Here's a question about Porn In public libraries

Quicksilver · #1 11-30-2006, 07:05 PM

Is it right for a Public Library to carry an allow people to watch porn on the computer For all to see in the open.

This is an ongoing ABC7 i Team news report which I will post as soon as it is avaliable. But apparently this is going on in public library's with people openly masturbating in view of other people including children. Is it against the law? Apparently not because watching porn amounts to free speech. Now go figure. Ask a library for a copy of hustler Magazine and they will tell you "oh thats not allowed". But it's ok to allow people to openly watch PORN on the computer in plain view of others who do not wish to see it including children? Somehow there is something wrong with this picture.

Is this another product of the baby boomer generation that grew up saying there's nothing wrong with anything.

Why not a Pee Wee Herman memorial room? Just imagine what would happen in there. Good lord people have gone mad.

blondboinsd · #2 11-30-2006, 07:27 PM

LOL funny I got yelled at once for looking on what they considered a "hookup site" so thats odd to me

Wagner · #3 11-30-2006, 07:34 PM

Watching porn may fall under free speech however masturbating falls under sexual harassment so I think it is busted there.

B-Line · #4 11-30-2006, 10:09 PM

Legal, illegal, who cares? It's in bad taste.

So, if the free speech arguement wins, I guess the only thing to do is have an adult section of the library which could be sectioned away from the eyes of children.

B

asawadude · #5 11-30-2006, 10:53 PM

I'm familiar with some of these issues - my mother was a librarian for the LA City Public Library for 30 years. I worked at the local public library in high school and at the Powell Library at UCLA while in college.

This issue has been stewing for quite a while since the Children's Internet Protection Act was passed in Dec 2000. The core issue date back to age-old arguments as to what should be archived in libaries much akin to the debate in the 30's, 40's and 50's regarding such novels as Lady Chatterly's Lover and Lolita. The librarians feel that they are preserving our right to freedom from censorship along these same lines, yet they obviously cannot understand that most of the porn sites are nothing more than an exploitation of the mind.

If I had young children, I would ban them from the library if they continue to condone the viewing of porn on their networked computers. Porn is not knowledge. It's another slippery slope that we're sliding down.

fln8tive · #6 12-01-2006, 01:00 AM

I vote "no". They don't have wine piped through the water fountains in city parks, eh?

crosvs · #7 12-01-2006, 02:00 AM

Quote:

I worked at the local public library in high school and at the Powell Library at UCLA while in college.

You went to UCLA too?! Class of what?! How I miss Club Powell lol ........ now it's where all the Persian girls go to find their future husbands lol hahaha ...

i still go study there once in a while if i happen to be in town for the weekend

nupe10123 · #8 12-01-2006, 02:36 PM

I think the right thing to do is have an adult section of the library. Like it or not we do have free speech etc. which includes porn. I wouldn't want my children to be able to view it, but I'm not sure how to draw a line between what should/not be in a library.

I would also put some of the photography and art books many of which have nudes in the adult section of the library, with Lady Chatterly type of material as well.

blondboinsd · #9 12-01-2006, 02:52 PM

I guess I'm the only one who thinks whether or not its legal, it is still in poor taste, why would someone go and do that is beyond me, its simply pathetic, I'm sorry free speech or not, if you want to go whack off to porn, gay or straight do it at home instead of subjecting us all to your lack of morals

JonK · #10 12-01-2006, 07:06 PM

Not on my tax dollars.
Not on my watch when kids are around.