Book Banning?

Question

Why is it that people who normally want a book banned for some reason are always the first to admit that they haven't actually read the book?
In this day and age, why can't people make informed, educated decisions through careful research and thought rather than relying on hearsay and fear??

Just an add on, specifically to Venus M...

I'm from Canada, and trust me when I tell you that we have bookstores like B&N :)
In fact, I'd go so far as to say that our laws regarding publishing and expression of opinion are far more leniant than in the U.S. ...just an FYI ;)

Answer 1

Freedom of the press, man. I agree. We should totally be able to read whatevah we want.

Answer 2

You make a valid point. I guess it would be different in every situation, but my guess is people believe what they want to believe. If they get an idea that something is 'inappropriate' or 'offensive' or whatever they hold onto the idea that they're right and everyone else is wrong. In some cases they may be acting on what others have told them. Or in worst case scenarios, perhaps acting on what other people have heard based on what other people have heard, etc. so you'd have to go back quite a while to find the actual person who had read the book and taken offense. What the situation calls for is context. Everyone involved needs to have read the book in its entirety in order to judge whether it's worth all the commotion. The problem is, people can read with their minds already made up that they're determined to find fault...they're on a mission to be offended. It actually is funny in some ways that a person will take the time to count how many bad words are used, (list each word individually and tally up how many times each word is used), etc. I have found websites with this information! It's just so bizarre it's funny.

Answer 3

You raise a good question. I'm not a religious fanatic, but a good case in point of people not knowing what they are talking about, is the Bible. I hear it all the time about what is supposedly written within its pages, when it just isn't so.

The Harry Potter series was and still is discriminated against as well. I personally find the books very imaginative and entertaining. Judging by book sales, I think the rest of the world enjoys them too.

When it comes to book banning, I think that is a realm that needs to be left alone. Books are mind candy and if a person doesn't read, they shouldn't go on about their uninformed opinion.

It seems that when these non readers spew their comments, they're just trying to meld into the mainstream. If I didn't read, I'd be embarrassed to admit it. In my mind, people who do not read, simply must not know how.

Answer 4

You raise a very valid question.

One of the things that I try to do when a book stirs up a lot of controversy (let's use The Da Vinci Code as an example) is read it for myself. Unfortunately, The Da Vinci Code just wasn't able to hold my interest, but then I had my own opinions concerning its premise and, quite frankly, still have them.

You see, I don't believe in banning books, even if I disagree with them. Our local library was being pressured a number of years ago concerning some books that, I'll admit, weren't exactly my cup of tea--and I had to take the side of those who wanted these books kept on the shelves. Why? Because libraries should be places where all ideas are represented, even the ones I dislike.

Once we begin censoring books, it's only a short step to burning them.

Answer 5

I may hate a lot of books out there, including some plain old bad written ones, but books should NEVER be banned. If we started banning books then what is the point in the freedom of press. What is the point to freedom of speech. We will become like Canada and other countries who can't even have a bookstore like Borders or B&N because they have such strict laws about book publishing. Books are for everyone. These people who want to ban books are right up there with the guys who burned Alexanders Library. If they had it their way we would only read fluffy books about kittens and clouds.

Answer 6

Mainly, in my opinion, because Americans and some few other people aroung the globe have made a living being bigots. Education gets in the way of their thinking, so that anything that doesn't match their thinking, including education should be banned. That is why there are so many unintelligent people wandering around. Most of them in a daze.

Answer 7

Most of the time people make prejudicial decisions based on ignorance, like you have stated. People make these decisions without being informed because being informed takes too much hard work for some. You know the saying that "Ignorance is bliss", too many people act this way simply because they are lazy

Answer 8

I have been a avid reader all my life. Some books I have felt were distasteful and after a while I put them aside. Never have I felt that books should banned. We read for pleasure and to learn. Banning of books takes away the readers choice. I have read books considered to be banned by others and enjoyed them. I say - to each his own.

Answer 9

Look at our current Administration here in the States - fear and hearsay are all they've got! ...'tis the societal means of exercising power over others.

Answer 10

Unfortunately, the human animal is reactionary and prone to believing gossip, and LAZY.

Making informed, educated decisions requires EFFORT, and WORK, and STUDY; these just aren't acceptable practices these days, not that they ever have been. That is why we still have Democrats and Republicans running (destroying) the country.

Answer 11

Because some people would rather jump into conclusions before they do some research or whatever.

I don't know what they fear of, change or to be proven wrong.