Town Refuses to Ask Citizens If Library Porn Should Be Filtered Out - Please Help Us!

Plan2Succeed.org ^ | 22 Dec 2003 | Plan2Succeed.org

[plan2succeed.org]

Town Refuses to Ask Citizens If Library Porn Should Be Filtered Out; Plan2Succeed.org Seeking Pro Bono Counsel.

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Something is wrong when a small group of people called a Library Board of Trustees determines that a public library must continue to allow access to pornography despite admittedly being outside the library's mission, the Township Committee claims it is powerless to stop the Board, and the citizens have no say.

[prisoner6]

RE: Monica testimony in hard copy. Of srourse it was. But I was at the library when it became available and accessed it from there. WHat's wrong with that? The net is nothing if not conveient.

What I am wondering about is why on the website the article is posted is the word "pornography" written "p-rn-graphy". I did a cut n paste. But in this thread, including the original post, it's written "pornography". What's up with that? Is there something ....wrong...about the letter'O" when placed next to "p", "r", "n" or "g?"

prisoner6

[milan]

I have no idea about why pornography was written the way it was. I personally don't think there is anything wqrong with the word. I also don't think that if someone wants to look at porn it is wrong. To each his own, in his home, as long as it does not harm others. I can't tell people how to live, but I can influence public settings and what is acceptable in public settings. I won't always get my way and that is fine, but public access to material that is meant for private consumption is rediculous to me.

[prisoner6]

They don't go to the public library to do their legitimate research.

Well gosh, I guess I am the exception, LOL. At the moment I can't afford net access at home. If I'm not at work when a story breaks I often go to the library nearby and log on.

prisoner6

[leadpenny]

You already do have access to those things. Whether you access them or not (virtually or in reality) depends on what kind of personal discipline you have.

Do you want to define what my personal responsibility is?

[brooklin]

You are talking about censorship. The adult supervision thing is the right way to go.

[milan]

Good job avoiding the question.

[prisoner6]

Oh we agree somewhat, but what about the graphic abortion pictures? Personally I don't think they are suitable for viewing by children. But I see them in public places, outside abortion clinics, lots of times.

prisoner6...who sadly has to leave work now and go to his internet-less home...until I get to the library...sigh.

Hey, I just remembered something....wasn't there a thread awhile back...could be a few years, I've been around here for some time...where a library, or school or several blocked FR because we are a "hate group"

prisoner6

[humblegunner]

You could be in the library when you are attacked by someone who had been viewing porn.

That is the most idiotic thing I have read in quite a while.
Thanks for the laugh!

[NMFXSTC]

Alice in Wonderland...pretend LSD trip (actually, I believe it was ether or nitrous oxide, but...) Talk about bad influence on kids...a rabbit with a watch, playing cards talking backwards, and a damn insect smoking pot?

Whoooaaaa...citizens...filter out this carnage...the evil reefrer is poisoning your childrens' minds...at the library!!

[milan]

Do you want to define what my personal responsibility is?

To put others before yourself. As I have stated, I have no problems with what people do as long as they do not harm others. There is a thing called discretion however. We are talking about our children. Sure, they all talk and plenty of them know what sex is. You should not provide them with a highway of smut to distort their views about what sex really is. It is not some distant cold means of gratifying oneself (if you think it is, I would find it hard to belive that you would ever have a fullfilling mutual relationship with anyone of the opposite sex). That is precisely what porn portrays. We don't need to guarantee access to that in a public setting.

[leadpenny]

I did answer the question. You DO have access.

What you imply is that you favor censorship before the fact, pure and simple.

[milan]

That is a hoax about Alice portrayed by a rock band. Not reality.

[milan]

Yes, I favor intelligent censorship. If we don't, then gays will start plugging each other in the library. Who can tell them no. That would be censorship.

[Always Right]

I'm in Prince William and Fairfax County libraries all the time. Internet stations are everywhere. I glance at what is going on, especially what young people have on their screens. Never seen a problem.

Whoa, that's a pretty impressive sample. Tough to argue with that thorough study. Have you spent the time to see what web sites you library recommends to kids? It is usually quite interesting the health websites libraries recommend...

[leadpenny]

It is not some distant cold means of gratifying oneself . . .

Like I said, something else going on here.

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Let's go back. Who decides who is going to sit on the Prince William County Library Filter Committee that my taxes would be paying for? Elected office? Appointed by a County Supervisor? . . . or the Library Board?

[Rifleman]

Automated filters just do not work very well. If you filter on urls, each one must be reviewed by a human so you depend on his judgement and such lists are always out dated as smut sites change rapidly. If you filter on keywords, images slip right by. Both false negatives and false positives are common and make the filters of limited (not zero) use. The appropriate way to protect children is to have adults, their parents, supervise them.

Also, are you going to filter sites like one of my favorites which promotes and educates about classical art. Lots of nekked people, including UNDER AGED GIRLS depicted there. So are Zorn and Bouguereau and Alma-Tadema going to be verboten? Pretty erotic stuff there.

[Always Right]

First, is there some written law about pornography that specifies an age limit for access to porn..like there is for a driver's license, alcohol or tobacco purchase?

Yes, 18 in most states. If you really want to take the libertarian position, why the hell are our tax dollars being used for a library in the first place...

[leadpenny]

I never said I was doing a study. And, I don't need the library recommending anything to me.

[Always Right]

"Filtering is not the end-all to this problem," Most said. "You can't eliminate it (pornography). It's something that's been there forever."

There's an intelligent thought. We can't stop murders and robberies or rapes either. I guess we should just give up trying to stop those too.....where will the stupidity end?????

[Always Right]

I never said I was doing a study. And, I don't need the library recommending anything to me.

OK, so you have no idea...