4 ms·

That list of banned books in Michigan is really interesting. Just from the first few pages - A+ Certification Exam Guide - May facilitate or encourage criminal

by wan23 9y ago

That list of banned books in Michigan is really interesting. Just from the first few pages - A+ Certification Exam Guide - May facilitate or encourage criminal activity Advanced Dungeons & Dragons - Threat to the order and security of the institution; role play Against the Wind - Threat to the order/security of institution (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206757.Against_the_Wind https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206757.Against_the_Wind) Art of Seduction (The) - Threat to order/security institution Bookkeeping for Dummies - This book may facilitate crimial activity because the book includes tax forms which may be used to facilitate the filing of false or fraudulent tax documents.

b4ux1t3 9y ago
I. . .What on earth? Why not ban chemistry textbooks? Learning about rapid oxidation reactions could be a threat to the order and security of the institution.
- tomjakubowski 9y ago
  Michigan does ban an organic chemistry textbook—Fox & Whitesell—for just that reason.
  - b4ux1t3 9y ago
    I. . .I am really glad I don't live in Michigan, I guess. Are there any other interesting ones? I can't seem to find the list. EDIT: Oh, never mind, I didn't realize they actually linked it in the article. Whoops.
    - deleted 9y ago
      [deleted]
    - ringaroundthetx 9y ago
      > I. . .I am really glad I don't live in Michigan, I guess. Why? If you lived there you would have some capability of changing it. You aren't an inmate.
      - kbenson 9y ago
        > You aren't an inmate. Presumably. Some states allow internet use, do they not?
        b4ux1t3 9y ago
        Oh, that's nice. Tell me, what content is appropriate for a person who was arrested for dealing a few ounces of weed? Motherfucker might find a chemical reaction that blows up! Fuck acetic acid! Fuck sodium bicarbonate!
        dang 9y ago
        Would you please stop posting unsubstantive comments to HN? We're hoping for a higher quality of discussion here. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newswelcome.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newswelcome.html
        Blackthorn 9y ago
        I wish mine did. I've found it very difficult to teach inmates who don't have access to it, and in my opinion it has become an essential part of life.
      - b4ux1t3 9y ago
        Because it would seem that if, for whatever reason, I was mistakenly accused and convicted of something, I would basically have no way of continuing my life. Also, I refuse to support a local (bleh, state, whatever) government with taxes just so they can ignore my vote. I'd rather live in a state where my vote goes to someone who supports my gripes. And yes, I recognize that that sucks, and that if more people moved to places where they could change things with their vote, things would actually get changed. But I'm one person, and me moving wouldn't solve anything.
        ringaroundthetx 9y ago
        I think your concern is misplaced. Just because you like coding and reading that an overcrowded ghetto California prison is going to be so much better than Michigan's in case you get mistakenly accused and convicted of something? I'm 100% sure that wherever you currently live would comically and ironically undermine whatever you just said here in one way or another. Basically you could find something to gripe about and something to ignore, and any of us could find out how your gripes aren't being supported.
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
oxguy3 9y ago
The Michigan list is nuts. "Google Power, by Chris Sherman" is probably the dumbest one I've found so far -- it's just a book about how to use Google better. "So how did the inmate break out of his cell?" "He googled 'let me out'." "Shoot, if only we had banned that book!" Also "ESPN - NBA Draft Preview" was banned with the reason: "The magazine includes an article which describes acts of bondage and sadism inflicted on individuals.". wat.
totalZero 9y ago
What's interesting is that The Art of Seduction is written by the author of The 48 Laws of Power, which is hugely popular among inmates. However, the Art of Seduction is almost entirely about romantic influence, and most of its lessons are about manipulating the emotions of one single target individual....so in my opinion it's hard to see how The Art of Seduction should be off-limits to prisoners.
- closeparen 9y ago
  Escapes have traditionally featured a charismatic prisoner who seduced a member of the prison staff into doing something at least marginally helpful (i.e. "accidentally" leaving an internal door unlocked). Prisons don't want prisoners any more capable of social-engineering staff than they already are.
dTal 9y ago
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons - Arms and Equipment Guide, Rules Supplement - Weapons/security threat They also seem to dislike Magic: The Gathering. And Tai Chi. They've even got books in there banned because they "depict sexual acts". Not violent sexual acts, or acts with a minor. Just "sexual acts". Can't exercise, can't play cards, can't even masturbate - just what are you allowed to do in prison?
- tscs37 9y ago
  They're only allowed continued existence in prison. /s

by wan23 9y ago

b4ux1t3 9y ago

I. . .What on earth? Why not ban chemistry textbooks? Learning about rapid oxidation reactions could be a threat to the order and security of the institution.

