Banning.. has it ever worked?

revenantdead · 17th July 2007, 11:12 AM

Noticed today that one of the Tintin books recently got banned from being sold in the childrens section of book shops because of it's racist portrayal of black people. I was never a huge Tintin fan and can't specifically remember that book so can't really say whether it was justified or not. I know that the author was a belgian nazi sympathizer so it hardly surprises me.

But that's not the point of this topic. I think the thing that struck me is that when they did this, because of media attention sales went up.

Let's look at another example that's recently come to light. S. Rushdies satanic verses would have been a reasonably well recieved book that a few people would have read and may or may not have enjoyed that would have been largely forgotten about. However by the muslim world issuing a fatwa on his head and it being banned in multiple countries, he has shot to fame and the book has been read by millions and many more know of it even if they haven't read it and he's still well known all these years later.

When Marilyn Manson got a partial blame for school shootings, again sales went up.

So when will people realise that by banning, trying to ban or otherwise they are actually doing more harm for their cause than good. I'm just glad that I live in a world where these morons try and ban stuff as controversial material would probably be largely forgotten otherwise.

Having said that maybe sub-standard but controversial material really should be forgotten because without controversy it's nothing.

humndislocation · 17th July 2007, 11:40 AM

I think a lot of games companies have deliberately courted negative press in the past, in order to generate sales. Take 2/Rockstar in particular. Also look at the recent Manchester cathedral row, I really wouldn't be surprised if that was engineered by PR companies.

But yeah, calling for something to be banned generally makes it more successful, since people don't like other people telling them what they're allowed to read/watch/whatever.

revenantdead · 18th July 2007, 08:16 AM

Yeah manhunt and bully are other examples of PC games. Should we ban anything then? At what point does something become so morally unnacceptable that banning is necessary?

I mean snuff films are pretty rough and yet loads of people I know saw that beheading a few years ago... morbid interest I guess.

If we wanted people to see more sanitary stuff what should the government do?

humndislocation · 18th July 2007, 11:39 AM

Personally I think pretty much anything should be fair game, with the obvious exception of things like snuff films or paedophilia, where people had to be killed or children exploited, in order to make the work.

It's not for the government to decide what adults can and can't watch.

Pubic Wig · 18th July 2007, 12:21 PM

Heh, banning Tintin for racism eh? One might as well ban Disneys "Song of the South" or "Gone with the Wind" for their African slave stereotypes as well.

Ah banning, the best free publicity anyone could ever ask for.

RiseAgainst · 18th July 2007, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pubic Wig

Ah banning, the best free publicity anyone could ever ask for.

i enjoy this statement! so very true.

banning things just make people far too interested to see what they arent allowed, its simple human instinct to be curious about things

GaryM · 18th July 2007, 04:40 PM

I haven't read Tintin but I have read another book that was briefly banned for being racist - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Rather ironic since when the book came out it was critiscised for its favourable portrayal of black people. Anyway, I find it interesting reading stuff like that because you can see what used to be acceptable, and see how things have changed.

Wee_rick · 18th July 2007, 06:23 PM

Evil dead is one of the best examples of banning boosting it's sales/rep. Look what that did for Bruces career and Rami!

I was just thinking about this the other day when the Catholic church called upon Sony to ban Resistance: Fall Of Man for featuring Manchester Catherdial. Alough Sony Has publicy Apologised for using the Churchs Likeness They havent withdrawn copies like the Church has asked. I assume this will be because they know that More copies will start shifting from the shelves now.

Rotting Remains · 18th July 2007, 08:58 PM

someone should ban atheism, then it might kill religion

: : Scott : : · 18th July 2007, 11:19 PM

Remember when the Bible got banned because of its controversial discriminatory stance on homosexuals and multiple headed dragons?

