A prudish patron annoys Miss Information
The woman was outraged! Someone should be thinking of the children! The library was distributing filth to the young 'uns in the form of a free newspaper and the woman wanted Miss Information to do something about it. Miss Information timidly asked the woman to describe her concerns.The woman pointed at the contents page. That article right there! Nothing but depravity! Horrifying! Bad for the children!
Miss Information sighed. The article the woman was worried about was called "What's Happening with the New Pornographers". She carefully explained that the New Pornographers were a critically acclaimed band. The article wasn't depraved at all. In fact, the newspaper was a local music publication and not objectionable at all. Miss Information wanted to point out that the free newspaper shelved right next to this one contains advertising from actual prostitutes displaying their attributes in full colour photos but she was afraid that the woman's head would explode if she so much as glanced at that one.
Miss Information also neglected to mention that in a couple of weeks the library is hosting a Fucked Up concert. Ok. That didn't sound right, but you know what she means. Speaking of the Fucked Up concert, it troubles Miss Information that the library chooses to promote it as the F**ked Up concert. For a place that promotes freedom of expression, this just seems terribly wimpy. Also, why is it less objectionable to leave the "uc" out? Surely most people just put the "uc" back themselves. Obviously the name of the band is not "forked up". Why do the stars make it ok?
6 Comments:
Miss Information, you just made my day!
I suppose the *'s are also for the children's sake as much as the adults who find it offensive. Some parents take alot of care to keep their children's lives free of "adult content" including foul language. Whether you agree with such parenting or not does't seem important. In the end, it would be a shame if people stopped bringing their kids to the library because they felt they could't trust the atmosphere. Freedom of speech only goes so far. Would the library sponsor a band called "We hate fags?" I sure hope not. Or, I should hope they asterisk it out, too. Anywho, what a silly lady! It sounds like you handled the situation well.
So, Chelle, exactly how far DOES freedom of speech go? Only as far as you say? Or I say? Here's where it gets tricky.
Miss Honeychurch - I guess what I was thinking is that people have a right to not be molested. And words can be just as provoking as actions. To me, a library is a mini democracy. It should refelct the values and desires of its community. If the community says "this bothers us, take it down" (or the reverse, "we like it, put it back up")then as a true refelction of a democratic society, a library should comply. A band has the right to choose whatever name they want. That doesn't mean the community HAS to support it via tax dollars and give them a public forum if this community has collectively said "no thanks." These are my opinions. I know many disagree.
I really, really like reading your blog, and this post made me laugh so hard. But I'm afraid you might have given away your workplace, since not many libraries are hosting that band.
You might want to delete this post, because sometimes bosses don't like it when employees make fun of the workplace.
I believe that music -- even Fucked Up -- has its place in a library. C*nsorship doesn't.
Speaking of music in libraries, have you seen this from the University of Washington Library School?
http://www.boingboing.net/2010/05/29/librarians-do-gaga.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
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