Hi everyone,
Thank you all for your comments about adult content.
Here's how we handle it at Bookshare: if anyone can walk into their local
library and find the book on the shelves, don't mark it adult content. DO make
a note in the synopsis about the content! That's the perfect place to inform
the reader of what he or she can expect. If you come across something that you
think is adult content but aren't sure, email me (volunteer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx)!
I know this won't please every single person but it's our current policy and we
request you to respect it. If you have any other questions, comments, or
concerns about adult content, please contact me off-list.
Thanks,
Madeleine Linares
Volunteer Coordinator
Bookshare, a Benetech Initiative
650-644-3459
volunteer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
-----Original Message-----
From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Roger Loran Bailey
Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2015 11:27 AM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Question about a book
Anne, I didn't say a thing about not having a warning label. As a matter of
fact, I said to put it in the synopsis. I certainly agree that the more
information one has to base one's decisions about reading choices the better. I
also have nothing against a book that was written for adults with an adult
audience in mind being labeled as adult. Bookshare does not have an adult
category, but if one is added then that would be welcome. However, it
effectively already exists in that there is a children's category and that, not
withstanding miscategorized books, it can be assumed that if a book is not
listed under the children's category then it must be for adults. The problem is
with the adult check box that one finds when submitting a book. If it is
checked then anyone under the age of eighteen cannot download it and does not
even see it on the site if they are browsing or searching for something. That
is flat out censorship. As for some people under a certain age not
understanding certain subject matter, So what? What do you do when you find
yourself reading something that you do not understand? I suspect that you quit
reading it. That's what I do. There have been some exceptions though.
When I was in college I found that I did not understand organic chemistry. It
would have been nice if I had been able to just skip the classes in that
subject and stop reading the material that was required reading for those
classes, but if I wanted to complete my degree in biology I did not have the
option of skipping it. Somehow I even managed to pass my organic chemistry
classes, but I still don't think I understand the subject very well. Did it do
me any harm to read organic chemistry textbooks? Not a bit. At most it may have
wasted some of my time and caused me some frustration, but I still weathered it
quite well. Other than a scenario like that, though, when someone finds him or
herself reading material that he or she does not understand the usual outcome
is that he or she stops reading it and finds something else to read that is
understandable. So what's the problem? The big problem that I see is that some
people who have had their sexuality warped and have grown up with unwarranted
repressions try to dictatorially insist that everyone else have their sexuality
warped in the same way. They insist on it to the degree of censorship and
repression. I am all for anyone having whatever sexual attitudes they might
want or feel comfortable with, but I sure do have a problem with them when they
insist on imposing those attitudes on others. If parents want to be involved in
guiding their children in reading choices then that is okay too, but guidance
is one thing and having other people impose a ban on certain reading material
unless the parent makes an active effort to counteract such a ban is another
thing.
On 7/23/2015 7:07 AM, Ann Parsons wrote:
Hi all,
Now Roger, I agree that nothing should be censored but I think that
there is some material that needs to have a warning label on it. As
has been said before, if you can find it on a book shelf in an open
aisle in a store, it's probably not Adult Content. However, some books
which have explicit descriptions of aberrant sex, violence, and are
considered to be soft porn, should be labeled as Adult Content. Some
LGBT lit might be labeled Adult content, not because I have anything
against the LGBT community, but because kids under say sixteen,
depending on the kid, probably have no understanding of or interest in
such things. I do understand that the restriction can be lifted for a
given child if a teacher or parent agrees. this, I feel is a good
thing because it implies that the child will be reading the book under
supervision. This is necessary for some material, I think. I'm not
saying kids shouldn't read such stuff, but that they should do so with
the knowledge of an adult who can explain, discuss, and answer
questions about a given book.
I don't thing there are too many books in the Bookshare collection
which would be considered Adult Content. This is, of course a
subjective categorization. If 'twere me, I'd be very careful as to
what I labeled as Adult Content. If in doubt, check with us. Some of
us have been reading a good, long time, and are familiar with many
authors.
As Tom Lehr said, "To be smut it must be ut-terly without redeeming
social importance ..."
Ann P.
