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Libraries Release Most-Censored Books List

Posted by Soulskill on from the words-are-dangerous dept.

destinyland writes "The American Library Association released this year's list of the most-frequently censored books. (Included in the top 10 are two best-selling novels — Twilight and The Hunger Games — as well as Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.) The annual list celebrates 'the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment,' according to the library association, highlighting 'the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship.' Interestingly, seven of the ten most-censored books are now available on Amazon's Kindle — more than twice as many as last year."

11 of 229 comments (clear)

  1. Banned books week by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    This week is banned books week. Celebrate (?) by reading a banned book - say no to censorship :)

  2. Not really censored by phantomfive · · Score: 5, Informative

    In this age of hyperbole, where everything is worked up to be a huge scandal (Obama is the antichrist, Bush is Hitler, and social security is a Ponzi scheme), it's worth mentioning that censorship here is not government censorship, it means someone decided to remove that book from their library. All these materials are easily available elsewhere.

    And frankly, if they're going to remove something from their library, Twilight is a great choice. Bravo, friends, bravo.

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    "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    1. Re:Not really censored by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      It doesn't even really mean that someone removed the book from their library. If you read carefully it says that these are the most challenged books, where a challenge is defined as a formal written complaint or request to remove the book from the library. None of these materials are actually censored.

      But, the editors here clearly self-censored and chose not to read the article before posting it.

      Captcha: "paranoia" (somewhat apt).

    2. Re:Not really censored by AlXtreme · · Score: 3, Informative

      Someone please mod AC up.

      These books weren't censored, they were challenged by over-protective parents fearing that their children might ask them uncomfortable questions. The books themselves weren't removed (I'd assume successful challenges might not even make it to ALA).

      "And Tango Makes Three" got the most challenges. Seriously America, you're worried about two male penguins hatching an egg?

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    3. Re:Not really censored by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      -1 clueless drivel.

      Free speech also means not being compelled to support the same of those you disagree with

      Get the fuck out, or get some sense of perspective. Free speech has nothing to do with being compelled, that's freedom of movement/decision. In fact, free speech has everything to do with not having a selection process for which books are "public funds worthy" and which are not.

      Free speech is a wholly separate thing from acceptable speech

      No it isn't. The free speech doctrine states that every utterance of a private thought is protected unless it directly harms an individual. Weasel words like "acceptable" don't add into it. And society has already determined the scope. That you seem to imply that your own opinion to outweighs that of society says a lot about you.

  3. Re:Brave New World by narcc · · Score: 4, Informative

    Oh, I don't know -- maybe something to do with all of the young children engaging in "erotic play". That sort of thing tends to make people uncomfortable.

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    Required reading for internet skeptics
  4. Censored? by pahles · · Score: 3, Informative

    The list is about "challenged" books, not about them being censored. Please RTFA!

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    Sig?
  5. Re:It amazes me that books like these are censored by victorhooi · · Score: 4, Informative

    heya,

    Err, which version of the Bible are you reading...?

    I'm fairly sure the bible never commands anybody to kill non-believers. In fact, last time I checked, it stated quite unequivocally "Thou shalt not murder". (Exodus 20:13). Note that it says murder, not kill (http://people.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/Shokel/001102_ThouShaltNotMurder.html).

    The giving/taking of life is God's alone to command - and barring some explicit command from him (as happened in the OT), to take a life is considered by most Christians to be tantamount to blasphemy and trying to supplant God's role.

    So sorry, but your post is really full of ignorance.

    Cheers,
    Victor

  6. Challenged isn't censored by jevring · · Score: 5, Informative

    The article lists the most *challenged* books. Challenging a book doesn't result in it being censored. The title of the article is incredibly misleading.

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    Move sig!
  7. Re:It amazes me that books like these are censored by narcc · · Score: 5, Informative

    I'm fairly sure the bible never commands anybody to kill non-believers.

    Give Deu. 17:3-5 a quick read. You don't get much more explicit than that.

    Honestly, I don't see how you could have missed it. Joshua slaughtered just about everyone in Canaan -- with more than a bit of divine assistance.

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    Required reading for internet skeptics
  8. Amazon Kindle irony by tverbeek · · Score: 1, Informative

    It's ironic that these books targeted for censorship are available for the Kindle, given the fact that Amazon engages in censorship of the Kindle store.

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