Censorship in UCD

EthanWM

I'm currently a final year Arts student who has been actively involved with Artssoc for 3 years. During this, I've seen a ridiculous amount of censorship around campus in one form or another.

Posters that have anything sexually explicit on them are not allowed. Like two playdough figures in a sexual position, or an event called "The Virgin Ball" with the title "Lose your V plates". A lot of this is down to the feminists of UCD who parade around and censor anything that reminds us that we are not in school but in college and this is all part of the experience. Another reason is if parents are walking around campus and see these posters etc.

I was wondering how people in UCD or elsewhere feel about this and if they believe censorship is necessary in college life, and also if they think that feminists do a good job around UCD. :eek:

Fad

EthanWM wrote: »

an event called "The Virgin Ball" with the title "Lose your V plates".

I dunno about you, but I honestly think that is a bit much, like ignoring decency in general, have some fúcking taste..........

EthanWM

I don't understand what you mean, it's a college party, not a 12th birthday party. It's hardly out of context!

jimi_t

EthanWM wrote: »

Posters that have anything sexually explicit on them are not allowed. Like two playdough figures in a sexual position, or an event called "The Virgin Ball" with the title "Lose your V plates".

The thing with the two playdough figures getting taken down was a bit of a joke in fairness; unfortunately with blasphemy laws coming and the country the way it is people are tending to err to the side of caution. The Virgin Ball one was just in bad taste though so I wasn't that pushed.

EthanWM wrote:

A lot of this is down to the feminists of UCD who parade around and censor anything that reminds us that we are not in school but in college and this is all part of the experience.

Even though I despise those biased, Germaine Greer spouting antagonists (and view Feminism itself as a bit of a post-modern joke) it seems they're doing it out of some sort of ideological necessity rather than with the direct intention of keeping you back in the days of grey trousers and homework journals. The only thing to do is to start ripping off Georgia O'Keefe's artwork for the posters and Catch 22 those frigid, ball breaking scare-mongers.

(that said, its Richard Butler who makes the decision, no one else)

EthanWM wrote:

Another reason is if parents are walking around campus and see these posters etc.

Complete ****ing nonsense. Parents aren't in college, whereas you are. Legally they aren't entitled to any information about you, so I can't see why they'd set a precedent in postering regulation. Maybe you're on about visiting dignataries and stuff, I dunno.

994

tbh I don't find the constant use of sexual imagery offensive, just puerile.

bnt

994 wrote: »

tbh I don't find the constant use of sexual imagery offensive, just puerile.

I agree. Plus, IMHO, it's not the cheap sexual innuendo that's offensive, it's that it's being used to sell you things. The promise of sex only appeals to a certain horny age group, and in just a few years you'll look back and ask "was I really that f-ing clueless?" :rolleyes:

WeeBushy

UCD is a privately owned organisation, just like boards, and can censor in any way they see fit. If the powers that be consider posters offensive/sexist then they are perfectly entitled to take them down.

Whether you agree with it or not, there ain't much you can do about it I'm afraid.

jimi_t

994 wrote: »

tbh I don't find the constant use of sexual imagery offensive, just puerile.

Condemnation could of come in any form, but you had to use the word 'puerile'

Etymology: French or Latin; French puéril, from Latin puerilis, from puer boy, child; akin to Sanskrit putra son, child and perhaps to Greek pais boy, chil

. At least these fembots are getting more subtle about their tirades...

Plus, IMHO, it's not the cheap sexual innuendo that's offensive, it's that it's being used to sell you things.

Imagine that... See : Marketing 101

The promise of sex only appeals to a certain horny age group,

Pretty much 12-60

and in just a few years you'll look back and ask "was I really that f-ing clueless?"

While still being completely oblivious to the amount of impact this kind of marketing continues, and will continue to have on you.

There's far sexier advertising on during the adbreaks for Sile and Seoige; I think its time that people realised that 'growing up' isn't about adhering to the moral higher ground, its about compromise and tolerance. This censorship is thin edge of the wedge stuff and I've seen a huge shift in my four years here towards the conservative side of things; with the gestapo partolling in their hi-vises and gates up on all the residences I'm only waiting for the barbed wire and rottweilers.

jimi_t

WeeBushy wrote: »

Whether you agree with it or not, there ain't much you can do about it I'm afraid.

