Parents urge more Net filters in library

A Report From The Daily Hearlad says a small group of residents have pushed the Des Plaines Public Library to meet with them Tuesday about the current Internet policy.

A parent is concerned because she recently saw a man viewing what she would call pornographic images on an adult library computer while he was inappropriately touching himself.

July 23, 2004 by Uncategorized 3

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3 Responses

  1. Eli says:
    July 23, 2004 at 10:15 pm

    Internet Policy and Library Behavior
    The filtering issue and inappropriate behavior have been discussed here many times. I am puzzled as to why? In the technology age the distribution of pornographic materials is more extensive, instantaneous, and very effective. The access to such places on the web is equivalent to the purchase of magazines, photos, etc with one difference, the ability to be interactive either from the sight on on one’s own. Why does behavior that would merit throwing out in one venue tolerated in the library? If a person was doing such acts in front of the magazines in the supermarket they would be asked to leave immediately and if they resisted would be taken away by the law. Why is the library so different?
    The filter is enabling the library to prevent the use of taxpayer property for pornographic reasons. The immediate response to lewd behavior is a professional responsibility in any public venue including the library. I often get the feeling that the filtering and behavior issues are an attempt to create a test case for freedom of speech. Why is the library the laboratory and arena? Has society so decayed that pornography and its availabilty should be facilitated by libraries?

    Reply
  2. mdoneil says:
    July 23, 2004 at 10:47 pm

    Re:Internet Policy and Library Behavior
    I often wonder why people don’t scream “Hey quit touching your penis” when they see people doing disgusting things in the library. I think that would put an end to the problem very quickly and the offender would probably (hopefully) be too ashamed to ever come back.

    I fail to see how filters solve the problem of perverts in the library. They could probably use Gray’s Anatomy for their viewing pleasure if their easy porno access was taken away, but then it still deserves the screaming pervert alert if they insist on manipulating their masculinity in the stacks.

    I don’t think it is a matter of Internet policy, but of perverts being in the library. Any place open to the public will have freaks. A strong rebuke is often an effective deterrent to both the offender, and those thinking about doing things in public that are best done at home. We have signs that say no bathing in the sinks, but none that say no masturbating. We hope most people would know that on their own, but for those that don’t “Hey quit touching your penis!”

    Reply
  3. Walt says:
    July 24, 2004 at 1:06 am

    Re:Internet Policy and Library Behavior
    MDoneil: Thanks for providing a calm answer. Neither ALA nor anyone else (that I know of) is saying that someone playing with themself in a library or any other public space is protected by the First Amendment or anything else–and, as you say, to get rid of everything that could excite a perv would mean burning down the library. Which itself would excite a whole different group of pervs.

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