Thailand Bans Reality

On Monday the Associated Press reported that censors inside Thailand's National Council for Peace and Order, the twelfth military junta to lead Thailand in it's history, have decided to ban the Haemimont Games title Tropico 5.  It is believed that Tropico 5 received it's ban due to the ability of the player to rule a country like a iron-fisted dictator.  This is the belief because the NCFPAO did not provide any explanation for the move, and the Associated Press's request for a comment went unanswered.  Despite having no explanation of the move, this does fall in line with other restriction and bans put in place by the NCFPAO since their coup in 2012.  Recently the NCFPAO has moved to ban the following:

The Last King Of Scotland because of it's negative depiction of dictator Idi Amin.

Anna and the King because of how it portrays the monarchy.

The Hangover Part II because of it's depiction of Bangkok, as well as general suckitude.

Transformers: Age Of Extinction for it sucks.

Media that is not run by the state because of the possibility people will create reports that criticise the Thai monarchy, as well as the military junta.

Photogaphy because of it's ability to capture reality, which may be critical of the Thai monarchy and the Thai military junta.

Voice recorders because of it's ability to capture reality, which may be critical of the Thai monarchy and the Thai military junta.

And, finally, reality because reality may be critical of the Thai monarchy as the Thai military junta.

Here Are A Series Of Posed Photographs

There are certain assumptions that you can make when you see a photograph of someone.  Increasingly one of those assumptions you can make is that the photograph is not an accurate representation of reality.  Between photoshopping, airbrushing, and other artistic techniques, fiddling with photos, both before and after the photo is taken, has become as integral of a part of the photography process as film used to be.  One of these techniques of staging.

We've all seen photos where the entire family gathers around one or more older members of the family and flashes their biggest and brightest smiles while all looking in the same general direction.  Do any of us think that this happens naturally?  No!  Photos like this are entirely staged so that they look their best.  We all know this, but some people insist on reading more into these photos that that.  Perhaps it is the cynic in me, but I am not one of them.  Perhaps it is the cynic in me, but I always think photographs are staged in one way or another.

So why do I have such a big problem with this?  Yes these pictures are contrived, I knew that when I clicked on the story.  These series of pictures are entirely staged, the colour is entirely taken away, and even the clothing choices, or lack of clothing choices, are suspect.  So who do I have such a big problem with this?  I believe it is the setting.  To me, the bedroom is a place where I can escape to when I want to reach absolute solitude.  To me, the bedroom is not just a place where I can rest, it is a place where I can be alone, and for someone to invade that offends me.  I know not everyone feels this way, but this is an extension of how I approach the world.  If I feel that doing something is really messed up, it would be fucked up for me to do that same thing.  If I don't want someone to invade my personal private space, then I need to treat other people's personal private spaces the same way.  So, even though it is entirely staged and contrived, I don't feel right seeing pictures of celebrities in their bedrooms.

Also, who the fuck wears a leather jacket to bed?