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Originally Posted by richlevy
Putting aside all of these issues and just focusing on the reader/viewer/listener, is there any kind of information which is so damaging that it should ethically be banned from being shown to a competent adult?
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No. In fact, I would say
any adult has the right to
all information within the framework of the exceptions you noted above. I have a problem with the word "competent" because that means someone else may get to determine my "competency." The individual should decide on their own if they are competent or not. I remember being 8 years old and a very advanced reader for my age. The school librarian didn't want to let me check out certain books because she claimed I couldn't possibly understand them. I had to read aloud to her from one of the books to prove that I could read at that level.
Freedom of information is the backbone of a democracy, IMO. An informed people can make better decisions. Lately, too many Americans have been making decisions on the basis of misinformation and outright lies.
Information is power. I loved being a librarian because I felt that I was helping to empower people. When someone came up and asked me how to find information on some topic, not only would I find it for them, I'd show them how to use the resources for themselves next time around. We kept a complete collection of all the State and Federal Statutes in the reference area, and explained to people the basics on how to use them.
Secrecy is the tool of people who want to take your power away and empower themselves over you. Period.