17th July 2007, 11:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
revenantdead Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 7 Band: Revenant Dead	Banning.. has it ever worked? Noticed today that one of the Tintin books recently got banned from being sold in the childrens section of book shops because of it's racist portrayal of black people. I was never a huge Tintin fan and can't specifically remember that book so can't really say whether it was justified or not. I know that the author was a belgian nazi sympathizer so it hardly surprises me. But that's not the point of this topic. I think the thing that struck me is that when they did this, because of media attention sales went up. Let's look at another example that's recently come to light. S. Rushdies satanic verses would have been a reasonably well recieved book that a few people would have read and may or may not have enjoyed that would have been largely forgotten about. However by the muslim world issuing a fatwa on his head and it being banned in multiple countries, he has shot to fame and the book has been read by millions and many more know of it even if they haven't read it and he's still well known all these years later. When Marilyn Manson got a partial blame for school shootings, again sales went up. So when will people realise that by banning, trying to ban or otherwise they are actually doing more harm for their cause than good. I'm just glad that I live in a world where these morons try and ban stuff as controversial material would probably be largely forgotten otherwise. Having said that maybe sub-standard but controversial material really should be forgotten because without controversy it's nothing.

17th July 2007, 11:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
humndislocation Hardcore is serious guys Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Dundee Posts: 6,009 Band: Blasphemous Necrorapist	I think a lot of games companies have deliberately courted negative press in the past, in order to generate sales. Take 2/Rockstar in particular. Also look at the recent Manchester cathedral row, I really wouldn't be surprised if that was engineered by PR companies. But yeah, calling for something to be banned generally makes it more successful, since people don't like other people telling them what they're allowed to read/watch/whatever. Last edited by humndislocation : 17th July 2007 at 11:42 AM.

18th July 2007, 08:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
Rotting Remains Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 2,011	someone should ban atheism, then it might kill religion __________________ We Are All Prostitutes !!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Banning smoking in public places	All_in_black	Bollocks	51	23rd November 2004 09:45 PM
KJ needs to start banning some asses	~smack	Bollocks	35	22nd July 2004 10:55 AM
California city considers banning products made with water	humndislocation	Bollocks	0	15th March 2004 05:43 PM
Mobile Phone banning	pixelsink	Serious Discussion and Politics	8	2nd December 2003 04:21 PM

18th July 2007, 08:16 AM	#3 (permalink)
revenantdead Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 7 Band: Revenant Dead	Yeah manhunt and bully are other examples of PC games. Should we ban anything then? At what point does something become so morally unnacceptable that banning is necessary? I mean snuff films are pretty rough and yet loads of people I know saw that beheading a few years ago... morbid interest I guess. If we wanted people to see more sanitary stuff what should the government do?

18th July 2007, 11:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
humndislocation Hardcore is serious guys Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Dundee Posts: 6,009 Band: Blasphemous Necrorapist	Personally I think pretty much anything should be fair game, with the obvious exception of things like snuff films or paedophilia, where people had to be killed or children exploited, in order to make the work. It's not for the government to decide what adults can and can't watch.

18th July 2007, 12:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
Pubic Wig Dark Lord of the Sith Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Scumdee and Stirling Posts: 1,884 Band: 'Im The Juggernaught Bitch!' - working title	Heh, banning Tintin for racism eh? One might as well ban Disneys "Song of the South" or "Gone with the Wind" for their African slave stereotypes as well. Ah banning, the best free publicity anyone could ever ask for.

18th July 2007, 04:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
GaryM Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dundee Posts: 355	I haven't read Tintin but I have read another book that was briefly banned for being racist - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Rather ironic since when the book came out it was critiscised for its favourable portrayal of black people. Anyway, I find it interesting reading stuff like that because you can see what used to be acceptable, and see how things have changed.

18th July 2007, 06:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
Wee_rick Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Menziehill, Dundee Posts: 1,328	Evil dead is one of the best examples of banning boosting it's sales/rep. Look what that did for Bruces career and Rami! I was just thinking about this the other day when the Catholic church called upon Sony to ban Resistance: Fall Of Man for featuring Manchester Catherdial. Alough Sony Has publicy Apologised for using the Churchs Likeness They havent withdrawn copies like the Church has asked. I assume this will be because they know that More copies will start shifting from the shelves now.

18th July 2007, 11:19 PM	#10 (permalink)
: : Scott : : Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Dundee Posts: 7,138	Remember when the Bible got banned because of its controversial discriminatory stance on homosexuals and multiple headed dragons?