• Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    8 hours ago

    The proper reaction to finding out that librarians are legally barred from lending certain classic novels to children is not, “oh that’s okay, they can just download it.” Especially when we’re literally talking about a book dealing with suppressing speech.

    • MacN'Cheezus@lemmy.today
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      7 hours ago

      On the contrary, I’d say that’s an instructive example demonstrating why the book continues to be relevant over 75 years after its release.

      Also, if anything, banning it would likely only serve to increase interest in it since the best way to get a rebellious teenager to do anything is to tell them they aren’t allowed to do it.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        7 hours ago

        It’s only instructive if the kids you think should download books that they can’t get at the library are taking your advice to do so. And I doubt they’re on Lemmy.

        Furthermore, as the husband of a librarian who is (if she is still in Indiana when they pass the bill they intend to pass) at risk of imprisonment if she allows children to have access to books on a ban list, I have to tell you that this is about more than just kids having access to a specific book.