I can certainly think of books *I* would like banned. Lots of 'em.

[TygrBright]

Starting with toxic garbage like "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion" and "Mein Kampf" and the works of Ayn Rand and a whole long list of more recently-published screeds advocating all kinds of hatred, authoritarianism, ignorance, violence, etcetera.

Then I'd move on to the really tacky, badly-written, mind-rotting crap that fills a lot of Amazon's self-published categories and imprimaturs.

I could probably be talked into requiring either the recall and reprinting, or outright banning of anything misusing the Oxford comma, too.

But you know what?

If you gave me a magic wand, and said "Wave this and your whole list will be banned forever" I'd bust that magic want over my knee toot sweet, and not ban a damn' thing.

Because the whole point of writing and publishing stuff is that everyone must be free to do it, and everyone must be free to read any damn' thing they want no matter how stupid or hateful.

By taking away "certain" books, you take away the fundamental right created by the existence of thought and sharing thought in published form. At that point, you are taking away the ability of people to say "no" to reading stuff they don't want to read, and "yes" to stuff they do want to read.

And the ability to say "yes" is only meaningful if the ability to say "no" is guaranteed and protected, and the ability to say "no" is only meaningful if the ability to say "yes" is guaranteed and protected.

Take away either and you're committing intellectual rape by removing the power of consent.

ethically,
Bright

[Sky Jewels]

1. I hate the Bibles in hotel/motel rooms.

I usually write in them, something like: "Warning: The contents of this book are mythological fiction. They have nothing to do with reality. Believe at your own risk."

I mean, I figure that if the "faith" believers get to spread their message far and wide via their sick, twisted, misogynistic fairy-tale book, the rational thinkers should be able to weigh in from the side of reason as well. Fair is fair.

[ForgedCrank]

5. You purposefully

find the the Bibles in hotel desk drawers and deface/vandalize them because you disagree with what it says?

[Sky Jewels]

7. Yep. They're always there in the drawers.

If religious people are able to spread their women-hating propaganda far and wide, I have a right to counter that nonsense in my own small way. It's ridiculous the Gideons are allowed to plant their hateful books in so many establishments in the United States. They need some pushback. But, ya know, I'm vastly outnumbered. I've written in a handful of books, compared to millions of Buy-bulls planted for decades.

[Sanity Claws]

13. Not any more.

I just came back from a stay in a hotel without a bible. If it was there, it was hidden.

[Sky Jewels]

21. Hopefully that's a trend!

🤞🏼

[fescuerescue]

18. You could always write your own manifesto

And then pay the hotels to place it in their rooms.

You absolutely do have that right.

[ForgedCrank]

23. I don't

understand your justification for vandalizing the books.
Would you also do this at a library where other works that you may not like are placed for free so that others can read them? Or is it only The Bible that prompts this sort of vandalism?

[ripcord]

30. The bibles are there with permision

As another poster said you are vandalizing other people's property, it is very childish. You need to find another way to project your fear.

[Hekate]

15. That's rude. In Hawai'i I found a similarly produced Buddhist text in my hotel...

Probably from the Honpa Hongwanji Mission, a Pure Land sect foundational among the Japanese immigrants there over a century and a half ago. I’m just guessing — I didn’t steal the book and it was a long time ago.

Anyway, what’s it to ya? If you don’t like a religious book, leave it shut.

[Sky Jewels]

20. I'm sick of anti-women propaganda like the Bible going unchallenged.

It’s my own little protest. I know other people do the same.

BTW, I don’t steal Bibles. People can still read them, only they’ll get a slightly enhanced version.

[fescuerescue]

17. I bet that convinces the people reading them immediately

Then they convert to the opposite, atheism.

Then they smile and give thanks to the anonymous atheist that saved them.

You should put your name and contact information in there so that they can thank you personally and for giving your side such a positive look.

[Sky Jewels]

19. Nah. But it might plant a seed of doubt.

Some people are brainwashed to believe the Bible is the literal truth from birth. They need to be exposed to other views.

[fescuerescue]

24. IF they managed to make it outside their house and to a hotel

It would take a miracle for them to not see another view.

[Sky Jewels]

26. Well, the Christian point of view has been pushed relentlessly for centuries.

When I was growing up the prevailing view was of course everybody believes in [male, of course] "God" and his [male, of course] magical offspring.

It's misogynistic bullshit meant to prop up patriarchy.

It's long past time to stop kowtowing to Christianity, IMO. One brand of religious nuts shouldn't be putting their stupid fairy books in hotel rooms. If they do, they shouldn't be surprised when some people try to get another message out.

[fescuerescue]

27. I'm sure your vandalism will fix all that

I don't know why none of us didn't think about it hundreds of years ago.

[Sky Jewels]

28. Oh, the drama! A sentence or two written in a book that people can still read!

Quick, get my smelling salts and my fainting couch!

Lol.

[fescuerescue]

29. It was important enough for you to do

And the post on the Internet about your exploits right?

I'm only matching the importance that you have placed on it.

If you say it's nothing. Then I believe you.

[anciano]

2. Spot on.

Well said.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. I can't think of any books I would ban...even the rows of them in Barnes & Noble written

by RW/MAGA creeps. I just don't buy them, don't read them, and don't touch them.

[ForgedCrank]

6. That is

exactly how I feel about the subject.
I don't promote banning any books, even if I completely disagree with every word in them.
I'll leave that practice to people who don't actually believe in free society.

[LoisB]

9. Exactly how I feel.

[LAS14]

4. The Turner Dairies. nt

[murielm99]

8. I understand that impulse.

Years ago, when I was working at the library, someone asked me to obtain that book for them. I told them it was unavailable through the library system. They would have to purchase it for themselves. When they asked me how to do that, I shrugged. That was the only time I ever refused to answer a patron's question.

[dawg]

10. Who gives a fuck about an Oxford comma?

I've seen those English dramas, too.

[Sky Jewels]

22. I do! Even if Ezra and the rest of the band don't.

[LoisB]

11. As usual, you are spot on, Bright.

[NowISeetheLight]

12. Don't Ban... But Educate

Reading diverse material is good. When accompanied by education and the development of critical thinking skills it's a good thing. I've read Atlas Shrugged and Fountainhead and other Ayn Rand books. I still like Fountainhead for its individuality. Atlas Shrugged not so much anymore. Because I've educated myself and am able to reason and evaluate. People today seem like sheep. They just accept what they hear.

[keithbvadu2]

14. Agree!

Indoctrination is/is not

[Hekate]

16. Thanks, Bright

“So many books, so little time” is my motto.

[Paladin]

25. I'd love for all of Ayn Rand's books to disappear. The world would be a better place.

But I just can't bring myself to advocate governmental action to make it happen. I've seen the sort of shitty company I would end up having to keep...