Porn and a public libraries responsibility to censor?

[lykaon78]

Theres a story on our local news tonight, sorta of bizarre.

Some mother claiming that her son has been downloading porn at the public library for the past 6 months.

She claims, its the library's responsibility to monitor the use of the public access computers.

The library claims its a two way street, sure they share some of the responsibilty but that parents also share some amount as well. The library uses a site specific filter that limits entire sites on a filter list.

The mother wants them to use a word specific filter.

What are some views on parent/public responsibility to protect minors.

My take, the mother makes herself look like a moron because she can't control her mid-pubescent son. My girlfriend is a teacher at a school the filters the internet by word specific filter. She recently had her students do Powerpoint presentation on a planet and was constantly complaining that most sites that have only educational purposes her getting blocked.

On the other hand, with the proliferation of porn sites. There has got to be a balance. There is no list comprehensive enough to block all porn sites.

Any thoughts? Any parents here with an opinion?

 

[rudder]

Well its impossible for the library to filter all porn. Its the parents responsibility to teach the child right from wrong. End of story.

 

[punkrawket]

<< Well its impossible for the library to filter all porn. Its the parents responsibility to teach the child right from wrong. End of story. >>

my local library blocked most porn sites.... i tried to make some the start page .... but my plans were foiled.... i got them back later though

 

[rudder]

my local library blocked most porn sites.... i tried to make some the start page .... but my plans were foiled.... i got them back later though

You must have some really proud parents having such a bright 12 year old on thier hands.

 

[tm37]

The only way to ensure that kids don't get to internet porn on the library computers is to not let kids USE the internet. However If they did that this mom would sue the library for NOT letting her kid use the internet. This is a simple case of the parent Blaming SOMEONE ELSE for their childs actions! THis is like parents sueing tatoo parlors for piercing ears of minors.

My dad would not have sued the library but he would have kicked my ass!

 

[n0cmonkey]

peacefire.org

Word filters can filter out too much. Want to learn about this nasty breast cancer grandma just got? Well too bad. :/

 

[b0mbrman]

Wow...people cry when they're not censored enough...people cry when they're too censored...

Where's the balance at?

 

[crawford]

just because the parents teach the kids porn is wrong, isnt gonna stop them from looking at it. every high school kid knows its wrong.... do they care ?

 

[vi edit]

Here's my view on the subject -

Keep the public computers filterless, but have a VERY clearly expressed policy that you get once strike against you if caught looking at porn, and the next time you get nailed after that, you loose all privledges and access to the computers. No if's, and's, or but's about it.

You have the librarian or whoever is on duty to make a pass through every now and then to make sure all the one handed web surfers keep both hands on the keyboards at all times.

 

[Apollyon]

I like your idea vi_edit, in addition I would make each person have to get a login to use the computer this way the library can keep tabs on who did what (well at least for children). If the threat is there that some 12 year old's history file will be sent to mommy, perhaps that's enuff to get him to find other ways to get his porn. Like I had to when I was 12.
;-)

 

[b0mbrman]

Here's my idea. Make everyone who is under 18 that wants to use the internet get their parents to sign a release form. On the form write "I have educated my kid that porn is the devil and keeping his porn-fiending under control is my responsibility"

The parents *have* to sign it (maybe they should do it in person to make sure the little f*ck doesn't forge it) or else their kids can't use the internet

 

[gopunk]

vi_edit has a good suggestion i think.

but in general, people like that mother need to do their jobs and quit expecting society to do their work for them. it's her own damn fault if her son has been dl'ing porn. now, if her son was traumatized because some homeless guy was jerking off in the library, that's a different story. but if it's her own son that did it, she should take full responsibility, instead of trying to pawn off her parental guilt onto society.

 

[rahvin]

I'm sorry but the library like the real world is a place to gain information. Put the computers in a public area facing the crowd and use a method like that employed and that is that. The library is the one place things SHOULDN'T be censored, we shouldn't dumb the adult world down because we want to protect children. It's a parents responsiblity to protect their children or forbid them from using it if they can't control them.

 

[gopunk]

<< I'm sorry but the library like the real world is a place to gain information. Put the computers in a public area facing the crowd and use a method like that employed and that is that. The library is the one place things SHOULDN'T be censored, we shouldn't dumb the adult world down because we want to protect children. It's a parents responsiblity to protect their children or forbid them from using it if they can't control them. >>



i was thinking that at first too, but if some one else is looking at porn, it's not like the parent has any authority over that person. it'd all be better if the computers could not be seen by others.

 

[AUMM]

how did the mother catch him?

 

[jeffrey]

The kid has to learn about sex from somewhere!! Do you trust public schools to do it? No library should block porn. Blocking porn in censorship, we are in America in the 21st century. Sex is natural and as long as the kid pays sales tax, obeys the laws, and doesn't go past the internet access time limit - more power to him!

If the kid can't see a little T&A, then why and the hell are we proud to be Americans?

 

[HappyPuppy]

Dr. Laura knows best.

 

[yakko]

This is the exact reason that adult sites need their own top level domain so you can filter and extension like .xxx. Until that comes about there is not really going to be any easy way to do it.

 

[ElFenix]

kids need to learn about sex but porn sites aren't the way to do it. they should use sheer embarassment to keep kids from getting fap material at the library. put the computers in the reading area, or facing the front desk, where the librarian can easily see.

 

[ViRGE]

<< kids need to learn about sex but porn sites aren't the way to do it. they should use sheer embarassment to keep kids from getting fap material at the library. put the computers in the reading area, or facing the front desk, where the librarian can easily see. >>



And what about the adults?

 

[WTT0001]

Our policy is somewhat like VI's. The adults are handed the policy and by using the internet accept it (there is no porn allowed) for the children the parents must sign a waiver saying, basically, your not responsibility, It is mine. So, good luck trying to do such a thing at the local library here

 

[TheBlondOne]

IMO, it is definately the responsibility of the mother. Many public libraries are required to keep internet porn available. The government assumes that parents will take responsibility for their children and monitor what they are looking at/logging on to.

IMAGINE THAT!

--Sarah

 

[Kadarin]

In the original post, it's stated that the mother is claiming that her son is downloading porn at the library. A couple of points: Can she prove this? (And prove that he actually did it, as opposed to proving that it's possible.) Secondly, "downloading porn" isn't the same thing as "viewing porn" at the library. I'm sure the kid could easily have fired up Morpheus or edonkey or some other p2p app and downloaded vast quantities of porn without having to worry about other kids seeing him.

Just to clarify my own position: I believe in the "social engineering" model of making sure the screens are in conspicuous view of everyone, and then not filtering anything. This woman needs to deal with her kid, and leave the library alone.

 

[MikeO]

<< people like that mother need to do their jobs and quit expecting society to do their work for them. >>



Exactly.

 

[Nefrodite]

if a parent lets their children play in the street and they get hit by a car.. its their #%@ stupid fault. if they don't trust their kids on the net, then maybe they should have been better parents.