#on censorship

[southernwolf16]

Been entertaining myself by trawling through the Shen Jiu/Original Shen Qingqiu tag on AO3. Started reading fics from the oldest to the latest. So far, I've reached fics that were last updated or written in 2023.

One of the fics I encountered was peppered with the words "fuck" and "shit". That's just in the first chapter.

I've got no problems with curse words in fics. You know what made me click the Back button?

The curse words were written as "f*ck" and "sh*t".

And one of the characters was saying "fuck" over and over, but it's written as "f*ck".

Authors, please, I beg of you, don't censor curse words or terms you deem sensitive . It ruins the reading experience. AO3 will not delete your fics or ban you if you write out words such as "slut", "fuck", "shit", "kill" or "rape". How can you convince your readers on why these words should be on your fic if you can't even get yourself to write them as they are?

[meerawrites]

Censorship: Philosophical Thought and Modern Examples

"If any opinion is compelled to silence, that opinion may, for aught we can certainly know, be true. To deny this is to assume our infallibility." John Stuart Mill (On Liberty, Page 50).

[colescorner]

Reading Wrap Up: June-August 2024

Hello out there! I've been very inconsistent about posting regularly, I am gonna be working on that to try to make a schedule to have regularly scheduled content for you guys...anyway, I'm gonna share what I've read the last couple months! My wrap ups may contain SPOILERS so read at your own risk.

June

Source: Goodreads

Title: The Last Hours: Chain of Thorns Author: Cassandra Clare Genre(s): Fantasy, YA, Fiction Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

For anyone that's seen any of my book reviews or bookish posts before knows Cassandra Clare is my favorite author! She is responsible for turning me into the reader I am! So, it's only natural that I start with one of her books...Chain of Thorns. This is the final book in The Last Hours trilogy which is a follow up to her earlier trilogy The Infernal Devices. We follow James and Cordelia and the merry thieves as they must save London from a demon invasion all while trying to mend their friendship with one another.

One of the things I always enjoy with Clare's books are the ensemble of characters we meet. Each character is unique, distinct in their voice and serve a purpose to carry the story forward. Some of my favorite characters that I have really connected with are Thomas Lightwood and Alister Carstairs. Their pairing seemed so unlikely at first, but throughout the course the book, we see how their relationship develops. Thomas is very endearing and likable and Alister is the polar opposite, which is why their pairing was an interesting surprise! I became invested in them and what would become of them as this trilogy came to a close.

I am a sucker for a good romance and one of my favorite tropes is forbidden lovers and Clare is a master of this trope. This trope is displayed in James and Cordelia as well as Alister Carstairs and Thomas Lightwood. Clare's characters are inevitably human so they're flawed as we all are which makes the tension between James and Cordelia, and Alister and Thomas all the more palpable. Each couple keeps each other at a distance for their own reasons and as the story progresses, you cannot help but to root for each respective couple to end up together! James and Cordelia are kept apart over the course the series even though it is evident that they love each other.

Even though Clare's plot can be intricate in each novel, I find it easy to slip into this world she has created. I have been reading her books since 2010 so I am very familiar with her writing style. I still think her books are approachable to those who might be new to the fantasy genre.

I will say it did take me a little bit to get back into this world, but once I did, I was able to leave reality and travel to Edwardian London. It was good to be back in a familiar setting. I did throughly enjoy reading this book, it has an enjoyable plot, diverse characters, good pacing and a satisfying conclusion.

If you've never read any of Clare's shadowhunter books before, I recommend reading them in publication order.

July

Source: Goodreads

Title: On Cenorship: A Public Librarian Examines Cancel Culture in the U.S. Author: James LaRue Genre(s): Nonfiction, Politics, Books About Books, Social Justice Publisher: Fulcrum Publishing

Recently, I've been wanting to read books about censorship, both in general but also specifically surrounding books banning which seems to been on rise for the last few years now. This book is written by a librarian with 25+ years of experience in the industry. He has worked tirelessly to defend the freedom of people having access to books of all genres and topics.

Throughout this book, LaRue goes in depth about the adverse effects that banning books can have not just in small community but on a much broader scale. LaRue makes the point that libraries are not just for one person or type of person but that it is a community space. And as such, patrons should be able to have the freedom and access to all types of books, even ones that could be classified as controversial. He also explores the process of what happens when a book at the library is challenged, which I could not get enough of!

If anyone enjoys books about censorship and books, then do yourself a favor and read this one! I devoured it and I loved it, I found it so enlightening and lifted my spirits to know there are people who, in my opinion are true patriots of this county by standing up for our intellectual freedom to read what we want!

