Porn is Free Speech at Public Libraries

I think calling it a 1A issue is weak, at best.  It's a policy issue.  I'm not really bothered by the policy, but I think the Library should take reasonable steps to prevent others from having to watch or listen to it (if they don't want to).

I agree.  However putting them in "private booths" or similar would certainly create new problems (if you know what I mean)

I believe it was a great philosopher, err, George Michael from the 1980's who once asked in his hit song, I Want Your Sex, "what's your definition of dirty baby?  what do you consider pornography?"  ...really makes ya think.  

Seriously, it's such a slippery slope in both directions.  I sure as heck don't want my public libraries turning into porno theaters...but then again, I don't want fundamentalists banning books, paintings, sculptures, etc. based on explicit context (or content THEY deem "pornographic" which brings me back to George Michael's question...which of course has an answer that's very subjective.

Would you explain your reasoning for your position that pornography is/should not be protected speech?

My mind is open; I'd like to consider your argument and those of others before forming an opinion.

i think they should ban all speech in porn....free or not

just ruins it for me

I agree completely, I understand porn is protected but why the heck does that mean it is going to show up in our public libraries. Who wants to watch porn at the public library?

I never said pornography is not free speech.  I have no issue with it being made avaialble and protected.

What I do NOT consider free speech is the "right" to watch it on public computers in front of people who should not be watching it (kids).  I'm not 100% sure on this but I think it is illegal in most places to display pornography on public airwaves or by, for example, putting a TV in your front lawn and showing these types of images.

Why would it be any different in the library?

When I was in college it was permissible to look at porn in the computer labs but if someone complained to the lab tech you had to explain why it was relevant to your school work, like a research paper in sociology or whatever.  If you couldn't come up with one you had to stop but to my knowledge nobody ever snitched.  It was basically a porn room.

As far as kids in libraries, their parents need to be there anyway with our without porn availability.

Why?  When I was 10ish my parents would drop me off at the library (at my request) and they would run a few errands while I got lost in the stacks.  I was great for building independence and it fostered my love of books.

Granted 2011 is a different time, but still, I let my son wander the library (I'm off in one section, he's in another). 

Well if they allow people to surf porn on computers then why not start stocking Playboy, Penthouse and what ever other smut there is in the media rack as well? Or how bout putting some xxx books on the shelves for check out while there at it?  whats the differnce really?

Well, when I was in college, they did have Playboy behind the desk.  I think I heard of one guy actually checking it out. 

At the library system where I work, we have gone round and round with the lawyers and the law regarding what is considered okay to view in the library. 

Child pornography is illegal - should we see this we will copy the computer session and hand it over to the legal authorities.

Harmful to minors - anything that we thing would be considered harmful to minors, we would approach the person and let them know that what they are view would be considered harmful to minors and can we move them to a computer where there is little likelyhood of a child accidentially viewing the screen.  The customers nearly always shut down the site and refuse the computer move.

Legal but not harmful to minors - If there has been a complaint by another library customer, we let the customer know there was a complaint regarding what they were viewing.  We again offer them a computer elsewhere.  And again, most just shut down the site and continue on with their computer time on other sites.

The biggest debate is what is considered "Porn".  What is considered porn by one, maynot be considered porn by another.  Many of the complaints that we actually receive relate to women in bathing suits or underware.  The complaining customer says it's porn.  What do you call it?

Also, I don't know how someone at another computer would hear the "threeway mentioned in the article, when the speakers are not in use and you have to use headphones to hear any sound.

No, I don't, since I'm a good Catholic boy - please explain.

Are people in this town complaining because they don't want to use their own ISP to surf for smut and get a virus/risk, or don't want to go in to their local p0rn shop since they'll get in trouble for loitering and don't want to purchase, or ???, but consider going to a library to check it out??!!  WTF??!!

Then, you're doing it wrong.

To clarify, with my bolded statement I was referring to your first bolded statement. It seemed that you were saying pornography should not be protected speech.

With your clarification, it seems you are saying that pornography is protected speech. Thanks for clarifying.

From there I get confused about your argument. Pornography is protected speech but watching porn is not protected speech - I hope I didn't misunderstand your expressed opinion.

If pornography is protected speech then why should a library prohibit it's viewing by adults? Is it that children might accidentally see it? You qualified your statement that it should not be viewed by adults in front of children. How do you feel about pornography being viewed by adults without children present.

I have no issues with adults watching pornography.

However, I feel that the "right to watch in a library" is not protected.  The article is essentially asking:

Should people have the right to watch it whereve they want? (e.g. in a library)

I say no.  If there is any possibility that a child could see it then it is the responsibility of the library to protect children from the content.  If they cannot do this then they need to not offer it to anyone.

But let's face it people, IMO the only people who are going to watch porn in a library are the homeless or the mentally disturbed.

Does anyone think this is a right in a public library?