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Political Correctness and Freedom of Speech

Kooky

Kooky

Freedom from Sanity
Do you believe that banning books from public schools and public libraries is a form of Political Correctness?

How do you think it relates to Freedom of Speech? Is being "obscene or harmful to minors", by whoever's measure, a sufficient reason to suppress the distribution of books at libraries? After all, adults can still buy them online, so it's not really censorship... or is it?
 
Nakosis

Nakosis

Non-Binary Physicalist
Premium Member
Kooky said:
Do you believe that banning books from public schools and public libraries is a form of Political Correctness?

How do you think it relates to Freedom of Speech? Is being "obscene or harmful to minors", by whoever's measure, a sufficient reason to suppress the distribution of books at libraries? After all, adults can still buy them online, so it's not really censorship... or is it?
Click to expand...

Restricting minors access to inappropriate books is not a free speech issue.
I don't think they should be banned from public libraries as long as the same type of age restriction can be enforced.
 
W

Wildswanderer

Veteran Member
Kooky said:
Do you believe that banning books from public schools and public libraries is a form of Political Correctness?

How do you think it relates to Freedom of Speech? Is being "obscene or harmful to minors", by whoever's measure, a sufficient reason to suppress the distribution of books at libraries? After all, adults can still buy them online, so it's not really censorship... or is it?
Click to expand...
So what are you actually arguing for? Hustler magazines in the children's library?
 
9-10ths_Penguin

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
Kooky said:
Do you believe that banning books from public schools and public libraries is a form of Political Correctness?
Click to expand...
No.

Kooky said:
How do you think it relates to Freedom of Speech? Is being "obscene or harmful to minors", by whoever's measure, a sufficient reason to suppress the distribution of books at libraries? After all, adults can still buy them online, so it's not really censorship... or is it?
Click to expand...
It generally isn't a freedom of speech issue.

Freedom of speech is the right to say what you want without punishment by the government. It isn't the right to any particular platform (e.g. an author being entitled to getting their books in public libraries).

Banning books from libraries is generally a crappy thing to do, but it isn't a free speech issue. Free speech is about the rights of the author; book banning is about the rights of the reader, and about good governance generally.
 
PureX

PureX

Veteran Member
Nakosis said:
Restricting minors access to inappropriate books is not a free speech issue.
Click to expand...
Well, it depends on who is deciding, and what they're claiming is "inappropriate". In Virginia, the 'auction block state' of the slave-holding south, they don't want their kids reading about the evils of slavery. Imagine the current German state refusing to teach their children about the evils of nazism. Get the picture?

The problem is that once we start down this road, the fascists among us immediately smell a door opening. And make no mistake, they are ALWAYS among us, just waiting for that 'worm to turn'.
 
Nimos

Nimos

Well-Known Member
Kooky said:
Do you believe that banning books from public schools and public libraries is a form of Political Correctness?

How do you think it relates to Freedom of Speech? Is being "obscene or harmful to minors", by whoever's measure, a sufficient reason to suppress the distribution of books at libraries? After all, adults can still buy them online, so it's not really censorship... or is it?
Click to expand...
Depends, if what the books teaches is demonstrated to be wrong or not live up to the required standard of what is considered factual and verified information, then they should be banned.

Obviously not talking about fictional literature.
 
Revoltingest

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
Altfish said:
Isn't Political Correctness just a right wing term for being polite?
Click to expand...
That's how the left is trying to re-define it.
This is just as they try to redefine "SJW" as
merely being for social justice. It's a denial
of the existence of unreasonable obsession
with what they consider proper things to say
& believe.

Political correctness as used by the right is simply
the same usage originally crafted by the left.
Political correctness - Wikipedia
Excerpted....
Early usage of the term politically correct by leftists in the 1970s and 1980s was as self-critical satire; usage was ironic, rather than a name for a serious political movement.[7][11][12][13] It was considered an in-joke among leftists used to satirise those who were too rigid in their adherence to political orthodoxy.[14]

Social justice warrior - Wikipedia
Excerpted....
Social justice warrior (SJW) is a pejorative term and internet meme used for an individual who promotes socially progressive, left-wing and liberal views, including feminism, civil rights, gay and transgender rights, identity politics, political correctness and multiculturalism.[8] The accusation that somebody is an SJW carries implications that they are pursuing personal validation rather than any deep-seated conviction, and engaging in disingenuous arguments.[3][9]
 
Last edited:
Altfish

Altfish

Veteran Member
Revoltingest said:
That's how the left is trying to re-define it.
This is just as they try to redefine "SJW" as
merely being for social justice. It's a denial
of the existence of unreasonable obsession
with what they consider proper things to say
& believe.
Click to expand...
Hmm, I struggle to find many examples where PC is not being polite and considerate.
 
Twilight Hue

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Kooky said:
Do you believe that banning books from public schools and public libraries is a form of Political Correctness?

How do you think it relates to Freedom of Speech? Is being "obscene or harmful to minors", by whoever's measure, a sufficient reason to suppress the distribution of books at libraries? After all, adults can still buy them online, so it's not really censorship... or is it?
Click to expand...
This is a good thread Kooky.

I think book banning is a terrible practice overall and both left and right wings ought to be up in arms over it if freedoms are to be preserved.

I may not be supportive of teaching some material in the classroom, but accessibility should be there for people who want it.
 
Secret Chief

Secret Chief

nirvana is samsara
Altfish said:
Hmm, I struggle to find many examples where PC is not being polite and considerate.
Click to expand...
From that bastion of subversive communism, Wikipedia:

"Since the late 1980s, the term has been used to describe a preference for inclusive language and avoidance of language or behavior that can be seen as excluding, marginalizing, or insulting to groups of people disadvantaged or discriminated against, particularly groups defined by ethnicity, sex, gender, or sexual orientation."

- Political correctness - Wikipedia
 
Altfish

Altfish

Veteran Member
Revoltingest

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
Secret Chief said:
From that bastion of subversive communism, Wikipedia:

"Since the late 1980s, the term has been used to describe a preference for inclusive language and avoidance of language or behavior that can be seen as excluding, marginalizing, or insulting to groups of people disadvantaged or discriminated against, particularly groups defined by ethnicity, sex, gender, or sexual orientation."

- Political correctness - Wikipedia
Click to expand...
You forgot to include its original meaning....
Early usage of the term politically correct by leftists in the 1970s and 1980s was as self-critical satire; usage was ironic, rather than a name for a serious political movement.[7][11][12][13] It was considered an in-joke among leftists used to satirise those who were too rigid in their adherence to political orthodoxy.[14]

That's the usage I use.
BTW, lefties know better...they never use it as a
synonym for "polite". They only claim that when
others use it in its original sense.
It's just their attempt o deny the existence of
excessive "political orthodoxy" in their midst.
 
beenherebeforeagain

beenherebeforeagain

Rogue Animist
Premium Member
9-10ths_Penguin said:
No.


It generally isn't a freedom of speech issue.

Freedom of speech is the right to say what you want without punishment by the government. It isn't the right to any particular platform (e.g. an author being entitled to getting their books in public libraries).

Banning books from libraries is generally a crappy thing to do, but it isn't a free speech issue. Free speech is about the rights of the author; book banning is about the rights of the reader, and about good governance generally.
Click to expand...
most libraries are actually government agencies, even the ones in public schools...or they are nonprofits operated in the public interest. They deserve heightened scrutiny when they take such actions as a matter of policy. Anything government action in the field of media is potentially First Amendment.
 
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