# Why are Christian Bookstores Allowed to Ban Books? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 5, 2021, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christian-bookstores-allowed-to-ban-books/937271 "2021-03-05T15:24:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 24
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christian-bookstores-allowed-to-ban-books/937271/463 "2021-03-09T17:16:43Z")
They are not weasel words though. They are an acknowledgement that others could and have make an argument about the nature of the material. I don’t say they are because I don’t share that point of view. It’s like dribble misunderstanding when I said some of those words could be considered intrinsically racist or whatever. I don’t subscribe to that point of view because I’ve been clear that I don’t think a word or a symbol has intrinsic meaning. Others disagree and they use that position to argue that certain things should be banned or censored. It’s not weaseling at all to acknowledge that there are multiple viewpoints. My problem is when the loudest, shrillest censors also are the loudest shrillest shills for n-tuple standards whenever it’s convenient. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christian-bookstores-allowed-to-ban-books/937271/464 "2021-03-09T17:17:24Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > We? And you wonder why you all are derisively referred to as a hive. Not only are your thoughts homogenous and reflexive they are wholly inaccurate. But since you get stroked for being in congruence you parrot them. Grats, I suppose. My god, you’re really terrified by oppressed people standing up to you, aren’t you? You’re huddled in a corner screaming: “I have an individual right to hate!” “I have an individual right to oppress!” “I have an individual right to discriminate!” “You can’t take that away from me! Without those, what am I? My whole life has been poured into this tiny jar of negation. If other people gain equality then I’m no longer superior. They’re banding together against me. It’s not fair. They’re supposed to act as individuals and have no power whatsoever. America is our country, not theirs. I want my mommy!” ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christian-bookstores-allowed-to-ban-books/937271/465 "2021-03-09T17:19:39Z")
Nice one! ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christian-bookstores-allowed-to-ban-books/937271/466 "2021-03-09T17:20:13Z")
And another nice one ! ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christian-bookstores-allowed-to-ban-books/937271/467 "2021-03-09T17:20:59Z")
Octopus: you’re really like the drunken idiot at the bar who keeps going on and on, interminably, about how “it’s physically impossible for a bee to fly,” **as** bees keep flying right past your face: > **[This myth people keep quoting about how bees shouldn't be able to fly is...](https://www.businessinsider.com/bees-cant-fly-scientifically-incorrect-2017-12)** > > Bees don't fly like aeroplanes. [**Reference – my take on Octopus**](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octopus-heres-your-own-thread-to-shit-all-over/815550/1212) ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christian-bookstores-allowed-to-ban-books/937271/468 "2021-03-09T17:21:09Z")
Question for you. If in 20 years, the author of WAP has children or grandchildren or something like that, and they don’t feel that that song is reflective of the values that they now hold, would you support the owner of the rights to stop publishing and licensing that song? Or would you call that illiberal censorship? ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christian-bookstores-allowed-to-ban-books/937271/469 "2021-03-09T17:26:08Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > They are an acknowledgement that others could and have make an argument about the nature of the material. Sure, everybody is free to argue about the nature of commercial and cultural material all day long if they like. The problem is when you naively and/or maliciously insist that if such arguments about different material have different outcomes, then it must be a sign of hypocrisy or double standards. That’s nonsense. It’s not hypocritical to prefer a gender-neutral version of a children’s potato toy to a default-male version, while at the same time not minding if an adult pop song includes some sexually explicit lyrics about vaginal secretions. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christian-bookstores-allowed-to-ban-books/937271/470 "2021-03-09T17:26:54Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > We see right through you. [Yep.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux/913349/2962) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christian-bookstores-allowed-to-ban-books/937271/471 "2021-03-09T17:28:52Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > And your weasel words of “relatively” and “one could say” and “could be argued that” aren’t adding any persuasiveness to your unsupported assertion that the lyrics of “WAP” actually are “demeaning” or “misogynistic”. _Many_ people are saying it, though. People come up to octoputz and they say “Sir, that _Wet Ass Pussy_ is some interanmalized … some internified … is some self-hating wimmins”. So many people. Many beautiful people. