FTFA: Reasons given by organisations and individuals for their requests to get it removed from public shelves, include "anti-ethnic

Aren't *all* the penguins black?

anti-family

And in a family?

religious viewpoint

So the penguins were racist militant atheists who went around breaking up famililes?

Fascinating. I *must* buy this book.

Do people actually believe that reading a book on gays will make them gay?


/Maybe they are actually just terrified their kids inherited their own gay genes

when the british start taking showers, bushing their teeth and eating goat stomachs they can talk--until then STFU

rcain: Remember kids, it's the land of the "free", not the land of the "free to read whatever the fark you farking want".

Now who here knows about the dewey decimal system?

detfrost1: meat0918: GurneyHalleck: I think fundamentalist thought should be banned in school. Starting with The Bible.

Just make sure you have and equal number of copies of the Koran, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, Dianetics, etc., and we shouldn't have a problem.

I think that the historical relevance of religions should be taught in schools...nothing more.

Morality is for the family to teach, not school system.

Agreed. I'm trying my best with my kids. Of course, I have His Dark Materials quite a few of those banned books in my personal collection. I don't have the gay penguins book though.

hmm, missing an "and" up there between "His Dark Materials" and "quite".

ninjakirby: NikolaiFarkoff: Kyosuke: "A lot of things wrong with society today are directly attributable to the fact that the people who make the laws are sexually maladjusted." -- R. Buckminster Fuller

"I wanna dip my balls in it." -- R. Buckminster Fuller

"I totally dipped my balls in it." -- Mrs R. Buckerminster Fuller.

Nice, you two.
New keyboard...owed.

GAT_00: ne2d: First, the article says it has the most ban requests. Conspicuously missing is the number of successful requests.

Second, having a book removed from a public school library is not even close to having it "banned." Get over your f*cking persecution complex and call me when a state or the federal government tries to outlaw the publishing or sale of a book.

You would defend these morons. You're proud of things like this stripping our freedoms one by one.

WTF? What about the freedom to protest? What about the constitutional right to petition the government for a redress of grievances?

Tolerance goes both ways, as does the Bill of Rights (and som penguins apparently).

Stop being a douchebag.

Doctor Funkenstein: Earlier this week, it was claimed that Harry Potter author JK Rowling missed out on the Presidential Medal of Freedom because some US politicians believed she "encouraged witchcraft".

WTF? Who are these idiots? Witchcraft? Really? Did she turn somebody into a newt? How many questinos can I ask in a row? Six, the answer is six.

Yeah, we had a thread on this a couple days back. I'm not sure that writing Harry Potter is deserving of a medal, but refusing to give one on the basis of witchcraft is frighteningly stupid.

Gwendolyn: The local newspaper's message boards were in an uproar because the children's reading room at the local hospital had this book in it. One parent took it upon herself to steal the book and then throw it away at home. She posted about it on the message board and was praised for doing it. Apparently the hospital was trying to "indoctrinate vulnerable children into a homosexual lifestyle."

I really farking hate living here.

Did you report this to your local police or even to the library itself? Where I'm from, this is considered theft and is a crime.

My sister-in-law got this book from the library in a group of about 5 books. She got them for us to read to our 4 year niece as we watched her for a week. I had no idea about this book, and started to read it to her. When I got the the part about the 2 boy penguins didn't like the girl penguins, but liked each other, I stopped reading it to her, and told her I don't like this book.

This is not just a kids book, it is in the section for very young kids. (5 and under) This type of subject is clearly not appropriate for kids of this age.
When I told my sister-in-law, she was upset that that this kind of book was in the very young kids section too, and that she checked it out for her daughter.

This should be made a 'behind the counter' book at least. If you want it ask for it, but do not make it available to be picked up accidentally. Not all people feel the 'family values' in this book should be instilled in young children.

"Thank goodness there aren't more important things to worry about like war, torture, prison without trial and suchlike."

Hey stupidmitter, your fabulously hysterical headline would have worked if they had banned books about war, torture, prison without trial and suchlike, and because you in fact can get such books today at your local library equals a perfect storm of FAIL.

/hot like the melting arctic

Postal Penguin: Do people actually believe that reading a book on gays will make them gay?


/Maybe they are actually just terrified their kids inherited their own gay genes

The biggest complaints I've heard are that these books "promote" homosexuality, whatever that means.

Good

"Thank goodness there aren't more important things to worry about like war, torture, prison without trial and suchlike"

Headlines that say "thank goodness all other problems are solved" or "thank goodnes some serious stuff is solved" are idiotic. It's as if there is only one person working on this stuff and the can do only one thing at a time.

myspamhere: My sister-in-law got this book from the library in a group of about 5 books. She got them for us to read to our 4 year niece as we watched her for a week. I had no idea about this book, and started to read it to her. When I got the the part about the 2 boy penguins didn't like the girl penguins, but liked each other, I stopped reading it to her, and told her I don't like this book.

