Censorship and Metaphors

Art sounds like it's in pretty bad shape in the republic.

I'm torn because, as an artist, I'm a little disturbed by what Plato/Socrates is suggesting the people of the republic do to keep their morals intact: censorship. Censorship is never a healthy option - never. It's a tool of fear and ignorance, even if in the name of moral purity.

But then, the republic isn't really a plan for a republic; it's a metaphor, an illustration of one soul. Strictly speaking, I don't think Socrates/Plato is advocating the legal restriction of art and storytelling. Still, is 'censorship' good even for an individual person?

How do you know what you believe if you never read or listen to or expose yourself to anything different to what you've been taught? Are your morals really real - are you following them for the right reasons - if they're all you know?

Standards in entertainment are one thing, but can you really claim that it's moral to block out anything that doesn't jive with your personal worldview? Is it moral or is it just ignorant?

PS: I commented on Syndi Holm's post.