4 ms·

> From the USA, we get news of banned book in some states. When I read that, my head goes back to my european history, and I reach the Godwin point very quickly

by dx034 4y ago

> From the USA, we get news of banned book in some states. When I read that, my head goes back to my european history, and I reach the Godwin point very quickly. Books are not banned, just not used in the classroom anymore. While the reasons for it may be wrong, it's something that happens constantly all over the world. No one prevents children or adults to read those books at home. Banning books could mean that owning them is illegal and that just hasn't happened.

ramblenode 4y ago
> Banning books could mean that owning them is illegal and that just hasn't happened. Just within the last century it was illegal to send a copy of Ulyesses or The Canturbury Tales through US mail.
- simonh 4y ago
  In context I think it’s clear the comment was talking specifically about the books banned from classroom teaching in certain US states.
sandworm101 4y ago
Books are just information. Information gets banned all the time. Old-timers will remember this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Speech_Flag https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Speech_Flag
acdha 4y ago
Banning their use in classrooms is lesser but still a step on that path, and the same Republicans trying to do that are not going to stop at schools after they win but will rather see that as an invigorating first step in a long campaign. For example, book sellers in Virginia are currently fighting a lawsuit against an attempt which would ban private sales: https://www.virginiamercury.com/2022/07/06/free-speech-groups-book-world-fight-back-in-virginia-obscenity-case/ https://www.virginiamercury.com/2022/07/06/free-speech-group...
- axblount 4y ago
  - sdlfakjslkdjfs 4y ago
    OK then you agree that Amazon taking down Irreversible Damage was wrong, and that it should also be in every school library, or it's obviously a sign that the Left is going to ban books everywhere? Removing something from a curriculum is not the same as banning it. There are many more books that are not in school libraries than there are books that are in them.
    - howinteresting 4y ago
  - merlincorey 4y ago
    As a bit of an Anarcho-Libertarian who is often in the middle of these conversations from either side, I would imagine part of the problem is your framing of this issue as if it is only coming from one direction, when there is plenty of evidence that both sides are into things like banning books[0] it's just a question of which books they want banned. [0] When It Comes to Banning Books, Both Right and Left Are Guilty | Opinion: https://www.newsweek.com/when-it-comes-banning-books-both-right-left-are-guilty-opinion-1696045 https://www.newsweek.com/when-it-comes-banning-books-both-ri...
    - Bloating 4y ago
      Hypocrisy makes good news
    - acdha 4y ago
      The both sides framing is a common tactic used to make this seem even but there’s a pretty notable difference if you look at the details. For example, Newsweek’s right-wing owners love this framing but the left example is a single school district removing a book from the curriculum whereas the right wing examples are far more widespread and include books being removed from libraries. The motives are also different: banning books which depict racism positively (highly debatable in this example) is different from banning them because they reflect existence of gay people in a positive manner.

by dx034 4y ago

ramblenode 4y ago

> Banning books could mean that owning them is illegal and that just hasn't happened. Just within the last century it was illegal to send a copy of Ulyesses or The Canturbury Tales through US mail.

simonh 4y ago
In context I think it’s clear the comment was talking specifically about the books banned from classroom teaching in certain US states.

sandworm101 4y ago

Books are just information. Information gets banned all the time. Old-timers will remember this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Speech_Flag https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Speech_Flag

acdha 4y ago

Banning their use in classrooms is lesser but still a step on that path, and the same Republicans trying to do that are not going to stop at schools after they win but will rather see that as an invigorating first step in a long campaign. For example, book sellers in Virginia are currently fighting a lawsuit against an attempt which would ban private sales: https://www.virginiamercury.com/2022/07/06/free-speech-groups-book-world-fight-back-in-virginia-obscenity-case/ https://www.virginiamercury.com/2022/07/06/free-speech-group...

axblount 4y ago
- sdlfakjslkdjfs 4y ago
  OK then you agree that Amazon taking down Irreversible Damage was wrong, and that it should also be in every school library, or it's obviously a sign that the Left is going to ban books everywhere? Removing something from a curriculum is not the same as banning it. There are many more books that are not in school libraries than there are books that are in them.
  - howinteresting 4y ago
- merlincorey 4y ago
  As a bit of an Anarcho-Libertarian who is often in the middle of these conversations from either side, I would imagine part of the problem is your framing of this issue as if it is only coming from one direction, when there is plenty of evidence that both sides are into things like banning books[0] it's just a question of which books they want banned. [0] When It Comes to Banning Books, Both Right and Left Are Guilty | Opinion: https://www.newsweek.com/when-it-comes-banning-books-both-right-left-are-guilty-opinion-1696045 https://www.newsweek.com/when-it-comes-banning-books-both-ri...
  - Bloating 4y ago
    Hypocrisy makes good news
  - acdha 4y ago
    The both sides framing is a common tactic used to make this seem even but there’s a pretty notable difference if you look at the details. For example, Newsweek’s right-wing owners love this framing but the left example is a single school district removing a book from the curriculum whereas the right wing examples are far more widespread and include books being removed from libraries. The motives are also different: banning books which depict racism positively (highly debatable in this example) is different from banning them because they reflect existence of gay people in a positive manner.