Source: Goodreads

Title: Book Lovers Author: Emily Henry Genre(s): Fiction, Contemporary, Romance Publisher: Berkley

Because of my love for reading, I enjoy reading books about books. This is my first Emily Henry book, at lot of my bookish friends have recommended her to me and after reading this, I can safely say that I want to read her other works as well! I am a hopeless romantic and I find I love a good romance read!

Even from just reading the synopsis, I had a good feeling about this book and my instinct was right! This book follows Nora, a literary agent in New York and is known as a "shark" to many of her colleagues and Charlie who is a book editor. Nora knows Charlie and is not fond of him at all. Nora's sister, Libby invites her on trip to Sunshine Falls, a setting from a popular author, whom is Nora's biggest client, for a girls trip The twist is that Libby has made a list of popular bookish tropes that Nora has to try and accomplish before their trip comes to an end. Nora reluctantly goes only to discover that Charlie is also in Sunshine falls because he grew up there! Nora is pretty much pissed that Charlie of all the places in the world, had to come here while she is on her trip with her sister.

One of the tropes I've realized I enjoy is enemies to lovers. I love the main characters in this story, I love how Nora is a complicated character, it makes her character development all the more gratifying as the story progresses. Charlie is equally as complicated as Nora, both of them are sort of at odds with one another, throughout the course o the book but they eventually develop feelings for one another.

It was easy for me to slip into the world that Henry creates, her characters feel real, tangible, making the reader become invested to keep turning the page to figure out what is to become of Nora and Charlie, will they get together at the end or will Nora keep him at a distance like she has with everyone else?

I'm not gonna lie, I became extremely invested in this story and there were points where I cried and laughed and experienced a whole range of emotions. I completely fell in love with Nora and Charlie and their story.

Source: Goodreads

Title: Read Dangerously: The Subversive Power of Literature in Troubled Times Author: Azar Nafisi Genre(s): Nonfiction, books about books, Essays, Politics Publisher: Dey Street Books

I've been making more of an effort to read books from other genres this year, specifically nonfiction and most of the books I've read so far this year from that genre have been pretty good! I'm continuing reading about censorship and I found this one at my local bookshop.

This book is a collection of letters the author wrote to her late father. Each letter has the author informing her deceased father about the current state of the world while also making connections through the many critical authors that influenced her throughout her life. The letters also make the point of why literature is important in a true democracy.

What was truly astounding about the book was the parallels she made between the United States and Islamic Republic of Iran, where she grew up. I was astonished to say the least when I realized how many parallels there are. It was very thought-provoking and I annotated the crap out of it!

If anyone enjoys books about books and censorship, I would highly recommend giving this book a read!

Source: Goodreads

Title: The Song of Achilles Author: Madeline Miller Genre(s): Historical Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Romance Publisher: Ecco

If anyone has seen the books I've reviewed or talked about before, then you know I love me some Greek Mythology! This is the first book I've read my Madeline Miller and I must say I was very impressed and already have her other novel Circe and novella Galatea (which I've read already). This is a retelling of legend of Achilles and his companion Patroclus, whom I've never heard of before. Once I settled in, I got lost in the world that Madeline Miller brought to life.

Achilles is a demi-god born from a sea nymph, he is destined to become the greatest hero in the land and lead his people to victory against the army of Troy. Patroclus was from another kingdom who got banished when he killed a boy in his youth. Patroclus was banished to the kingdom where Achilles was they were both boys. Patroclus befriend Achilles and eventually became his companion. Patroclus accompanies Achilles on his quest to become this great champion. The bond they create over the course of their journey is one of friendship, brotherhood, and love.

You cannot help but become invested in the story of Achilles and Patroclus and continue to turn the pages to see how everything will play out. The ending was bittersweet, part of me wishes it would have ended differently but another part of me is glad it ended the way it did because it has a humanity to it.

[leam1983]

Someone should challenge one of her own favourites, for the sake of irony.

"Yeah, that one book you keep recommending to everyone as being Actually Wholesome? We struck it from our records; it's actually so boring it's a public nuisance in printed form. People might as well read tax records for fun or eat paint chips."

Censorship Georg

[magical-grrrl-mavis]

Twitch is gonna start kinda censoring queer people and it would be really helpful if you could read the next few sentences and then also go to a link and click the word vote.

They're implementing a new rule where if you discuss "sensitive social issues" at all you have to flag your streams as such, these issues include things like war and political unrest but also any lgbtq topics (once again our existence is political).

Essentially a streamer will have to choose between never ever mentioning anything queer (or even just discussing their own life if they're queer themselves) or flagging every stream with "sensitive social issues" and scaring away 90% of viewers.