See: UCD: The Quiet Revolution

mad lad

EthanWM wrote: »

Posters that have anything sexually explicit on them are not allowed.

UCD isn't simply a place for horny lads, it's also a workplace for several hundred people. I wouldn't expect to see sexually explicit posters in an office.

EthanWM

UCD isn't simply a place for horny lads, it's also a workplace for several hundred people. I wouldn't expect to see sexually explicit posters in an office

In fairness, the posters are not so lads can indulge in nudity or lewd words just to pump their testosterone. And if you see UCD as just a workplace then your not getting the full experience of college.

You have to think about it this way, if explicit material gets completely banned from UCD, then people will get bored and move onto another completely innocuous subjects. That's what the majority of council meetings are about in the SU, arguing and debating for the sake of it. Just like the whole ban on Coke issue, ridiculous stuff.

I'm sick of censorship for the wrong reasons. College is about the good fun crazy times, and not about giving students any more reasons to be pissed at "the system".

I thought about have a long-winded retort to all the answers but it's late and True Blood is too awesome..

KeyLimePie

Well all this must be brought on by the Glamour Model Debate poster, now I've only been here 2 weeks but I did raise my eyebrow at that, it wasn't particulary offensive as in you'd see it on the cover of nuts and zoo but those magazines are on the top shelves and not plastered all over campus.

But I do believe that this is a college and some standards should be kept,

Off topic, did anyone go to the porn debate ? Apparently the feminist made it not fun

Jev/N

EthanWM wrote: »

And if you see UCD as just a workplace then your not getting the full experience of college.

People work there also :rolleyes:

EthanWM

But I do believe that this is a college and some standards should be kept,

Off topic, did anyone go to the porn debate ? Apparently the feminist made it not fun

Absolutely, there has to be a line somewhere, but this is my third year and the problem seems to be only getting worse. Mountains out of molehills.

And no I really wanted to go but was wrecked from working in the tent all day, I'd say she did though, say it was still a good laugh to watch though!

Anyone go who can report back?

qt9ukbg60ivjrn

WeeBushy wrote: »

UCD is a privately owned organisation,

...that is publically funded

graduate

...that is publically funded

That is inadequately publically funded.

But that is not really relevant to the present debate.

IndigoStarr

I think it's insulting that certain societies think that UCD students won't attend something if it's not advertised in a sexual way. Considering we're in college now, shouldn't we be a bit smarter than this? I've no problem with sexual images, but it's a bit much in what's supposed to be an educational environment.
Also, it's never naked men really, is it? It does show badly of a college that I think has a female majority (I'm not 100% sure) that we feel the need to plaster the place with naked women.

EthanWM

It's the exact same reason why the majority of men, not women watch pornography. It appeals to men more. Secual imaginery on posters only makes up for about 20-30% of major society posters. That's C&E, B&L, Artssoc and Qsoc. The images are there not to entice people to go to an event, but to make people laugh or to represent a theme.

mad lad

EthanWM wrote: »

The images are there not to entice people to go to an event, but to make people laugh or to represent a theme.

Sexually explicit images are used by socieities to make their posters stand out. A poster of a girl with her tits hanging out is more likely to grab peoples attention than your average poster. They are used to entice people into going to an event.

EthanWM wrote: »

if you see UCD as just a workplace then your not getting the full experience of college.

UCD is my workplace. When I was a student here, I engaged with real women rather than complaining about the 'problem' of not being able to see puerile, sexually explicit posters.

EthanWM wrote: »

this is my third year and the problem seems to be only getting worse.

Hmmm, having chosen not to continue studying psychology past first year, I'm not exactly an authority on this...however:

The fact that you're so irate about your inability to view a sufficient amount of posters containing scantily-clad women on campus, points to an underlying problem.

As a result, I would suggest one (if not more) of the options below as a solution.

a) get a life
b) get a girlfirend
c) lay off the internet porn

bnt

No need to get personal, the guy's just expressing an opinion ..! I'm not keen on censorship either, but it's not censorship to ask advertisers to show some class. Their message - the event - is not being censored.

