thanks M
L.A. council votes against porn-filtering software for its library computers
By Rick Orlov Staff Writer of http://www.pasadenastarnews.com
The city of Los Angeles will not install pornography-filtering software on library computers, but instead will make the monitors more difficult to be seen by nearby children, officials said Tuesday.
The City Council discussion was sparked by an incident in December when parents complained that a patron at the Chinatown library was viewing pornography on a public computer, in plain sight of children nearby.
"It was material that offended the parents and they were concerned about what we were doing to respond in a manner so people feel safe in the library," Councilman Ed Reyes said.
Officials reviewed the system’s computer policy but decided against restricting content.
"It’s a slippery slope between First Amendment rights and shutting off computers," city librarian Martin Gomez told the City Council, adding that it is parents’ responsibility to monitor their children’s use of the library.
However, libraries are working to move computers so they cannot easily be seen by someone standing behind the user, and installing privacy shields to limit visibility, Gomez said.
Councilman Paul Krekorian insisted the city should look at filtering software.
"I think we can use that and have people ask our librarians to unblock it for them," he said.
Krekorian was told there are problems with the various programs as well as court rulings allowing adults access to all information available on the Internet.
Library officials said they usually receive fewer than a half-dozen complaints a year about pornography on public computers.
Councilman Tony Cardenas said there are a number of court cases pending regarding computer access at public libraries. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled it is constitutional for schools and libraries to have filters on computers to limit access to certain sites.
How odd that Shelley Lubben did not mention this huge defeat for the anti-porn loonies, seeing as how SHE TESTIFIED at the very same LA City Council meeting at which this vote was held. Perhaps she missed the vote because she was already on her way to purchase the cleavage-bearing dress that she herself had to edit in the pic accompanying her ridiculous report on the day’s events, presumably so that it would not be “too provocative for Christian men” (her phrase).
This LA City Council vote came a day after this report from New York City:
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/04/25/watching-internet-porn-nyc-libraries-protected-amendment-officials-say/
Ok, I have to say outloud what most of us are thinking at this point!! I mean, is Michael creeping anyone else out with this insane obsession he has with Shelley Lubben??!??! It never ends!!! How scary will it be when he reveals that on top of monitoring her bathroom breaks, that he’s been keeping up with her burps, sneezes and farts!? I’m SURE he has charts! Really Michael. Get some help. You’re making us all watch your obsession and it’s boring and disgusting. We all want to help you. First step is admitting you have an unhealthy need to be in her world every minute of every day. Second, acknowledge that her handsome, successful 6 ft 4, wonderful husband loves her and treats her like a queen…so there is NO chance in hell she will ever choose you over him.(I know, that one’s a tough one) And thirdly, if you are going to ever have a meltdown like this over anyone again, do it privately so we don’t all have to stare at the train wreck. It’s the classier thing to do.
I considered doing an op/ed on this subject, and after some thought I am against the L.A. Council’s decision, for the following reasons:
1. Children having explicit pornography flashed in their faces while with other kids, parents and/or guardians. While I am extremely liberal when it comes to the concept of open sexuality (modern and ancient places around the world display pornographic images for all to see), this is not the place for it, and is a distraction from learning, to say the least. Filters may aid but will not shelter others from seeing.
2. Based on this decision libraries should have available copies of Hustler, AVN, and likewise explicit magazines. Libraries don’t because that is not the place for it.
3. People come to the library for purposes of studying, not distraction;things which attract more of the dregs of society, including homeless people and drop-outs. The homeless element in libraries is bad enough as it is. And more importantly, there are many who don’t have ready access to a computer and are trying to get work done on-line. Porn vouyers are taking away from those who need acess for vital reasons other then publically disrespectful and distracting self-indulgence.
4. This doesn’t help the porn industry. No one who has to go to the library to use a computer is going to buy porn while on-line. All they’re doing is advertising how easy it is to get free porn ANYWHERE! I think adult news sites such as LIB should be exempt, btw!
