Porn at the library??

[etropic1]

Originally posted July 2006

 

During a recent trip to the public library, I decided to take advantage of the fast Internet connection and check my e-mail. I casually walked over the the “computer lab” that is open for 4 hours each day and sat down. Even though this lab is inside the library, and is is mainly used by students who attend the Front Range Community College, it is open to the public. Normally when I have used this facility in the past, there are very few children who access this area. However, with public schools not currently in session, I have noticed a considerable amount more children utilizing this area. This day was no exception. As I sat down, & logged onto my computer, something in the corner of my eye caught my attention. On the computer screen two seats away from me, I saw a “flash”of skin, some sort of repetitive motion, & legs in the air. I instantly knew what I had seen but was so shocked that I had to be certain. I casually made my way towards the image and person seated in front of the computer. Without making eye contact, and acting as if I had seen nothing, I nonchalantly made my way past the gentleman seated there. I made a quick glance out of the corner or my eye as I rounded the corner headed towards the “lab monitor”. Sure enough, I had indeed seen what I suspected to begin with. PORNOGRAPHY! I shuttered in disgust as I finally reached the lab monitor. I quietly leaned in and whispered oh so softly “Do you have a pair of headphones I can use?” Silently, she retrieved a pair from her desk drawer & handed them to me. I mouthed the word “thank you” just as silently before turning and making my way back to my computer. My heart raced and I could feel my blood boil as I looked around the room, & instantly became aware of just how many children were in the computer lab that day. As I continued to make my ways back to my seat, I couldn't help but think how irresponsible and inappropriate this man was being. As I reached my seat, I decided to take this matter into my own hands. I quickly laid down my headphones, retrieved my purse and excused myself to the restroom, fake coughing all the while. With quickened step, I scanned the library for any staff member I could find. Naturally, none were readily available. I quickly made my way to the front desk, only to encounter more of the same. I was rapidly becoming irritated. As I gazed over at the reference desk, the regular two librarians who manned their post oh so consistently, were also M.I.A. I quickly turned my attention to the Children's section's “help desk”. “Finally!”, I thought. Eagerly seeking help with my dilemma, I smiled as I approached the petite woman located behind the counter. “Can I help you?”, she asked with a softened yet firm tone in her voice. “Yeah I have I question,” I so unintelligible blurted out as if I couldn't wait a second longer. The faint sound of children's voices suddenly reminded me to lower my voice to barely over a whisper before continuing further. Not pausing to give the librarian a chance to respond, I pressed forward. “What is the libraries' policy on patrons who use the computer to look @ porn??”, I blurted out matter-of-factly. I had hoped that the shear mention of the word “porn” would have jolted her into immediate action. After a fraction of a second passed, It was obvious she was mulling over her response before attempting to answer me. Undaunted, I interrupted her possible response with the continuation of my complaint. “I don't think my tax payer dollars should have to pay for that kind of stuff.” The librarian quickly jumped in this time, “Well that's why we have the privacy screens.” Stunned only momentarily, I pressed the issue further. ”Well that's great but the man I'm referring to isn't using a computer that has a privacy screen. He's using one of the flat panel screen computers where the monitor is on top of the desk and is in plain sight!”, I all but screeched. In fact she was correct about the use of privacy screens. Unfortunately these screens are only provided for the computers located outside of the computer lab, near the magazine section. It was slowly becoming apparent to me that wasn't grasping the information I was relaying to her. I again informed her that I was seated in the computer lab and not in the general use computer area. It was then that I revealed the most disturbing part of my complaint. “There are quite a few children in the lab today too. I don't think that porn is an appropriate thing for them to be exposed to in a library of all places”, I said very firmly. I don't know if it was the later of the two details, or the combination of both that prompted her into action, but which ever it was, seemed to have lit a fire under her. “I'll get someone to take care if this ma'am,” she said, moving swiftly from behind her desk. “I am seated in the last row, third seat in from the doorway,”I replied. “It's the older, well dressed, “professional-looking”, man two computers down from me,” I stated. Just to be sure there was no misunderstanding I quickly reiterated, ”He's the sitting @ the last computer on the very end, with the computer monitor on top of the desk, not below like the rest of the computers are.” This information seemed to puzzle her once again. Quickly growing impatient @ this woman's lack of comprehension, I whipped around & explained in further detail. “Most of the computers in the lab have CRT computer monitors submerged down in the desk, towards one's feet. There is a hole in the desktop itself covered by a piece of fitted Plexiglases. This allows for more use of the desk as well as for more privacy when using the computers. There are a few computers however, that have the flat screen monitors instead of the CRT. These computers are all the last computers in each row with the exception of one other computer in the front row reserved for handicapped patrons.” By this time I was beginning to think that my efforts would be fruitless. Without waiting for a response, I spun back around, and headed back to the computer lab. As I walked back, peeved as only I could be, my heart began to race. What if upon my return this man had left? Would I have done all I did for not? What kind of an ass had I just made out of myself? As I inched forward into the lab, I silently sighed in relief. The indiscreet man was in fact, still there. He briefly glanced up @ me, & shifted slightly away. His reaction was proof positive that he was still viewing his precious porn. I reclaimed my seat at my computer and attempted to act as if nothing were wrong. Inside I couldn't help but think,” Oh, God, I hope some one doesn't come in right away because then it'll be so obvious!” Then in a split second I thought of how embarrassed this man would be. Immediately, I eliminated that thought out of my mind. “Who cares!”, a voice inside my head screamed. “That's not your problem! It's his for not having common sense enough to view his porn somewhere other than the public library! What part of PUBLIC is there not to understand!!” Right @ that exact moment, appeared a staff member walking briskly into the computer lab. She brushed passed me, & quickly rounded the corner as the end of the row of computers. She hadn't even so much as glanced @ me, but I knew what she was doing. She proceeded only half way up the aisle towards the lab monitor, when she stopped short and turned right back around. As she retraced her steps, she leaned over and spoke something inaudible to the man I had complained about. She quickly exited the room, the well dressed man not far behind. It was apparent by his abrupt departure, he was uncomfortable.

