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Banned book library in a wi-fi smart light bulb

richardosgood.com

301–310 of 396 posts

Re: Banned book library in a wi-fi smart light bulb

#301
post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The "information wants to be free" discourse of just under 30 years ago feels so charmingly naive now that we've seen how lies are also information and can travel even better using the same flow.

Why do you assuming only true information is information. Information can be anything not to mention that the definition of truths and lies can change with time and location.

My point is that in the late '90s that was the prevailing assumption about the growth of the internet. We have learned that this assumption was wrong.

> the definition of truths and lies can change with time and location

This is moral relativism.

Re: Banned book library in a wi-fi smart light bulb

#302

Cool project, except these aren't really "banned" books. thats a misleading term. In most of these cases, the book isn’t actually banned. Nobody is being arrested for owning it, Amazon isn’t forbidden from selling it, and adults can still read it whenever they want. What’s really being debated is whether a particular school library, children’s section, or curriculum should include a book. That’s not the same thing as…

> What’s really being debated is whether a particular school library, children’s section, or curriculum should include a book. That’s not the same thing as government censorship. except for the cases where the government, not the librarian, is saying "you cannot have that book on your shelf, even if you think it is appropriate and want it". > Nobody is being arrested for owning it, Amazon isn’t forbidden from selling…

i agree, with a bit more nuance. it's one thing for a government agency staffed by educational professionals (like a public school district) to issue guidance (or even rules) on how libraries should be stocked -- but what's become widespread is legislative bodies bypassing those existing structures and issuing laws without input from educational professionals.

Re: Banned book library in a wi-fi smart light bulb

#303
post #300

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is this different from banning alcohol or pets or weapons or any other thing? Whether or not you can buy and have at a different location doesn't mean the word is misleading.

Maybe something like "not library available" or "lending restricted"? I understand the point you are trying to make and you have good evidence backing your statement ("alcohol is banned the stadium", etc) but when it comes to books, when people hear ban, they think Fahrenheit 451 or The Khmer Rouge burning books. So I also understand the OPs point. Unless you're an alcoholic, banning alcohol in schools or stadiums is…

Possessing a banned book has very serious weight in many circumstances:

https://legiscan.com/MS/text/HB1315/id/2767725

> (4) The Attorney General may investigate compliance with this section. The contracting party must report to the Attorney General a provider's failure to comply with subsection (2) of this section no later than thirty (30) days after the contracting party learns of the provider's noncompliance. Such a report shall constitute a public record under the Mississippi Public Records Act.

Re: Banned book library in a wi-fi smart light bulb

#304

Cool project, except these aren't really "banned" books. thats a misleading term. In most of these cases, the book isn’t actually banned. Nobody is being arrested for owning it, Amazon isn’t forbidden from selling it, and adults can still read it whenever they want. What’s really being debated is whether a particular school library, children’s section, or curriculum should include a book. That’s not the same thing as…

> What’s really being debated is whether a particular school library, children’s section, or curriculum should include a book. That’s not the same thing as government censorship. except for the cases where the government, not the librarian, is saying "you cannot have that book on your shelf, even if you think it is appropriate and want it". > Nobody is being arrested for owning it, Amazon isn’t forbidden from selling…

Words exist in a context. "User was banned from a site" and "Book is banned" have different connotations. You have to be purposely obtuse to conflate these.

Re: Banned book library in a wi-fi smart light bulb

#305

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd like to see a show with this kind of writing

Mr. Robot had that kind of writing (at least in the first season which is the only one I watched).

I watched the whole thing, and I think it sort of went off the rails over time, probably to keep upping the ante. I think you're fine just watching the first season

Re: Banned book library in a wi-fi smart light bulb

#306
post #304

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> What’s really being debated is whether a particular school library, children’s section, or curriculum should include a book. That’s not the same thing as government censorship. except for the cases where the government, not the librarian, is saying "you cannot have that book on your shelf, even if you think it is appropriate and want it". > Nobody is being arrested for owning it, Amazon isn’t forbidden from selling…

Words exist in a context. "User was banned from a site" and "Book is banned" have different connotations. You have to be purposely obtuse to conflate these.

just like how you can figure out when tom/dan say "we've banned this account" doesn't mean "banned this account from the internet", you can use similar context clues to figure out "banned book" doesn't mean "banned across the world and is now illegal".

Re: Banned book library in a wi-fi smart light bulb

#307

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You would be correct there are no "banned books" in America. When people say "banned book" they mean that a certain level of government such as a school board or municipality has "banned" them from being in a public (often school) library. But the headline "In [state I disagree with] they are banning books that have [ideas I agree with]" makes a lot more headlines and clicks. Then people run with the phrase "banned b…

Each state is part of the USA, and each state DOES ban some books. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_banning_in_the_United_Sta... USA is ultra conservative on the average in comparison to just any European state for example.

> USA is ultra conservative on the average in comparison to just any European state for example.

Are you serious? The UK and Germany are arresting people for social media posts. That is actual impingement of free speech.

Re: Banned book library in a wi-fi smart light bulb

#308

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's rather subjective, though, no? Having been in prison, I can tell you that being a Blood and having "certain books" in your locker is a "smash on sight" offense. The same could be said for the Aryan Brotherhood/Circle, and I'm sure for many other gangs. There's a difference between "this one small group: local oklahoma school district/aryan brotherhood/catholic church" decided they don't like a book and the gover…

It is subjective. I believe the application or suggestion here is if you are in a community that denies people under 18 the right to have access to certain books over philosophical differences, you can create a book server and give them access to books. If you live in a state, or institution in your example, that will legally punish you or worse for selling or owning a book, you can create a book server. The two are…

I'm all for civil disobedience, but that's just it. "Civil Disobedience in a Light Bulb" would have been a better angle.

Re: Banned book library in a wi-fi smart light bulb

#309
post #304

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Words exist in a context. "User was banned from a site" and "Book is banned" have different connotations. You have to be purposely obtuse to conflate these.

just like how you can figure out when tom/dan say " we've banned this account " doesn't mean " banned this account from the internet ", you can use similar context clues to figure out " banned book " doesn't mean " banned across the world and is now illegal ".

I mean, when you're like "I have to make a hidden wifi server in a light bulb to distribute these books" that does kind of imply some dystopian totalitarian state that will put you to death for reading those books or something and not the reality that they are given their own highlighted section in literally every single bookstore in existence.

Re: Banned book library in a wi-fi smart light bulb

#310

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find the trend of redefining or twisting terms to serve a specific cause really counterproductive. It eventually devalues the words themselves and makes nuanced discussion nearly impossible. If a problem is really that serious, it shouldn't require misleading language.

> I find the trend of redefining or twisting terms to serve a specific cause really counterproductive. which term is being redefined?

In the context of supplying banned books in the software of a lightbulb, I expect banned to mean a China style ban where possession can get you punished. Not the (current) US version where certain taxpayer funded entities cannot provide the book.

But there might not be a better word for the latter scenario. Surely, few oppose libraries from “banning” pornographic books, so some level of discretion must be used by administrators.

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