Comments on: Finding Oral Sex in the Dictionary and Other High School Mania http://matadorlife.com/finding-oral-sex-in-the-dictionary-and-other-high-school-mania/ Just another WordPress weblog Sat, 31 Jul 2010 04:10:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Alouise http://matadorlife.com/finding-oral-sex-in-the-dictionary-and-other-high-school-mania/comment-page-1/#comment-4037 Alouise Sat, 06 Feb 2010 10:24:41 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=3529#comment-4037 Wow when will the madness end? Banning the dictionary is probably the most idiotic thing I've ever heard of. What's next, other reference books? Are they going to ban encyclopedias and thesauruses? Kids can be curious (I mean I'm sure we all looked up the word sex in grade school and had a giggle with out friends). Eventually they'll find out about certain words and phrases. At least a dictionary is a pretty harmless way to learn about this. Unless of course this particular dictionary included detailed instructions with bonus tips and pictures or something. But it just seems like a major overreaction from a group of small minded people. And that girl with her secret library, she should be commended, given a full scholarship for university or something. I hope she knows that she's doing something fantastic and noble, she's giving people the opportunity to see the world from another perspective, she's opening people's minds by letting them read books. Years from now she can look back and be proud she had the courage to stand up for what she believed in, not everyone would be so bold. Because as one of my favourite authors Hunter S Thompson once said "Freedom is something that dies unless it is used." Wow when will the madness end? Banning the dictionary is probably the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard of. What’s next, other reference books? Are they going to ban encyclopedias and thesauruses? Kids can be curious (I mean I’m sure we all looked up the word sex in grade school and had a giggle with out friends). Eventually they’ll find out about certain words and phrases. At least a dictionary is a pretty harmless way to learn about this. Unless of course this particular dictionary included detailed instructions with bonus tips and pictures or something. But it just seems like a major overreaction from a group of small minded people.

And that girl with her secret library, she should be commended, given a full scholarship for university or something. I hope she knows that she’s doing something fantastic and noble, she’s giving people the opportunity to see the world from another perspective, she’s opening people’s minds by letting them read books. Years from now she can look back and be proud she had the courage to stand up for what she believed in, not everyone would be so bold. Because as one of my favourite authors Hunter S Thompson once said “Freedom is something that dies unless it is used.”

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]]> By: James http://matadorlife.com/finding-oral-sex-in-the-dictionary-and-other-high-school-mania/comment-page-1/#comment-4036 James Sat, 06 Feb 2010 02:09:10 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=3529#comment-4036 Communication is key ... and lack of, creates a void that will fill with something, probably worse than the original item. I first learned what "sexual intercourse" really was by reading a dictionary, then learning more in the encyclopedia. And that was before the web was around. If parents don't want the school to teach it, then they need to get involved and discuss it themselves with their kids. If you don't tell your kids what your thoughts and feelings and understandings are, their friends will and your kids may get all the wrong information. They are going to find out eventually - it is inevitable, else you live in a cult and locked out of the real world. The books should be a source of discussion not banning. Even if only restricted, but allowed by parent permission slip. Then the parents need to discuss it and not restrict it. The more you refuse something without explaination, the more it is desired by the kids. And a little knowledge can be dangerous, or a little exposure can show it is really no big deal. Ignornace is only lack of knowledge. Stupidity is having knowledge and not applying it. Communication is key … and lack of, creates a void that will fill with something, probably worse than the original item. I first learned what “sexual intercourse” really was by reading a dictionary, then learning more in the encyclopedia. And that was before the web was around.

If parents don’t want the school to teach it, then they need to get involved and discuss it themselves with their kids. If you don’t tell your kids what your thoughts and feelings and understandings are, their friends will and your kids may get all the wrong information. They are going to find out eventually – it is inevitable, else you live in a cult and locked out of the real world.

The books should be a source of discussion not banning. Even if only restricted, but allowed by parent permission slip. Then the parents need to discuss it and not restrict it. The more you refuse something without explaination, the more it is desired by the kids. And a little knowledge can be dangerous, or a little exposure can show it is really no big deal.

Ignornace is only lack of knowledge. Stupidity is having knowledge and not applying it.

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]]> By: Kathy http://matadorlife.com/finding-oral-sex-in-the-dictionary-and-other-high-school-mania/comment-page-1/#comment-4035 Kathy Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:36:31 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=3529#comment-4035 Sabina's idea of getting rid of all books has been used, already, sorry! In Fahrenheit 451 (just saw the movie not long ago--somewhat hokey but powerful stuff!). You would be surprised if you've never seen a list of books that have been banned at one time or another. Here's one the American Library Assn. puts out: http://tinyurl.com/n6w3et . But I don't think a dictionary is on it. That's taking what's already an absurd idea to its absurdist extreme, imho. BTW, I'd love to recruit the banned-book-locker-girl to be a librarian--she's got the main idea! Sabina’s idea of getting rid of all books has been used, already, sorry! In Fahrenheit 451 (just saw the movie not long ago–somewhat hokey but powerful stuff!).

You would be surprised if you’ve never seen a list of books that have been banned at one time or another. Here’s one the American Library Assn. puts out: http://tinyurl.com/n6w3et . But I don’t think a dictionary is on it. That’s taking what’s already an absurd idea to its absurdist extreme, imho.

BTW, I’d love to recruit the banned-book-locker-girl to be a librarian–she’s got the main idea!

