How Books Work

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by BWinmill

If I may suggest: words are words. It is how they are used that is offensive. In this case, it was used to make a point about the nature of reality. It shouldn't be offensive unless you find reality offensive. Which, alas, it sometimes is.

How about racial and ethnic slurs, or other derogatory terms? Do they belong among the graffiti as well?

It's not about "reality," it's about what is appropriate to get the message across.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Catlady

It's not about "reality," it's about what is appropriate to get the message across.

Which would naturally vary from recipient to recipient I'd wager.

[wodin]

Censorship is still censorship, no matter how you wish to justify it.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by wodin

Censorship is still censorship, no matter how you wish to justify it.

Oh for gosh sake. An opinion on what is appropriate or inappropriate is not censorship.

[FizzyWater]

Originally Posted by jersysman

I did not even notice what was said until you mentioned it.

Of course traveling around inner cities I have seen far worse. It's life. Unfortunately perhaps, but still life.

I didn't either. I had to go back and look at it to see what the fuss was about.

[wodin]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Oh for gosh sake. An opinion on what is appropriate or inappropriate is not censorship.

No. but removing the whole reason for the thread from the OP is, thank goodness that Tom decided to at least leave the link.

Originally Posted by Catlady

How about racial and ethnic slurs, or other derogatory terms? Do they belong among the graffiti as well?

The meaning of words depends upon the context that they are used in, and the meaning is the important part.

To use your example of racial slurs: CBC radio broadcast a program about a particular racial slur a few years back. It discussed things like the origin and meaning of the word, how people responded negatively to it, as well as how some people were adopting the word as a symbol of pride (so that it would lose it's power as a slur). The program was framed as an intellectual conversation. There was only one problem: they refused to say the word throughout the program, they said "(letter)-word" instead. If you can't even use a particular word while discussing it, how open and honest can that conversation be?

Now I'm not arguing that we should be using these words gratuitously. We certainly should not be using these words in hurtful ways. Yet there are times when these words can be used to positive ends.

[Synamon]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Oh for gosh sake. An opinion on what is appropriate or inappropriate is not censorship.

Let's leave gosh out of it.

Thanks to the OP for posting and to everyone else for finding the original image and text. Great message.

[pidgeon92]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Oh for gosh sake. An opinion on what is appropriate or inappropriate is not censorship.

Dare I say, that is exactly what censorship is. What one person, or a group of persons, deems as appropriate for everyone else.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

Dare I say, that is exactly what censorship is. What one person, or a group of persons, deems as appropriate for everyone else.

Please. In what alternate universe do you reside where MY expression of MY opinion equals censorship?

Gee, I could respond that YOU have decided what's "appropriate for everyone else" by expressing your opinion.

[discopig]

I love that image...it describes exactly how books were for me years ago

[QuantumIguana]

No thought-crime allowed here...

[Billi]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

FWIW, I love the original photo in post #1, and I do think it loses a bit by being cleaned up, but I still removed it (but left a link where the original can be viewed) from the original post because I don't feel that it's safe for the workplace. It's regrettable, but I feel if we're going to retain our family-friendly/workplace-safe reputation, it needed to be done. You can lay all the blame with me.

Was this really necessary? Are we beginning to censure art here??

[avantman42]

Originally Posted by Billi

Was this really necessary? Are we beginning to censure art here??

Point 1 of the posting guidelines includes this statement:

MobileRead is intended to be a family-safe and work-safe website. Please post accordingly.

I think it's reasonable to say that the image is neither family-safe nor work-safe. Given that, it's entirely reasonable to remove it.

As much as I like the image (though I'd prefer the original Russian caption or no caption at all - I think the image is strong enough that a caption isn't required), it doesn't fit with the posting guidelines. Replacing the image with a link to the original and a note that it is not safe for work seems, to me, to be an entirely reasonable response.

[Billi]

Yes, I am glad that these posting guidelines exist, that we are "forced" to treat us kindly, friendly, with respect, no name calling, not to be insulting ... But in my opinion we have a different case here as someone sets theirselves up to be the censor of arts.