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"I promise you the world won't end." For the teacher and the school administrator, it could. We don't live in the world you're writing about. The smart phone

by mturmon 12y ago

"I promise you the world won't end." For the teacher and the school administrator, it could. We don't live in the world you're writing about. The smart phone comparison is not the same, because the kid's parents control whether there is a phone and its settings. The public library comparison is interesting. Not the same (because their missions are different), but interesting.

forrestthewoods 12y ago
No, their world would not end. Even in the worst case scenario of getting fired their world wouldn't end. There's no need to be melodramatic. Even in the face of public anger the school district could choose not to fire the targets of public ire. That would of course require having a backbone and principles, but it's totally a thing that could happen. Kids look at porn at smart phones. I'm not even sorry if this bothers you. It's a thing. You can't stop it. Stop trying.
- mturmon 12y ago
  "I'm not even sorry if this bothers you. It's a thing. You can't stop it. Stop trying." I think I see. My aims have been unclear. I'm pointing out a political reality that I feel is controlling outcomes here. I'm not staking out a personal position, because in the context of a school administration embedded in a city government with oversight by the voters, my personal position means little. To be honest, and this is where we diverge, I'm not interested in staking an opinion on this one. The school can do whatever it wants. Let it be open, or restrict it -- whichever works. The library case is different; there are obvious free expression interests at play there -- including patrons who rely on the library for all internet access. (Would it further irritate you to mention I've been an ACLU member since the early 1990s?) As I mentioned, the smart phone comparison is not apropos, because parents would supply the smart phone, and what their kids do on the phone is up to their family to decide.

by mturmon 12y ago

forrestthewoods 12y ago

No, their world would not end. Even in the worst case scenario of getting fired their world wouldn't end. There's no need to be melodramatic. Even in the face of public anger the school district could choose not to fire the targets of public ire. That would of course require having a backbone and principles, but it's totally a thing that could happen. Kids look at porn at smart phones. I'm not even sorry if this bothers you. It's a thing. You can't stop it. Stop trying.

mturmon 12y ago
"I'm not even sorry if this bothers you. It's a thing. You can't stop it. Stop trying." I think I see. My aims have been unclear. I'm pointing out a political reality that I feel is controlling outcomes here. I'm not staking out a personal position, because in the context of a school administration embedded in a city government with oversight by the voters, my personal position means little. To be honest, and this is where we diverge, I'm not interested in staking an opinion on this one. The school can do whatever it wants. Let it be open, or restrict it -- whichever works. The library case is different; there are obvious free expression interests at play there -- including patrons who rely on the library for all internet access. (Would it further irritate you to mention I've been an ACLU member since the early 1990s?) As I mentioned, the smart phone comparison is not apropos, because parents would supply the smart phone, and what their kids do on the phone is up to their family to decide.