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[Kinyou]

Censorship is only bad if the government gets involved because it takes away the choice from the individual. Apple made its own decision or choice to remove it, that is apple's right. Apple does not have to allow content it hates to be on its store.

This isn't even censorship since you can easily play the game somewhere else in a different playstore.


If you want to water down the term censorship, then go ahead.


More importantly your comments imply that your choice, is more is important than Apple's choice.

He's not watering down the term censorship, the term has always been interpreted this way, it doesn't have to be government enforced.

Also determining how bad the censorship is imo based on what position and what kind of power the one enforcing it has. Imagine google banning any results for "confederate flag". Would you not consider that as "bad censorship" even if it's within googles rights?

 

[GravityMan]

Apple was so anxious to disassociate themselves from everything Confederate related that they overreacted big time, and therefore missed the point on why people wanted the flag taken down in South Carolina and other states.

This is yet another example of a company that is so consumed with its own "image" that they live in their own bubble, fail to think things through, and ultimately lose touch with society.

 

[silvermember]

He's not watering down the term censorship, the term has always been interpreted this way, it doesn't have to be government enforced.

Also determining how bad the censorship is imo based on what position and what kind of power the one enforcing it has. Imagine google banning any results for "confederate flag". Would you not consider that as "bad censorship" even if it's within googles rights?

Then the people who use it in that manner don't understand what true censorship entails. With his interpretation, it means other's choices are more important than my own choice (in this case apple's choice to limit what they want in ITS OWN store). Apple store is private property, within a reasonable level people are allowed more authority on their own property. The banning from the app store does not prevent release of the game, it can be release on android, windows etc.

If that is the case then the term censorship has been watered down, FYI, just because a lot of people say it is censorship doesn't make it correct.

So if that is what you are implying then use this is censorship and I am perfectly OK with it.

 

[aronnov reborn]

this is beyond dumb and aggravating.

lets just rewrite history.

 

[creatchee]

He's not watering down the term censorship, the term has always been interpreted this way, it doesn't have to be government enforced.

Also determining how bad the censorship is imo based on what position and what kind of power the one enforcing it has. Imagine google banning any results for "confederate flag". Would you not consider that as "bad censorship" even if it's within googles rights?

Bad or not, their rights to provide the content that they want to provide is paramount. No freedom is lost by telling somebody "you can't sell your game on my marketplace because I don't like what it contains." None whatsoever. Just as no freedom is lost if Google filtered images of a flag or something else that they do not wish to provide platform for (which they already do).

It's doesn't matter if it's bad or good - they can do whatever the hell they want and are completely in the right. We can disagree with them, or not patronize them, but that is on us. Once somebody starts MANDATING change of a product or denying its right to exist (which is not the same as refusing to provide access to), then we fall into the right and wrong. But that isn't the case here.

 

[silvermember]

this is beyond dumb and aggravating.

lets just rewrite history.

Except that this is not rewriting history. Nobody is asking the remove the confederacy from history books because it would be stupid. A lot of people actually want it to be thought because people seem to ironically attempt to rewrite history by claiming the Confederacy existed because of states rights. A second group of people seem to have a very idealize image of America's past, both of those things would be lost if the confederacy people were attempting to rewrite history like you claim. This is about Apple exercising their right to choice what content to appear on their store. Everybody has rights, not just rights you support. If you support the right to make a confederacy game, then you also have to support another's right to not carry that product. (In this case, removing all civil war game went too far, but it is within Apple's right). Just like any person has the right to carry a confederate flag in their own home and I have the right not to carry it in my home or allow anybody to carry it in my home.

TL;DR
The point being this is not an attempt at rewriting history, this certainly isn't. A lot of people already attempt to rewrite history by claiming the confederacy fought to union to protect "state rights".

