The game Pillars of Eternity, made by Obsidian, has been the most recent target of controversy over the inclusion of a limerick written by one of their Kickstarter backers, which was interpreted as being transphobic (though the backer himself has said this is not the case). The poem has since been removed and replaced with a different poem, also written by the backer, which removes the questionable content in favor of poking fun at those who found offense in it. The response is as you would expect.

Users object to the new limerick, which mocks those who were protesting the old one.

It seems that those who demanded the change are upset that their “request” was met with such derision. “How could they act this way,” they cry, “It’s almost as if they don’t agree with us!” There’s an inherent problem with censorship. Well, in truth, there are several. But one of the most major ones is that it is a bandaid solution to what are usually far larger and more complex problems. The mindset of censors seems to be that if we simply cover up a problem or attitude by not allowing people to speak their mind, then it will go away.

Not only is this absurd, but it serves to make the problem worse. Those who have a problem with the new epitaph in Pillars of Eternity are an example of this. People who don’t understand that censoring words does not actually fix anything. It simply makes people angry or bitter. In the same way guilt doesn’t lead to understanding, forcing someone not to speak does not lead to a change in perspective. Whatsmore, it hides the issue. This is most prevelant in the censorship of the Batgirl cover — the intent was to not offend those who might be made uneasy by the cover. But in doing so, you hide the real issues behind the cover. Real emotions, real violence, real situations which might relate to it.

Censorship does not just hide rude content from offended eyes. It also hides true reflections of reality from the ignorant. Censorship is the act of people who want control, not change. Which is why those people are so shocked when their aggressive tactics are met with derision. In their minds, simply forcing the words to change should also force the person who said the words to “see the light”. But it does not. If it were so easy to change minds, then North Korea would never have defectors.

Fortunately for this people, the Streisand Effect ensures that thousands more will see these images than would have prior, ensuring that the possibility of increasing understanding isn’t lost. Unfortunately for these people, they will never take such an opportunity and it will spread without context or discussion.

In the same way banning “racist” films only depletes from our historical understanding of the industry, censoring games does nothing but hide the reality of how people view each other. Censorship, in the end, is an action with few pros and many cons.

On the one hand, you may spare the feelings of a handful of people temporarily, until another thing inevitably hurts their feelings, as the world is full of things which are not pretty, nice, or defensible. On the other hand, you are encouraging a system used by corrupt governments for centuries to kill and silence their citizens and exert control. You are covering up real, true issues which should not be hidden but discussed as mature adults. You are not changing society in any meaningful way but instead inciting derision and annoyance from those who may otherwise by your allies. And you’re engaging in a system which has historically been used to justify violence, terror, and even the very discrimination and bigotry you most likely find abhorrent.

The next time you see something you want to censor, don’t. And if you choose to anyway, do not act the least bit surprised if it is thrown in your face.