The Audience

Soapbox visitors may discuss the questions and the panelists' responses here.

Opening question
sysop - 02:14pm Dec 29, 1999

We invite you to consider the same question we've posed to our panel or to discuss their responses.

Although some have claimed a prominent role for politics in the flap over Chris Ofili's painting The Virgin Mary at the Sensation show at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, there are undoubtedly some who have seen the work and find that it does offend their religious beliefs. Should it be displayed at a public museum in the United States?

censor human expression?
perry pricec - 10:45pm Feb 3, 2000

art is the way that we, as humans, interpret the world around us. science and other disciplines seek the same end. and yet, imagine where our civilization would be if censorship crashed down on every scientific idea that the church (i use as just an example, there are other organizations with similare or dissimilar prejudice) dissagreed with? the offence many people have toward "offensive" art stems from lack of modivation to understand the meaning. even if someone disagrees with the meaning after they stretch their minds, at least they have reached toward something new. we can continue to understand our world in this way

no to censorship
bobby fried - 12:28pm Feb 4, 2000

I am a 29 year old father of three. when i first started playing video games it was 1982 and the most horrid thing out was pac-man yet it didn't stop people from commenting on the content.this was pac-man geez. today the more realistic the violence in games or movies the better people want to see it.if kids are influenced by this video game fake blood then parental support at some level in that household failed. I grew up around violence in movies and in a house with guns but my father taught me and my brother that problems are not solved by killing someone. we hunted but new better than to ever use a gun in anger we were taught not to ever point a gun at someone unless it was to defend yourself and even then he taught us that we had to look deep inside to see if pulling that trigger was worth the damage it would do to your concience.he taught us that not only would it hurt us in a legal sense but on a spiritual level as well. the same with video games i teach my children that the violence they see on tv or video games is not real.in life people don't come back the person does not live to act out another scene this is what every responsible parent should do to insure that thier children do not grow numb to human exsistance. columbine was truly a trgic event in the history of our nation as well as any other school shooting or any other war ,killing or other wise. the parents involved with harris and klebold no matter what the people close to them say or what the mainstream press wants us to think the ultimate responsibility lies with the parents.be a parent for gods sake not a best friend.\ thank you. bobby fried

Censor Human Expression
Phil Stott - 12:31pm Feb 4, 2000

I am against censorship for art, literature or film in any form, except where it may be viewed by children in their early developmental years.

Adults should be able to chose whether or not to view or read any material, and should be mature enough to make their own decisions. What offends people of one religious or political persuasion may not offend others. Sometimes the context in which things are displayed can be misconstrued, thereby changing the intent of the creator. To censor is to place oneself above others - to say in effect "I know what is good or not good for you to see, and I will make that decision for you, as you are less capable than I."

video games
#$%^ - 01:08pm Feb 6, 2000

I am 12 I DONT REALLY LIKE ALL OF THE VILOENCE EITHER.MY PARENTS ARE ONE OF THE FEW THAT DONT LET THEIR KIDS PLAY THOSE KIND OF GAMES!!!!!!!!!