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christian-bookstores-allowed-to-ban-books/937271/472 "2021-03-09T17:31:52Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > Part of the reason that I simply answered this with ‘fuck off’ is that it’s an unintelligible question at worst, and ridiculously ambiguous at best. > > And since ambiguity befalls the draftor, would you care to try again ? You didn’t answer it because you are afraid to take a stance that either explicitly states you are anti-liberty or doesn’t align with the majority opinion on the board. It’s cowardly. > [@k9bfriender](#): > > Oh, so something like getting upset about private actors choosing what to do with their product, and calling that liberty? In response to pressure from online and offline mobs it’s problematic. Yes they can do what they want with their property. But more and more institutions are capitulating to what is in essence a Heckler’s veto because they’re scared. It’s sad. > [@MrDibble](#): > > Oh, I know perfectly well what you wanted to be discussed. Like I said, obvious bait is obvious, racist little troll. You really aren’t very bright. Either that or you’re just not being honest. If I wanted to discuss a particular word I could easily post in the threads that do so or create my own. I clearly explained why I used that as an example. > [@k9bfriender](#): > > Question for you. > > If in 20 years, the author of WAP has children or grandchildren or something like that, and they don’t really want that song to be what they are most known for, they don’t feel that that song is reflective of the values that they now hold, would you support the owner of the rights to stop publishing and licensing that song? > > Or would you call that illiberal censorship? Depends. If the timing was such that it was done after it was declared problematic by the woke crowd I’d be bothered. If it were a decision she came to for her own personal reasons than no. I’m not worried about institutions acting in their interests. I’m worried that there is a disproportionate amount of power in an increasingly illiberal faction of the left that can exploit social media and offline mobs to intimidate. I’ve been consistently opposed to that. Even with the forced patriotism expected of Kaepernick. I was against that. > [@DavidNRockies](#): > > Octopus: you’re really like the drunken idiot at the bar who keeps going on and on, interminably, about how “it’s physically impossible for a bee to fly,” **as** bees keep flying right past your face: If I see a so-called bumble bee flying I wouldn’t dismiss that biological reality. > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > My god, you’re really terrified by oppressed people standing up to you, aren’t you? You’re huddled in a corner screaming: “I have an individual right to hate!” “I have an individual right to oppress!” “I have an individual right to discriminate!” “You can’t take that away from me! Without those, what am I? My whole life has been poured into this tiny jar of negation. If other people gain equality then I’m no longer superior. They’re banding together against me. It’s not fair. They’re supposed to act as individuals and have no power whatsoever. America is our country, not theirs. I want my mommy!” Talk about word salad mixed with a strawman. C’mon man save some iceberg and hay for the rest of us. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christian-bookstores-allowed-to-ban-books/937271/473 "2021-03-09T17:32:54Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > It’s like dribble misunderstanding when I said some of those words could be considered intrinsically racist or whatever. I didn’t misunderstand, **Putzy**. I knew _exactly_ where you were hoping to go with that convo. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christian-bookstores-allowed-to-ban-books/937271/474 "2021-03-09T17:33:40Z")
So, if I wanted to have a particular conversation, then why am I not having it? You don’t think through what you write. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christian-bookstores-allowed-to-ban-books/937271/475 "2021-03-09T17:39:08Z")
To all cast members of the octoshow: We repeat: you must provide your own costumes. There will be no food or drink served, you will organize your own transportation to get on set. You will most definitely not be paid. You will not appear in the credits. And finally: Dance! Monkeys! Dance! ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christian-bookstores-allowed-to-ban-books/937271/476 "2021-03-09T17:39:44Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > You really aren’t very bright. “Found _you_ easy enough” > [@](#): > > If I wanted to discuss a particular word I could easily post in the threads that do so or create my own. I clearly explained why I used that as an example. Sure, buddy. Why, what’s this on this hook… You really are dumber than pigshit if you think _anyone_ is buying this. Of course, the usual gang of idiots who would be taking your side in this kind of thing have been … rather thin on the ground lately. So sorry for your loss, thoughts and prayers, etc… What’s that sound? \* BUZZZ \* 🐝 > [@octopus](#): > > So, if I wanted to have a particular conversation, then why am I not having it? Because even _you_ are not stupid enough to know how an outright “how come this Negress can say _nigga_, but I can’t say the word nigger without being called a racist” conversation will go. Even though it was exactly where you were leading things. