Ban or not to ban lord of the flies?

[tekgek]

Hey, Guys:

I have been doing a little random research on banned books in the US, and Lord of the flies is quite frequently put up for banning. Do you are for or against banning lord of the flies from schools and libraries? I am personally horrified by the idea of banning a book. Not letting people read and enjoy the thought and effort put into the banned book; it's not right in my opinion. What do you think?

Tekgek

[dicecca112]

Books should not be banned period, it falls under freedom of speech. That being said, if its in a school, and its private, they can ban what the want. Public school has the duty to teach or allow every angle that is out there

[Alathald]

I would say don't ban it. It may be a very intense book but then so is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and The Catcher in The Rye. If the reason you're wanting to ban the book is you think it's too intense for the young'ens, do what our local library did and place them in a separate room that you need to be a certain age (or grade) to check things out from. I think they originally stated they placed those books there to prevent vandalism but it helps both ways. But PLEASE don't ban the books!

I don't think there should be a limit on what books are available at a library but then I was reading Steven King at the age of 8 and I believe I got through The Lord of the Flies at 11 and there's nothing wrong with me

[vicaphit]

Hell, I read Kaffer Boy in high school. That is a crazy book, nothing like lord of the flies. There is rape and murder all over the place in Kaffer Boy.

I don't think books should be banned in schools, but I do think that students should be able to read alternatives if they want. Yes, it makes it a challenge for teachers if students are all reading different books, maybe they could give a main book, and encourage reading that one, but give 2 other alternatives just in case.

When I was in 5th grade, I started reading White Fang, and there was cursing in it, which I wasn't ready for, so I asked my teacher if I could read something else, and she was fine with it. I am a big fan of cursing now, because it allows you to express yourself, but I wasn't ready for it at the time.

[Sting3000]

"Hell, I read Kaffer Boy in high school.""

That explains much.



No banning.

[Tim Burton]

Books should not be banned period, it falls under freedom of speech. That being said, if its in a school, and its private, they can ban what the want. Public school has the duty to teach or allow every angle that is out there

What about a book that says all niggers should be returned to slavery? What about the Holocaust was fake and even if it was real the Jews deserved it? How about a book of child porn? What about a book talking about the virtue of child rape? How the little kids ask for it and it matures them better?

Hey, if you want to hold that position, you need to be consistent....

[Alathald]

What about a book that says all niggers should be returned to slavery? What about the Holocaust was fake and even if it was real the Jews deserved it? How about a book of child porn? What about a book talking about the virtue of child rape? How the little kids ask for it and it matures them better?

Hey, if you want to hold that position, you need to be consistent....

Honestly, as long as it does NOT claim to be fact AND there are no illegal pictures of, say, child porn, I don't think it should be banned. Now, if the book depicts that sort of thing or the author is writing about something that they did, I think that should be used against them in the court of law and they should be put away for life (hopefully one made short by the other prisoners).

Other than that, have you ever read Tom Sawyer? Great book, many racist remarks. How about Stephen King? Many of his books have rather graphic scenes but are still great pieces of literature. Lord of the Flies is a classic piece of Americana with very vivid scenes. That's why it's such a wonderful book, the odd transformation of those boys into monsters. It really makes you think about what would happen to you in that type of situation.

Here's one that I'm surprised more people don't want to see banned, as it's much more, well, emotionally scarring than any of the above: A Clockwork Orange. Now that book is intense. But that's all it is, a book. It can't hurt you, it can only make you think.

I'm sorry but, to me, the argument to banned these (and other) books is about as weak as the argument to banned FPS games. For most, it's just awesome entertainment and while there may be a few people that get some sort of a 'trigger' from these books, that's no reason to banned them. Just as with FPS games, they will eventually crack anyway because they are already mentally unstable.

Anyway, just my two cents...

[tekgek]

Thanks, guys. It seems that most people are against banning, which, in my opinion is a good thing. Keep posting if you like. I will check back everyday.

[T-Shirt]

What about a book that says all niggers should be returned to slavery? What about the Holocaust was fake and even if it was real the Jews deserved it? How about a book of child porn? What about a book talking about the virtue of child rape? How the little kids ask for it and it matures them better?

Hey, if you want to hold that position, you need to be consistent....

We'll hope the school board/ principal/ teacher/curiculm have some sense.
I don't think any book should be banned, nor everybook used.
The point of school is to expose you to a wide varity of materials and ideas.
If it weren't for school assignments, many people would never have read, discussed or thought about these great novels.