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Many if not most universities are publicly funded quasi governmental institutions.

JadeNB 5y ago
> Many if not most universities are publicly funded quasi governmental institutions. That sounds very much like someone whose only experience is with large public universities. I don't really know what "quasi-governmental" means, but any reasonable meaning I can assign it is far beyond my small university--and there are way more small universities than big ones.
ummonk 5y ago
Yes, and? Are you arguing taxpayers should be forced to fund the dissemination of extreme views?
- pmorici 5y ago
  You said it is different than a government banning books but universities/colleges being publicly funded are effectively the government. I fail to see the difference. Libraries in general to the extent they are publicly funded should be neutral and not pick what materials they put in their collection based on political considerations, or subjective opinions of what material is too extreme.
  - ummonk 5y ago
    Banning a book entails prohibiting private citizens / businesses from distributing it. Just because a government isn't funding the distribution of certain material doesn't mean it's banning that material.
    - pmorici 5y ago
      Letting the library keep a single copy is hardly funding distribution. Historically books were expensive so unless you were wealthy the only place you would have access to books is the library. Saying you think it’s ok to ban a book from the library so long as it isn’t totally banned is basically arguing to keep ideas that are too dangerous away from the unwashed masses.
      - ummonk 5y ago
        It’s not even banned from the library though - libraries provide internet access via which you can read the book if the author chose to make it available to the public in the internet.
- MomoXenosaga 5y ago
  Yesterday's extreme view is today's mainstream. Historically universities have been the birthplace of various revolutionary movements. It is arguably one of their roles in society.

> Many if not most universities are publicly funded quasi governmental institutions. That sounds very much like someone whose only experience is with large public universities. I don't really know what "quasi-governmental" means, but any reasonable meaning I can assign it is far beyond my small university--and there are way more small universities than big ones.

ummonk 5y ago

Yes, and? Are you arguing taxpayers should be forced to fund the dissemination of extreme views?

pmorici 5y ago
You said it is different than a government banning books but universities/colleges being publicly funded are effectively the government. I fail to see the difference. Libraries in general to the extent they are publicly funded should be neutral and not pick what materials they put in their collection based on political considerations, or subjective opinions of what material is too extreme.
- ummonk 5y ago
  Banning a book entails prohibiting private citizens / businesses from distributing it. Just because a government isn't funding the distribution of certain material doesn't mean it's banning that material.
  - pmorici 5y ago
    Letting the library keep a single copy is hardly funding distribution. Historically books were expensive so unless you were wealthy the only place you would have access to books is the library. Saying you think it’s ok to ban a book from the library so long as it isn’t totally banned is basically arguing to keep ideas that are too dangerous away from the unwashed masses.
    - ummonk 5y ago
      It’s not even banned from the library though - libraries provide internet access via which you can read the book if the author chose to make it available to the public in the internet.
MomoXenosaga 5y ago
Yesterday's extreme view is today's mainstream. Historically universities have been the birthplace of various revolutionary movements. It is arguably one of their roles in society.