Banned Books, Boring Threads, and Bewildered Comments
More proof that you don’t need to participate in every thread, especially if you don’t know the facts. Ah, Banned Books Week—the time of year when libraries nationwide celebrate the freedom to read, and social media threads explode with heated debates. The East Brunswick Public Library has jumped on the bandwagon, promoting their collection of “more controversial items” with a curated virtual book display. And boy, did that stir the pot in the local Facebook group faster than you can say “censorship.”
While many folks were just excited to flex their First Amendment rights by reading something rebellious, others took a different stance. As expected, our local keyboard warriors came out in full force.
John was quick to set the record straight, saying, “No books have been banned. Children should not have free access to certain more mature material of a sexual nature.” It’s a reasonable point, right? Except this isn’t a display in the Kids’ Corner—it’s in the “You’re an Adult Now, Pick Your Own Poison” section. Sorry, John, but maybe stick to the Dr. Seuss aisle.
No, Promoting Books Isn’t Promoting… That 🙄
Then, we have Peter, who tossed out, “promoting pedophilia?” because nothing says logical debate like throwing out the most extreme accusation possible. I mean, why not just go full conspiracy and say the library is secretly plotting world domination through controversial literature? “Promoting pedophilia” because a book made it into the library collection is like saying, “This gym promotes obesity because they have a snack machine.”
Banned During Whose Administration?
But wait, it gets better! Enter MM, who chimed in with a thought-provoking gem: “Weren’t they banned during Biden’s administration?” Uh, MM, last time we checked, the federal government wasn’t sending secret agents to the East Brunswick Public Library to snatch copies of “The Catcher in the Rye.”
In fact, let’s take a step back and review some facts. As of 2023, over 1,200 book titles have been challenged or banned in the United States, with the majority happening in states like Texas and Florida. Ironically, East Brunswick isn’t even on the map of book-banning hotspots. But, hey, who needs facts when we have Facebook threads?
Debbie to the Rescue
And then, like a beacon of logic in the sea of confusion, Debbie swooped in with her calm, collected response: “At the state level in Florida. Under the DeSantis administration. Can’t blame Biden for that.” Boom. Mic drop. Debbie just casually walked into the room, corrected the misinformation, and walked out like a fact-checking ninja. The real hero we didn’t know we needed.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Stone joined in with a classic zinger: “MM – When was Biden governor of NJ again?” It’s this kind of content that keeps me refreshing the thread for more. Who needs Netflix when you have the comments section?
Banned Books: Threat or Threatened?
The irony here is almost as thick as the plot of “Of Mice And Men” (another frequently challenged title). Book bans often target works that explore complex social issues, yet people tend to reduce the conversation to a debate over “decency” versus “freedom of speech.” The truth is, book bans are more about fear of the unknown than the content itself.
But, hey, why let a nuanced conversation get in the way of a perfectly good Facebook fight? The bottom line is, East Brunswick, keep reading whatever you want. Whether it’s a “banned” book or a comment thread that should be banned for public safety, exercise your freedom to engage, debate, and—most importantly—laugh at the absurdity of it all. We all know there’s far worse lurking in your kid’s internet browser history than anything in these so-called “dangerous” books.
So, next time you’re at the library, pick up something controversial. And while you’re at it, grab some popcorn before you log onto Facebook. You’re going to need it. 🍿
