hope it's still available if you access some obscure torrent site using a VPN.
- kbenson 7y agoIt's entirely possible to fight censorship by selectively doubling down on censorship when you know or suspect the effect of that censorship will backfire and have the opposite result. It's not just about what you do, it's about the outcome you expect and aim for.
- icelancer 7y agoThis is absolutely true. However, I am not sure CBS deserves the benefit of the doubt here...
- kitotik 7y agoSomehow this reminds me of the “Explicit Language” stickers on music packaging that Tipper Gore and the PMRC brought about in the 80s. Those stickers sold product!
- deogeo 7y agoWhat better way to raise awareness that it was censored, than by showing the censored version in the US?
- serf 7y ago>You don't fight censorship by doubling down on censorship. even though that's basically what the entire internet 'black bar' campaign was about during the SOPA/PIPA crisis.[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protests_against_SOPA_and_PIPA https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protests_against_SOPA_and_PIPA
- tzakrajs 7y agoExcept Chinese use VPNs and this just keeps them from ever seeing the content now.
- MichaelDickens 7y agoIf the segment was about Chinese censorship, surely the best way for Americans to learn about Chinese censorship would be to air it?
- smsm42 7y agoNow Americans learned about American censorship. Maybe it's even better for Americans to know that exists.
- smsm42 7y ago"Agreed with the producers" might be just "execs told them either you agree to air it as we say, or it doesn't air at all and look behind this door - there's a line of people just like you waiting to take your spot in the lineup, so think quick". In this position, one doesn't have too much space for disagreement if one want to keep one's job.