If you have a twitch account you can go here and log in and click vote. They do listen. Please vote.

[lazylittledragon]

can't believe we're all adults being forced into the club penguin level of censorship in 2024

[shameeater]

The end of online privacy

Now, this isn't something I usually post about from my silly goofy k1nk account (reminder to minors to not follow or scroll this acount).

But I have more followers on here than main, and this is extremely important. Like, scary shit.

This applies to everyone. If you're reading this? It's going to effect you.

I'm sure perhaps some of you have seen around about a this thing going around... KOSA, is one of the ways it's being referred to.

If this shit passes, lemme tell you...

LGBTQ+ adults and minors seeking help and community,

people looking for abortions,

people organizing protests,

anyone using their free speech to voice concerns about injustices, 

even FAN ARTISTS...

Even people reading fan fiction...

And for the purposes of where I'm posting from... people sharing and enjoying their k1nks, wanting to post things with safety and privacy... smut artists and writers, people even LOOKING for smut...

It's all gone. No privacy.

They'll have your face, your name, your age, where you live.

You'll need an ID to use any US-based platform, even if you're NOT in the United States.

Instead of dooming, here's what you can do to stop this shit in it's tracks 👍

Here is a website where you can sign a letter just by filling out a form, (it takes less than 30 seconds) and where you can call reps.

I HIGHLY suggest leaving calls if you're able, and if you have phone shyness, do this after 6pm, since it will leave messages instead.

I'm shy, but I did it!

Here's another letter to sign, takes less than 20 seconds.

Here is a form you can fill out sharing how the social media has POSITIVELY effected you.

Share all of this with as many people as you can. Our safety, freedom, joy, and protection online is at risk more than ever.

(Here is the thread where I found all of this information.)

STAY SAFE!

[iri-desky]

GET KOSA TRENDING.

STOP SCROLLING NOW!

AS OF FEBRUARY 21ST, 2024, WE GOT FIVE DAYS UNTIL THE DAY OF DECISION OF THE KOSA BILL, WHICH WILL CAUSE MASS CENSORSHIP ROUND THE INTERNET IF PASSED. WE NEED EVERYONE TO KNOW ABOUT THIS AND CONTRIBUTE. I'M NOT GIVING UP ON YOU ALL.

(IMPORTANT UPDATE: Kosa will not necessarily pass on the 26th. It only has the support to pass in Senate, and we STILL HAVE TIME. That being said, time is of the essence.)

WE'RE DOWN TO THE WIRE BUT WE CAN'T GIVE UP YET. IF WE GIVE UP, EVERYTHING IS OVER. IF WE DON'T, AT LEAST WE HAVE A CHANCE.

I'M THE ONE WHO SOUNDED THE ALARM, AND I'M NOT GOING TO CURL UP AND DIE YET.

Reblog this post in every LEGAL way you can under the Tumblr guidelines with the appropriate tags. TELL AND TAG EVERYONE YOU KNOW, then add the tags to see below... and more if you can think of any complying.

Visit badinternetbills.com if you want to find a way to defeat KOSA. It WILL NOT take much of your time. Reblog with any other information or sources, too-- but make sure to reblog if you can.

Reblog if you support lgbtq+ content.

Reblog if you support questioning queer youth and/or abused youth getting the information they need.

Reblog if you support Ao3 and/or other sites that wholeheartedly preserve talentedly made media.

Reblog if you're going to repost this on other sites than Tumblr and spread the word across Twitter, Tik Tok, Pinterest, or elsewhere, alongside the link to badinternetbills.com.

Reblog if you think KOSA is unfair and shouldn't be anyone's problem -- including the adults ALL OVER THE DAMN EARTH forced to face the mass censorship it causes because "think of the American Children!".

Reblog if you support internet activism and Palestine.

Reblog if you hate fascism or censorship, and don't want actually serious and helpful conversations censored on the internet.

Reblog if you value the internet in any way at all whatsoever.

CHECK THIS PETITION, TOO! https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-kosa?recruiter=1331807538&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=sms&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=psf&recruited_by_id=57368c40-d0fd-11ee-98f7-2175430f819f&share_bandit_exp=initial-36809664-en-US

(Also, please reblog with at least "stop kosa" as a tag and not "kosa". I made the mistake of not adding just "kosa" as a tag...)

We won't let this stand any longer. Let's start a riot and get this trending.

