What if banning books in schools that contain descriptions of sexual acts doesn’t actually prevent children from learning about and/or engaging in sexual activity?
I agree and disagree with some of your points. I don't believe that books should be banned. However there are books that are appropriate for certain ages. We did know the difference at one time and somewhere along the line we lost sight of appropriateness. Now if you suggest that anything is not appropriate for ascertain age you are a book banner. Most of the books mentioned would be appropriate for anyone over the age of 16yrs. Also it depends how explicit the sexual acts are described as to the appropriateness. College age may be best. Lastly ,as far as children utilizing critical thinking skills, is this taught at any level. Unfortunately I no longer see that it is.
A lot of this is not being pushed by parents but by others with extreme views. Why? My best guess is that this and the anti gay/anti trans thing is viewed as a wedge issue by the right, and they don’t have much else to run on. That and “Biden is old.”
Finally, as I think I’ve mentioned in other threads, the book situation is so surreal that I’m just struck by how prescient the late Ray Bradbury was in the 1950’s when he wrote Fahrenheit 451.
I had free access to any book at home, the school library, and the public library. I read them ALL. No harm came to me or anyone I one know from a book. Ever. These book bans make me physically sick.
I’m pretty sure I read every banned book on these lists and likely more offensive ones as well. Like you, I turned out pretty good and it turns out all that readin’ stuff has continued on to this day. Like the late Tom Petty said…”I need to know.”
I’ll never stop being gobsmacked by the irony of the party that never stops screaming about snowflakes and trigger warnings and “fuck your feelings” are themselves more fragile than offbrand porcelain dolls
I’ve mentioned it before. Iowans need to watch the Houston ISD that Abbott took over earlier this year. His chief propaganda officer for the “new” HISD is eliminating ALL school libraries, and of course, the useless librarians, and turning the libraries into detention centers. What a way to teach a child that when you’re bad you go to the library for detention. Thank God they’re removing the books first, because God forbid they might start reading an actual book with knowledge in it whilst being punished in detention.
So it seems like Iowans are wussing around and will still have “the approved reading list” and until they fall in line behind Texas Governor Abbott, their fascist efforts will fail.
He and Ron over in Florida are in some kind of bizarre contest, that even the late Hunter S. Thompson would have difficulty understanding, to see who can negatively alter as many lives as possible.
Well, I am not going to be popular here! While I found it interesting reading, and well written from another view point, there were many inconsistencies and parts that just didnt add up, but were stretched to fit the narrative.
Suffice to say, Michael did not mention age appropriate books. How anyone can think giving primary school children access to the idea that sexual intercourse with animals is even a thing is beyond me.
Banning books is dangerous ground, but what is even worse, is that our society has reached a stage where we are even having this discussion. Heaven help our grandchildren.
I read books about heroin addicts when I was 13. Was that age appropriate? Guess what? Never tried heroin. Your pseudointellectual quibbling is disgusting.
You're right, I didn't mention "age appropriate" material because, in my experience as a reader, if you are old enough to read and comprehend what you are reading, you are probably old enough to read it. That being said, I don't think any primary school anywhere is teaching Slaughterhouse Five. Curious what truths you think I stretched?
All I can say is books did me no harm and I read ALL of them. I figured it out. I’m ok.
You do realize that the push of a button from a phone or computer outweighs this conversation entirely? How do you put that genie in the bottle? It will never happen. Another red herring issue in my opinion.
Iowa parent here. My kids don't go to public school. I am aghast at what is happening in this state and probably have a big blue bullseye over my house on Google Maps.
But ...I was 24 and living at home for a period of time. He found Rabbit Run, the classsic, that I had been readi ng. Excorigated I was upon my return home.
Two more anecdotes about my father, which Ive told you before.
Sep 1, 2023·edited Sep 1, 2023Liked by Michael Ian Black
I am of the advanced age that I can remember a book titled, "Lolita," that was "banned" from libraries and parents' houses.
For those unfamiliar, the novel, written by Russian writer Vladimir Nabokov in 1955 (originally written in ENGLISH, by the way), is notable for its controversial subject: the protagonist and unreliable narrator, a middle-aged literature professor under the pseudonym Humbert Humbert, is obsessed with a 12-year-old girl, Dolores Haze, whom he kidnaps and sexually abuses after becoming her stepfather.
Somehow, my pre-teen friends and I at the American Community School in Beirut found a copy--probably given to us by the foosball parlor owner across the street from the Boys Dorm--and read it over and over. Even now, I remember the tempo of that splintered narration and those passages...much later, we would learn there was a movie or two, a Broadway play, and TWO OPERAS, for crying out loud. Dastardly things, all!
But I did not turn into a mass murderer or president-criminal of the USA; isn't that why one allows young readers to read? The book would end up on many "100 Best Books of the Century" lists.
Oh, how much fun the pure, anguished eyes of the modern-day Puritans would be reading that salacious stuff, eh?
I agree and disagree with some of your points. I don't believe that books should be banned. However there are books that are appropriate for certain ages. We did know the difference at one time and somewhere along the line we lost sight of appropriateness. Now if you suggest that anything is not appropriate for ascertain age you are a book banner. Most of the books mentioned would be appropriate for anyone over the age of 16yrs. Also it depends how explicit the sexual acts are described as to the appropriateness. College age may be best. Lastly ,as far as children utilizing critical thinking skills, is this taught at any level. Unfortunately I no longer see that it is.
