PROS.....of banning books...?

Question

I have to list the pros and cons of banning books. In my PERSONAL opinion i can find no pros but i HAVE to have atleast three so if anyone can think of some ideas?!? thankkkyou.

Answer 1

"When people challenge books it is generally out of a concern that the contents of the book will be harmful to the reader. According to the ALA, there are four motivating factors:

Family Values
Religion
Political Views
Minority Rights"

Answer 2

I agree with BlueManticore. If you can't think of a reason for banning a book (and there isn't one, in my opinion) then, in the section where you need to list the pros, write about why you think no book should be banned. There are plenty of resources out there to support your opinion.

You can list pros and cons for religion and politics but books = knowledge - something no person has a right to restrict. If you really feel that there are no pros to book banning, write it all down. Looking back, I wish I'd have been more assertive and had stood up for myself at school when I was being told what to think and how to behave a certain way.

You do it your way.

Answer 3

It depends on the extent of the "ban" If you mean banning something entirely, it can't be done in this country. However, there ARE pros if you're talking about banning books in certain places (schools, churches...etc)

By banning books with strong violence and sexual situations, you are preventing minors from being influenced with adult situations. (Basically, if the book were a movie and it would be rated "R" or higher, the book shouldn't be available to 12 year olds at the school library. They wouldn't be allowed into the movie without a parent)

Some books actually teach people how to do horrible things, such as commit suicide, hide eating disorders, create bombs...etc. "Banning" such books can keep impressionable children and teenagers from being harmed.

Finally, some books have very graphic and open prejudice towards people of different races, ethnicities, religions, sexual preferences...etc. By banning them, you would be stopping the feeding of these prejudices.

I am not one to "ban" books, but I do think places like schools should have "reasonable" reading material for their student's age group. Clearly, we wouldn't let the school library pass out Playboy magainze to students, so books that have equally objectionable material for minors should be provided by the child's parent or the student should buy the book elsewhere.

Answer 4

Sorry, but you're out of luck. You're just going to have to tell your teacher that there is absolutely nothing good about banning books. Just because someone does not care for a certain book does not give them the right to prevent others from having access to that book. Parents might have the right to decide what books their kids can and cannot have access to, but they do not have the right to restrict other children from that book. If a parent is not happy with what a teacher assigns to be read, then that teacher should assign a substitute for that one student, the rest of the class should go on reading that book.

Answer 5

Try looking at the question from the point of view of someone that you aren't.

If you can't see any pros you are probably someone who believes in in free speech and education.

From the perspective of someone, a government, or an organization that is trying to control people:

You can have people believe in a history that is not true.

You can have people convinced that their world is the best of all possible worlds.

You can convince people that their thoughts are abnormal, and they had best not express them.

etc.

Answer 6

-Whatever group is pushing to do the banning stops whining...for a while.

-Ignorance is bliss, right? Banning books creates that sort of mentality, which can be OK in it's own way...for some people, that is.

Answer 7

Nobody will argue that books should be banned arbitrarily.
Here are some ideas:
Books of child pornography.
Books of bestiality (people having sex with animals).
Books of torture.
It can be argued that these books encourage cruel activities and have nothing to recommend them.

Answer 8

It would save paper/trees