Comments on: Children’s Book Sets Off Uproar http://www.davejustus.com/2007/02/19/children%e2%80%99s-book-sets-off-uproar/ None Sine Causa Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:43:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Alex http://www.davejustus.com/2007/02/19/children%e2%80%99s-book-sets-off-uproar/#comment-21520 Alex Tue, 24 Apr 2007 06:28:49 +0000 http://www.davejustus.com/2007/02/19/children%e2%80%99s-book-sets-off-uproar/#comment-21520 Thank You Thank You

]]> By: probligo http://www.davejustus.com/2007/02/19/children%e2%80%99s-book-sets-off-uproar/#comment-8301 probligo Wed, 21 Feb 2007 17:10:27 +0000 http://www.davejustus.com/2007/02/19/children%e2%80%99s-book-sets-off-uproar/#comment-8301 Oh dear, my little jokule goes flatter than a dead tyre. Oh dear, my little jokule goes flatter than a dead tyre.

]]> By: LDF http://www.davejustus.com/2007/02/19/children%e2%80%99s-book-sets-off-uproar/#comment-8267 LDF Wed, 21 Feb 2007 09:51:25 +0000 http://www.davejustus.com/2007/02/19/children%e2%80%99s-book-sets-off-uproar/#comment-8267 For the record: I wouldn't support a "ban" for "balls" either as I don't believe in malum prohibitum laws and bans on the possession of anything. I was simply illustrating that the the author in question didn't cross any kind of societal "taboo" in my opinion. Keep in mind, this wasn't really even a case about a "ban" as much as it was a library trying to figure out how best to spend its limited funds. I would have objected a lot more had this been a heavier handed issue, such as the library refusing to put donated copies of this book on the shelves and forbidding children to read their own copies of this book while in the library. For the record:
I wouldn’t support a “ban” for “balls” either as I don’t believe in malum prohibitum laws and bans on the possession of anything. I was simply illustrating that the the author in question didn’t cross any kind of societal “taboo” in my opinion.

Keep in mind, this wasn’t really even a case about a “ban” as much as it was a library trying to figure out how best to spend its limited funds. I would have objected a lot more had this been a heavier handed issue, such as the library refusing to put donated copies of this book on the shelves and forbidding children to read their own copies of this book while in the library.

]]> By: probligo http://www.davejustus.com/2007/02/19/children%e2%80%99s-book-sets-off-uproar/#comment-8233 probligo Tue, 20 Feb 2007 21:45:55 +0000 http://www.davejustus.com/2007/02/19/children%e2%80%99s-book-sets-off-uproar/#comment-8233 How is about we ban all books that mention "balls" - just in case... How is about we ban all books that mention “balls” - just in case…

]]> By: LDF http://www.davejustus.com/2007/02/19/children%e2%80%99s-book-sets-off-uproar/#comment-8190 LDF Tue, 20 Feb 2007 07:11:26 +0000 http://www.davejustus.com/2007/02/19/children%e2%80%99s-book-sets-off-uproar/#comment-8190 I hate to see books "banned" simply for stretching a child's vocabulary. If the author had used a less technical slang term, such as "balls", I could see a case for this being somewhat less appropriate for children. Likewise, if the book used the term in the context of a graphic description of a sex act, I could see people being concerned about harming childish innocence. Resisting books like this is akin to when people recently made a politician recently apologize for his use of the word "niggardly". Apparently the idiots thought it had something to do with the racist "n" word, and wouldn't leave him alone until he apologized. It's time that people encouraged a healthy vocabulary, especially for children, as this is the stage in human development when people are most capable of absorbing and retaining new words. I hate to see books “banned” simply for stretching a child’s vocabulary. If the author had used a less technical slang term, such as “balls”, I could see a case for this being somewhat less appropriate for children. Likewise, if the book used the term in the context of a graphic description of a sex act, I could see people being concerned about harming childish innocence.

Resisting books like this is akin to when people recently made a politician recently apologize for his use of the word “niggardly”. Apparently the idiots thought it had something to do with the racist “n” word, and wouldn’t leave him alone until he apologized.

It’s time that people encouraged a healthy vocabulary, especially for children, as this is the stage in human development when people are most capable of absorbing and retaining new words.

]]> By: Greg http://www.davejustus.com/2007/02/19/children%e2%80%99s-book-sets-off-uproar/#comment-8182 Greg Tue, 20 Feb 2007 04:16:05 +0000 http://www.davejustus.com/2007/02/19/children%e2%80%99s-book-sets-off-uproar/#comment-8182 Remembering what it was like to be that age, though, I'm sure I would have giggled to see "scrotum" in that book. Heck, we giggled about the swear words that were in the old Scrabble dictionary. Remembering what it was like to be that age, though, I’m sure I would have giggled to see “scrotum” in that book. Heck, we giggled about the swear words that were in the old Scrabble dictionary.

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