 

[DrROBschiz]

Except that this is not rewriting history. Nobody is asking the remove the confederacy from history books because it would be stupid. A lot of people actually want it to be thought because people seem to ironically attempt to rewrite history by claiming the Confederacy existed because of states rights. A second group of people seem to have a very idealize image of America's past, both of those things would be lost if the confederacy people were attempting to rewrite history like you claim. This is about Apple exercising their right to choice what content to appear on their store. Everybody has rights, not just rights you support. If you support the right to make a confederacy game, then you also have to support another's right to not carry that product. (In this case, removing all civil war game went too far, but it is within Apple's right). Just like any person has the right to carry a confederate flag in their own home and I have the right not to carry it in my home or allow anybody to carry it in my home.

TL;DR
The point being this is not an attempt at rewriting history, this certainly isn't. A lot of people already attempt to rewrite history by claiming the confederacy fought to union to protect "state rights".

History is still clearly and easily accessible to all in uncensored form

Apple isnt the gatekeeper lol. I get the criticism and agree with it though

Lets just be reasonable for fucks sake XD

 

[silvermember]

History is still clearly and easily accessible to all in uncensored form

Apple isnt the gatekeeper lol. I get the criticism and agree with it though

Lets just be reasonable for fucks sake XD

I am not exactly sure what point you are attempting to make. In your haste, you seem to jumping around with your comments.

Let me correct you on one fact, on Apple store they are the gatekeepers, because everything there has to be approve.

But Like I said, I am not exactly sure what point you are attempting to make. FYI, nobody is saying you cannot criticize apple's decision, I have on multiple occasion already said they want too far removing all civil war games, then again I have not played those games so I don't know.

tl;dr

Could you clarify whatever point you are attempting to make?

 

[blu]

History is still clearly and easily accessible to all in uncensored form

Apple isnt the gatekeeper lol. I get the criticism and agree with it though

Lets just be reasonable for fucks sake XD

Apple most definitely is the gatekeeper to their ecosystem, and they can technically and legally censor history there as much as they like. Ergo this thread about some fairly misguided censorship.

 

[Kinyou]

Bad or not, their rights to provide the content that they want to provide is paramount. No freedom is lost by telling somebody "you can't sell your game on my marketplace because I don't like what it contains." None whatsoever. Just as no freedom is lost if Google filtered images of a flag or something else that they do not wish to provide platform for (which they already do).

It's doesn't matter if it's bad or good - they can do whatever the hell they want and are completely in the right. We can disagree with them, or not patronize them, but that is on us. Once somebody starts MANDATING change of a product or denying its right to exist (which is not the same as refusing to provide access to), then we fall into the right and wrong. But that isn't the case here.

I'm not really arguing any legality. (I'm not sure anyone was) but the point is just that this is indeed censorship, and many agree that removing civil war games is a complete overkill.

Then the people who use it in that manner don't understand what true censorship entails. With his interpretation, it means other's choices are more important than my own choice (in this case apple's choice to limit what they want in ITS OWN store). Apple store is private property, within a reasonable level people are allowed more authority on their own property. The banning from the app store does not prevent release of the game, it can be release on android, windows etc.

If that is the case then the term censorship has been watered down, FYI, just because a lot of people say it is censorship doesn't make it correct.

So if that is what you are implying then use this is censorship and I am perfectly OK with it.

So what is the correct definition of censorship and who decides it?

 

[Enzom21]

So, how many of you folks will be trading in your censoring ass iPhones for freedom loving Android and Windows phones? I take it many here will vote with their wallets, and let Apple know that they're going too far? Maybe just complain for now?

I'm genuinely curious..

To add to this: Do all the people who are outraged by this actually have an iOS device?

I'm not really arguing any legality. (I'm not sure anyone was) but the point is just that this is indeed censorship, and many agree that removing civil war games is a complete overkill.


So what is the correct definition of censorship and who decides it?

They don't allow porn apps. Is that censorship? If they prevented you from accessing information about the confederate flag, then it would be censorship. I am fairly certain you can still look up all of the confederate nonsense you like using the web browser. Apple is not required to put anything in the AppStore and people can either except it or choose another service.

 

[lem0n]

Uh. That's pretty stupid.

 

[Waxwing]

Then the people who use it in that manner don't understand what true censorship entails. With his interpretation, it means other's choices are more important than my own choice (in this case apple's choice to limit what they want in ITS OWN store). Apple store is private property, within a reasonable level people are allowed more authority on their own property. The banning from the app store does not prevent release of the game, it can be release on android, windows etc.

