Language censorship IFE
Mar 2, 2018, 11:11 am
#46
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Mar 2, 2018, 11:29 am
#47
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: PHX
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Honestly, I'm in the "yank the IFE and use your own device" camp, which is where I believe airlines will be headed in the next several years.
Mar 2, 2018, 11:36 am
#48
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I had to turn it off after about 20 minutes as they dubbed in 'fudge' too much. I understand if a movie says F@#k once it twice and UA censors it out but in a movie like 3 Billboards, either just put a warning at the beginning of don't show it (And they do have a warning).
Also- I believe Woody Harrelson is contractually to swear 50 times in each movie.
Also- I believe Woody Harrelson is contractually to swear 50 times in each movie.
Mar 2, 2018, 7:53 pm
#49
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Join Date: Jun 2005
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Wow, I have never seen people take so much offense to the removal of words found obscene, offensive, or vulgar by many from a video entertainment system that is available to all on board with little to no supervision. If it bothers you that much, maybe instead of relying on United to provide you entertainment you should provide your own entertainment, at your own cost. The adage of "given an inch, try to take a mile" seems to come into play here - United provides a decently large selection of both PDE and seat-back entertainment (on all but DirecTV birds) and people are complaining that it's censored so it's (for the most part) family friendly?
Also, what constitutes "family friendly"? Not all of us have the same beliefs about what is harmful.
The most annoying I have encountered was in a hotel in Utah. The pickings were very poor and my wife's English wasn't up to something too dialog heavy at the time anyway. We ended up watching an R-rated basically comedy movie. Bare breasts everywhere, softcore sex scenes. Despite that, they censored even remotely sensitive words.
Mar 2, 2018, 11:02 pm
#50
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 573
United called me today. A pleasant lady explained that when they license content they have 2 choices, the theatrical version or the censored version. They choose the censored version but they don't get to choose what is censored.
The lady shared my frustration but implied that it isnt going to change.
Interested to gauge opinion on here whether a bleep is better or worse than a replacement. Also if anyone knows of a supplier of content who is more flexible.
Also am I bad person for thinking that UA'S money would be better spent buying both versions rather than buying the versions for the hard of sight / blind.
Finally without knowing anything about this field does it suprise anyone else that UA might have to pay more to get both versions of the same movie?! From the little I know about licensing it shouldn't Matter if someone watches either version.
The lady shared my frustration but implied that it isnt going to change.
Interested to gauge opinion on here whether a bleep is better or worse than a replacement. Also if anyone knows of a supplier of content who is more flexible.
Also am I bad person for thinking that UA'S money would be better spent buying both versions rather than buying the versions for the hard of sight / blind.
Finally without knowing anything about this field does it suprise anyone else that UA might have to pay more to get both versions of the same movie?! From the little I know about licensing it shouldn't Matter if someone watches either version.
Mar 3, 2018, 5:55 am
#51
Join Date: Jul 2016
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Posts: 767
Thats interesting. Would be great if they could just have both audio tracks available like they do with the foreign tracks.
Mar 3, 2018, 8:39 am
#52
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Platinum
Posts: 211
I agree with the others, the version of Three Billboards that United has is pretty much unwatchable. The overdubbing didn't even make sense at some points and is so ridiculously distracting. I tried watching it on a DirecTV plane first, and thought maybe the the on-demand on the 777 would be a different version since there's parental control on that IFE... but no. Both had the same version.
Mar 3, 2018, 9:38 am
#53
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: YYC
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I'd watched Three Billboards last week, and similar to others, the censorship made it virtually unwatchable, and was quite annoying. I'd started watching it on MH and got frustrated with the censorship, but attributed it to be an airline from a more conservative country. When I resumed watching it on my UA flight, I was disappointed to find that it was just as bad. Guess MH and UA both picked the censored version. It was downright foolish with words including: fudge, frick, shoot, cook (for c-word), Judas Priest.
Hopefully UA sticks to original versions as much as possible with the appropriate warning at the beginning.
Hopefully UA sticks to original versions as much as possible with the appropriate warning at the beginning.
Mar 3, 2018, 10:58 am
#54
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i don’t think that is quite accurate. A while ago I listed to a story (podcast?) about one of the companies that “puts together” (cut, dub) movies for airlines. Perhaps you can find it via Google; the company name was Global Eagle. In any case, they produce many different versions of the same movie that airlines can choose from. Different airlines have different requirements. Saudia probably would not be happy with the same level of censorship as United.
Mar 3, 2018, 11:27 am
#55
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I don't think there is any reason in today's complaining society that they should be trying to please everyone with IFE. Just yank it all out, put in power ports in each seat or row, and make it the responsibility of people to entertain themselves.
Mar 3, 2018, 2:16 pm
#56
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Agree. I just have to stop a movie if there is any dialog censorship - completely ruins the experience.
What I don’t get is how some movies are/were NOT censored and others were. Is this a new thing? Cause I think I’ve seen *some* movies without any dialog censorship on united in the past.
What I don’t get is how some movies are/were NOT censored and others were. Is this a new thing? Cause I think I’ve seen *some* movies without any dialog censorship on united in the past.
