Censored Banned Book Post and the Carnival

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I found myself censoring myself as editor of the Carnival this
week.  I do not know if I did the "right thing" or not, but I am quite
upset with myself for it.  It may have been in the best interest of "the cause," but I’m unhappy nonetheless.

Here is the entry that should have resided along with Angel’s and
Michael’s posts on Banned Books Week.  And yes, it was an editor’s
pick, so it was mine to include or not.  I wussed at the last minute
and for that I apologize to Nadia.

Guest Post: Nadia on Banned Books Week  [Not work, kid or Puritan safe.] from Nadia of the recently departed Kinky Librarian guesting at PantiesPantiesPanties.  Ringmaster’s pick.

Three of the books on the list of the Ten most Challenged Books of 2004
were challenged due to homosexual themes (the highest number in a
decade). I’ve no doubt that if homosexuality had nothing to do with SEX
people wouldn’t care. But we’re still too backwards of a society in
general for the majority of people to handle sexuality in an adult,
relaxed way. I say it’s time we get over it! Sex is part of life, and
as a friend of mine once said, "If you don’t like it, take it up with
the man upstairs. He created it."

I’m not even sure I can explain why I censored myself, but I will
try.  Please keep in mind that this is not an excuse.  I have none.

I care about the Carnival very much.  I want to see it succeed.
(I’m beginning to have my doubts about that, but that is another
post.)  I guess I figured by linking to the above post, even with the
included warning, that some people might be offended and my choice
would have the result of driving people away from the overall
Carnival.   And that is the exact opposite of what I’m trying
to do.  So I guess I sacrificed Nadia’s post to (possibly) the greater
good.  But I have no way of knowing if it is the case that the greater
good was served.  And I feel like an ass now.

Nadia had some important things to say about why we should care
about the banning of certain forms of information and how it could
impact us as bloggers.  I wanted to include it and I didn’t.  Why is
"doing the right thing" so impossibly hard sometimes?  And then when
you do make a decision, why can’t you actually believe that it is the
"right thing?"

Nadia, and the folks at PantiesPantiesPanties, I am truly sorry.

4 thoughts on “Censored Banned Book Post and the Carnival”

  1. Well, if it is any consolation, you are not the only one. I had seen Nadia’s post, which I think is both eloquent and well-written. I thought about recommending it, but I think I fell on the “worried about what others think” trap. Had it been a matter of linking to it in one of my blogs, I probably would not have hesitated. Maybe because the Carnival is more of a public space, meaning like you point out that so many people could come and be offended? (Again, I personally don’t care much. I see part of my job as offending someone at some point somewhere). At the end of the post, I am not sure what I am trying to say other than you had a very human reaction? Anyways, better late than never; you still went on and shared it and hopefully more people who need to see it will see it. Best.

  2. Thanks again Angel! I agree, if it had just been “my blog” instead of the public space of the Carnival it’d been easy to include it.

    But I also know that if it had been any other week but Banned Books Week that I would not have felt near as bad about censoring it. I still would’ve been unhappy that I felt compelled to do so by my society. But it would have been far less traumatic. And that thought perhaps scares me even more.

  3. Hi there – I just discovered this post (and blog). I can understand your censoring (in a way) my post for banned books week. After all, I blog so boldy under an assumed name because unfortunately I need to worry about the impact my outspokeness (particularly the things I publish about my personal life) could have on my career as a librarian.

    I have to confess that I’m not familiar with the carnival, so I’m not sure if my post was appropriate or not. But I do like the fact that my post got you thinking about censorship – in one way or another. *grin*

  4. Hi Nadia! Again, my apologies for my actions. I think I, for once, fairly eloquently expressed my painful conundrum in my words. Unfortunately, that did not then, and still does not, make me feel better about my decision.

    I just wished we lived in a society in which such decisions were not forced upon us.

    Thank you for what you do! It may not be my lifestyle, although I sometimes wish mine were more like yours.

    You would have known about this at the time if stupid TypePad trackbacks had been working then. I’ve had problems on and off since about that time, which was the height of the problem. The trackback to pantiespantiespanties was one of the few that *never* could be forced to go.

    Well, I’m glad you finally found the post. Again, I’m not sure what else I could’ve done over the whole situation with our society as it is, but I felt I owed you an explanation and apology.

    Best and take care of yourself!