@justaxxxguy – Touched a nerve in the Lubben camp, have I?
Thanks for your (mock) concern. How about addressing the topic at hand with honesty? Or is that beyond you?
As long as Lubbens are out there EARNING THEIR LIVING from telling lies about the adult industry, and exploiting and stereotyping people, I will be there telling the truth FREE OF CHARGE.
I’m in Shelley’s world every minute? Really? G-d, no. If I were I’d have to shoot myself. I just got out of the pool at my four-bedroom home in Scottsdale. My interest in the adult industry is a luxury I can well afford. I earned my leisure. I throw away more on tips in a month than Garrett T. Lubben earned in his entire career as a meth dealer living in his parents’ house. And I didn’t have to marry a diseased, alcoholic, drug-addicted diva (all per Shelley), either.
My real obsession is the pursuit of truth and the exposing of liars, charlatans and frauds. If you find that creepy, then please creep back to your hole and kindly fuck your own face.
Stay classy,
MW
PS Where did you get “wonderful” Garrett’s exact height from? If you call letting one’s wife run around with porn stars, hang all over Mr. Marcus, dance like a stripper (and badly too), and get her boob autographed (outside a toilet) by a man who can such his own cock “treat[ing] his wife like a queen” then yes, Garrett is Mr. Wonderful. To me he’s a sap, and the fall guy for Shelley — listen to her impression of him during her speeches — she makes him sound like a big friggin’ oaf. She only went out with him in the first place in 1994 because (in her words) he had meth, then she got him to marry her, and support her (and her kid from a prostitution act) – and then she cheated on him. And now, HE’S the one that signs the Pink Cross’ tax returns. She gets to go out and spend money on dates with Ron jeremy, and he gets to take the fall when things inevitable turn to shit (as they always have in Shelley’s world).
Am I preachin’ your truth our what?
5. Rape. Porn, it has been argued, along with supporting statistics, lowers rape and sexual assaults, due to the masturbatory influence it conjours. However, thanks to the LA City Counsel’s “free speech” decision in this case, you can freely access porn now without worry or consequence, which will inevitably attract the worst of the worst to flock and watch free porn and then, with no readily available means for them to jerk off (unless they want to deal with the likely foul smell of library stalls), will stir more stir-crazy sexed-up derelicts to seek out release for their frustations on the unwilling in and outside of libraries. Therefore, libraries with free porn are far more problematic than seedy neighborhoods next door to 24 hour sex shoppes.
I guess I touched a nerve with you too Michael. Thanks for enlightening me about how successful you are. I was unaware of the luxury you live in. I took a guess at Garrett’s height. I just know he is a very tall man. And by your response, I guess the stereo type is true: When you mention ‘height’ to men who are ‘not so tall’…they usually fire back with how much money they make. Ouch.
council whoops
I’m rather liberal but I think this is stupid. This isn’t a matter of freedom of speech. Children should be expose to pornography unless they peak that there parents secret stash. (I’m kidding) But seriously freedom of speech should not impune on the other freedoms people have. If they do this they might as well remove fliters from schools computers.
On another note, this is very stupid due to the high volume of viruses and adware on some sites. If not for the children then at least for themselves with cost of repairs to computers and future lawsuits for not only the pornography thing but security issues. Its is very common for those without a home computer to use a library computer for shopping and banking.
@justaxxxguy — Good one! But, you see, what I wrote ain’t flossin’, it’s what’s known as rebuttal. You can try dictionary.com if you’re not familiar with the word. And, actually, I did NOT tell you how much I make — I illustrated the fact that I have the luxury of time to stomp the shit out of Lubben’s scam. I am Godzilla, Pink Cross Foundation is Japan.
But yes, Garrett IS a very tall patsy; a tall sucker AND a tall co-conspirator. I wouldn’t trade my life for his for all the 24-hour lit altars in the world. Jeez, he has to hear HER VOICE every fuckin’ day. That must explain why he lets her do the shit that she does: he’s so happy to get her out of the friggin’ house!
