Where the Wild Things Are

Oh, watch out.  I’m on a tear again.

Have you been following the decision made by New York City public libraries to allow patrons to access any type of pornography on their public computers?  According to their way of thinking, filtering sexually explicit sites would be an infringement on a citizen’s First Amendment rights.

According to an article in the New York Post:

“New Yorkers can take their pick at the city’s public libraries, thanks to a policy that gives adults the most uncensored access to extreme, hard-core Internet smut this side of the old Times Square.

The electronic smut falls under the heading of free speech and the protection of the First Amendment, library officials say.

“Customers can watch whatever they want on the computer,” said Brooklyn Public Library spokeswoman Malika Granville, describing the anything-goes philosophy that’s the rule at the city’s 200-plus branches.”

Now, I’m all for free speech (actually because of my journalist background I typically land on a pretty liberal stance in this arena!) but… Really?!

Pornography is not a need, it’s a preference!  It’s been studied well enough by the Kinsey Institute and others to see that it’s use is frequently destructive to the community.

Granted, not all viewers of pornography are sexual deviants.  However, it’s fair to say that sexual deviants use pornography.  There is a statistical correlation for that assumption and our communities don’t like sexually predatory behavior… for example, lawmakers have passed statutes forcing registered sex offenders to alert neighbors when they move into a new area.

It surprises me the library can honestly advocate offering pornography to patrons!

Shouldn’t a library be a safe place, dedicated to the ideals of higher learning and equality?

Sounds to me like someone didn’t want to say, “No.”  It’s much easier to roll over and play dead than say, “No,” because we like in a Burger King world.  (Whatever you want, when you want.)

I just finished reading an excellent take on what library access represents for our country and how libraries should inspire our citizens to become better versions of themselves by exposing them to new ideas and worthy pursuits.  If you’d like, read it here.

When I was in college there were certain floors of the library you just avoided if you were going to study.

It seemed as though every week the police beat of the daily student newspaper would highlight a student who had exposed themselves while peeking through the stacks or been found in flagrant disregard of public decency.

That being the case, I’m gonna go ahead and blame the library sex addicts for the “B” on my research paper in Greek Mythology.

(well, that and the fact I just didn’t go to class on a real regular basis.  there were 120 students, no accountability… yeah, I know, I know, have some self-control…)

Now, I’m pretty capable of going on a tear and speaking my mind about inconsequential things, like the over pricing of a side of chips at Taco Bell earlier this week.

But I’m up in arms about this and I feel more justified about being outraged on this topic than tostado chips.

If it’s perfectly ok to view nudity in a public library, a place where my children can walk by at any time and see the effects of arousal and a lifestyle advocating infidelity…

… why am I teaching them wearing clothes outside is a good thing?  Who cares about public decency?

… why am I bothering to teach them using self-discipline to become a better community member is important?

… How can I believe that I am safe from rapists or my children are safe from pedophiles at the same location I can pick up the Nancy Drew Series, Where the Wild Things Are or The Very Hungry Caterpillar?

Does this make sense to you?  What do you think?