If that is the case then the term censorship has been watered down, FYI, just because a lot of people say it is censorship doesn't make it correct.

So if that is what you are implying then use this is censorship and I am perfectly OK with it.

Yeah- I don't think we're talking legality. It's just that, for all intents and purpose, companies like Apple and Google have greater functional sway over the right to free speech than the government does. In that sense, this is censorship.

 

[Kinyou]

To add to this: Do all the people who are outraged by this actually have an iOS device?


They don't allow porn apps. Is that censorship? If they prevented you from accessing information about the confederate flag, then it would be censorship. I am fairly certain you can still look up all of the confederate nonsense you like using the web browser. Apple is not required to put anything in the AppStore and people can either except it or choose another service.

Um, yes of course it is.

However is that an understandable choice while banning civil war games isn't.

 

[Enzom21]

Um, yes of course it is.

However is that an understandable choice while banning civil war games isn't.

Plenty of of media doesn't carry porn, that's all censorship? Should Christian book stores carry pornography?
Apple is not preventing you from getting porn. They are just not selling it to you, same thing with confederate nonsense.

 

[Kinyou]

Plenty of of media doesn't carry porn, that's all censorship? Should Christian book stores carry pornography?
Apple is not preventing you from getting porn. They are just not selling it to you, same thing with confederate nonsense.

If the only reason they don't sell it because they consider it offensive or morally wrong, yes that's also censorship. The difference is that no one is really affected by a book store making that descicion while apple's decision affects a userbase of millions.

 

[infiniteloop]

we just got word from HexWar Studios, developers of Civil War: 1863 [$7.99 / $7.99] that these games may just be coming back after some minor changes.

Andrew Mulholland of HexWar says "basically we need to remove prominent flags from the screenshots" and "don't have them in the app icon." The Confederate flag is okay within games, but it appears that it just needs to not be prominent at all in the forward-facing parts of the App Store. Here's the new icon for Civil War: 1862 on the left, compared to the old one on the right:

New Civil War 1862 Icon Old Civil War 1862 Icon

In fact, Civil War: 1863 should be rolling back out on to the App Store today, and is already showing up again in the US App Store. It's worth noting that Mulholland stated that Apple has been "really decent" about the whole situation, and they sound intent on making things right with the developers who have been affected. This seems to be typical procedure for an Apple approval controversy: Apple makes a big, brash move that angers a lot of people, then they smooth it out pretty quickly and everything is okay. See the big "guns in screenshots" controversy from earlier this year, that's exactly how it played out. Odds are, with developers just needing to tweak their games to not display the Confederate flag so prominently, they should still be able to make apps and games concerning the flag in the future.

Apple gonna Apple

 

[Cloggerdude]

Apple gonna Apple

All I'm wondering is why they got rid of the guy's facial hair...

 

[RobFox64tm]

This is as bad as taking the toys out of Happy Meals because kids aren't eating healthy... YES, that has happened in some cities. Also, in my town I can't get a fucking plastic bag to save my life, as they've been banned as of January of this year. I understand the need for these positive changes, but maybe, just fucking maybe we can leave some responsibility in the peoples hands to make the right choices, instead of choices being made for us. In this case especially you can't just change history, and wouldn't it make more sense for people to learn the real story behind this flag? It's seriously a huge part of one of the most key moments in our nation's history.

 

[Hari Seldon]

I think it is good that corporations can determine what art is appropriate for my plebeian brain. Who knows better about what art is appropriate for me to view more than giant mega corporations?

 

[silvermember]

I'm not really arguing any legality. (I'm not sure anyone was) but the point is just that this is indeed censorship, and many agree that removing civil war games is a complete overkill.


So what is the correct definition of censorship and who decides it?

Let me ask you this, who gives you the right to decide what I can carry in my store?

Yeah- I don't think we're talking legality. It's just that, for all intents and purpose, companies like Apple and Google have greater functional sway over the right to free speech than the government does. In that sense, this is censorship.

we have no choice but talk about the legally because any other definition involves forcing our choices on apple's while ignoring
apple's own choice.

