The title of the article is "Mother Challenges Viewing of Porn at Library".
A mom took her two young girls to the public library and when one of her girls went by the DVD section, there was guy watching porn right next to the DVD section, and unfortunately her daughter saw what was on the guy's screen.
The mom asked the guy to move and he would not until he was done watching porn.
When the mom confronted the management of the library, they responded by saying that they are not in the censorship business.
I get that.
The freedom of speech and the individual's freedom to access whatever information they want is a right protected by our constitution.
But what about the right of a parent to take their children to the public library to have family time together without worrying about exposing their children to porn?
What about the right of parents to protect their children?
Going to the library is still a treat for my kids and family. We still do that every other week.
The question is do we as a society have to choose between personal freedom or common decency?
Why can't we have both? Why can't we protect personal freedom and common decency?
Anytime we find ourselves in a either or situation (either freedom or common decency) you're going to have some ridiculous policies.
If the guy's right to view porn on our tax dollars is more important than a parent's right to protect their elementary school age children from viewing such things, I suggest that they make booths and label them as adult computer sections. You don't even have to label them porn computers as to protect the guy's dignity to watch porn at a public library.
Just put some computers in a section that's only for adults, away from dvd's, away from the kid's section, just far, far away.
2 comments:
Yikes! This reminds me of when someone asked me what the big deal is about the coffee shops with barely-dressed baristas. Isn't it the same as a "gentleman's" club? NO! It's not. I was lucky enough to be blissfully unaware of those places when I was young and would like the same for my kid(s). Besides the exposure to such things, I would never want Hazel to ever get the impression that she needs to use her body to sell coffee (or use it for anything, for that matter). Or to ever think that it's "not that big of a deal".
As a librairan I believe that as Americans we are entitled to informationand media. I do have to agree with you James that there should perhaps be an sdult computer section of the library. Freedom to information and media is one thing, developmentally appropriate information and media for kids is another. Really... what kind of JERK can't see fit to just move to another space, when someone asks him to??? I remember going to the library with my kids too when they were young they loved it! I would like to think I might be able to do the same with my granddaughter and not have someone be totally oblivious to the fact there ARE children around!This is perhaps something that public libraries need to take into consideration?
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