The Energon Pub

Agreed. The difference is a cultural one, and so one should not use what their culture considers normal and moral as a basis to judge and condemn another culture because their social mores are different. Although personally I do draw the line at the devaluement of human life. Entertainment, stories, movies; they are one thing. But to actually hurt other people and consider it acceptable, that is something else entirely.
Forgive me for tying two threads together here but it seemed to work as an example.
So everyone bathes together in Japan, thats fine, thats what they believe in. On the other hand, Americans(as a whole) do not believe that public intoxication is conductive to their society, which is also fine, it works for us.

As far as censoring books goes, its wrong. Should movies be censored? It should not be nessessary, they should have an age appropriate rating and list of reasons for said rating. After that much like books it is up to the parents descretion whether or not they think their child is old enough to view that material. Public broadcasting(not cable programming unless it is a station geared to kids) should have some limits. News is "ideally" the truth, and if we start letting some unknown body of people censor the truth, then, well I'm sure you can imagine what kind of things will happen. But again, it is up to the parent how much of it they let their kids watch.

My grandmother taught me fear. When I was very small she would tell me that Rawhead and Bloodybones wandered around outside in the night and that they would eat any children they found out after dark. After that all she ever had to do to get me to come inside and stay there was mention those two names. She didn't have to tell me that real people would do terrible things to children, she let me fear the monsters in my own imagination instead. I think they did a far more effective job of keeping me safe than the threat of a kidnapper would. But thats just me.

Americans are very sexual, but we are so...sensitive about it. We'd never tolerate a public naked bath (which is just kind of gross, by the way). I guess it's just that we are also a very religious country, and religious people have a very strong voice here.

I think movies shouldn't be censored (short of being pornographic, which is its own genre), but if there's something I don't like in a movie, I ain't gonna watch it. For instance, there is a Rob Zombie movie, I think it is, that is just too sexually graphic in a violent, pervy way, and I simply refuse to watch that garbage. But I'm sure some people do, and more power to them, I guess.

i just dont know what happend to common sence anymore......ppl have just become stupid and take the easy way out....if u dont wants urs kids watching something then well duh dont let them. but i mean its life kids are gonna hear swear words, there gonna see naken ppl and sex ect. its only a matter of time. but its how u raise ur kids and teach them right and wrong that will show how they act in the end.

Moonbase2 wrote:We'd never tolerate a public naked bath (which is just kind of gross, by the way).

Explain how. Everyone with a functioning set of eyes has seen at least one naked body.

Professor Smooth wrote:

Moonbase2 wrote:We'd never tolerate a public naked bath (which is just kind of gross, by the way).

Explain how. Everyone with a functioning set of eyes has seen at least one naked body.

Because in our society people really don't want to see each other's bits and pieces out in the open. Sure, we've seen what naked people look like. Hell, some of us go out in very skimpy clothes that leave nothing to the imagination.

I was actually born in a country that has nude beaches. Maybe it wasn't a big deal there, but it blew my parents' minds, being that they are Americans. It would take a lot of change for us to be able to accept public nudity. If I grew up in a country where that was the norm, of course I wouldn't think a thing of it. But we are taught from a young age to cover ourselves the heck up. Even five year old boys aren't allowed in a women's lockeroom. If a bunch of folks were to go to a pool and get completely naked, the rest of us wouldn't just ignore it just because it's a natural thing, we'd be calling the police and they'd be arrested for indecent exposure. It's just the way we are.

I would personally be concerned with the issue of hygine first. I know my bathtub is clean, I clean it. I know who bathes in it and where they have been and I know that I'm not going to catch some disease from them that I don't know about. Plus I dont have to sit in my tub with the question nagging in the back of my head, what if someone urinates in the water?

Well, I think about that even when people are wearing bathing suits. But at least their bits are covered. I certainly don't want people's genitalia exposed at all. Sorry. I'm not religious or anything, it's just been harped to all of us that they are something you keep private. Heck, even that term expresses how we feel about them; they are "private parts". I am in no way trying to insult cultures where it is natural and no big deal. I'm sure that some things we do are taboo to them.