So I then switched over to Blade Runner 2049, which was thankfully non-edited, as least as far as I could tell. And if you've seen that movie, you'd understand how bizarre it is that they offer a censored version of Three Billboards.
Finally, I was able to see the unedited version of Three Billboards on a CX flight last week.
Mar 3, 2018, 6:11 pm
#57
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 51
I am one of those people who are offended by seeing nudity, sexual situations, and obscene language on IFE. IMO, if you want to watch it, see it, etc, then bring your own device and see or listen to it where others don't have to listen. When I fly United I try real hard to turn off the IFE so I don't have to watch it, but it is irritating when someone has the volume loud enough that others can hear it. And especially if the IFE is on the seatback screens and someone in your aisle is watching something that offends you, simply ignoring it is not real easy to do.
Years ago, because of a strike by UA pilots we were forced to go on an alternate flight from what we were scheduled for. We ended up in IAD for an LAX flight and my kids were split up away from us. My 10 yr. old son got sat next to couple who pulled their copy of Penthouse Magazine out, showed him pictures and were talking about how they would do things. Thankfully the FA said something and moved my son to another seat away from them. It took a while to explain to him what they were laughing and talking about in between kisses. I resented having to put up with my kid seeing something I considered obscene.
As chermog just posted, pull the IFE out, keep channel 9 to hear the pilots talk, and let other people entertain themselves as they wish to.
Years ago, because of a strike by UA pilots we were forced to go on an alternate flight from what we were scheduled for. We ended up in IAD for an LAX flight and my kids were split up away from us. My 10 yr. old son got sat next to couple who pulled their copy of Penthouse Magazine out, showed him pictures and were talking about how they would do things. Thankfully the FA said something and moved my son to another seat away from them. It took a while to explain to him what they were laughing and talking about in between kisses. I resented having to put up with my kid seeing something I considered obscene.
As chermog just posted, pull the IFE out, keep channel 9 to hear the pilots talk, and let other people entertain themselves as they wish to.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 3, 2018 at 8:48 pm Reason: Discuss the issues, not the poster(s)
Mar 3, 2018, 6:20 pm
#58
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 573
I am one of those people who are offended by seeing nudity, sexual situations, and obscene language on IFE. IMO, if you want to watch it, see it, etc, then bring your own device and see or listen to it where others don't have to listen. When I fly United I try real hard to turn off the IFE so I don't have to watch it, but it is irritating when someone has the volume loud enough that others can hear it. And especially if the IFE is on the seatback screens and someone in your aisle is watching something that offends you, simply ignoring it is not real easy to do.
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Mar 3, 2018, 6:54 pm
#59
Join Date: Jul 2013
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I am one of those people who are offended by seeing nudity, sexual situations, and obscene language on IFE. IMO, if you want to watch it, see it, etc, then bring your own device and see or listen to it where others don't have to listen. When I fly United I try real hard to turn off the IFE so I don't have to watch it, but it is irritating when someone has the volume loud enough that others can hear it. And especially if the IFE is on the seatback screens and someone in your aisle is watching something that offends you, simply ignoring it is not real easy to do.
Years ago, because of a strike by UA pilots we were forced to go on an alternate flight from what we were scheduled for. We ended up in IAD for an LAX flight and my kids were split up away from us. My 10 yr. old son got sat next to couple who pulled their copy of Penthouse Magazine out, showed him pictures and were talking about how they would do things. Thankfully the FA said something and moved my son to another seat away from them. It took a while to explain to him what they were laughing and talking about in between kisses. I resented having to put up with my kid seeing something I considered obscene.
As chermog just posted, pull the IFE out, keep channel 9 to hear the pilots talk, and let other people entertain themselves as they wish to.
Years ago, because of a strike by UA pilots we were forced to go on an alternate flight from what we were scheduled for. We ended up in IAD for an LAX flight and my kids were split up away from us. My 10 yr. old son got sat next to couple who pulled their copy of Penthouse Magazine out, showed him pictures and were talking about how they would do things. Thankfully the FA said something and moved my son to another seat away from them. It took a while to explain to him what they were laughing and talking about in between kisses. I resented having to put up with my kid seeing something I considered obscene.
As chermog just posted, pull the IFE out, keep channel 9 to hear the pilots talk, and let other people entertain themselves as they wish to.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 3, 2018 at 8:49 pm Reason: quote updated to reflect Moderator edit;removed repsonse to deleted material
Mar 3, 2018, 7:20 pm
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,971
I find the censorship not consistent at all. For example, I don't think VEEP is censored at all. I remember years ago, they would censor the word penis but not the F word in Suits.
It seems to me that video censorship should be more important than audio. Sometimes these things get pretty graphic (either sex or violence) or embarrassing. For example, I was a little uncomfortable when Wilfred was humping stuffed animals...
Then you wonder how come they don't just choose things are are less problematic on this front. On the other hand, different things offend different people and there will be someone who complains.
I do like the new warning they put at the beginning of the programs.
It seems to me that video censorship should be more important than audio. Sometimes these things get pretty graphic (either sex or violence) or embarrassing. For example, I was a little uncomfortable when Wilfred was humping stuffed animals...
Then you wonder how come they don't just choose things are are less problematic on this front. On the other hand, different things offend different people and there will be someone who complains.
I do like the new warning they put at the beginning of the programs.