EthanWM

Hmmm, having chosen not to continue studying psychology past first year, I'm not exactly an authority on this...however:

The fact that you're so irate about your inability to view a sufficient amount of posters containing scantily-clad women on campus, points to an underlying problem.

Typical psychology student view on things, put everything down on paper and formulate a ridiculous opinion. First of all, there has never been a poster of ours with a women with her tits out. If you find tow playdough figures in a sexual position offensive, you're part of a problem in my opinion.

And don't pull that "I engaged with women everyday" crap, seriously it just looks bad on your part. Just voice your opinion and you don't need to try and justify your college experience to anyone, well maybe yourself..

Donald-Duck

EthanWM wrote: »

Hmmm, having chosen not to continue studying psychology past first year, I'm not exactly an authority on this...however:

The fact that you're so irate about your inability to view a sufficient amount of posters containing scantily-clad women on campus, points to an underlying problem.

Typical psychology student view on things, put everything down on paper and formulate a ridiculous opinion. First of all, there has never been a poster of ours with a women with her tits out. If you find tow playdough figures in a sexual position offensive, you're part of a problem in my opinion.

And don't pull that "I engaged with women everyday" crap, seriously it just looks bad on your part. Just voice your opinion and you don't need to try and justify your college experience to anyone, well maybe yourself..

So you're annoyed they took your posters down rather than ones of women in general.

Riamfada

I think censorship is only relevant when people are actually trying to make a change against the establishment. Censorship of lewd imagry on purile posters around the concourse is really in the benifit of everyone concerned. I have had posters removed in the past because they were offensive and when it was pointed out to me I saw it. Its very easy to get your message out there without resorting to tabloid-esque marketing campaigns. Are UCD students really responsive to T&A? Actually they are so they deserve it imo.

Welcome to the far side of puberty, its not as much fun as you thought.

IndigoStarr

Ethan, there are women on both the committees and memberships of Artsoc Lawsoc and L&H. There are women both attending university and working in UCD. Why should we have to come to what is supposed to be a centre for education and be bombarded with sexualised imagery?
If you think that the only way to make men come to events like that is to stick naked women all over campus, I think that your view of men is sad. I'd prefer to give men more credit than that.

Riamfada

...or naked men

mad lad

EthanWM wrote: »

First of all, there has never been a poster of ours with a women with her tits out.

Not in your 2 and a bit years, but there have been in the past. The reason it isn't as bad as it was, is due in part to the negative publicity the societies recieved as a result of using that type of imagery.

You've got the internet, why do feel a need to have sexual imagery posted up around campus?

Davidius

The fact that there are posters all around the place just enrages me. If it were up to me, there'd be no posters ever.

oneway

We put up a poster in college advertising a _cultural_ trip to the UK with the tag-line “Get Crucified this Easter in London”.

Aaaahh, I still have the marks on my back from the ton of bricks that came down, even though the gargle’s dimmed my brain.....

It probably was a little bit out of line, but then so's the Life of Brian.

lizzyvera

Those events attract mangy, randy, ugly 1st year virgins like moths to flame.

I wish Arts Soc would focus on arts related events and live up to their name. So far they've just propagated the bad image UCD arts already has- dirty retarded drunk slags in too much make up with no interests beyond what entertains them.

The poster just confirmed the stereotype. Arts Soc think people just like filth and sleaze, presumably because that's what the committee themselves are into.

Overall it doesn't really insult me. It doesn't objectify me. It doesn't objectify women in general when one woman is provocative, she just objectifies herself. My only problem is that it lowers the tone of the place and I was a bit embarrassed knowing that a Nobel Prize winner was coming to give a talk today and might have seen them and thought that most of us were like that.

ChocolateSauce

Just so long as they're not censoring ideas I won't be too annoyed.

EthanWM

The majority of the Artssoc committee is in fact woman including the auditor. We have both intelligent events, and non-intelligent events, lewd and non-lewd posters. It's not to make people directly to go to an event, as in the image alone will not make someone attend an event, but if it's a beach party, it might promote a theme.

There has recently had to be a committee established in UCD in which every poster has to be analyzed before gone to print. This costs money and time, money which could be spent on free health care UCD.