 

[Mihos]

Plenty of of media doesn't carry porn, that's all censorship? Should Christian book stores carry pornography?
Apple is not preventing you from getting porn. They are just not selling it to you, same thing with confederate nonsense.

Yes it is all censorship... doesn't mean it is good or bad, but by dictionary definition it is. When I tell the kid he can't play GTA or watch the 900 channels on cable, I am censoring the media he has access too. I am not sure you understand what the word means maybe? The word doesn't have a specific scope or identify the institution or person... it is just suppressing information through channels you control. The are officially oppressing the images on one part of their marketplace.

 

[Kinyou]

Let me ask you this, who gives you the right to decide what I can carry in my store?

Nothing. But I can critize you and call you out for it all day long

 

[PreFire]

Ban the sales of the flags and make it illegal to display on your home, car, etc. but if a game or movie decides to include it, presumably not glorifying racism, just to jump on the ship.. That's pretty dumb

Still, that flag represents a disgusting era in America and the people I've seen with those flags on their bumpers or homes aren't people who belong in a diverse country like America.

If the flag is on the app icon or movie cover, then it should be removed. It's a shitty part of history that shouldn't be forgotten, but we shouldn't be reminded as there are obviously (and rightfully) people offended and disgusted by it.

I view it in the same category as a nazi swastika.. Which needs to be next in the apple bans.

 

[DrROBschiz]

I am not exactly sure what point you are attempting to make. In your haste, you seem to jumping around with your comments.

Let me correct you on one fact, on Apple store they are the gatekeepers, because everything there has to be approve.

But Like I said, I am not exactly sure what point you are attempting to make. FYI, nobody is saying you cannot criticize apple's decision, I have on multiple occasion already said they want too far removing all civil war games, then again I have not played those games so I don't know.

tl;dr

Could you clarify whatever point you are attempting to make?

That this is simply self censorship and "rewriting history" is hyperbole since access to history is everywhere and easily accessible

And let me clarify that I dont agree with what Apple is doing but I am also calling it exactly what it is instead of making bizarre statements

 

[orthodoxy1095]

If that is the case then the term censorship has been watered down, FYI, just because a lot of people say it is censorship doesn't make it correct.

So if that is what you are implying then use this is censorship and I am perfectly OK with it.

There is nothing in the definition of censorship that makes it government based or unrelated to corporations.

Corporate censorship is a real thing, whether you like it or not. It's not always a bad thing, and it's certainly within the rights of a corporation to censor things but it doesn't mean they're above critique for their censorship.

 

[R0ckman]

To add to this: Do all the people who are outraged by this actually have an iOS device?


They don't allow porn apps. Is that censorship? If they prevented you from accessing information about the confederate flag, then it would be censorship. I am fairly certain you can still look up all of the confederate nonsense you like using the web browser. Apple is not required to put anything in the AppStore and people can either except it or choose another service.

One thing I find interesting is that whenever things like this happen, many whites (NOT all) generally don't go against the system itself, they try to find this odd nuetral grey area. They either divert the issue into something else like some political ideal or concept, or writing the terriost off as a madman or uproar over overractions involving cases like this. Well yeah, the police officer or the kid in any of these intsances is a peice of trash, but what allowed them to get as far as they did? What was able to power them up?

If you watch interviews of the Baltimore riots they try to guide the convo into a certain direction - Should blacks fight back? Is it wrong to retaliate by burning down white owned businesses? Etc? Clearly nothing else has worked. Church isn't working, marching around in circles isn't working, actually teaching true history are getting fired, so that's not working, creating black authoritive groups (Unlike the NAACP which doesn't make sure blacks are the only heads of the group) isn't woring because they are just propagated as terriorist factions.

Now the diversion is this flag, but its a distraction, it's the wickedness behind the flag that should be the focus.

The kid obviously had to have gotten his ideals fed from something, for the creation of his manifesto is a testament to that.

If you don't like this happening, look into the corruption of the system that caused this Apple censorship, constantly expose the corruption, look for authoritative figures behind some of these things, stop making excuses for even minor areas of corruption etc.