[mswyrr]

[bunnie-the-idiot]

the kids online safety act passed the u.s. senate.

long story short (for anyone who hadn't heard of this before) the kids online safety act, aka kosa, is a bill that will censor online content and resources for lgbtq+ matters, reproductive healthcare, activism (INCLUDING PALESTINE AND LIKELY OTHER CRISES GOING ON LIKE IN CONGO OR SUDAN), mental health, etc. everywhere--its effects likely won't be contained to just america.

today, july 30th, 2024, the senate passed it 91-3. it has officially moved to the house of representatives.

is this a pretty massive setback? yes. do you have every right to be scared, sad, angry, or whatever else about this happening? absolutely. but should you give up hope completely? NO!

even though kosa passed the senate, the house is on break/august recess at the moment. we have around an entire month to get emails, calls, and faxes in to house reps, maybe more depending on when they decide to vote on it.

should it pass the house and get signed into law, we still have a whole 18 months before it actually goes into effect. this is plenty of time for digital rights orgs (e.g. fight for the future, the electronic frontier foundation) and other groups that oppose it to file a lawsuit against it. even if, worst-case scenario, it flies through the house immediately after the recess ends, we can still fight this up to march 2026.

so, yes, remember what's at stake here, but also remember that it's not over yet. we lost a battle, not the war.

below are some resources to learn more about kosa and how to contact your reps (first link) + a page that lets you directly contact progressive house reps, sign an open letter opposing the bill, and view others' testimonies against it (second link):

FIGHT. FIGHT. FIGHT.

[leam1983]

In regards to the added pic: this might seem obvious to most, but seeing as it was placed here, it's proof enough that Purity Culture and self-censoring are still solidly entrenched on here.

The best remedy to both issues remains exposure. Read books - especially books you'd happen to find objectionable. View works of art that don't necessarily align with your own values, and try and see what's being depicted. You're allowed to be disgusted by all sorts of things, of course - but it's important to consider that what might feel gratuitous or blatant to you might actually carry meaning or very specific intent to either the artist themselves, or to some theorists approaching the medium with a critical eye.

[kropotkindersurprise]

May 4, 2024 - CNN writes about how the mean anti-genocide protesters silenced a lone counter-protester at the University of Pennsylvania:

How did they silence him, you ask? They drew a circle around him in chalk, and labeled it "Designated Dingus Area":

[chaotickit]

As of now, Florida and Kansas have passed bills that align with KOSA.

So many people have held back on speaking out against KOSA or signing petitions because "it probably won't pass." But we have proof that it very well can and will.

So what can we do right now?

The same thing we've been doing: bring awareness and protest.

Here are a few websites you can visit to sign petitions:

https://www.badinternetbills.com/

https://www.stopkosa.com/

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/02/dont-fall-latest-changes-dangerous-kids-online-safety-act

You can also call your state reps. This post explains how you can do that.

Good luck, everyone! Don't give up yet.

[mollyjimbly]

BLOW UP THEIR PHONES!!!

use this call script accordingly 👇

[jwood718]

Wow -- awesome.

"I've got sources and free time."

No shit: them sources!

Your personal triggers and squicks do not get to determine what kind of art other people make.

People make shit. It's what we do. We make shit to explore, to inspire, to explain, to understand, but also to cope, to process, to educate, to warn, to go, "hey, wouldn't that be fucked up? Wild, right?"

Yes, sure, there are things that should be handled with care if they are used at all. But plenty more things are subjective. Some things are just not going to be to your tastes. So go find something that is to your tastes and stop worrying so much about what other people are doing and trying to dictate universal moral precepts about art based on your personal triggers and squicks.

I find possession stories super fucking triggering if I encounter them without warning, especially if they function as a sexual abuse metaphor. I'm not over here campaigning for every horror artist to stop writing possession stories because they make me feel shaky and dissociated. I just check Does The Dog Die before watching certain genres, and I have my husband or roommate preview anything I think might upset me so they can give me more detail. And if I genuinely don't think I can't handle it, I don't watch it. It's that simple.

[booksinmythorax]

I'm already seeing advice from people in the US to purchase queer books and other banned or "controversial" books on paper as a way to combat the wave of government censorship that is coming. While this is a good idea (it is! absolutely!), it's not accessible to everyone, and truly, we're not going to be able to consumerism our way out of this one.

If you can buy the books, do. Whether you can buy the books or not, borrow them from your library.

Borrow the paper versions. Borrow the ebook or audiobook versions. Request the titles you want that your library doesn't have. The more a title circulates or is requested, the better librarians are going to be able to defend keeping it if and when it's ever challenged.

Use libraries like @queerliblib too. The more members they have, the better they'll be able to fundraise.

Your community resources depend on you using them. Borrow the books before they go away.

InB4: Piracy is not the solution here. We're trying to keep community resources available, not make sure individual people can read individual books. Different problems.

The books are still available. Borrowing them from your library and returning them on time and in good condition will help keep them that way.