MidDay, a Mumbai based daily, is carrying a letter sent by “Forum against obscenity”, that is protesting against alleged obscenity being depicted in the newspaper. The newspaper has responded publicly to the same in the form of an article, asking its readers to voice their opinions on the matter.
I liked MidDay’s approach. I hope it retains this transparency while publishing a map of reader’s opinions. That should be interesting.
Obscene — a very subjective word.
Libertarian definition: disgusting to the senses.
Conservative definition: repulsive by reason of crass disregard of moral or ethical principles.
Since moral or ethical principles change with time, I find the libertarian definition timeless. It’s safe to stick to that. And if MidDay indeed publishes obscene(disgusting) material, that should reflect in its sales. No need for moral police.
(MidDay link courtesy Srikumar)
[tags]Obscene, MidDay[/tags]
I Me My 12:03 pm on April 17, 2006 Permalink |
Kudos to mid-day for braving the ire of ignorant masses that are against freedom of media. Media censorship is the worst kind of censure one can implement in an evolved society. That is a slap in the face of any thinking society where someone else has to decide for you what is appropriate for you to read/ view/ listen to. If this happens that’d bring us many steps closer to living in a fascist world.
A free media is a healthy media and makes for a healthy society where each uses his own discretion to make value judgements if they’ve to be made at all. Thinking people of the world will not let an ignorant mob make jabs at the roots of our democracy and curtail the spirit of a free thinking nation.