Anything too violent or sensual in a scene of a movie would most likely get censored by the board. Of course, some would say – the audience will still be able to find the full version online, I’d say, yes.. go ahead and find them online. Until then, the rest who don’t plan or who do not have access to these online resources might as well enjoy the censored version.

I remembered a few years ago, a local movie producer was unhappy that a lot of his scenes were cut by the board due to violence. He further argued that viewers are mature and old enough to know what is right or wrong. I am not denying that given a choice, some people can still make better choices other than resorting to violence when altercations happen. Perhaps he has overlooked one very important aspect of being a human being apart from being able to perform an executive cognitive function.

EMPATHY

Someone who plays PUBG may not go around shooting people. Someone who enjoys p৹rnography may not indulge in the same act in real life. However unlimited exposure to violence and séxual arousal may give rise to apathy. Dalam bahasa melayunya, tiada rasa kasih dan sifat belas kasihan. It is no longer shocking to see someone get shot on the streets, it is no longer awkward to have unprotected intercourse with a stranger or someone with familial ties. What was once a taboo is considered normal and modern. What mattered more is I scored better with more dead bodies, with more body counts etc. It doesn’t matter what happens to those in the losing team or if my partner was comfortable and achieved an ৹rgasℳ.

If any of you have seen the KDrama series Dr. Cha, you would recall a scene where Dr. Cha’s MIL was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. While she laments about her illness, the other members of the household who are coincidentally doctors took the diagnosis as something ‘normal’ that happens in everyday practice. They were so logical about it, laying out treatment options and success rates while at the same time forgoing the most important aspect of being a doctor, having a sense of empathy.

Thus apathy is already observed within those who are learned or with the knowledge in situations that mean something bad, terrifying or with a poor prognosis. What more those who are minors that do not have much life experience? To them, it is just another shooting game, another movie or another séx scene. If apathy is allowed to linger for too long in an individual, they would not be able to understand the feeling of caring towards each other, being responsible and adopting a proper social role. There is a worry that they will become selfish when they couldn’t differentiate between personal empowerment and being a dick. Everything is just me, me, me.

It is MY individual right to make this decision

I am doing this for ME

Only MY happiness matters, why is everybody not respecting that?

Therefore when experts express their concerns about the influence of digital technology – do pay attention. Digital technology is not something that we could put a leash on nowadays. I have to admit, censorship can only do so much. Therefore, the onus is on adults with the awareness that part of being human is having the ability to be in other people’s shoes and have care towards one another.