5 ms·

It seems to me that in case such as this the ones who ban the book haven't really read it. Anyone who reads "Brave New World" and actually thinks about it will

It seems to me that in case such as this the ones who ban the book haven't really read it. Anyone who reads "Brave New World" and actually thinks about it will see its true message, and anyone who reads "Huck Finn" and actually thinks about it won't find its use of the word "nigger" objectionable. The problem is that it is easier to jump to a conclusion than it is to stop and think.

djacobs 16y ago
The problem is that it is easier to jump to a conclusion than it is to stop and think. Which is, in some ways, a theme in Brave New World.
TomOfTTB 16y ago
> The problem is that it is easier to jump to a conclusion than it is to stop and think. I think the problem is that our society gives in to stupid people if they scream loud enough. There always has been and always will be fools in the world. People who don't think, don't read and jump to anger as their first reaction. The difference here is the fool got her way because a school board full of people not wanting to cause trouble backed down rather than confront her.
- ascuttlefish 16y ago
  I think you've nailed it. Bill Maher asked the media '[C]ould you please stop pitting the ignorant vs. the educated and framing it as a "debate."' Acknowledging ignorant views and handling those who hold them with kids gloves is just another of many possible paths to Idiocracy.
  - rbanffy 16y ago
    Careful. One of the cornerstones of democracy is that the ignorant will chose who also governs the educated if they are numerous enough.
    - knieveltech 16y ago
      s/cornerstones of/major bugs in/ There. Fixed that for you.
      - rglullis 16y ago
        No. It is one of the cornerstones. Democracy is about being treated as equal according to the law . Anyone who thought that was a bug and tried to "fix it" ended up bringing authoritarianism, slavery and less liberty.
    - xorglorb 16y ago
      > The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter. - Winston Churchill Sadly true...
- mfukar 16y ago
  One could argue that it's the nature of democracy to equalize stupid people to smart people. Of course, there's a subtle distinction between treating all people the same, and giving in to 'fools', that is left as an exercise to the prospective citizen.
Anechoic 16y ago
> anyone who reads "Huck Finn" and actually thinks about it won't find its use of the word "nigger" objectionable. I've read Huck Finn (and Tom Sawyer) as required in high school. I am also black. As a product of it's day, I understand the context in which the language is being used but that didn't make it any less demeaning and frankly the only effect it had on me was to make me not want to read any more Mark Twain works. Requiring me to read these works and expecting me to appreciate its message is a lot like saying you should admire the boxing skills of the mugger who's beating you up. I am perfectly fine with allowing students to study these works on their own or to write reports on them, but I don't think students should be required to read them.
- absconditus 16y ago
  I find your comment as baffling as the article under discussion and for much the same reason.
  - Anechoic 16y ago
    That reason being...?
    - detst 16y ago
      I can't speak for absconditus but... It's my belief that no one has the right not to be offended and I would rather live in a society of people that are brought up to be exposed to realities of our history and culture that offend them. I say let kids think for themselves and sometimes be offended. Expose them to religious writings; it's part of who we are (no, I'm not religious). Let them read the writings of dictators to get inside the heads of men that did terrible things to better understand history. etc. What would we have to lose other than to have a society of people that better understand the world and the history that brought us here?
      - Anechoic 16y ago
        I say let kids think for themselves and sometimes be offended. I totally agree - let them think for themselves and let them read and research what they want. Forcing them to do so on the other hand helps no one. YMMV. Like I wrote, my exposure to Mark Twain just resulted in me not going anywhere near his other works. What would we have to lose other than to have a society of people that better understand the world and the history that brought us here? Life experience was a much better instructor to me than nigger Jim.

djacobs 16y ago

The problem is that it is easier to jump to a conclusion than it is to stop and think. Which is, in some ways, a theme in Brave New World.

TomOfTTB 16y ago

> The problem is that it is easier to jump to a conclusion than it is to stop and think. I think the problem is that our society gives in to stupid people if they scream loud enough. There always has been and always will be fools in the world. People who don't think, don't read and jump to anger as their first reaction. The difference here is the fool got her way because a school board full of people not wanting to cause trouble backed down rather than confront her.

ascuttlefish 16y ago
I think you've nailed it. Bill Maher asked the media '[C]ould you please stop pitting the ignorant vs. the educated and framing it as a "debate."' Acknowledging ignorant views and handling those who hold them with kids gloves is just another of many possible paths to Idiocracy.
- rbanffy 16y ago
  Careful. One of the cornerstones of democracy is that the ignorant will chose who also governs the educated if they are numerous enough.
  - knieveltech 16y ago
    s/cornerstones of/major bugs in/ There. Fixed that for you.
    - rglullis 16y ago
      No. It is one of the cornerstones. Democracy is about being treated as equal according to the law . Anyone who thought that was a bug and tried to "fix it" ended up bringing authoritarianism, slavery and less liberty.
  - xorglorb 16y ago
    > The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter. - Winston Churchill Sadly true...
mfukar 16y ago
One could argue that it's the nature of democracy to equalize stupid people to smart people. Of course, there's a subtle distinction between treating all people the same, and giving in to 'fools', that is left as an exercise to the prospective citizen.

Anechoic 16y ago

> anyone who reads "Huck Finn" and actually thinks about it won't find its use of the word "nigger" objectionable. I've read Huck Finn (and Tom Sawyer) as required in high school. I am also black. As a product of it's day, I understand the context in which the language is being used but that didn't make it any less demeaning and frankly the only effect it had on me was to make me not want to read any more Mark Twain works. Requiring me to read these works and expecting me to appreciate its message is a lot like saying you should admire the boxing skills of the mugger who's beating you up. I am perfectly fine with allowing students to study these works on their own or to write reports on them, but I don't think students should be required to read them.

absconditus 16y ago
I find your comment as baffling as the article under discussion and for much the same reason.
- Anechoic 16y ago
  That reason being...?
  - detst 16y ago
    I can't speak for absconditus but... It's my belief that no one has the right not to be offended and I would rather live in a society of people that are brought up to be exposed to realities of our history and culture that offend them. I say let kids think for themselves and sometimes be offended. Expose them to religious writings; it's part of who we are (no, I'm not religious). Let them read the writings of dictators to get inside the heads of men that did terrible things to better understand history. etc. What would we have to lose other than to have a society of people that better understand the world and the history that brought us here?
    - Anechoic 16y ago
      I say let kids think for themselves and sometimes be offended. I totally agree - let them think for themselves and let them read and research what they want. Forcing them to do so on the other hand helps no one. YMMV. Like I wrote, my exposure to Mark Twain just resulted in me not going anywhere near his other works. What would we have to lose other than to have a society of people that better understand the world and the history that brought us here? Life experience was a much better instructor to me than nigger Jim.