 

[silvermember]

Nothing. But I can critize you and call you out for it all day long

If you want to criticize me, go ahead, I don't see anybody stopping you from doing it. I have the option of either ignoring you literally (by using the ignore feature) or figuratively by skipping over your post, if it doesn't amount to much.

There is nothing in the definition of censorship that makes it government based or unrelated to corporations.

Corporate censorship is a real thing, whether you like it or not. It's not always a bad thing, and it's certainly within the rights of a corporation to censor things but it doesn't mean they're above critique for their censorship.

The problem I have is the word censorship is used very liberally (freely) to mean figuratively anything, someone is not happy about. It is almost to the point where, figuratively now means the same as literally.

What makes this not even censorship is the basic fact their removal of the game doesn't prevent it from being release on windows and android. This is not even different that Sony not allowing XXX games on its platform since they are the ones who built it.

 

[LegendofDragoonLives]

You don't seem to purposely understand what the word censorship means no matter how many times it's explained to you.

 

[Arkam]

What makes this not even censorship is the basic fact their removal of the game doesn't prevent it from being release on windows and android. This is not even different that Sony not allowing XXX games on its platform since they are the ones who built it.

That is true. However the scope of said platform vs the opportunity to access rival platforms must be considered. In the case of iOS there is a viable and easily accessed rival in android. But what if android was not available in your region, or better yet they acted in accordance with iOS. Now what avenue does the person have to access the content? They are now forced to go farther and farther from mainstream. At some point the friction is so great that it is essentially impossible for the person to access the content.

So censorship is censorship. Change by force is nothing more than proof of force.

 

[JJDinomite]

Simply pretending that the Confederate Flag doesn't exist won't magically end racism. Really foolish move by Apple, especially considering this affects civil war games that are only trying to be historically accurate. That all said, I can't say I'm even remotely surprised that Apple would do such a thing.

 

[FyreWulff]

Simply pretending that the Confederate Flag doesn't exist won't magically end racism. Really foolish move by Apple, especially considering this affects civil war games that are only trying to be historically accurate. That all said, I can't say I'm even remotely surprised that Apple would do such a thing.

They aren't pretending it doesn't exist. They're telling people they can't use it as a way to download apps solely because of it.

There's similar rules on EVERY digital store on what can be shown for screenshots and videos, even for M rated games.

Their store, their rules. Stop depending on private corporations to facilitate speech not protected at any time from them.

 

[Kinyou]

What makes this not even censorship is the basic fact their removal of the game doesn't prevent it from being release on windows and android. This is not even different that Sony not allowing XXX games on its platform since they are the ones who built it.

Germany used to often censor violent games, but if I want to I can import the UK version and still get the uncensored game. Does this somehow make Germany's censorship nonexistent?

 

[Skux]

Listened to TB's video about this and he's right. Apple are perfectly fine with sex and violence and controversy in the books and films they sell on their store, but continue to treat apps like children's toys. It's a refusal to acknowledge games as a legitimate art form that has stunted their growth on their platform.

 

[213372bu]

Way too far.

If anything, the removal of any mention of the Civil War will allow the masses to stay ignorant of the troubles that happened in our nation and make others less aware. Revisionist history at its finest.

Fuck, even things like Dukes of Hazzard shouldn't have been banned. It truly is erasing our history and making no trace that America has ever had a viewpoint that was "wrong" and "demeaning". Tom and Jerry being uncensored in regards to UNcensored shows people how we have progressed and how the majority of people thought was acceptable in those days. It sounds dumb to many, but it honestly allows people to look back and see how people have changed nowadays.

But sure, this is the start of the slippery slope, others will see how harmful this is going to be later on.

Just think about how almost none of the American public knows about the racism of Asians, internment camps etc.

Now imagine if The Civil War and the all racial prejudices were erased, like some are currently/have been doing, from American history books in schools. We are in for a rude awakening and an age of ignorance that will only hurt us in the end.

 

[Trojan]

All I'm wondering is why they got rid of the guy's facial hair...

It's 2015, you need to not have facial hair to differentiate. I see at least 3 foo-man-chus on my way to work every day.

