Should public libraries carry stuff like this?

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Forums › Politics › Should public libraries carry stuff like this?

neb

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#306367 16-Jul-2023 21:25

Found this library slip yesterday (not mine, obviously): Should public libraries be carrying stuff like this? I have no real opinion one way or the other so I'd be interested in hearing other people's thoughts. (For those who don't know what this is, it's far-right nutcase Alex Jones' "full analysis of The Great Reset, the global elite's international conspiracy to enslave humanity and all life on the planet").

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Geek @ Coastguard NZ
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#3104867 16-Jul-2023 21:34

Some people believe in aliens, some don't. No difference IMHO.

Each to their own.

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Loismustdye

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#3104869 16-Jul-2023 21:41

There is a meth problem countrywide so I guess there’s an audience for them.

personally I think it’s abhorrent and would prefer it not to be available but that’s not my call.

I assume that it was categorised correctly in the fiction section though :-)

Handle9

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#3104871 16-Jul-2023 21:44

Yes. You can get all sorts of propaganda in public libraries. When you start suppressing opinions instead of mocking them you run into trouble.

Bung

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#3104876 16-Jul-2023 22:21

The Global Elite put them in the libraries so they can track the borrowers :-)

rugrat

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#3104882 16-Jul-2023 23:23

Fahrenheit 451 looks like it’s been banned many times. In the USA looks like banned in school libraries in some states, but available in public libraries.

It’s a book about a society where books are banned 🤔

paulgr

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#3104904 17-Jul-2023 07:51

I see plenty of books in the library I don't like, but who am I to judge?
Why restrict printed works when there is basically no restriction
on social media or so called online 'news' sources?
People can find a lot worse on youTube.

Wombat1

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#3104906 17-Jul-2023 08:00

Who should get to decide what libraries do or don't stock?

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SirHumphreyAppleby

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#3104913 17-Jul-2023 08:13

neb: (For those who don't know what this is, it's far-right nutcase Alex Jones' "full analysis of The Great Reset, the global elite's international conspiracy to enslave humanity and all life on the planet").

Given the content on his Wikipedia page, I don't think I will be reading any of his books.

As a more general comment on the availability of this sort of text, given the propensity for some on the left to label those with opposing views, including those who present their views in an accurate and respectful ways, to be labelled nutcases, racists, bigots etc., I'd prefer the text be readily available so I can make my own judgement.

johno1234

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#3104916 17-Jul-2023 08:37

neb: Found this library slip yesterday (not mine, obviously): Should public libraries be carrying stuff like this? I have no real opinion one way or the other so I'd be interested in hearing other people's thoughts. (For those who don't know what this is, it's far-right nutcase Alex Jones' "full analysis of The Great Reset, the global elite's international conspiracy to enslave humanity and all life on the planet").

The other way of asking this question is: "Should someone behind a desk at Library HQ be deciding what you should not be reading?". To that I say "no". If someone want to read a pile of crap then that's up to them.

As long as this book is not inciting illegality then leave it be.

freitasm

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#3104930 17-Jul-2023 08:49

Wombat1:

Who should get to decide what libraries do or don't stock?

Exactly. Otherwise, we find ourselves in the same shit situation conservative America is now, with books being banned "for the children!" - including works that are in no way harmful but just go against their worldview.

Eva888

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#3104935 17-Jul-2023 09:29

The receipt shows a variety of history and political subjects so the person appears to have an enquiring mind.

Selectively banning books destroys critical thinking and produces sheep of one ilk.

cddt

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#3104947 17-Jul-2023 10:02

I used to work in a public library (mid-2000s) and FYI the staff in the branch don't have any say over what books are put on the shelves.

Although they can mark them as damaged or lost and permanently withdraw them from the system...

surfisup1000

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#3104956 17-Jul-2023 10:18

freitasm:

Wombat1:

Who should get to decide what libraries do or don't stock?

Exactly. Otherwise, we find ourselves in the same shit situation conservative America is now, with books being banned "for the children!" - including works that are in no way harmful but just go against their worldview.

The left are the current leaders of book banning. Academic views propagate outward from the universities (who are banning free speech), then it spreads to schools and libraries.

This is how Shakespeare got banned in some schools! I couldn't believe it when they went after Roald Dahl and rewrote some of his books. It's all very Orwellian.

The religious right are guilty too of course. In the US, the religo's are trying to shutdown the teaching of evolution and replace it with creationism.

Either way, we shouldn't ban books. Look at societies where information is heavily suppressed -- they are not safe places for ordinary people.

gehenna

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#3104957 17-Jul-2023 10:20

I don't mind as long as it's in the fiction section.

freitasm

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#3104963 17-Jul-2023 10:26

@surfisup1000:

The left are the current leaders of book banning. Academic views propagate outward from the universities (who are banning free speech), then it spreads to schools and libraries.

This is how Shakespeare got banned in some schools! I couldn't believe it when they went after Roald Dahl and rewrote some of his books. It's all very Orwellian.

The religious right are guilty too of course. In the US, the religo's are trying to shutdown the teaching of evolution and replace it with creationism.

Either way, we shouldn't ban books. Look at societies where information is heavily suppressed -- they are not safe places for ordinary people.

Citation needed. Rewriting Roald Dahl's books was the estate decision. They could just say no.

American conservative groups are banning titles that cover race, history, sexual orientation, and anything that contradicts their views on how things should be done. I give citations:

Why Book Ban Efforts Are Spreading Across the U.S. - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

2023 Banned Books Update: Banned in the USA (pen.org)

So please give substance to your claims about the left banning books.

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