Silly complaints.

lizzyvera

EthanWM wrote: »

The majority of the Artssoc committee is in fact woman including the auditor. We have both intelligent events, and non-intelligent events, lewd and non-lewd posters. It's not to make people directly to go to an event, as in the image alone will not make someone attend an event, but if it's a beach party, it might promote a theme.

There has recently had to be a committee established in UCD in which every poster has to be analyzed before gone to print. This costs money and time, money which could be spent on free health care UCD.

Silly complaints.

Honestly, does anyone care if the committee are mostly male or female? Arts Soc keep using it as a defence. Girls can be low brow and sleazy too, and I'd say the posters appeal equally to boys and girls.

I don't think you should be promoting the idea of losing your virginity on a drunken one night stand either. It goes against all the campaigns trying to people to be responsible and safe.

If you've ever been in the health service on a Monday morning and seen the number of worried girls, you'd know the REAL way to keep health costs down.

btw "The majority of the Artssoc committee is in fact woman including the auditor. We have both intelligent events, and non-intelligent events" Gold.

EthanWM

Are you serious, if you honestly take all the titles of events seriously then you need to grow up. I have problems with certain societies who air their opinions but I don't harp on about it purely because it would create unnecessary problems.

And you can't start another debate about health services, nothing to do with us. I'm just adding to my point that it's all ridiculous stuff in which energy can be focused elsewhere. Just like feminism, if you feel that passionate about it, go to oppressed Islamic countries where you can actually make a difference.

lizzyvera

EthanWM wrote: »

Just like feminism, if you feel that passionate about it, go to oppressed Islamic countries where you can actually make a difference.

Are you talking to me?

Did I say it had anything to do with gender? I thought I clarified that when I said that women can be just as low brow and sleazy as men. In almost every post the Arts Soc crowd has tried to hit out at these imaginary militant feminists. Some people just have taste. It has nothing to do with politics.

I was very glad when they were taken down because Kandel gave a talk on memory today and I would have been mortified if he'd seen them and thought the college was full of morons. Your posters would have embarrassed me and made me ashamed of UCD. It's not a moral issue.

My point about the health service is that it's clogged up with girls who need the morning after pill, which is usually due to drunken stupidity because contraception does not fail that often. Sorry, I implied it, but I thought that stating it explicitly was unnecessary. I guess I overestimated Arts Soc :rolleyes:

triseke

personally, i dont give a toss about what the larger societies do. Frankly i think they a bit of joke. I mean, when was the last time Artsoc did anything to do with arts? (just choose any other ampersands and its the same thing).
Their posters all seem to blend together and none of them really advertise anything. I think using half naked women and sexual innuendo is the only way they can vie for attention.
I do agree that it lowers the whole atmosphere of the place. Jesus, are the people this posters are aimed at 13 or 19? I thought there was a bit of maturation at the latter age but clearly im wrong!

mad lad

EthanWM wrote: »

Just like feminism, if you feel that passionate about it, go to oppressed Islamic countries where you can actually make a difference.

EthanWM

First of all, the best form of contraception is a false name..

But seriously, I can see I'm surrounded by people who need to actually break out of the whole militant buzz about seeing college as only an education rather than an experience.

I was merely expressing my distaste towards feminism in UCD and comparing to the whole mountain out of molehills argument.

In fairness, at the end of the day, I don't mind if a person comes up with a genuine argument in relation to censorship, but these societies are here and their expressing views in certain ways, and they don't care about a someone who feels that the only way they feel big around campus is if they complain about a topic which doesn't even effect them.

Seriously though, before I go on to other points, and before you answer, do you have any affiliations in UCD to any sort of society?

EthanWM

And mad_lad, i find that star Trek losebag stuff fairly offensive, could you please remove it?

Bollocks you will..

logic123

im not sure about you guys but i love the feminism in UCD the girls are bloody hot in UCD its unreal

Riamfada

EthanWM wrote: »

And mad_lad, i find that star Trek losebag stuff fairly offensive, could you please remove it?

Bollocks you will..

I dont mean to be rude but alot of people in UCD do not support your idea of free reign on lewd posters. There are alot more people in UCD as staff, graduate students who do not wish to see it. UCD is not the sole property of the society party animal and wide eyed first year wearing too much makeup.

