Censorship in your public library

Which John?

One argument in favor of keeping in the foul language is for research. If I was to check out a rap CD it would be for research purposes to find out if it really is as foul and violent as other people say. Getting a cleaned up version would be completely useless for that sort of research. Maybe someone wants to do a school report on gangsta rap and needs the foul language versions of the music for research purposes. Maybe it’s a parent who wants to listen to some of the stuff to find out what the kids today are listening to. There are many legitimate reasons why someone would need the foul language version rather than the clean version.

If the CDs have an “explicit lyrics” sticker on them just like they do in the stores then noone should be surprised.

I don’t know what to do about kids checking those out. I’m sure libraries already have policies to handle that since they have other material that is not kid suitable. There is also the risk of kids getting the “explicit lyrics” CDs just because they have an “explicit lyrics” sticker on them.

I was asking John Foss to respond to my response, Lol.

The Spokane County Library’s policy is buy censored material whenever it is available.
Although I convinced them to review this policy. Hopefully it turns out on the side of the freedom of expression and releases everyone else, who don’t have yuppie parents or are free of their clutches, from the house rules of yuppie parents.

The yuppies are evil.
The yuppies must die.

EDIT: Oh JC, the censored gansta rap cd’s I’ve heard only have swear words and drug names censored. All the violence is in there, don’t worry!
On a slightly different topic though, most gangsta cd’s I’ve heard don’t glorify violence. They just sing about it, like a director makes a violent movie.

You’re asking us? How about asking someone who can actually provide the answer, such as your library? Or here you could post a poll. :roll_eyes:

In other words, not really relevant, unless the library finds out kids never check the stuff out anyway. And when do you stop being a kid? Which side of that line are you on?

Whose household are we talking about? This is library policy. I guess it’s the library’s house.

Consider the reverse question for a moment. What’s your library’s obligation to you in terms of providing music? At least they (hopefully) don’t tape over certain words in the books, but if a CD is available in different versions perhaps they feel the “radio” version is more appropriate for their mixed audience.

So then they merely legitimize it. Right?

Anyway, I’m not sure what a library’s charter is in terms of what they’re “supposed to” provide to the community. Certainly not everything. In my day, I remember checking out some movies (film) and records (LP) from the Dearborn Library. My local libraries didn’t have such things. The records were scratchy and skippy. I did not expect more. It was enough to give me the idea, and then be able to purchase a new/fresh/original copy of the music for myself if I wanted. For the most part I think it’s nice that your library offers CDs.

My parents don’t have a problem with me listening to the music I like, reading the poetry I like or watching the movies I like.

It’s a policy that the library has initiated (at the request of yuppie parents) to “protect the virgin ears of young boys and girls who are yet, in their formative years.”
In the letter I recieved from the lady who buys all the musical material for the library, she said it was because of minors.
Should the library force this stuff on EVERYBODY because of a few parents who are afraid of their kids hearing rock musicians swear?

I don’t go to the library to check out “Christian Holiday Hits”, likewise, those who go to check out “Christian Holiday Hits” don’t check out “America’s Top 15 Songs with Graphic Language.”
They have different material for different tastes. If you like “America’s Top 15 Songs with Graphic Language” as well as “Christian Holiday Hits”, you’re not going to care so much about the language on “America’s Top 15 Songs with Graphic Language.”

Anyway, I don’t think it’s the libraries place to tell me what words I should hear or not.

Hmmm? Ever watch war films or gangster films? They’re for action and excitement. Not many glorify violence.

We’ve progressed a lot since back in the day.
Now we have cds in our libraries and I think that, for the benifit of those who can’t afford cds, they stock the actual piece of art rather than a mutalation.

It’s like if you’re libraries bought pre-scratched records.

Library CDs can be scratched and skip. People play them in car CD players. People don’t always take care of them.

I used the library CD collection to explore jazz over the past year. Tried a bunch of different jazz styles and performers. Found out what I like and what I don’t like. I now know a lot more about jazz than I did a year ago and I now know what jazz to put on my wish list at Amazon.

You seem to have a sense of entitlement here Jackie.

You might get a hold of a copy of your libraries mission statement and see if it conflicts with their choosing the censored version policy. Include your findings in whatever letter you write to your librarian and CC: whatever government body provides funding to the library.

Complaining on an unrelated message board won’t change anything.

That’s why I’m having a conversation about the pros and cons of censorship are.
Not just complaining. I want to know other people’s views too.

I geuss I am a little greedy… but since the library is for everyone, and since I am part of a large group of people who like this certain kind of music, I think it would be nice if they considered a suggestion or two.

Would you say that you have average parents?

Do you think your parents’ approach would work for kids whose parents don’t pay much attention to? In other words, the library serves the yuppie families too.

When it comes to bleeping out swear words it usually is. That would put you in the kid category, BTW. So yes, it’s mostly kids checking out the CDs, or at least that’s who this policy refers to.

So far my library has never forced anything on me. I guess that brings me back to the question of labeling. The library should not waste your time with censored versions if you only want the non-radio versions. They should be able to tell you if it’s one or the other. (Note: if the record company made both versions, then both are “official” and the artists might actually be okay with both versions to expand their market)

Library policies are not set up for you, they’re set up for the community as a whole.

What little you know about the vagaries of Christians! :slight_smile:

On the contrary. Many do. It all depends on whether there’s any message or “slant” to how it’s presented. Not necessarily an overt message, just whether it’s being celebrated, frowned upon, or one of many areas in-between or outside of those two.

All I’m saying is that, whereas you wouldn’t want your books, movies, music to be mutalated, I don’t want that either.
Library policies are set up for the community, a community of which I am a part. I am not being greedy at all if I’m part of a smaller community that agrees with me.
And if you’ll notice, I said that the people who like “Holiday Hits” as well as “Graphic Language” don’t mind the language.

I don’t like Holiday Hits but I like lots of Christian music as well as lots stuff with graphic language.

Anyway… I don’t really want to argue about it tonight… My boyfriend got me a ring!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

I was browsing the library catalog this evening and found this book. I haven’t looked at it yet since my local branch doesn’t have it. From the title and description it look like it would be right on topic.