How do you define censorship?

[netmouse]

Someone commented in another journal the idea that censorship is something only governments can do.

I had defined it as something people with power do to people (publications, performances, etc) they have power over.

ETA: by power I meant institutionally-based authority, not merely physical force. "Institution" can include social institutions, such as clubs, churches, or families.

How do you define censorship?

Comments

[rmeidaking.livejournal.com]

I define censorship as suppressing any paper, book, artwork, or other item because of ideological, political, personal or ethical reasons.

I censor my kids all the time: They can't swear, they have to be polite, they can't walk around naked, etc.

Various churches issue lists of censored materials all the time. Lots of good Christians are not even supposed to read about other religions, or about any sort of behavior that's not officially accepted by that church (e.g. a paper in support of birth control, or in favor of abortion, or about the practice of Hinduism).

They censor movies by giving them official ratings. That's done by a board which is supposed to be independent of both the film industry and the government - yeah, right.

Censorship should not be confused with editing, as in only picking out the best stories to put in one's magazine, or only displaying the best books in one's bookstore.

Censorship is something that can be - and is - done by most people at one time or another.

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

Sounds like your definition and mine are pretty much the same.

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

( I tried to think of a "for such-and-such reason" clause, but wasn't sure how to put it. I think you did a good job )