Once again
Hammer --->Nail head 👍
"Again, I ask: to what end?"
If I had to guess, I would say the dismantling of public education.
We must protect little Muffy and Biff from having dirty fucking middle class kids as their competition for jobs.
Our legacies deserve to cruise to success on Gentlemen's Cs.
A lot of this is not being pushed by parents but by others with extreme views. Why? My best guess is that this and the anti gay/anti trans thing is viewed as a wedge issue by the right, and they don’t have much else to run on. That and “Biden is old.”
It's all fear and stupidity.
Finally, as I think I’ve mentioned in other threads, the book situation is so surreal that I’m just struck by how prescient the late Ray Bradbury was in the 1950’s when he wrote Fahrenheit 451.
But that book didn't prevent the stupidity did it?
Regardless of their Harvard and Yale degrees these mouth breathers DON'T READ BOOKS THRY ARE FUNCTIONALLY ILLITERATE
I had free access to any book at home, the school library, and the public library. I read them ALL. No harm came to me or anyone I one know from a book. Ever. These book bans make me physically sick.
I’m pretty sure I read every banned book on these lists and likely more offensive ones as well. Like you, I turned out pretty good and it turns out all that readin’ stuff has continued on to this day. Like the late Tom Petty said…”I need to know.”
I’ll never stop being gobsmacked by the irony of the party that never stops screaming about snowflakes and trigger warnings and “fuck your feelings” are themselves more fragile than offbrand porcelain dolls
It's all projection with the GOP.
I’ve mentioned it before. Iowans need to watch the Houston ISD that Abbott took over earlier this year. His chief propaganda officer for the “new” HISD is eliminating ALL school libraries, and of course, the useless librarians, and turning the libraries into detention centers. What a way to teach a child that when you’re bad you go to the library for detention. Thank God they’re removing the books first, because God forbid they might start reading an actual book with knowledge in it whilst being punished in detention.
So it seems like Iowans are wussing around and will still have “the approved reading list” and until they fall in line behind Texas Governor Abbott, their fascist efforts will fail.
What's happening in Texas is chilling. Abbott is a menace and I don't see his hold lessening.
He and Ron over in Florida are in some kind of bizarre contest, that even the late Hunter S. Thompson would have difficulty understanding, to see who can negatively alter as many lives as possible.
Well, I am not going to be popular here! While I found it interesting reading, and well written from another view point, there were many inconsistencies and parts that just didnt add up, but were stretched to fit the narrative.
Suffice to say, Michael did not mention age appropriate books. How anyone can think giving primary school children access to the idea that sexual intercourse with animals is even a thing is beyond me.
Banning books is dangerous ground, but what is even worse, is that our society has reached a stage where we are even having this discussion. Heaven help our grandchildren.
I read books about heroin addicts when I was 13. Was that age appropriate? Guess what? Never tried heroin. Your pseudointellectual quibbling is disgusting.
You're right, I didn't mention "age appropriate" material because, in my experience as a reader, if you are old enough to read and comprehend what you are reading, you are probably old enough to read it. That being said, I don't think any primary school anywhere is teaching Slaughterhouse Five. Curious what truths you think I stretched?
All I can say is books did me no harm and I read ALL of them. I figured it out. I’m ok.
You do realize that the push of a button from a phone or computer outweighs this conversation entirely? How do you put that genie in the bottle? It will never happen. Another red herring issue in my opinion.
Exactly.
Iowa parent here. My kids don't go to public school. I am aghast at what is happening in this state and probably have a big blue bullseye over my house on Google Maps.
The kids can thank the state for making a nice little list for them to reference when they are behind their parent's backs!
Well said. It seems forbidden fruits are all the more tempting because they are forbidden.
Keep writing.
Susan
Michael. My father was a wordly man....himself.
But ...I was 24 and living at home for a period of time. He found Rabbit Run, the classsic, that I had been readi ng. Excorigated I was upon my return home.
Two more anecdotes about my father, which Ive told you before.
I've never read Rabbit, Run - didn't think it was particularly controversial but maybe I need to pick it up!
I am of the advanced age that I can remember a book titled, "Lolita," that was "banned" from libraries and parents' houses.
For those unfamiliar, the novel, written by Russian writer Vladimir Nabokov in 1955 (originally written in ENGLISH, by the way), is notable for its controversial subject: the protagonist and unreliable narrator, a middle-aged literature professor under the pseudonym Humbert Humbert, is obsessed with a 12-year-old girl, Dolores Haze, whom he kidnaps and sexually abuses after becoming her stepfather.
Somehow, my pre-teen friends and I at the American Community School in Beirut found a copy--probably given to us by the foosball parlor owner across the street from the Boys Dorm--and read it over and over. Even now, I remember the tempo of that splintered narration and those passages...much later, we would learn there was a movie or two, a Broadway play, and TWO OPERAS, for crying out loud. Dastardly things, all!
But I did not turn into a mass murderer or president-criminal of the USA; isn't that why one allows young readers to read? The book would end up on many "100 Best Books of the Century" lists.
Oh, how much fun the pure, anguished eyes of the modern-day Puritans would be reading that salacious stuff, eh?
“To force them to apply critical thinking? To encourage them to make up their own minds?”
This, of course, is the exact opposite of what they want!