MamaKitty wrote:I would personally be concerned with the issue of hygine first. I know my bathtub is clean, I clean it. I know who bathes in it and where they have been and I know that I'm not going to catch some disease from them that I don't know about. Plus I dont have to sit in my tub with the question nagging in the back of my head, what if someone urinates in the water?

I assume that, for these concerns, you never swim in a lake or public pool.

On that you are correct. My parents insisted I learn how to swim growing up. So I can swim if I have to. ::shudder:: If you could see the lake thats available for swimming in where I live, you wouldnt want to swim in it either. They've caught fish there with two heads!

Professor Smooth wrote:

MamaKitty wrote:I would personally be concerned with the issue of hygine first. I know my bathtub is clean, I clean it. I know who bathes in it and where they have been and I know that I'm not going to catch some disease from them that I don't know about. Plus I dont have to sit in my tub with the question nagging in the back of my head, what if someone urinates in the water?

I assume that, for these concerns, you never swim in a lake or public pool.

Public pools are very different from public showers or bathrooms.

A public toilet is extremely dirty, and I wouldn't catch myself sitting on one ever. (I'd hold it from New York to California if I had to) And it's usually best to wear flip-flops (A really cheap kind of sandals, for those who don't know) in a public shower, so as not to catch foot fungus, or something to that extent.

Public pools, however, are usually cleaned out with special chemicals. Taking a dip in a public pool is about as good for you as a shower at home.

Shadowman wrote:

Public pools are very different from public showers or bathrooms.

A public toilet is extremely dirty, and I wouldn't catch myself sitting on one ever. (I'd hold it from New York to California if I had to) And it's usually best to wear flip-flops (A really cheap kind of sandals, for those who don't know) in a public shower, so as not to catch foot fungus, or something to that extent.

Are you honestly comparing Nippon's onsen to a public toilet?

Professor Smooth wrote:

Shadowman wrote:

Public pools are very different from public showers or bathrooms.

A public toilet is extremely dirty, and I wouldn't catch myself sitting on one ever. (I'd hold it from New York to California if I had to) And it's usually best to wear flip-flops (A really cheap kind of sandals, for those who don't know) in a public shower, so as not to catch foot fungus, or something to that extent.

Are you honestly comparing Nippon's onsen to a public toilet?

Thank you for attempting to twist my owns words against me.

But to answer your question, no, I wasn't. I was comparing public bathrooms and showers to public swimming pools. You know, Japan isn't the only country to feature public showers, right?

Shadowman wrote: You know, Japan isn't the only country to feature public showers, right?

You're gonna ruin my big reveal, you keep talking like that.

I just want to know how someone can misspell the word "or."

Spike wrote:I just want to know how someone can misspell the word "or."

Having dyslexia, speaking two and a quarter languages helps a lot!


Oh onsen are cool, and that with the foot fungus, just use the foot shower thing that is a standard in public pools.


Now the thing with kids and sex and violence, it is always up to the kids mind, some can cope with it some can't.

a public bath wouldn't work in America since we're taught at a pretty early age to be ashamed of our bodies.

Our hair isn't straight, wavy, curly, short or long enough
our teeth aren't white enough, straight enough
contacts are better, because glasses make you look smart *gasp!* and who wants to look like a nerd
we're not thin enough
we're not muscular enough
breasts are naturally too small, which is why we invented fake ones
pubic hair is "so 70's" so most people shave it off or keep it very short
all stomachs should be flat and ripped looking

I could go on. America hates itself and the way it looks, so everyone wants to look like Hollywood, which is at it's essence, a very 'fake' look.

We're a screwed up country, what can ya do?

Though I honestly wouldn't want to be in a public area with a bunch of naked old people. Now some bouncy hot young chicks on the other hand would be cool, *I know you're in Japan, see above comment on 'fake tits' if you're not getting enough bounce over there.*

and the number one reason why it'll never happen in America?




Some guys got big wangs, some don't. I imagine the guys with little wangs don't want to see some other dudes larger model and feel inferior.