Funny how, when someone has nothing positive to say about Shelley Lubben and her antics, they just attack her attackers. I wasn’t aware there was a height requirement for being correct.
It’s also funny that you use the same words as Shelley does in your description: a wonderful man who treats her like a queen, etc…
Okay, try this: for the sake of argument, let’s say I’m obsessed. How would that change the facts I present? Answers? Or more insults? Either way I’ve got the time — and I’m game.
@justaxxxguy – I write, “Touched a nerve in the Lubben camp, have I?” You reply, “I touched a nerve with you TOO Michael.” [emphasis added]
So, you admit that you’re from Lubben’s camp. But your moniker is “justaxxxguy”
Shouldn’t that be “justapinkcrossasshole”?
Michael, Michael. Relax man. Don’t have an aneurysm. I’ve read parts of Shelley’s book, unlike you who have memorized it. I’m not sparring here with you to defend her. Just really sick of seeing her name in every one of your posts. Give it a rest Godzilla. And I didn’t know the Lubben’s had a camp. Good luck on your crusade.
6. Thanks. Good point, Ironbeard. The various costs of dealing with computer viruses. Another reason for no porn in libraries.
The L.A. Council made a really stupid decision. Maybe they’re using those libraries to look at porn, after hours?
This decision is bullshit. I firmly believe in the right to porn (even free porn) but libraries are sanctuaries for predators.
As the biggest fan of porn that I know, I agree with Jeremy, ironbeardguy, and Origin here. The library is a public fucking place, and porn should never be displayed in a public setting. I mean, there’s reason that you can’t see into the store here from outside the building. Who (besides me on the clock) looks at porn and doesn’t whip it out and go to town? It’s like the weird guys that come into my store and take two hours flipping through every magazine including the gay ones and walk out without buying anything.
Well….I’m of mixed view here.
On the one hand, I do agree with Jeremy’s concern that full-on open access to porn in libraries could lead to some dangerous situations where children could be inappropriately exposed. Also, I’d rather not have local fundies or radical feminists screaming about looking at bare breasts or butts, either.
On the other hand, though, the library is a public place paid for by public taxes from everyone..and adults do still have a constitutional right to view legal adult material, as long as they respect the rights of others.
Here’s a nice compromise: designate some computers in an adult space as filter free with no restrictions. but limit access to adults only with proof of ID. Have another space for kids only that is totally filtered where no porn gets through. Leave the rest in open space with light filtering and visionary limitations to protect passers by.
Of course, best solution is to simply buy your own damn PC with Internet access and not worry about librarians up in your grill to begin with.
Anthony
I have a suggestion…why not adult book stores and sex shops take over from the public libraries the task of having computers with unlimited access to adult explicit material?? That would take a lot of the pressure off of the libraries.
Also…what concerns me with the filtering systems is that they may do an excellent job of filtering out porn, they also tend to filter out plenty of legitimate speech that may be sexually related but not explicit. Not to mention, pretty damn heavy handed with politically protected speech, too.
Anthony
Public ≠ Do whatever the fuck I want because its paid for by taxes.
If people want to watch porn or masturbate (which, as Fartz has noted, they would presumably do while watching porn) they should to it in a private space.
My mom works at a library where content is not filtered. They had to have a man arrested for looking at child porn.
There you go. Seriously, libraries are dangerous places for kids nowadays. A lot of times after-school kids would be with their friends and they may talk about who’s hot at school or even who’s hot in the library. Guess who’s listening in the background…
This is the wrong way to go about encouraging children to go to the library. The “adult” children are beyond bad enough thanks to the “adult” content freely available publically.
When I was in Jr. High School the big thing was sneaking off to McDonalds. Now, it’s sneaking off to the library!
To quote George W. Bush, “Is our children learning?” Certainly not much, thanks, in large part due, to the buffoons at the L.A. City Council.