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?

[charliebaps]

yes!

[youngmafbog]

Well I'm sure they would have removed it if just one mouslim was offended. (Or on liberal was offended on behalf of a mouslim)

Come on this happens all the time, just because its christians this time.

Good for them, about time they made a stand.

[Loosehead]

Well they've just quadrupled the sales! Remember Life of Brian, banning that made it one of the most popular films ever!

"He's not the massiah, he's a very naugthy boy!"

[Drusilla]

But surely, youngmafbog, if you could ban something after 20 complaints, Lenny Henry and Jim Davidson would never have had careers?? Maybe it's not such a bad idea after all !!! Hee Hee!!
Loosehead, I heard a funny and true story about Malcolm Muggeridge's complaint about The Life of Brian. Apparently, he turned up late for the film showing and missed the beginning where it's made obvious, Brian, was born in the stable next door to Jesus and based his entire argument against the film on this mistake.
You couldn't script it better!

[metagirl]

Only 20? That seems a bit low to have a giant superstore remove what will be a hot selling item! Hello people - its artistic expression! Yeah its censorship gone mad.

And where does the notice that these major chains will now be selling sex toys fit into all this? Religion is the new Porn! Someone please tell Mr Hefner he is no longer subversive and he should consider putting up some fairy lights and a nativity scene on the Playboy mansion.

[Drisgirl]

What about the 99.9% of customers they have now alienated?

I thought we had a Board of Censorship which has worked very well,which determines anything which is fit for general release.They obviously passed it.

Smacks of do-gooders who try to ram their personal issues down your throat.Notice you dont get certain religious groups doorstepping you now so is this the new slant?

Come to think about it when was the last time you got a Jehovah or Mormon at your door I cant remember now that I have mentioned it.

[andy hughes]

Interesting. There are loads of things on sale year-round in supermarkets that offend me - but I wouldn't dream of making a formal complaint about them. We all have to co-exist in this society of ours - this is not helping.

[Supernick]

I find brussel sprouts particularly offensive and would like them banned from the supermarkets, and I'm also pretty sure that I can get a further 19 people to complain as well. If I'd known it was this easy I'd have done it a long time ago. Mind you, if a million people told them to lay on extra checkout staff on a Saturday I doubt they'd listen.

In all seriousness, what is the content that is offensive? (I haven't seen it).

[Drusilla]

If you don't believe the story, In A Pickle, check out www.bbc.co.uk and click on News, then scroll to the bottom of the page.

[lady_p_gold]

If it is true its ridiculous I am sure every DVD offends someone .. and if you are a vegetarian what about all those dead chopped up animals all over the place ... how offensive is that !!!!!!!

[gary baldy]

This isnt censorship - this is a business exercising its right to sell what ever products it sees fit. In a round about way i admire Sainsburys and woolworths for responding to the desires of an admittedly small minority but a minority non the less. People are always moaning that big corporations just want to make money - here we have a case where two companies are putting the feelings of some of its customers over profit. Just because you dont find this dvd offensive doesnt mean it isnt offensive (to some people).

[gary baldy]

... what, incidentally, is a Mouslim?

[Englishbird]

lol. a devout worshiper of cheesus.

[Englishbird]

If it is true, and I have my doubts, it's ridiculous. a) why are people so easily offended these days - or are they? as someone pointed out yesterday, are these reports simply put out there by people trying to stir things up. and b) If people are genuninely offended, they have more right to be offended about it being on tv than on video. If it's on video, surely it's a case for personal choice as to whether you buy it or watch it.

Mind you, if i were feeling vindictive, i could think of a few choice christmas presents ..... *evil laugh*

[WaldoMcFroog]

gary baldy, you don't seriously believe that Sainsburys and Woolies would pull a product out of the goodness of their hearts, do you? Of course it's about profit! If enough people say 'If you continue to stock product X, I will no longer give you my custom/ I shall be writing to the papers with lots of negative opinions about your shops', then they're not pulling the product out of the goodness of their hearts!

In this case, I suspect that Sainsbury's jumped the gun; having had a few complaints and knowing how the decidedly un-Christian Christian Voice had organised a huge anti-JS:TO campaign.

[Octavius]

Well when Satanic Verses was banned, Salman Rushdie was condemned to death and the book's publishers received bomb threats.

At the end of the day it is up to them to sell what they like and if they choose to remove it, so what. Remember WHSmiths and pornographic magazines...?

[BigMac]

No, it's not 'censorship gone mad' or even 'political correctness gone mad' (Copyright: The Daily Mail). No, it's common sense gone awol.

[Octavius]

It's not about censorship, polotical correctness or common sense. As far as I am aware the DVD itself has not been banned or censored in the UK so you can still buy it elsewhere. If Sainsbury & Woolies have removed it from their shelves, so bleedin what??