 

[A Link to the Past]

Way too far.

If anything, the removal of any mention of the Civil War will allow the masses to stay ignorant of the troubles that happened in our nation and make others less aware. Revisionist history at its finest.

Fuck, even things like Dukes of Hazzard shouldn't have been banned. It truly is erasing our history and making no trace that America has ever had a viewpoint that was "wrong" and "demeaning". Tom and Jerry being uncensored in regards to UNcensored shows people how we have progressed and how the majority of people thought was acceptable in those days. It sounds dumb to many, but it honestly allows people to look back and see how people have changed nowadays.

But sure, this is the start of the slippery slope, others will see how harmful this is going to be later on.

Just think about how almost none of the American public knows about the racism of Asians, internment camps etc.

Now imagine if The Civil War and the all racial prejudices were erased, like some are currently/have been doing, from American history books in schools. We are in for a rude awakening and an age of ignorance that will only hurt us in the end.

Not being mean, but please read more on the subject. This is the same thing as has happened many times with Apple, and it resolved the same way. Apple simply wanted to reduce the flag's visibility to people who are simply browsing for apps.

 

[jim-jam bongs]

While I'm glad that America seems to be waking up to the fact that the Confederate Flag is a seriously fucked up symbol, context is important. This is silly.

 

[silvermember]

That this is simply self censorship and "rewriting history" is hyperbole since access to history is everywhere and easily accessible

And let me clarify that I dont agree with what Apple is doing but I am also calling it exactly what it is instead of making bizarre statements

ok, not sure what you are arguing about, but ok.

 

[silvermember]

Germany used to often censor violent games, but if I want to I can import the UK version and still get the uncensored game. Does this somehow make Germany's censorship nonexistent?

Lol moving the goal post huh?

This is exactly what I consider to be censorship when the government is involve. Apple is not the government it is a business, the fact that you somehow moved from corporation to government means, you have no argument.

Ergo your statement is pointless since I believe that government censorship is the only true form of censorship. Apple has the right to do whatever it wants on its private property, government is restricted by a social contract.
Remember apple is a business, Germany is a government your example is worthless. The government isn't telling apple to remove the games, Apple is doing it themselves.

So I am done, since it is apparent one of isnt exactly sure about the argument they are making.

 

[timetokill]

Apple going IN on that censorship!

 

[rpmurphy]

This isn't censorship because no government is forcing them to do it. The business is simply using its first amendment right to not allow any images that might damage it's brand. It is their right as a person. Yes corporations are consider people in the United States.

With that said, they are going too far, but Apple can do what they want.

When Nintendo was forcing developers making games on their consoles to change or remove blood in them, that was censorship. This is the same. Apple isn't violating First Amendment rights, sure, but that's unrelated here.

 

[bucyou55]

One thing I find interesting is that whenever things like this happen, many whites (NOT all) generally don't go against the system itself, they try to find this odd nuetral grey area. They either divert the issue into something else like some political ideal or concept, or writing the terriost off as a madman or uproar over overractions involving cases like this. Well yeah, the police officer or the kid in any of these intsances is a peice of trash, but what allowed them to get as far as they did? What was able to power them up?

If you watch interviews of the Baltimore riots they try to guide the convo into a certain direction - Should blacks fight back? Is it wrong to retaliate by burning down white owned businesses? Etc? Clearly nothing else has worked. Church isn't working, marching around in circles isn't working, actually teaching true history are getting fired, so that's not working, creating black authoritive groups (Unlike the NAACP which doesn't make sure blacks are the only heads of the group) isn't woring because they are just propagated as terriorist factions.

Now the diversion is this flag, but its a distraction, it's the wickedness behind the flag that should be the focus.

The kid obviously had to have gotten his ideals fed from something, for the creation of his manifesto is a testament to that.

If you don't like this happening, look into the corruption of the system that caused this Apple censorship, constantly expose the corruption, look for authoritative figures behind some of these things, stop making excuses for even minor areas of corruption etc.

Shining example of why racism will never go away.