This is not just a kids book, it is in the section for very young kids. (5 and under) This type of subject is clearly not appropriate for kids of this age.
When I told my sister-in-law, she was upset that that this kind of book was in the very young kids section too, and that she checked it out for her daughter.

This should be made a 'behind the counter' book at least. If you want it ask for it, but do not make it available to be picked up accidentally. Not all people feel the 'family values' in this book should be instilled in young children.

myspamhere: My sister-in-law got this book from the library in a group of about 5 books. She got them for us to read to our 4 year niece as we watched her for a week. I had no idea about this book, and started to read it to her. When I got the the part about the 2 boy penguins didn't like the girl penguins, but liked each other, I stopped reading it to her, and told her I don't like this book.

This is not just a kids book, it is in the section for very young kids. (5 and under) This type of subject is clearly not appropriate for kids of this age.
When I told my sister-in-law, she was upset that that this kind of book was in the very young kids section too, and that she checked it out for her daughter.

This should be made a 'behind the counter' book at least. If you want it ask for it, but do not make it available to be picked up accidentally. Not all people feel the 'family values' in this book should be instilled in young children.

Maybe you should take some personal responsibility and read the book before you read it to your young relatives.

It's a book for kids, regardless of your opinion on it, so it belongs in the children section.

I can understand uptight people banning a book about gay penguins, but why the hell would they want to ban The Kite Runner?

I just don't get it. Is it because it's about brown people?

There is nothing wrong with being gay, sucking dick is harmless play. Mmm mmm mmm. Barrack Hussein Obama

myspamhere: My sister-in-law got this book from the library in a group of about 5 books. She got them for us to read to our 4 year niece as we watched her for a week. I had no idea about this book, and started to read it to her. When I got the the part about the 2 boy penguins didn't like the girl penguins, but liked each other, I stopped reading it to her, and told her I don't like this book.

This is not just a kids book, it is in the section for very young kids. (5 and under) This type of subject is clearly not appropriate for kids of this age.
When I told my sister-in-law, she was upset that that this kind of book was in the very young kids section too, and that she checked it out for her daughter.

This should be made a 'behind the counter' book at least. If you want it ask for it, but do not make it available to be picked up accidentally. Not all people feel the 'family values' in this book should be instilled in young children.

So did it work? Is the kid gay yet? Don't leave us hanging here.

suchlike like such as, and?

In other news, gay fish joke one of the most repeated jokes on the internet

First books, now the internet. It's like some sort of gay epidemic.

/yes, this would be sarcasm if you are that daft

Barbigazi: Americans have a serious hang up about sexual issues. I'd really like for us, as a group, to get the f*ck over it.

This.

Ringtailed79: myspamhere: My sister-in-law got this book from the library in a group of about 5 books. She got them for us to read to our 4 year niece as we watched her for a week. I had no idea about this book, and started to read it to her. When I got the the part about the 2 boy penguins didn't like the girl penguins, but liked each other, I stopped reading it to her, and told her I don't like this book.

I can make a cute colorful simple book on how to make explosives and say it is a kids book. Does that belong in the children's section?

This is not just a kids book, it is in the section for very young kids. (5 and under) This type of subject is clearly not appropriate for kids of this age.
When I told my sister-in-law, she was upset that that this kind of book was in the very young kids section too, and that she checked it out for her daughter.

This should be made a 'behind the counter' book at least. If you want it ask for it, but do not make it available to be picked up accidentally. Not all people feel the 'family values' in this book should be instilled in young children.

Maybe you should take some personal responsibility and read the book before you read it to your young relatives.

It's a book for kids, regardless of your opinion on it, so it belongs in the children section.

I did take personal responsibility and I stopped reading it to her.
I

Jebus Slaves: I can understand uptight people banning a book about gay penguins, but why the hell would they want to ban The Kite Runner?

I just don't get it. Is it because it's about brown people?

Basically.

The Bible is also one of the most banned books, same with the Koran, Lord of the Rings, Lord of the Flies, and 1984.

Here is a list (new window), but I think it only includes fiction, because scientific and cultural heritage books like The Origin of Species, the Bible, and the Koran are not on there.

Marley'sGirl: myspamhere: My sister-in-law got this book from the library in a group of about 5 books. She got them for us to read to our 4 year niece as we watched her for a week. I had no idea about this book, and started to read it to her. When I got the the part about the 2 boy penguins didn't like the girl penguins, but liked each other, I stopped reading it to her, and told her I don't like this book.

This is not just a kids book, it is in the section for very young kids. (5 and under) This type of subject is clearly not appropriate for kids of this age.
When I told my sister-in-law, she was upset that that this kind of book was in the very young kids section too, and that she checked it out for her daughter.

This should be made a 'behind the counter' book at least. If you want it ask for it, but do not make it available to be picked up accidentally. Not all people feel the 'family values' in this book should be instilled in young children.

So did it work? Is the kid gay yet? Don't leave us hanging here.

Can you say 'Straw Man Argument'?

