3 ms·

Is there much overlap when discussing a book in the middle school library that talks about dreaming of sexual assault? That seems to be the issue at hand here.

Is there much overlap when discussing a book in the middle school library that talks about dreaming of sexual assault? That seems to be the issue at hand here. What about if those libraries had movies and they allowed rated R movies in middle schools? Would that be acceptable...or would it be censorship?

etchalon 5y ago
It's a public institution. "Censorship" isn't likely the right word, but broad, public access to culture is exactly why libraries exist. The entire "Rating" system for movies is absurd, inconsistent, and deeply flawed as it is.
- j_walter 5y ago
  Sure and it's still at the public library. This isn't a public library where parents take their kids and approve of the books they are getting. This is a middle school library where books are curated to the audience of middle schoolers. Same reason there isn't porn mags at middle school libraries... Do you feel super violent video games should be accessible by young kids as well?
- etchalon 5y ago
  Yes. I believe violent video games should be available to children, with their acquisition dependent on parental consent. Which is literally how it works. If some parents don't want their children reading certain books, those parents can limit their access. At my middle school, due to religious parents, your library card could be flagged such that the librarian wouldn't let you check out books on specific topics. Behold. The books were available to all, but could not be acquired by all.
  - j_walter 5y ago
    That's the point here...this book is available to middle schoolers without parental consent. And video games are available to children if their parents purchase them...the same as kids seeing rated R movies if accompanied by an adult. People aren't outraged by violent video games or the newest rated R movie because society has setup a consent system...that's not the case in most school libraries so the parents have no oversight.
    - etchalon 5y ago
      The solution isn't to lobby or approve of the book's removal. It's to lobby and approve of parental consent measures.

etchalon 5y ago

It's a public institution. "Censorship" isn't likely the right word, but broad, public access to culture is exactly why libraries exist. The entire "Rating" system for movies is absurd, inconsistent, and deeply flawed as it is.

j_walter 5y ago
Sure and it's still at the public library. This isn't a public library where parents take their kids and approve of the books they are getting. This is a middle school library where books are curated to the audience of middle schoolers. Same reason there isn't porn mags at middle school libraries... Do you feel super violent video games should be accessible by young kids as well?
etchalon 5y ago
Yes. I believe violent video games should be available to children, with their acquisition dependent on parental consent. Which is literally how it works. If some parents don't want their children reading certain books, those parents can limit their access. At my middle school, due to religious parents, your library card could be flagged such that the librarian wouldn't let you check out books on specific topics. Behold. The books were available to all, but could not be acquired by all.
- j_walter 5y ago
  That's the point here...this book is available to middle schoolers without parental consent. And video games are available to children if their parents purchase them...the same as kids seeing rated R movies if accompanied by an adult. People aren't outraged by violent video games or the newest rated R movie because society has setup a consent system...that's not the case in most school libraries so the parents have no oversight.
  - etchalon 5y ago
    The solution isn't to lobby or approve of the book's removal. It's to lobby and approve of parental consent measures.