Top Searches—March 12, 2009
Presented without comment.
Some Thoughts on Intellectual Freedom, Plurality and the West Bend Library Book challenge
Wisconsin readers of SDIF may already be aware of the ongoing books challenge in West Bend, WI. Local Fox6 News has a video clip on the matter here (though you may cringe at its rhetorical pandering to this absurd construct collectively known as “the culture wars.” At least I did.)
While the situation has blown up into a call for the removal of certain GLBTQ books by the local religious community, that was not originally the case. Initially, (as I have come to understand it) the challenge centered around the book lists on the West Bend library’s website for Young Adults. A mother was concerned that the GLBTQ book list contained, in her mind, only pro-gay literature (whatever that means). Her request was that some sort of alternative viewpoint (specifically, a Christian-based homophobic one) be represented there as well. Presumably, this would come in the form of Christian “conversion” literature. That is, literature claiming that through Christian faith, one can overcome (or, in some iterations, “cure”) their homosexuality.
Now, this post is not intended to address the ideological battle over whether or not homosexuality is some sort of “sin.” I will state that I am certain it is not a sin, and that to believe otherwise is to engage in bigotry, plain and simple. I further believe that “conversion” literature has no place in a public library’s Young Adult section (or, in most cases, any section). But, again, while I am more than happy to argue why elsewhere, I do not look to do so here.
Rather, I would like to address some of the discussions among library and information science students and professionals that I have been privy to as of late. Specifically, I would like to address what seems to be a common consensus that, in the name of Intellectual Freedom, the GLBTQ books should not be removed and that some sort of “conversion” literature should be necessarily added to the collection.
In short: I find this quick consensus to be alarming and, frankly, dangerous.
Google Latitude: The Loneliest Place on Earth
I got on board with Google’s Latitude shortly after its unveiling last week. I was curious on two fronts, 1) to see what kind of privacy mess it could be and 2) to see what kind of utility a location-based social media app might have for my life. After a few days of playing around it seems I’ve (mostly) had my curiosities satisfied…
Download Me Do
Norway’s national broadcasting service (NRK) gets the greenlight to post a boatload of free podcasts that, among other things, happen to contain the entire Beatles’ catalog.
A Decade of DMCA
Public Knowledge has a week long series of blog posts and video interviews to commemorate the Digital Millenium Copyright Act, which was enacted 10 years ago this week.
Yesterday, Rashmi Rangnath wrote:
Today is the 10th anniversary of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) – a law that content owners claimed was absolutely necessary if they were to make content available in digital form. At the time the legislation was being considered, opponents including libraries, museums, and representatives of the consumer electronics industry warned that the legislation would jeopardize fair use and other lawful uses. Today, many of these fears have been realized. What is more, the DMCA has been used in ways lawmakers never intended. However, the law’s effectiveness in preventing “piracy” still remains questionable.
From Mad Men to Mad Science
I, like many bloggers and critics (but not nearly enough viewers), am an avid fan of AMC’s Mad Men. The balance between gritty HBO-style series and Sirkian melodrama is delicately struck, and it’s a pleasure to watch.
However, with tawdry office sex and button-down social politics taking up most of the screen time, it’s sometimes easy to lose track of the show’s centerpiece: advertising. It’s clear Weiner and company aren’t as distracted as we are; they are hyper-aware of the ad man’s role in shaping the mass culture of the 1960’s. The casually placed McLuhan references make that obvious enough.
But, that was almost 50 years ago. Where are we now?
Wikipedia, Truth, and the University
Technology Review currently has an article up about Wikipedia that basically amounts to a roundabout discussion of the subjective nature of truth. [via]
However, the piece brings up an interesting problem many of us haven’t considered: the often vicious circle of citation and verification.
sex drugs and intellectual freedom 
leave a comment