The Ravenblack Grimoire

What is censorship? It’s hard to nail down when censorship is appropriate and when censorship is merely a political tool to wield with glee. What I find hilarious is those that say they believe in such freedom and then lambaste a person for partaking of it.

Now that’s not to say a person shouldn’t use natural caution when speaking in public. I do believe that it is necessary to watch what you say and to whom, within reason.

Do we all have to agree on any given subject? No, I don’t believe that is necessary at all. I do however believe that when opinions differ it is healthy to have open forum discussion about such and then move onto other subject matter.

What brings on this discussion you ask? I had been summarily banned from the VNN network for having the gall to call the chocolates Wallys for the gossip article about Lucius. That lasted a couple days. And it seems I am yet again summarily banned from the VNN network for having the gall to, well I don’t know what I had the gall to say this time but I did get the following message from the Chocolates.

Enough is enough, Damari. I realize this is your schtick but I know for a fact that you don't pull this kind of crap with any other news source. We did not open this place for you to come in and take it over with your pretentious and condescending attitude. Get a new hobby, please.

I’m only guessing at the reason I was banned the first time. If one thing has been made clear to me about the network it is that it’s alright to have an opinion but only if you agree with them. It’s alright to have a say as long as it’s not something negative about the network themselves. Is having an opinion a good enough reason to ban a person?

They’re not even real are they? They’re vampires pretending to be chocolate and hiding behind a veneer to report the news. It’s a catchy gimmick to be sure. I thought it rather endearing that they donned their chocolate suits to give the news. It adds a hint of comedic flair to the whole process I thought appropriate. But when the vampires, masquerading as chocolate, masquerading as news hounds take the stance that a person can’t watch their network if they don’t say what the chocolate likes then they are just a shade side of hypocrite. It’s not like they’re going to take the suits off and take the real consequences for what they say about other vampires.

For a network that takes delight in poking fun at others they sure don’t like it when it’s pointed right back at them. They were called Wally’s for printing something. Imagine what they’d do if they were called something worse? Imagine what sort of press they’d be given if they reported the news without the chocolate suits on?

I like the VNN Network. I wouldn’t have my decoder tuned to the station if I didn’t. I rather like the way they report the news. I think the Chocolates are funny and I think the idea has merit. When I owned this particular rag I used to cop some serious shit for the articles so I understand why they have the suits on and why they report the news under the cover of their fake persona.

But I don’t believe they have a left leg to stand on to ban a person because their opinion doesn’t gel with theirs.

If watching a network means that a vampire must change who they inherently are then what the hell kind of network is that? Is that Nazi propaganda R Us or what? I don’t dislike the VNN. I dislike the fact they are attempting to control how I act by banning me for nothing other than an opinion that differed from theirs.

That’s too bad because the network is quite entertaining and I even like the chocolates, crabby little blighters though they have been. I might actually have to go find myself a new hobby and all because of said opinion. That's a sad and reasonably pathetic testament to this city and the integrity of its journalism.

This brought to you by Damari. She of the ban-able opinion.