Majin_Buu: Barbigazi: Americans have a serious hang up about sexual issues. I'd really like for us, as a group, to get the f*ck over it.

This.

The problem is that this book isn't even a "sexual issue" though. There's nothing about sex in it. It's simply a book showing that different folks (including penguins) have different families.

The real mistake is conflating gay people, including family, as people who relate to nothing but sex.

myspamhere: When I told my sister-in-law, she was upset that that this kind of book was in the very young kids section too, and that she checked it out for her daughter.

Jesus you creepy grandma, kids think the other sex has cooties until the age of 12.

A 5 year cannot even conceive of a sexual undertone when reading about two boy penguins not liking girls unless you force it upon her.

meat0918: Basically.

The Bible is also one of the most banned books, same with the Koran, Lord of the Rings, Lord of the Flies, and 1984.

Here is a list (new window), but I think it only includes fiction, because scientific and cultural heritage books like The Origin of Species, the Bible, and the Koran are not on there.

The bible is one of the most banned books? In America?

[Citation needed]

How about book about gay dinosaurs? It would probably be viewed as the most immoral, blasphemous book out there. It would be illustrated as well; perhaps with JC whipping the raptors as they sucked each other off and gently scratched his nipples with their claws.

Oh now that I hear from previous poster and here it discusses boys having feelings for other boys, instead of girls, I believe it should stay banned.

These kinds of things are to be discussed by their parents, wholly inappropriate. What the fark happened to personal responsibility damnit?

Philip J. Fry: myspamhere: When I told my sister-in-law, she was upset that that this kind of book was in the very young kids section too, and that she checked it out for her daughter.

Jesus you creepy grandma, kids think the other sex has cooties until the age of 12.

A 5 year cannot even conceive of a sexual undertone when reading about two boy penguins not liking girls unless you force it upon her.

I dunno man. My five year old nephew constantly runs up to me and hugs me, and wants to hold my hand whenever we go somewhere. I totally think he's teh ghey.

myspamhere: I did take personal responsibility and I stopped reading it to her.

Which part made you stop reading it to her?

Was it the meth-fueled disco menguin orgy scene?

Seriously. What made you stop reading?

Can penguins really even be "gay" in the sense we think of it? I mean, two males raise a chick. Fine. Does that mean they're gay? Or are they just two dumb penguins doing what penguins do (raise chicks) because they can? In much the same way that we find, say, a mom and her mom raising a kid. That doesn't make them lesbians.

I think the book has a nice message, that families don't have to be all the same. Why would anybody find this threatening?

ne2d: First, the article says it has the most ban requests. Conspicuously missing is the number of successful requests.

Not entirely. FTA: "In 2008 the American Library Association recorded 517 ban requests. Seventy-four were successful. "

bartink: meat0918: Basically.

The Bible is also one of the most banned books, same with the Koran, Lord of the Rings, Lord of the Flies, and 1984.

Here is a list (new window), but I think it only includes fiction, because scientific and cultural heritage books like The Origin of Species, the Bible, and the Koran are not on there.

The bible is one of the most banned books? In America?

[Citation needed]

Ok, worldwide. My bad.

D_Evans45: Oh now that I hear from previous poster and here it discusses boys having feelings for other boys, instead of girls, I believe it should stay banned.

These kinds of things are to be discussed by their parents, wholly inappropriate. What the fark happened to personal responsibility damnit?

I think all books with feelings should be banned. What if my son starts having feelings for girls. Then he'll think it's OK to start necking on the playground. This is how the teachers start priming our youth for the sex they'll have with them in high school.

Whodat?: Why would anybody find this threatening?

Because there are those elements who believe that a healthy, cohesive family consists of a mother, a father and 2.3 children.

Whodat?: Can penguins really even be "gay" in the sense we think of it? I mean, two males raise a chick. Fine. Does that mean they're gay? Or are they just two dumb penguins doing what penguins do (raise chicks) because they can? In much the same way that we find, say, a mom and her mom raising a kid. That doesn't make them lesbians.

I think the book has a nice message, that families don't have to be all the same. Why would anybody find this threatening?

The book doesn't contain this, but apparently the actual penguins did indeed have a "relationship" for a time. They courted one another and rejected females in the area.

docmattic: ne2d: First, the article says it has the most ban requests. Conspicuously missing is the number of successful requests.

Not entirely. FTA: "In 2008 the American Library Association recorded 517 ban requests. Seventy-four were successful. "

I'm assuming those were total, not just for that book.

ultraholland: Whodat?: Why would anybody find this threatening?

Because there are those elements who believe that a healthy, cohesive family consists of a mother, a father and 2.3 children.

I think it's disgusting and wrong to expose your 2 children to a headless torso.

WFern: The biggest complaints I've heard are that these books "promote" homosexuality, whatever that means.
If you don't condemn it or pretend it doesn't exist, you're promoting it...apparently.

" Thank goodness there aren't more important things to worry about like war, torture, prison without trial and suchlike"

Then move on subby...