 

[autoduelist]

Then the people who use it in that manner don't understand what true censorship entails. With his interpretation, it means other's choices are more important than my own choice (in this case apple's choice to limit what they want in ITS OWN store). Apple store is private property, within a reasonable level people are allowed more authority on their own property. The banning from the app store does not prevent release of the game, it can be release on android, windows etc.

If that is the case then the term censorship has been watered down, FYI, just because a lot of people say it is censorship doesn't make it correct.

So if that is what you are implying then use this is censorship and I am perfectly OK with it.

You are using the strict definition of censorship -- only government can do it. That's long been inadequate, as the force of censorship (in the west / US at least) has long shifted away from government and into corporate hands.

The nightly news decides what stories to show (and what to completely avoid). Storefronts like the apple store, which are dominant ecosystems (and therefore most people's 'portal' into apps) ban like in this case. That shift in who, how, and what censorship has adapted to the modern age, but the word's 'strict' definition has not... leaving the conversation harder to have as some people [like you] cling to the 'strict' definition.

But the word has shifted, and refusing to acknowledge that only hampers conversation at this point. If the portal 90% of the population uses to text, for example, suddenly bans the word 'war'... does it really matter that the acting agency is a corporation and not a government? Only academically, and actually, most academists have likely moved on with the times and realize that the roles of nation states and corporations have been shifting for quite some time.

This is a form of censorship. You're correct, it's not based on the old, strict, definition. But that word is no longer nearly as useful, and no new word rose to take its place, so we are where we are, and common usage [thankfully] no longer uses it the way you do.

Yes, it's complicated because Apple are an entity that should be able to police it's own store in any way it wants, just as this forum can curb discussion in any way it wants. However, that does not change the fact that -something- is happening when words/games/conversations/images are banned... in a forum like this, it's not particularly significant as it's easy to simply move to another of the thousand forums out there. In a case like the Apple store, however, a decision to remove stuff is far more dramatic... for example, if Amazon decided to stop selling books about [controversial subject], you can bet it would be harder to get a publishing deal for a book on that topic, in a sort of top down tide of economic self-censorship. And while Amazon/apple/etc may be within their rights to not sell those things, it's foolish to simply dismiss the larger issue on those grounds.

 

[orthodoxy1095]

Ergo your statement is pointless since I believe that government censorship is the only true form of censorship. Apple has the right to do whatever it wants on its private property, government is restricted by a social contract.

Uhhhhh what. That doesn't even follow the definition of what censorship is.

This is a silly definition especially when we consider the vast power the government willingly cedes to their corporate buddies.

 

[Tobor]

Apple gonna Apple

Did no one read this post?

Put down the pitchforks, people.

 

[Doctor_Thomas]

People need to stop comparing something like this to true censorship.

The existence of the flag isn't being struck from history but Apple, as a corporation, don't feel it's appropriate, in light of recent events, to have a symbol that most associate with hate being displayed prominently on a store that they pay for, that they maintain, that they are the gatekeepers of. Don't like it? Don't buy an iPhone, it's not going to change.

Should it be banned from display at government buildings? Absolutely it should, because, it's not an official flag of anything.

Should it be banned on an individual level? Absolutely not, because if people want to associate with such a symbol, they have every right to. Equally, their rights to display such a symbol gives others the right to question such a choice.

A flag will, always, just be a flag, but the connotations are much further reaching and the Conferdate Flag, as it stands, is one with racist, slavery and traitor connotations.

 

[shandy706]

Saw a truck flying the original Confederate flag today.

That was a first. Funny thing is, I don't think most people realize it.

 

[Death2494]

http://toucharcade.com/2015/06/25/apple-removes-confederate-flag/

Umm... a tad overboard? We gonna have to start editing the flag out of Civil War games?

Update:

They can just replace the mentioned flag with the original. This flag was adopted in 1861-1863, the other flag was not adopted until 1865.

There has been more talk about the flag lately than the actual tragedy that took place.

Apple is an international company it has to appeal to more than the fringe southerners

 

[Gucci Messiah]

this is beyond dumb and aggravating.

lets just rewrite history.

How is this rewriting history? Did apple buy McGraw Hill and start sending hired goons out to burn old textbooks?