This forum is populated by alot of older members of UCD like myself who have seen all of this before numerous times. You say people on this forum need to grow up but ive been an undergrad, and auditor for a few societies.

I never understood Arts Soc. Each arts faculty has its own society yet there was a massive umbrella soc called "Arts Soc" set up which actually does nothing (or has done nothing) for the majority of Arts faculties. I think you should keep your head down before someone realises that Arts soc is just another useless party soc.

UCD Students are famous for not being able to respect anyone else. I know its a generalisation but ive seen it. Many times in the past two weeks so a result they must be controlled. When you hit 30 im sure you will agree that 20 year olds need the same treatment.

/rant

Blut

Useless party soc? Bit of an oxymoron there. If a society does good parties then its doing its job fairly well.

Personally I enjoy seeing posters of half naked women wherever and whenever I see them, more power to anyone who wants to put them around campus.

Red Alert

Grimes wrote: »

graduate students

Speak for yourself - I have absolutely no problem with the posters and the people in my lab don't either.

mad lad

EthanWM wrote: »

And mad_lad, i find that star Trek losebag stuff fairly offensive, could you please remove it?

Bollocks you will..

Done

lizzyvera

EthanWM wrote: »

these societies are here and their expressing views in certain ways, and they don't care about a someone who feels that the only way they feel big around campus is if they complain about a topic which doesn't even effect them.

Oh sorry- they're EXPRESSING a VIEW! I thought it was a marketing ploy to get randy ugly sexually frustrated virgins to come to their event- I didn't realise it was an artistic endevour to get their view on something across!

Are you trying to say that I constantly complain about small things and it makes me feel important and powerful... now that would be a bizarre psychological disorder. No. I just have taste. Is it really such a foreign concept to you? Taste. That is why the rules are there, it's not an ethical matter. It's not even feminism. I wish I had posted with my other username so you couldn't tell my sex.

And I agree about big societies Grimes. Dutch soc was the only fun social drinking society imo and even it has gone down hill. I liked going along to small society things. I miss the What's On guide too. I never know what smaller societies are up to anymore. You used to be able to wander around and get free cake and coffee from Italian Soc coffee morning, then go to a lunchtime Newman talk on evolution and why it's gay with sandwiches after, then a Dutch Soc piss up... ahhh.

EthanWM

mad lad wrote: »

Done

Smooth..

Handsome Bob

I couldn't care less tbh, the posters are mostly shit anyway that make their respective societies look like tools.

bnt

Sure, sex sells. Just look at the Tabloid newspapers with the topless bints on Pg. 3. It's the lowest common denominator, an appeal to our basest animal instincts. If you have to scrape the bottom of the barrel that way, it's hard to see how your event has anything to offer, other than a promise of sex. Call me a prude if you like, but it takes more than that to get me in the door. :rolleyes:

Riamfada

Blut wrote: »

Useless party soc? Bit of an oxymoron there. If a society does good parties then its doing its job fairly well.

Yeah those Royal Society of Irish Antiquities and the Irish Medical Society should really stop holding conferences and advancing the understanding of their fields and get into Club 21. I mean seriously, these guys are way off what they were set up to do. And dont get me started on the L&H and their debates ... who do they think they are!

/sarcasm

@Red Alert: I generalise. Would have assumed that most postgrads and staff dont attend the "Fuck a Fresher" events.

Tea-a-Maria

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned that UCD is a popular spot for family walks and for the elderly.I don't know about you but if I was a parent and I had to walk my kid past those posters I would not be impressed!

A little consideration goes a long way.:)

El Siglo

It's supposed to be (last time I was there anyway) a fucking university. Hence, decorum and not having scantily clad young ones on the walls, if you want that go out to Craw Daddy's or D2. I believe in free speech and freedom of expression and all of that monkey spunk, but it's a university, would you expect to see such things in Oxford, Cambridge etc... No of course not, then why would you expect to see such things in UCD?

Riamfada

El Siglo wrote: »

then why would you expect to see such things in UCD?

Because its way way down the list of top Universities in the global rankings. A hundered and what now?