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this post was submitted on 23 Jan 2025
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You know the book is old enough to be in the public domain nowadays, and you can legally download a copy of it using the same device they use for watching those videos, right?
The proper reaction to finding out that librarians are legally barred from lending certain classic novels to children is not, "oh that's okay, they can just download it." Especially when we're literally talking about a book dealing with suppressing speech.
On the contrary, I'd say that's an instructive example demonstrating why the book continues to be relevant over 75 years after its release.
Also, if anything, banning it would likely only serve to increase interest in it since the best way to get a rebellious teenager to do anything is to tell them they aren't allowed to do it.
It's only instructive if the kids you think should download books that they can't get at the library are taking your advice to do so. And I doubt they're on Lemmy.
Furthermore, as the husband of a librarian who is (if she is still in Indiana when they pass the bill they intend to pass) at risk of imprisonment if she allows children to have access to books on a ban list, I have to tell you that this is about more than just kids having access to a specific book.
I mean, it's literally the premise of this comic that the kid goes to a library that has already banned the book. How does he know it exists at all? And if he thinks he ought to be able to get it at the library, why wouldn't he think of trying to find it on the Internet instead?
Kids these days were literally born after the iPhone was invented, they have never even known a time where you couldn't access the Internet from almost anywhere in the world using a device small enough to fit in your pocket, and somehow you think they'd be too stupid to even try?
Believe it or not, comics are not reality.
Where is this hypothetical child's parents?
I get where you're coming from, but that isn't the point
I can only surmise the point here is a fact-free circlejerk completely lacking in humor or self-awareness?
I completely believe that's the only thing you can surmise
Do the kids know that?
There are several links to free, legal copies at the bottom of the book's Wikipedia page.
Also, if you type "1984" into YouTube, the first result is this full audiobook recording. It's really not difficult to find.
If you're dedicated you can find anything. That's not the point though.
I understand, but my point is that it really doesn’t take any more effort or dedication than going to the library does. In fact, it’s certainly no more difficult than looking up videos of animal cruelty (at least I don’t exactly just see them being suggested to me randomly).
Animal cruelty maybe not, but I know a few friends who get randomly shown car crashed and combat recordings and the like. I agree with your sentiment for the most part, but I think the real point is that books that should be required reading for young minds are being banned, while the majority of young people are on sites that will show you all kinds of crazy shit to keep you scrolling