Writer Responsibility: Freedom of Speech Vs Censorship

gothicangel · Dec 12, 2011

Flicka said:
But my characters have plenty of views that I don't share (I write historicals) and my current project has them, including protags, doing things I'd never do. In fact, the idea that authors somehow promote a certain behaviour because it's in their books had never even occurred to me.

So true.

I'm about to sit down and write a scene in my WIP, where my MC has landed himself in the Mamertine prison, and is about to be tortured. Does this mean I condone torture and execution?

No, quite the opposite. I'm actually an active member of Amnesty International!

My MC is an imperialist, doesn't see anything wrong with slavery or his treatment of women, he condones torture as a way to gain information and he thinks execution is justified. In other words, he's a man of his time.

Probably one of the reasons, I thought to make him an anti-hero. :tongue

Ken · Dec 12, 2011

... the psycho who gunned down John Lennon had a worn copy of Catcher in the Rye on them at the time. Was Salinger responsible in any way for the crime? Not. At. All.

gothicangel · Dec 12, 2011

Ken said:
... the psycho who gunned down John Lennon had a worn copy of Catcher in the Rye on them at the time. Was Salinger responsible in any way for the crime? Not. At. All.

Was he suffering psychosis, or was he just a very disturbed person?

Terie · Dec 12, 2011

gothicangel said:
Was he suffering psychosis, or was he just a very disturbed person?

How would that affect Salinger's lack of culpability in John Lennon's murder?

Flicka · Dec 12, 2011

I think gothicangel merely assumes that a fully sane person would a) not kill John Lennon b) not immediately perceive the connection between Catcher in the Rye and shooting John Lennon. Were he sane as hand-sanitizer, then Salinger is still not to blame, but at least my mind finds it hard to connect 'sane' with 'just shot a person he never knew and claims to have been inspired by Catcher in the Rye'. When I read that book I felt no inclination to even pinch someone.

scarletpeaches · Dec 12, 2011

I think the number of people who have read TCitR and not run out to shoot a Beatle proves that Chapman was at fault there, not Salinger.

Terie · Dec 12, 2011

Flicka said:
I think gothicangel merely assumes that a fully sane person would a) not kill John Lennon b) not immediately perceive the connection between Catcher in the Rye and shooting John Lennon. Were he sane as hand-sanitizer, then Salinger is still not to blame, but at least my mind finds it hard to connect 'sane' with 'just shot a person he never knew and claims to have been inspired by Catcher in the Rye'. When I read that book I felt no inclination to even pinch someone.

But none of this has anything whatsoever to do with the topic at hand, which is 'Writer Responsibility: Freedom of Speech Vs Censorship'.

Whether the perp of any crime (much less one as high profile as the murder of John Lennon) is psychotic or disturbed has nothing to do with either Salinger or The Catcher in the Rye.

That's why I don't understand why someone would ask about the distinction of the perp's mental state. That has nothing to do with either freedom of speech or censorship.

Ken · Dec 12, 2011

... and let's not overlook the use of the word "worn," in my post above. The cover of Catcher in the Rye was tattered, to be sure. But the pages, themselves, were in fairly fine condition, outside of a few dogeared pages and mustard stain on page 53. So instead of "worn," how about "weathered," or "a bit worn around the edges," better yet?

kuwisdelu · Dec 12, 2011

Maybe gothicangel was just curious?

IceCreamEmpress · Dec 12, 2011

I thought gothicangel was taking exception to Ken's description of Chapman as "psycho", not suggesting that Catcher in the Rye was relevant to Chapman murdering Lennon in any way.

Chapman's defense marshaled several psychiatrists who diagnosed him as psychotic; however, he chose to plead guilty to the murder, so the courtroom discussion of his mental health or illness was cut short.

Ken · Dec 13, 2011

IceCreamEmpress said:
Chapman's defense marshaled several psychiatrists who diagnosed him as psychotic; however, he chose to plead guilty to the murder, so the courtroom discussion of his mental health or illness was cut short.

... wasn't aware that the matter was central to the trial. I can see it's having relevancy in view of that. I used the term "psycho" in my prior post jeeringly, to convey my hatred for Chapman alongside of the point I was making about writer responsibility. It was hard to pass up the opportunity. No harm done. On the contrary, I learnt something new.

jimbro · Dec 14, 2011

Censorship is great!!

I strongly favor complete censorship.

But only if I get to be the censor.

You do trust me, don't you?

Writer Responsibility: Freedom of Speech Vs Censorship

gothicangel

Toughen up.

Ken

gothicangel

Toughen up.

Terie

Writer is as Writer does

Flicka

Dull Old Person

scarletpeaches

Terie

Writer is as Writer does

Ken

kuwisdelu

Revolutionize the World

IceCreamEmpress

Hapless Virago

Ken

jimbro