tomjakubowski 9y ago
Michigan does ban an organic chemistry textbook—Fox & Whitesell—for just that reason.
- b4ux1t3 9y ago
  I. . .I am really glad I don't live in Michigan, I guess. Are there any other interesting ones? I can't seem to find the list. EDIT: Oh, never mind, I didn't realize they actually linked it in the article. Whoops.
  - deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]
  - ringaroundthetx 9y ago
    > I. . .I am really glad I don't live in Michigan, I guess. Why? If you lived there you would have some capability of changing it. You aren't an inmate.
    - kbenson 9y ago
      > You aren't an inmate. Presumably. Some states allow internet use, do they not?
      - b4ux1t3 9y ago
        Oh, that's nice. Tell me, what content is appropriate for a person who was arrested for dealing a few ounces of weed? Motherfucker might find a chemical reaction that blows up! Fuck acetic acid! Fuck sodium bicarbonate!
        dang 9y ago
        Would you please stop posting unsubstantive comments to HN? We're hoping for a higher quality of discussion here. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newswelcome.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newswelcome.html
      - Blackthorn 9y ago
        I wish mine did. I've found it very difficult to teach inmates who don't have access to it, and in my opinion it has become an essential part of life.
    - b4ux1t3 9y ago
      Because it would seem that if, for whatever reason, I was mistakenly accused and convicted of something, I would basically have no way of continuing my life. Also, I refuse to support a local (bleh, state, whatever) government with taxes just so they can ignore my vote. I'd rather live in a state where my vote goes to someone who supports my gripes. And yes, I recognize that that sucks, and that if more people moved to places where they could change things with their vote, things would actually get changed. But I'm one person, and me moving wouldn't solve anything.
      - ringaroundthetx 9y ago
        I think your concern is misplaced. Just because you like coding and reading that an overcrowded ghetto California prison is going to be so much better than Michigan's in case you get mistakenly accused and convicted of something? I'm 100% sure that wherever you currently live would comically and ironically undermine whatever you just said here in one way or another. Basically you could find something to gripe about and something to ignore, and any of us could find out how your gripes aren't being supported.

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

oxguy3 9y ago

The Michigan list is nuts. "Google Power, by Chris Sherman" is probably the dumbest one I've found so far -- it's just a book about how to use Google better. "So how did the inmate break out of his cell?" "He googled 'let me out'." "Shoot, if only we had banned that book!" Also "ESPN - NBA Draft Preview" was banned with the reason: "The magazine includes an article which describes acts of bondage and sadism inflicted on individuals.". wat.

totalZero 9y ago

What's interesting is that The Art of Seduction is written by the author of The 48 Laws of Power, which is hugely popular among inmates. However, the Art of Seduction is almost entirely about romantic influence, and most of its lessons are about manipulating the emotions of one single target individual....so in my opinion it's hard to see how The Art of Seduction should be off-limits to prisoners.

closeparen 9y ago
Escapes have traditionally featured a charismatic prisoner who seduced a member of the prison staff into doing something at least marginally helpful (i.e. "accidentally" leaving an internal door unlocked). Prisons don't want prisoners any more capable of social-engineering staff than they already are.

dTal 9y ago

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons - Arms and Equipment Guide, Rules Supplement - Weapons/security threat They also seem to dislike Magic: The Gathering. And Tai Chi. They've even got books in there banned because they "depict sexual acts". Not violent sexual acts, or acts with a minor. Just "sexual acts". Can't exercise, can't play cards, can't even masturbate - just what are you allowed to do in prison?

tscs37 9y ago
They're only allowed continued existence in prison. /s