Is Censorship morally ok?

[MAGGLE]

So let us put our differences about the quality of the show aside and let us talk about something that really bugged me.
They Censored the Crowd in the Main Event and I personally think that is not ok.
Sure some will argue that it is their product and they can do what they want, but also hearing so much about americans trying to defend their right to free speech made me think about this in a moral sense.
What do you guys think about it?

[Brother Nero....Wolfe]

I think it's morally okay. Just like, super lame though.

[Jacy Jayne Atomic Dog AMV]

Muting the crowd because they're not cheering your guy is about as effective as putting your thumbs in your ears and going LALALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU.

It's just as pathetic too.

[OldDirtyBernie]

I think they'd probably argue that they're not so much censoring as much as altering their final product that dthey do ultimately own.

[Deleted]

Apr 3, 2016 23:23:13 GMT -5 MAGGLE said:

but also hearing so much about americans trying to defend their right to free speech made me think about this in a moral sense.

That has nothing to do with the right to free speech.

That being said, it does show even further that for as much as they talk about how, "Getting a reaction is what matters," they know full well what they're doing isn't working and they think if they stick their fingers in their ears and go, "LALALALAICANTHEARYOU!" enough it'll make it go away.

[Deleted]

Apr 3, 2016 23:26:01 GMT -5 Jacy Jayne Atomic Dog AMV said:

Muting the crowd because they're not cheering your guy is about as effective as putting your thumbs in your ears and going LALALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU.

It's just as pathetic too.

I love that we not only went with the same example, we used the same amount of LAs.

[wolverine23]

Well maybe if they actually listened to the audience like they say they do all the time, they wouldn't have to mute them when the crowd is booing the shit out of the main event at the biggest show of the year. The problem is that they think they can fix it by having the fans at home watching not know what is going on. What they don't seem to realize is that the fans at home are also booing.

[Jacy Jayne Atomic Dog AMV]

Apr 3, 2016 23:26:34 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

Apr 3, 2016 23:26:01 GMT -5 Jacy Jayne Atomic Dog AMV said:

Muting the crowd because they're not cheering your guy is about as effective as putting your thumbs in your ears and going LALALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU.

It's just as pathetic too.

I love that we not only went with the same example, we used the same amount of LAs.

The kisses of the sun - Were sweet I didn't blink
I let it in my eyes - Like an exotic drink
The radio playing songs - That I have never heard
I don't know what to say - Oh not another word

Just - la la la la la - It goes around the world
Just - la la la la la - It's all around the world
Just - la la la la la - And everybody's singing
La la la la la - And now the bells are ringing

La la la la la - la la la la la la la - la la la la la - la la la la la la la
La la la la la - la la la la la la la - la la la la la - la la la la la la la

[Arthur Digby Stamp]

When taken at face value, yeah, it's probably okay. It's their product to do with what they want.

But when you factor in the number of times we've been told about the importance of connecting with the crowd, and Vince McMahon listening to the audience, it becomes kinda ethically shitty.

[eJm]

On the one hand, it's their show, they can do what they want.

On the other hand, pro wrestling is unique because it's like an instant fan survey on everything you do and you can change things on the fly to suit that or modify it to make it work. Take that away and you might as well find the AWA's Red Room and shoot all shows ever there.

[Unaffiliated]

Generally speaking, it depends on the setting and the context.

If the setting is pro wrestling and the context is hiding how over (or not over) someone is, it is "ok" in the sense that it's not worth caring about.

[Mochi Lone Wolf]

My issue is just how dishonest it is. How often have we heard "Any reaction is better than no reaction" or "That's what makes this fun. The fans. They're a very passionate and vocal bunch" and yet, on their biggest night of the year in their biggest main event of the year, they basically say "F*** you and the horses you rode in here on."

[Lupin the Third]

In this situation, no. It's not.

Like the others have said, this is basically them saying, "We don't care what you think." So then, sooner or later, that means that more and more people will start to stop watching the product, hopefully. And then maybe, they'll be like, "Whoa. We need to listen to the fans again."

This probably won't ever happen until Vince is six feet in the ground, but one can only hope.

[joeiscool]

Free speech is not what you can do at a wrestling show. Once you enter an arena you abide by what ever rules they have. WWE could make a rule about booing the wrong person, and physically remove anyone who decided to go against it.


It would probably not make sense from a business standpoint, but they could do it.

I think the only moral obligation the WWE has to the fans is to offer a decent show.

[A Platypus Rave]

Apr 3, 2016 23:26:08 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

Apr 3, 2016 23:23:13 GMT -5 MAGGLE said:

but also hearing so much about americans trying to defend their right to free speech made me think about this in a moral sense.

That has nothing to do with the right to free speech.

That being said, it does show even further that for as much as they talk about how, "Getting a reaction is what matters," they know full well what they're doing isn't working and they think if they stink their fingers in their ears and go, "LALALALAICANTHEARYOU!" enough it'll make it go away.

Yeah, the first amendment is specifically about the government.

For instance if you go into a business and start shouting racial epithets you won't be arrested but you can be forcibly removed from the premises by the owner of the store.

[DSR]

They might as well have a cardboard-cutout audience and pipe in whatever reactions they want.

[wisdomwizard]

No, I'm tired of censorship in almost all its forms. I loved WrestleMania this year, but I will NOT defend this. Vince is kidding himself if he thinks Dunn can keep the backlash bottled up. The Steisand Effect exists for a reason.



Plus, muted or not it would be hard to censor a large enough crowd with a bunch of anti-Reigns/WWE signs.

[Urethra Franklin]

Free speech doesn't apply to private enterprise.

As shortsighted and stupid as it might be, the WWE has every right to censor whatever they choose to.

[saintpat]

I'm not convinced RR was being booed out of the arena. I'm sure there were some mixed reactions but it's not like they piped in canned cheers.

And freedom of speech as protected by the constitution says "Congress shall make no law ..." -- which they haven't -- not "entertainment events shall not mute or amplify ..."

[Mister Pigwell]

They're gonna go full LU in a studio some day.