Karen Schneider Speaks her Piece on Filtering

mcbride says:

Kudos to Karen
It is wonderful to see a well presented viewpoint on a subject such as this. Not reactionary, no flaming, it was a pleasure to read it. Unfortunately, not enough people sit down to think about the subject of filtering (or other controversial library-related topics) and the present the arguments that should be used. Instead, we most often get political posturing, vehement attacks, ‘ALA says so’, etc. Kudos, Karen.

mcbride says:

Re:Filters are bad news
Sorry, Anonymous, it’s really tiring to see you slam anybody or anything that takes a stand against your views. Your rhetoric and personal attacks lend very little weight to your arguments. Instead, try to counter her argument that there is a middle-ground in the filtering arena.

> …and I for one encourage all four year olds and teenagers to flood her with email to protest her arrogant denial and/or cavalier dismissal of their rights.

Children do not have FREE SPEECH rights when it comes to their parents. The government cannot take my child away if I ground them for supporting a political cause (either side of the aisle). The government cannot take my child away if I ground them for inappropriate use of the internet (regardless of where they use it). The libraries are protecting me, my child, and themselves with filters for minors. I see no need for adults to have filters, and I defend libraries that avoid using them for those patrons.

>This tedious, incomprehensible, fact deprived, lazy, egotistical drivel is a total waste of eye time.

If you’re so correct, so in tune with the proverbial ‘yellow brick road to Oz’, then out yourself, get an account. Stand up for your beliefs with your name. If you keep attacking and claiming that the postings and discussions by others are ‘drivel’, then sit in your dark corner of anonymity with a quiet tongue. Don’t use the excuse that you are worried about the repercussions against your own free speech, because you certainly are a big supporter of trashing others’.

mcbride says:

Re:Filters are bad news
Again, there is a rather clear line between free speech that involves throwing words against another’s ideas or ideals, and free speech that shadows the walls of the back of the theatre throwing fruit at the actors. Quite contrary to challenging poor grammar and sentence structure, you questioned her decision to support filters by attacking her convictions (which she clearly revealed). She may not believe filters are a good thing, but comes to the conclusion that it is necessary in some places. Middle ground, not on the fence. But she put her line in the sand.

So to correct your (obvious) superiority to Karen’s personal views, from WordNet:
DEMOCRACY – the doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group. (Free Speech is not necessarily a component of a DEMOCRACY)

From the Important of Philosophy Dictionary (http://www.importanceofphilosophy.com/Dictionary. html):
Free Speech – People are permitted to speak without interference or punishment of the government. This freedom does not require others to provide you with the means to speak.

My statement about the ‘dark corner of anonymity’ is to imply that you are not expressing your “Free Speech”, since you are most certainly hiding behind anonymity without supporting your convictions by identity. Karen Schneider has the backbone to defend her perspective on democracy, free speech and filters in her blog. Could it alter her working relationships? Yup. Could it cause her to suffer a poor performance review? Yup. But Free Speech involves those risks to all entities external to government. You, however, are willing to judge (not comment) without providing the avenue to be judged. Kudos to Karen.