Censorship?

[Drusilla]

Sainsbury's and Woolworth have removed the Comedy DVD, Jerry Springer: The Opera, from their shelves after complaints from Christian groups. Apparently, Sainsbury's received 20 complaints, (Yes, that's 20) before removing the product.
Is this censorship gone mad?

[gary baldy]

In reply - retailers are in a very competitive market and all chasing the same customers. Their image is crucial to this and as food retailing (or pick and mix and toys in woolworths case) is pretty benign and any sniff of controversy is bad for business. Of course it is about profit in the long term but in the short term i see this a positive gesture. What if they were selling Combat 18 literature or child pornography - would you all be defending their right to sell or it would this be 'political correctness/ censorship gone mad' ? As Octavius says it hasnt been banned - whats the problem?

[Drisgirl]

gary baldy - Think even you would admit that your examples were a tad extreme.

I have no doubt regaring the validity of Drusillas Q as she has backed it up but do you not think there is more to this story than meets the eye.I mean if anyone stocks Roy Chubby Brown do people complain about that.(Still on sale in Woolies today - as is Jerry Springer)Could it just be local shops to apease the locals who complained perhaps?

BTW- I was in for Woolies for a raunchy DVD which my hubby eyed up in Amsterdam - nothing which would offend!!

[Octavius]

45,000 people complained when the BBC aired the show by phoming the BBC complaints line. And it was still shown. And it is probably still being sold in every other shop in town.

When the play Behzti was being shown at Birmingham Rep theatre, there was outrage. One group of Sikhs lobbied for changes to the play which was written and performed by members of their own community. Their refusal to rule out violence when demonstrating outside eventually forced its closure. That is censorship, but is it politically correct...?

Personally I would rather sit through a continual 24 hour loop of The Life of Brian than watch a couple of minutes of Jerry Springer. But I know that if I wanted something enough, there is always somewhere I could buy it. If you feel that strongly, go to Asda.

[Drisgirl]

Octavius - I dont feel that strongly.I would just go to ASDA but my local Woolies are stocking it (Roy C Brown & J Springer dont rock my boat either).I think its a bit mad to give in to 20 people ( a free advent calender or calender would have probably apeased them)

The world is going mad.We are giving into minority groups right left and centre - wish we were back in the days when people were just thankful to be alive !

[stupidoven]

Jerry Springer the Controversy strikes again and like the original programme everyone involved loses a little of what made them human in the process.

[Drisgirl]

Stupidoven - Drusilla was only making a salient point which I think was fairly debated.

Whats your point!In fact why even bothering posting if you had read all the posts!

[coyn]

Englishbird, that was priceless.

[stupidoven]

hello drisgirl,

my point is that both versions of springer have the amazing knack of creating a lot of faux controversy, generating a media hype that an advertising agency could only dream about, whilst wearing the fancy dress of serious debate.

they profit from provoking people into taking positions of opposition rather than trying to garner understanding and or respect and this causes me a a sense of loss which only increases when i remember how grubby the whole springer thing is.

[Drisgirl]

Stupidoven - Point taken

Who have you seen in a shop with their arm firmly up their back buying it???

[lizzierose]

if you don't like something. DON'T BUY IT. whats with stopping else form buying it too? kids can;t buy it coz its rated so who exactly are you protecting?

[Englishbird]

Thank you coyn! I was beginning to think my work had gone unappreciated ;o) lol.

[gavinbecky]

There will always be people that complain. If the BBC decided to show a new Jerry Springer play

it was in all the papers months before 'do not watch'

it was on every tv and radio channel 24/7 'do not watch'

Tony Blair was on his soap wagon going round the country shouting 'do not watch'

I guarantee there will be people tuning in as the moral righteousnesses picking out bits to complain about when it was eventually shown.