Smashwords Succumbs to Censorship

[plib]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

I'm sick and tired of people trying to whitewash the internet

+1

I'm also sick of people using the excuse of whitewashing the internet to pursue another agenda entirely.

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by plib

+1

I'm also sick of people using the excuse of whitewashing the internet to pursue another agenda entirely.

Adding to what you and ana said, I am sick and tired of people using "the children" as an excuse to try and censor things they dislike. if you're disgusted and freaked out by the thought of bondage sex, just say so. Don't hide behind the pre-schoolers.

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

I don't think erotica should be sold on mainstream sites where it can be accessed by children. I would not knowingly give a gift card to anyone for a site with (IMO) iffy content. They might pass it on to someone else.

I think children should be taught ethics as an active process involving thought and interpretation, as I was taught in the Canadian school system before we moved to the States. That tends to be more helpful in later life than shielding the kiddies from everything and then expecting them to make intelligent moral decisions as adults.

A young reader shouldn't have to see violence punished in a book to understand that violence is wrong, or to able to tell when violence for its own sake is described lovingly, with the comeuppance of the plot being a mere excuse for reveling in fists, blades and buckshot meeting flesh.

In those cases, the idea might be to advocate not censorship but understanding, just as "A Modest Proposal" needs to be understood rather than hidden away.

My mother used to teach Catcher in the Rye in high school despite questionable language because she felt it was more important for students to recognize and avoid shallowness than not read the same words they'd already heard repeated throughout their lives.

Then again, I have no intention of inflicting my values on bookstores or textbook authors. Identifying too much with one's own children is narcissistic. Identifying too much with other people's children is schizophrenic.

[Sil_liS]

Is the argument that the children would end up reading these books by mistake, or that they would find these books because they are looking for them?

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

Is the argument that the children would end up reading these books by mistake, or that they would find these books because they are looking for them?

If they're looking for them, there's nothing anyone other than their parents can do to stop it, and even that's a stretch. No one has ever, in the history of mankind, been able to stop a teenager from getting their hands on something forbidden if they really want to get it.

[MrsJoseph]

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

If they're looking for them, there's nothing anyone other than their parents can do to stop it, and even that's a stretch. No one has ever, in the history of mankind, been able to stop a teenager from getting their hands on something forbidden if they really want to get it.

Isn't that the truth! I know it was in my case.

[plib]

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

Adding to what you and ana said, I am sick and tired of people using "the children" as an excuse to try and censor things they dislike. if you're disgusted and freaked out by the thought of bondage sex, just say so. Don't hide behind the pre-schoolers.

Oooh! Bondage sex? You mean you can find that stuff on the interwebs? Really?

I'm not posting and running you understand, but excuse me while I take a quick detour to Google (before it gets censored).

P.S. Does anyone know how use Bitcoin? As I obviously won't be able to use Paypal or credit cards for such sites?

[Elfwreck]

Originally Posted by plib

Oooh! Bondage sex? You mean you can find that stuff on the interwebs? Really?

I'm not posting and running you understand, but excuse me while I take a quick detour to Google (before it gets censored).

P.S. Does anyone know how use Bitcoin? As I obviously won't be able to use Paypal or credit cards for such sites?

Dwolla works nicely, for those sites that support it. Not much else does.

[Prestidigitweeze]

Sorry, but what's the difference between "bondage sex" and marriage?

[MrsJoseph]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

Sorry, but what's the difference between "bondage sex" and marriage?

*snicker*

bondage sex has less of a gamble attached?

[Elfwreck]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

Sorry, but what's the difference between "bondage sex" and marriage?

Bondage sex is guaranteed to include sex.

[MrsJoseph]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

Sorry, but what's the difference between "bondage sex" and marriage?

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

Bondage sex is guaranteed to include sex.

I found this really funny pic today:

Spoiler:

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

Sorry, but what's the difference between "bondage sex" and marriage?

The latter is a lot more difficult and expensive to get out of.

[Prestidigitweeze]

This might be too early to call, but I think we have a winner.

[MrsJoseph]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

Sorry, but what's the difference between "bondage sex" and marriage?

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

The latter is a lot more difficult and expensive to get out of.

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

This might be too early to call, but I think we have a winner.

I think you might be right!