As he left, I found my mind racing. “How could some one sit there and watch porn as if it were just another regular t.v. program?” Don't people usually watch porn to get aroused?” That is the whole point of it is it not? I shuttered at that thought. “Why would anyone feel the need to look @ porn at the library of all places? Why take the chance of getting caught? Why choose the computer that had no privacy monitor? Is someone really that dumb or that lacking of common sense? Did the need to view the porn override his brain completely? What right did this man have in taking a chance, (no matter how minute)of a child accidentally viewing his porn? Am I missing something here?

Let me make myself clear just a moment. I am not chastising this man for looking @ porn, I am merely questioning his need to view it in a public setting, especially within such close proximity of young children. I am not judging this man or his morals either. In our society there all walks of life. I understand also that we have different moral gauges as to what we feel is acceptable or not in our lives. However, I draw the line when other people are affected by the lack of common sense, responsibility and self control of one individual or group of people. Especially young impressionable children.

Children today are growing up in a society much different than that in which previous generations grew up in. There are many more pitfalls in which we to attempt to protect them from. I fully realize we as a society can't protect our children from everything. There are uncomfortable issues that need to be addressed in order to better prepare our children for the real world. Pornography being one of those issues. It is a parent's right & responsibility, to decide when the appropriate time is to address certain issues, such as pornography, with their children. Let me say that again. It's the PARENT'S right. Not society's, not your's or mine. It is most certainly not the right of a man who lacks the ability to think with the head upon his shoulders verses the one in his pants. With this being said, I come to the first of my many points in this blog.

I feel that I am in the minority for feeling the way I do about protecting our children. For example, look @ the librarian's response when I approached the subject with her. Her first response was to jump to this man's defense! I wonder if she would have so easily sided with him if he had been viewing his porn on the computers in the children's section of the library. (This is another point I'll get to here shortly.) Is there no such thing as something absolutely being wrong or right? Is everything subject to become a “gray” area now a days? Are we that tolerant as a society these days? Are we that scared to be called intolerant, that we abandon moral reason for the sake of harmony? If this is the case, I might as well throw in the towel now. Brand me now with your scarlet letter “I ”. Children are the truly, the only innocent ones in this world (to a certain age of course!) I know that if I have the power, no matter how small, to do anything for ANY child, I am damn well gonna do it! I don't see this mentality resonating in society today. Every time, (no exaggeration) I turn on the news there is report after report where a child has been either, molested, abducted, or murdered. I am not exclusively referring to the local news either. It sickens me to the point that I no longer watch the news on a daily basis. Let this serve as a warning; We are failing our children miserably. Gone are the days of simply worrying about your child falling off his bike while riding to the neighborhood park. That fear has been replaced with something far greater and sinister. Now the worry is will that same child even make it to the park, for fear of encountering a pedophile camouflaged as a seemingly harmless adult looking for directions. I exaggerate you say. Do I? The next time you are on line, visit the website of your local sheriff's department. See if they have the capability of locating registered sex offenders in your neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods. If not, most at least list these former criminals. I know I was surprised to hear that this is now becoming standard practice in a variety of cities, counties and states. Even with these websites being used as tools to help guide parents steer clear of these potentially harmful people, that is not enough. Parents need to be proactive as well. Which brings me to my next point.

