Just because you can doesn't make it right. Sure, a Public Library probably can allow grown men to view hardcore porn in their building in front of other visitors, but is it right and in the Public's best interest and the best use of tax money? No, I don't think so, especially as watching porn goes hand in hand with some other activities - know what I mean? And then to subject young kids to this and try to justify it by saying that libraries aren't in the business of censorship??? Yet, they don't allow visitors to eat, sleep, be bare foot, have poor hygiene or speak loudly - among other 'rules'. But porn? Yeah, men can look at that for free, in front of the kids at the library no problemo - just don't do it in your own house in front of your kids or you'll be charged with child abuse. Not sure if they've actually thought this through, although it is another example of how our society is crumbling around our ears. Just wait until a child or a female is raped in the building because of someone getting a bit too aroused and then I'd like to see what they're going to do about it, or would that be classified as freedom of expression by the Library? Crazy, moraless world, people. Crazy.
The Seattle Public Library has a long list of rules of things you can't do in the library, to ensure "comfort and safety" of staff and patrons. You can't eat, sleep, look like you're sleeping, be barefoot, be too stinky or talk too loudly.
But you can watch graphic porn on a public computer in front of kids. Despite repeated complaints from female patrons about men watching porn in full view of their children, the library has held fast to its policy of unfettered online access for grown-ups.
The reason: It's not in the business of censorship.
The latest dust-up comes after a mother with her two kids saw a man watching "hard-core porn" at the Lake City library and complained. When the librarian refused to ask the man move to a less visible screen, Julie Howe wrote the library, the media and lawyers and got on KUOW.
"It was very shocking," said Howe, whose 10-year-old girl had seen the man's screen and cried that night. But, she acknowledged, "it's not an easy one to solve."
I've long since given up being shocked by the increasing perversity of modern Western culture, but some things still attract notice.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of them. Truly decadent and bizarre.