Is it illegal to look at a book containing pornographic images while you are at a Borders bookstore?

Question

I went to Borders and they had a pile of book (not magazines) about Playboy's 50th anniversary. They were in plain view and not in a plastric wrap, so I grabbed a copy and started sifting through its pages. I think some people noticed that I was looking at pictures of naked women and were probably not too happy about it (but then again, the book was at the bookstore available for anyone to see).

Could I have gotten in trouble if I had been caught looking at that book at a public place?

(It's disturbing that such books are in plain sight for anyone, even kids, to see.)

Answer 1

I worked in a bookstore for quite a while, and we actually carried that book. Because it contained nudity and we had many children that came in to the store, we kept it in the plastic and behind the counter.

BUT, in the Sexuality sections, anyone could pick up a fully illustrated copy of the Kama Sutra. Anyone. We didn't have any rules restricting minors from picking up and looking at books in that section, but I made a point of going over into the section when kids were there to either make them uncomfortable with my presence, or blatantly say to them that the kids section is at the back of the store. Legally, I had no place to say anything to them.

If the book is on the shelf, and in plain sight, you have a right to look at it. If it is considered art or literature and not pornography, then it is protected by the First Amendment. Look as long as you want, I say, just do it in a way that doesn't offend other people who don't feel like staring at nudity.

Answer 2

No. If you are a minor, the store is responsible for keeping material which is not suitable for a minor away from plain view. You have nothing to worry about although people could file a complaint against the store...

Answer 3

Jayelle has a good suggestion and I have another one: meditate in between prayer times. DO NOT continue inflicting pain on yourself. Call the disturbing images into your mind while you aren't praying, look at them and let them go. It is your fear of your own mind that is causing you a problem. If you learn to control your mind by meditating, you can stop being afraid of yourself. When unpleasant thoughts arise during meditation, stay calm, don't judge yourself, just look at them and let them go as you ask yourself "I wonder what I'll think of next?"

Answer 4

No. Sometimes, they'll have a book like that behind the counter and you have to be 18 to buy it, but if it was in plain view for anyone to see, nothing wrong with it. If other people weren't happy about it, that was their problem not yours.

Answer 5

First of all, if it is sold there...YOU SHOULD NOT FEEL GUILTY LOOKING AT IT. Just don't do it in the kids section. People should mind their own biz, not being nosy and looking to see what others are looking at. I could give a RATS A*s who looks at what in the Borders store. I'm too busy doing my thing.

Answer 6

No I don't think so. I know they used to have an adult magazine section in the regular magazine section at the tower records chain.

Answer 7

No you couldn't, Borders should have had the magazine behind a counter so that minors couldn't get there hands on it. This is a legal magazine so don't worry about it.

Answer 8

Well, it depends.....were you touching your "little friend"?
If so, then that would be very bad.
Next time, if you want to look at nude pix and get excited, but the damn book, guys like you are soooo gross getting books all sweaty and stuff and getting turned on by the thought of people watching you!
Ugh!!

Answer 9

lets see the book was on plain view and it was a public place......what are u asking again?

Answer 10

Awesome. Not illegal as it was provided by the stablishment. It's not like you brought one on with you. And as long as you weren't using it, just looking, I guess that's fine too.