My Local Video Stores Bow To Censorship

[SaveABug]

There are two video stores in this piece of shit town. One of the local Baptist churches goes around weekly and makes "suggestions" regarding which movies they find offensive and to pull. The video stores, in the interest of not offending the community, always comply. I just found this out and am outraged.

I wanted to rent "Y Tu Mama Tambien" and was told they had to pull it off the shelf. I am so pissed I can't see straight.

Review of "Y Tu Mama Tambien"

http://www.mrqe.com/rforward?url=http%3a//www.suntimes.com/ebert/ebert_reviews/2002/04/040504.html&author=Chicago%20Sun-Times%20(Roger%20Ebert)

[WillParkinson]

1. Uh....why?

Why did they 'have' to pull it off the shelf? If it's something that they consider too adult for the public eye why not just put it behind the counter if someone wants it?

[thom1102]

6. Spoilers...

if you want to view what I am about to reveal then highlight this block and the white text will become visible:
Besides being just over all very sexual, the scene at the end shows the two boys kissing, and cuts away as they go down on each other.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

9. That was really clever...

and thoughtful of you, Thom!

I wonder if the movie would provoke the same knee-jerk response if the same-sex sexual element was not present. Though they're obnoxiously vocal about their homophobia, it seems like any kind of sex is taboo as far as these puritanical assholes are concerned.

[Bake]

12. How do you DO that????

Bake

[thom1102]

18. open the html lookup table...

then follow the instructions to change the text color to white... the text will be printed, but it will match the background and will only be revealed if you highlight the text. I wish I could take the credit for that, but I actually saw a veteran do that in a thread about another movie.

[TXlib]

24. HUH?! That wasn't in the movie...

At least, not in the copy I saw.

I wonder if it was censored...

[bif]

2. Ridiculous!

They have it on the rental shelf of our local public library!

[thom1102]

3. Buy a DVD player,

And join Netflix, then march into both video stores, walk up to the counter, and ask to speak to the manager. Explain to him that you are closing your account because they practice censorship, and fail to meet your needs as a member of the community. Tell him/her that you are urging all your friends to do the same. It may have more of an impact if you can quantify (even in ballpark figures) the amount of business you represent. Explain to him/her that you will not give any business to the store as long as they remain subservient to the religious leadership, instead of the desires of his customers. Boycotts work both ways.

[SaveABug]

5. The owners of both are both likeable sorts

but just don't want to cause trouble. The religious zealots have WAY too much power around here. Netflix is a good idea.

[thom1102]

7. It's not causing trouble

it's informing the proprietors as to why you will be no longer doing business with them, and giving them the opportunity to address it. They have too much power because no one stands up to them. oops, where did your chair go?

[Heddi]

16. Yep. We did the same thing with Blockbuster

I *REFUSE* to rent videos there anymore.

A few years ago, we tried to rent "KIDS" but couldn't---Blockbuster didn't cary it because it was too "explicit"---

yet they carry a WIDE range of "Rated M" video games, wrestling, war movies, T&A Blow-em-up movies----but obviously those are 'Fantasy" where "KIDS" (while a work of fiction) deals with REAL situations that REAL kids face---too much for Blockbuster, I guess.

Then they wouldn't carry Requiem for a Dream. Finally found one that carried the "edited version"---again---they carry all sorts of slasher flicks, but I guess .05 seconds worth of two gals & a dildo are way too much for supposedly family-friendly Blockbuster.

Then we were told a few months ago that they MAY NOT carry Bowling for Columbine. That was it. We refuse to get videos there, and even had $50 in a gift certificate that we just threw out...never again.

And they KNOW why we refuse to go there. We told them. of course they don't care about us, ONE couple that rents MAYBE $100 worth of videos a year----but perhaps if other people who do feel this same way just sucked it up and STOPPED GOING THERE it *WOULD* make a differece to blockbuster, or walmart, or whatever other company does not meet MY standards....

[amazona]

21. blockbuster has probably lost LOTS of $$$ over this

I am afraid to rent movies there because of rumors of the "Blockbuster cut." Supposedly R rated movies are additionally edited to meet Blockbuster standards-- whatever they are.

I would rather not see a movie at all, than to be sitting there wondering how Blockbuster "edited" it.

I haven't rented a movie there in almost 2 years, and I know of other people who share my fears.

[NashVegas]

20. Then Write a Letter to Your Local Newspaper While You're At It

Explain your actions, and that how sad it is you have to stop supporting a local business that employs people, and send your dollars - and tax money - out of state because of the censorship.

[newyawker99]

23. Congrats SaveABug!! 200 posts

:toast:

[TXlib]

25. If you don't protest at the source

you have no moral right to bitch to us.

If it were me, I'd tell them why I will no longer frequent their store. I'd tell them I'll be urging all my friends to join me. I'd suggest an alternative to complete censorship (i.e. -- putting the videos behind the counter, and only admitting you have them when asked.)

I'd also write letters to the baptist fucktards and politely ask them to keep their puritanical noses affixed to their own asses.

[Wwagsthedog]

4. Tell the video stores...

...you are going to take your business elsewhere and why. Also tell the stores that you are going to advise your friends about why you plan to do no further business with the stores and suggest they do the same.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. Maybe if Baptists didn't think sex was dirty

they wouldn't have as much fun? :shrug:

[CO Liberal]

14. But Where Do Other Baptists Come From?????

:shrug:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

17. Sin...Pure sin...

Gotta have multiple generations that need to be saved, or else the church won't be necessary! :bounce:

[LynneSin]

10. Go On-Demand

I love my On Demand!! Along with all the current movies, they have a decent selection of movies in their catalog and both Showtime and eventually HBO will be hooked up to PPV. PLUS, for free I can watch NBC Nightly news at my convience or pick from a selection of shows from a variety of cable channels incluidng National Geographic, HGTV, MTV and the Cartoon Network.

On-Demand, unlike PPV, you have the movie for 24 hours and you can even pause/ff/rewind any On-Demand movie. If I watch a movie and think I might want to watch it again, I pop in at Video Cassette. And there is never a late fee since it's all through your cable system!

[ProudGerman]

11. You're being too roubh on the Baptists

They are only following the eleventh, unspoken commandment:

Thou shalt ram thy perverted version of my word down every throat possible or thy naughty bits shall be engulfed in a swarm of locusts.

If I were you, I'd call these Baptists up and point out "witches" that are in the community. But they probably wouldn't get the literary reference.

[Breezy du Nord]

13. Sucks

I'd like to see that movie. That guy in it is sooooo cute. :loveya:

[bbernardini]

15. Contact info?

Could you supply contact info for the video stores and the church? Websites, etc.? Perhaps if we all shared our views... :)

[mitchum]

19. Why don't you mail porn (taking all necessary precautions) to ...

the houses of these particular Baptists, adressed to their children. I think this will show those low-rent Cotton Mathers the difference between "choosing" to view something and having it "forced" upon you.

[Gore1FL]

22. What I'd do

Is make my own suggestions of what is offensive and demand they pull it for the same reasosn.

Be sure you get things like "The 10 commandments" and "The greatest story ever told" and so forth.