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Originally Posted by kathykd2005
I understand exactly what censorship is--I simply believe there are various degrees of censorship, some of which are more serious than others.
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If you think that ratings = censorship, apparently you don't understand exactly what censorship is.
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Censorship: deleting parts of publications or correspondence or theatrical performances
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Assuming that this definition is correct, which I wouldn't (it's the last definition given at dictionary.com, and unlike with the other, more specific definitions, the source isn't even an actual, widely-relied on dictionary), what does it have to do with TV, movie or CD
ratings? It was ratings, not deletions from performances, that you said were censorship.
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Definitions are courtesy of dictionary.com, by the way. 
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Take a look at the primary definition of "censor" at your source, dictionary.com:
an official who examines books, plays, news reports, motion pictures, radio and television programs, letters, cablegrams, etc., for the purpose of suppressing parts deemed objectionable on moral, political, military, or other grounds.
Likewise, the definitions from the American Heritage Dictionary are:
A person authorized to examine books, films, or other material and to remove or suppress what is considered morally, politically, or otherwise objectionable.
An official, as in the armed forces, who examines personal mail and official dispatches to remove information considered secret or a risk to security.
Last time I checked, neither Walmart nor a movie theater are "officials," nor are the "authorized" by anyone to do anything. (And others are right -- Wal-Mart can't edit copyrighted CDs or DVDs. They can and do sell "cleaned-up" versions produced by the companies who make the CDs or DVDs.)
Even by the secondary definition you posted, in what way does Wal-Mart, a movie theater or a store have any power to "supervise" your manners or morality? They don't.
As a verb, it means:
to examine and act upon as a censor.
to delete (a word or passage of text) in one's capacity as a censor
Sorry, but ratings are not censorship. Calling them censorship doesn't change the fact that they're not.