Many libraries are fighting a renewed war against censorship as self-righteous neo-puritans demand the removal of anything they have deemed "obscene." The problem is that so many individuals have different ideas about what is OK and what is not OK. For example, are talking animals cute, an affront to God's divine spirit granted solely to humanity, or an unscientific deception?
A few days ago, I had a patron who wanted new mysteries without graphic sex, violence, or profanity. After that, I had another reader who thought it wasn't an authentic story without those same elements.
Just today, I went on a deep dive through our digital catalog looking for stories that would appeal to a pre-teen lad while passing the approval criteria of his parents. I am a bit bewildered because wartime historical fiction is OK, but classic adventure stories and Sherlock Holmes mysteries solving murder are not. Treasure Island wasn't even acceptable!
War is mass murder, but is it somehow sanctified because the scumbags who lied, stole, and cheated to build a political career said it was necessary? I see hypocrisy, but I seem to be alone. Imagine if I argued that since I am an anarchist who rejects political authority, every hagiographic history and government-glorifying thriller needed to be burned? That would be terrible, but celebrating the fire-bombing of civilian cities is A-OK somehow.
Censor your own media consumption to your heart's content, but don't censor others, and please question whether your own discrimination may be hypocritical. And go borrow some classic fiction from your local library.