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]]> By: Candice http://matadorlife.com/finding-oral-sex-in-the-dictionary-and-other-high-school-mania/comment-page-1/#comment-4033 Candice Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:17:45 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=3529#comment-4033 Yeah, it's more than a little infuriating. I feel like if people ban books and make a big deal out of it, wouldn't that entice kids to read them more anyway? I certainly would... Yeah, it’s more than a little infuriating. I feel like if people ban books and make a big deal out of it, wouldn’t that entice kids to read them more anyway? I certainly would…

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]]> By: Susanna http://matadorlife.com/finding-oral-sex-in-the-dictionary-and-other-high-school-mania/comment-page-1/#comment-4032 Susanna Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:15:02 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=3529#comment-4032 AUGH! Parents must be brave enough to talk openly with their children, from the get-go, and lay down the law about their family's values. Then they must trust their children to be staunch individuals and use their good judgment (hopefully cultivated throughout childhood and adolescence, with parents' help) to decide what they do with the things that happen everywhere in the world. You can't put your kid in a bubble -- you have to teach them how to handle what they encounter. Even in that most dangerous of books ... the dictionary. AUGH! Parents must be brave enough to talk openly with their children, from the get-go, and lay down the law about their family’s values. Then they must trust their children to be staunch individuals and use their good judgment (hopefully cultivated throughout childhood and adolescence, with parents’ help) to decide what they do with the things that happen everywhere in the world. You can’t put your kid in a bubble — you have to teach them how to handle what they encounter. Even in that most dangerous of books … the dictionary.

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]]> By: Julie http://matadorlife.com/finding-oral-sex-in-the-dictionary-and-other-high-school-mania/comment-page-1/#comment-4031 Julie Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:52:51 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=3529#comment-4031 It's really hard to even know what to say about this whole fiasco other than this: When will Americans stop being so damn silly and hypocritical? We complain about a dictionary and have no problem with people (women, in particular) being objectified in/by the media and pop culture. Can we all just give one collective eye roll? It’s really hard to even know what to say about this whole fiasco other than this: When will Americans stop being so damn silly and hypocritical? We complain about a dictionary and have no problem with people (women, in particular) being objectified in/by the media and pop culture. Can we all just give one collective eye roll?

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]]> By: neha http://matadorlife.com/finding-oral-sex-in-the-dictionary-and-other-high-school-mania/comment-page-1/#comment-4028 neha Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:15:58 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=3529#comment-4028 The kid used a real dictionary and not the computer, I say give the kid a pat on the back. As for the girl with the banned books locker, she is a star! I went through the titles she mentions, and I was a little horrified that Mort and The Witches are in a list of banned books, I mean seriously! The kid used a real dictionary and not the computer, I say give the kid a pat on the back.

As for the girl with the banned books locker, she is a star! I went through the titles she mentions, and I was a little horrified that Mort and The Witches are in a list of banned books, I mean seriously!

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]]> By: Turner http://matadorlife.com/finding-oral-sex-in-the-dictionary-and-other-high-school-mania/comment-page-1/#comment-4026 Turner Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:56:31 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=3529#comment-4026 With the exception of hate speech and most things considered inappropriate by 1st amendment standards, nothing should be banned. With the exception of hate speech and most things considered inappropriate by 1st amendment standards, nothing should be banned.

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]]> By: late_stranger http://matadorlife.com/finding-oral-sex-in-the-dictionary-and-other-high-school-mania/comment-page-1/#comment-4023 late_stranger Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:21:42 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=3529#comment-4023 I know Huck Finn is often banned - it's on my school's Dangerous Books (an English elective) reading list. Seriously, though, when I was in seventh grade we had to write a diary from the point of view of a person in the revolution. I pulled 'Educated slave/ Free Black' and when I asked the teacher about how to deal with the 'n' word she said to just use it. Everyone already knew not to use it in general, and this was twelve year olds. Also, yes, give the girl a medal. I would totally do that. Also, call her a saint for both fighting ignorance and fitting SIXTY TWO extra books in her locker. That's a feat. I know Huck Finn is often banned – it’s on my school’s Dangerous Books (an English elective) reading list. Seriously, though, when I was in seventh grade we had to write a diary from the point of view of a person in the revolution. I pulled ‘Educated slave/ Free Black’ and when I asked the teacher about how to deal with the ‘n’ word she said to just use it. Everyone already knew not to use it in general, and this was twelve year olds.

Also, yes, give the girl a medal. I would totally do that. Also, call her a saint for both fighting ignorance and fitting SIXTY TWO extra books in her locker. That’s a feat.

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]]> By: Rebecca http://matadorlife.com/finding-oral-sex-in-the-dictionary-and-other-high-school-mania/comment-page-1/#comment-4022 Rebecca Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:13:17 +0000 http://matadorlife.com/?p=3529#comment-4022 great topic candice! when i was growing up we had a family bookcase with a few "top shelf " books..haha.. mostly health and sex books..nothing that a chair & a few curious siblings couldn't overcome and we climbed up the bookcase to get them!! it's definitely a rite of passage & banning a dictionary is outrageous! ps: your article title titles are becoming more & more risque, so i'll brace myself for the next one ;) great topic candice! when i was growing up we had a family bookcase with a few “top shelf ” books..haha.. mostly health and sex books..nothing that a chair & a few curious siblings couldn’t overcome and we climbed up the bookcase to get them!! it’s definitely a rite of passage & banning a dictionary is outrageous!

ps: your article title titles are becoming more & more risque, so i’ll brace myself for the next one ;)

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