Probably because making someone feel inferior in public would violate some constitutional right that they have. Maybe they'd feel offended that they got the Deluxe model instead of the Voyager, Leader, or Ultimate model.

and if Japan is so open with their nudity, how come in Japanese porn the Men are always digitally blurred, while the woman are not?

**this is all in jest btw, I'm not mocking your culture. Japanese history and culture is actually something I'm very interested in**

oh yeah, Censorship = BAD!

Malikon wrote:and if Japan is so open with their nudity, how come in Japanese porn the Men are always digitally blurred, while the woman are not?

Adults know what's there. Women are blurred as well.

Lol, I'm sorry but doesn't that kind of defeat the whole point?

Robo-Chugster wrote:

Optimus Convoy wrote:

Burn wrote:So you'd support your 5 year old being exposed a news report and hear and see graphic details and images of another 5 year old being brutally raped and then murdered?

There are some things children simply don't need to be subjected to.

I have to agree with Burn. I don't like censorship myself, but in regards to children, there are things they shouldn't be subjected to.

but should that be down to the government or down to the parents of said child?

I guess by the comment, you think I'm wrong with what I said. So let's say you're right. I'm too tired to give any justifiable reason for my comment.

Hmmmm.....
The country I live in was founded on Free Speech....
Hmmmmmmmm......
Free speech+facist-like Censorship=F'ING STUPIDITY MY FREIND!!
Censorship is not something that is needed.

F.u.c.k. C.e.n.s.o.r.s.h.i.p.

Dammit, I hate it when people drag up Centuries-old topics. It means I either already made my point and people understand it, or they don't and I have to dig it up again.

I'll say it again, anyway: Decency. There are some things kids don't need to know at an early age. They're so mentally different from adults that it could cause psychological damage if they saw certain things.

Shadowman wrote:I'll say it again, anyway: Decency. There are some things kids don't need to know at an early age. They're so mentally different from adults that it could cause psychological damage if they saw certain things.

Agreed. Kids don't need to see xxx junk on TV and then become trumatized.
There was a story where a man bought a "new" iPod loaded with porn and the like from walmart for his 10 year old. Apparently she is now emotionally scarred, cried for an hour, and her father couldn't exactly explain what she saw in easy terms. Stuff like that can manipulate a child's mind in ways we can't afford to.
Decency is important.
And for those who say something about being free expression and such, think of this. (America Related)
The Framers who wrote the Constituion may have designed it to be flexible, thus why we have it today, but they never could have predicted the things we consider mainstream now. Five hundred bucks says James Madison wouldbe appaled by even what we wear.

There's two sides to every issue. Political censorship is generally bad. However, I wouldn't mind somebody duct taping Ann Coulter's mouth shut. In terms of decency, Warnings exist to let people know what they're getting into. That's why we have the ESRB, the MPAA, etc. However, there is no reason for the ratings being forced, withthe possible exception of not lettting anyone under 18 buy porn. However, Gamestop's policy of requiring an
ID for buying M games is absurd. They would make so much more money if they got rid of that policy.

The Devil, IMHO.

1. If something offends you, don't watch/read/play/listen to it. Not the government's job to protect you from yourself.

2. If you don't want your kids watching/reading/playing/listening something you find offensive, restrict their access to it yourself. Not the government's job to raise your kids for you, either.

2a. Kids are more resilient than you think, anyway. Most of the curse words and dirty jokes I know I learned in elementary school from my peers. Most of what I know about sex I learned in middle school. I watched some films and TV shows that would be considered violent or sexy when I was a kid/young teen for one reason or another. Wasn't scarred or mentally disturbed by them.

3. I'm a video/computer gamer, as well as a fan some other geeky hobbies that tend to draw the attention of censorship advocates. And I'm rather tired of having to deal with media that I find interesting and is intended for adults like me getting slapped because it's "unfriendly for children" when the titles they're forcing the issue on ARE NOT INTENDED FOR KIDS ANYWAY! Grah!

If some parents are stupid enough to let their kids play stuff not intended for them, sucks to be them, IMHO. Let it alone so those of us the stuff *is* intended for can enjoy it, OK? </rant>