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christian-bookstores-allowed-to-ban-books/937271/477 "2021-03-09T17:40:21Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > {… } It’s not hypocritical to prefer a gender-neutral version of a children’s potato toy {…} Except that’s not what happened. Shortly after they came to market, May 1, 1952, Mr. Potato Head was joined by Mrs Potato Head, 1953, and their children, curiously their daughter isn’t even a potato. And in the mid 60s by Oscar the Orange, Pete the Pepper, Katie the Carrot, Cooky the Cucumber, and Mr. Potato Head’s Picnic Pals including Mr. Soda Pop Head and Frankie Frank. That Hasbro/Playskool/PPW Toys has finally realized that this toy line isn’t exactly properly described by _Mr. Potato Head_ and is slightly improved by the name change isn’t ‘’‘wokeness run amok’‘’. AFAIK it also isn’t the announcement of a new gender neutral toy line, it’s simply a more inclusive rebranding of their existing, and also AFAIK, unchanged one. It’s completely much ado about absolutely nothing . . . and I’m sure it ain’t hurting sales in the slightest, if you catch my meaning. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christian-bookstores-allowed-to-ban-books/937271/478 "2021-03-09T17:41:14Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > How is the choice to not write Pepe Le Pew into some current scripts “absurd”? It’s absurd when you take into account the fact that he’s the best power forward that team ever had… /s ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christian-bookstores-allowed-to-ban-books/937271/479 "2021-03-09T17:47:33Z")
You honestly think that I am worried about how a conversation or debate will go when I’m in the Pit having the discussion I’m having? I’m not sure what you are high on but you might want to ease off of it. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christian-bookstores-allowed-to-ban-books/937271/480 "2021-03-09T17:48:52Z")
Oh, I’m sure you’re _well_ aware even the Pit has limits. You’re a racist, but not a completely oblivious one. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christian-bookstores-allowed-to-ban-books/937271/481 "2021-03-09T17:51:24Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > People come up to octoputz and they say “Sir, that _Wet Ass Pussy_ is some interanmalized … some internified … is some self-hating wimmins”. The whole “internalized misogyny” argument about “WAP” is baffling to me. What does anybody see as “self-hating” about it? The narrator is a sex worker who’s bragging about her kinky wildness and her sexual responsiveness and her immense desirability to men, which allows her to take the lead in her sexual encounters and produce great satisfaction to everybody. Unless you’re a hardcore Mary-Daley-style radical feminist who thinks that all heterosexual sex work or sexual attraction is intrinsically and irredeemably misogynist because patriarchy, I don’t see why that would be considered necessarily objectionable. Seriously, if it’s not internalized misogyny for [Mae West to sing](https://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/i/imnoangel1933.html) “Baby, I can warm ya with this love of mine […] I can give you kisses till you walk on air, Love me, honey, love me till I just don’t care […] I’ll take your blues, stomp down your troubles, Rock you with a steady roll […] Aw, let me have ya now before the night is gone […] I can make it heaven where the shades are drawn, I’m no angel”, then I don’t see why it’s internalized misogyny for Cardi B to sing “Give me everything you got for this wet-ass pussy […] This pussy is wet, come take a dive […] Make it cream, make me scream […] I tell him where to put it, never tell him where I’m 'bout to be […] I could make you bust before I ever meet ya”. Both are examples of a first-person female narrator being deliberately brazen in her assertion of her sexual desirability and passionate nature, and bragging about the mutual satisfaction she attains with her partner(s). Yeah, the Cardi B song is a lot raunchier, but the fundamental message is pretty much the same. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christian-bookstores-allowed-to-ban-books/937271/482 "2021-03-09T17:52:55Z")
Damn, son, you just don’t get it. That very topic already exists in discussions of those terms elsewhere. I participated in those discussions in the past. You aren’t any reliable writer on bigoted terms since you see them everywhere anyways. Leave the poor horse alone it’s beyond dead. I’ve already stated I don’t think any word is intrinsically racist. That’s all I need to say on that subject. But you are too damn dense to recognize that this particular thread is about what content should or shouldn’t be sold and whether or not institutions should or shouldn’t sell it. MY point is that capitulating to a hypocritical mob is never a good idea because all it does is empower the mob. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christian-bookstores-allowed-to-ban-books/937271.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christian-bookstores-allowed-to-ban-books/937271.md?page=25)