As I previously mentioned, with school not currently in session I noticed the increase in the number of children @ the library's computer lab. With the record setting heat we have been seeing, it's only logical that an air conditioned room with an endless supply of gaming opportunities would be appealing to quite a few youngsters. Even more so since the children's section of the library only allows for 20 minutes of usage per child. Not to mention there are only 4 computers available that I counted. The only other option for children is to sign up for the general use computers. These too have an allotted time allowance, but only for one hour. It is easy to see why, (especially in this day & age of computers/video games,) & how so many children have become drawn to the computer lab. Not to mention the lack of parental supervision. Again, like I mentioned before, there is a computer lab “monitor” but he/she(it varies from time to time) really doesn't do much except sit and play games as well. The only “job” I see this person doing is answering the a patron's particular question/problem when the occasion arises. I've come to realize this “monitor” is just a window dressing; there for looks and no real purpose. I can count on my hands, numerous time when I've come utilize the computer lab for a certain task, only to find kids taking up space, playing games. There again, the computer monitor was oblivious, even though it was the height of the quarter and it was plain to see there were almost as many students as children in the room.

With the recent event of the “man and his porn”, I feel there should not be any children under the age of 18 in this room. The exception, of course, only if the minor is escorted escorted by a parent. It is not the library's job to patrol what your children look at while “surfing the net”, or what they may be subjected to. That is what parents are for. Parents need to set guidelines with their children on what exactly their child will be doing while on the computer & observe what their children actually do while using the computer. I will take it even one step further. I see no need for a child under the age of 18 to even be on the Internet for anything else besides research for homework. Again, children grow up fast enough on their own without adding such distractions as the Internet to thrust them further into adulthood. It's no wonder this generation of children have become obese at such an alarming rate. (Let's save that topic for another blog shall we?) Moving on.

Although I do feel that the responsibility of protecting children from certain Internet evils is shared evenly between parents of children who choose to utilize the computer lab and faculty @ the library, it's clear some one has dropped the ball. I believe the library needs to look into their filtering software. Clearly there is a breakdown there somewhere. If the system is laxed, then the library needs to take action in some other form until the bugs are resolved. It makes perfect sense to limit Internet access for children by any means necessary. Institute guidelines limiting access only be provided in the already designated children's section of the library. I feel this would also cut down on the amount of parents who use library as a free day care service. I think these guidelines should already be in place regardless of the software problems. I love children and am a parent myself. There are just certain places children should not be. Unfortunately, particular areas of the library have fallen in to that same category. All because one man exhibited a lack of self control.

I've included a link to a website that I found had some interesting statistics in reference to child abuse/molestation.

http://www.neighborhoodredalert.com/AboutUs.aspx

[bethany49]

Sep. 22, 2008 at 4:05 AM

Wow that is just WRONG on so many levels.  I began to think that maybe he had no Internet at home but quickly changed that line of thought.  That is not RIGHT.  The thing that concerns me the most is that he has no regards for others & most definitely not for children which then leads me to wonder if maybe he isn't a sexual predator?  *shrug*  It seems that sex crimes is getting more & more attention now days - don't get me wrong, I think it should get attention & people should speak up if they know of anyone that is doing anything inappropriate.  I give you kudos for speaking up & saying something.  I like you would be SHOCKED to see someone looking at porn at the library, especially with many children around & without the privacy screens.  I am not sure if I would have had the courage to go say something.  I do think that maybe you need to discuss this with your city council or with the director at the library to see what the policy is on that.  Just another thought...

[Seriously92]

Sep. 22, 2008 at 5:15 AM

Do libraries have porn on their shelves?  I mean, aside from your normal Kama Sutra and "How to" books, isn't it like the one category that's NOT in the Dewey Decimal System? 

Why aren't there filters on those computers?  Blocks?

Now that computer has been "marked" and porn sites will be pinging it with popup boxes forever.  Any random kid could be sitting there, or unsuspecting well-adjusted prude, and see crap they do NOT need to see, just because of that one man's obsessive behavior.

 

GOOD FOR YOU doing something about this though.  Too many people just "mind their own business" and let things go.  You did the right thing and it will come back to you!  Kudos.

 

[MSugarKane]

Sep. 22, 2008 at 7:46 AM

I am one to take action by myself. I see a situation and then go to town hall meetings, or the right place that a change needs to be made like making the library put porn blocks on their computers, OR have an adult only computer section. By making a stink in your own home town, petitions signed before you go to the meeting, *make sure your on the agenda* , take people with you to rally with you and show town support. Not only should this be done in your own home town, but throughout your whole state and federally. Start at the bottom and work your way up. The people are who makes changes.

Personally I changed four state laws in New Hampshire. It can take years before a bill goes up and gets passed. So if you want anything done, do it yourself. This is a good start making people aware, but starting to make this problem get rectified, you as a single person, in your home town or state CAN do something about it. 

good luck

[etropic1]

Sep. 23, 2008 at 5:23 AM

Thank you to all of you who have posted.  I appreciate all of your feedback.  Lots of food for thought here!

(Original Poster)