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Cork library staff being abused and intimidated over LGBT+ books

245

Comments

  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    WHere are the police in all of this? Arrests and baton charges need to happen. I'm a little tired of the garda let's join hands and sing kumbya attitude.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,949 ✭✭✭✭AndrewJRenko




  • Registered Users Posts: 240 ✭✭Hodger


    The books the protesters want banned from libraries I don,t agree with their stance' any type of sex education books in libraries as long there is a parental consent clause its a matter for parents to decide if they think their son / daughter is old and mature enough to have access to read sex education books be it sex education books for straight teens or gay teens.

    I watched their video today from portumna they didn,t do themselves any favours loosely throwing around the groomer term around.

    I don,t agree with self appointed censors be it the library protesters or those who worked to cancel the recent rural think local festival last month.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,847 ✭✭✭✭elperello


    Calling the priest a heretic is an unusual way to go about getting local support.

    https://galwaybayfm.ie/galway-bay-fm-news-desk/locals-rail-against-protest-at-portumna-library-over-lgbt-books/



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,148 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    Exactly. They are available with parental consent.

    This isn't about books or concern for children at all. It's a campaign of homophobic and transphobic hatred.

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,148 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    The thing is as well huge swathes of people don't support them. Cork people showed up in their hundreds to oppose them. Limerick people opposed then too. They had pushback in Portumna as well.



    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,148 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    Someone aallegedly beaten by these people in Leitrim yesterday for hanging up a pride flag

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,148 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,822 ✭✭✭cgcsb


    I was just thinking the other day, granted the far right loons should be locked up based on what I've seen of them on social media. But there's a separate issue here. There are many people who are not loons who would be uncomfortable with such content in teen books, rightly or wrongly, and I've been thinking about why that is.


    Basically, modern society has decided at some point (perhaps around the 19th century) that nudity = sex and that children ought to be shielded from both to the point that children don't actually know sex exists or what it is exactly, or they are unaware of what the body of the opposite sex looks like. I was quite ignorant of these matters until I was about 10 or 11, it was back when the internet was not easily accessed and had very little content anyway.

    I'm not sure why exactly modern society wants children in the dark on these matters while on everything else we generally say 'knowledge is power'. When you ask people who are extremely opposed to telling kids what sex is or letting them see nudity, the answers they give often include the word 'innocence' and really what it boils down to is; 'we don't tell kids these things to protect them from pedos'.

    You might say fair enough, if it keeps them safe from pedos, but does it? Whenever we see interviews with people who have survived child sexual abuse, the one thing that they all seem to say is "I didn't understand what was happening, I didn't know it was wrong, I thought this was normal" etc. It seems to me from an objective point of view that hiding these topics from kids actually creates opportunities for sexual predators to exploit children. I think it's more about adult victorian era embarrassment than about protecting children.


    Kids are smarter than adults seem to want accept and in any case they are learning about these things from hardcore pornography from their smart devices some of which is now even AI generated. The 'concerned' parents lot seem to think some basic free parental lock app will block someone born in the smart phone era from secretly viewing such material, and they'll get to deny the existence of sex for another few years. Pointless really, adults should be answering questions honestly from as early as they are asked like they would on any other topic, knowledge is still power.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,949 ✭✭✭✭AndrewJRenko


    Knowledge is indeed power, which is what these guys fear.

    They fear having confident, assertive, educated children who won't be bullied or intimidated. It's a classic groomer tactic to try to intimidate and undermine children and others. One would wonder why they don't want kids educated to deal with inappropriate pressures from adults.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,148 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    There are various other aspects too.

    The political aspect is about creating fear of lgbt people and basically abusing lgbt people in order to promote themselves. Its about creating fear of lgbt people to create their own political hegemony.

    There is also a sort of conservative nationalistic othering involved too. It's in a way saying that you can't be Irish and trans. It's denying that trans people exist.

    It's also about aping and copying other far right movements in UK and US. Ironically there is a lot said about so called trans ideology imported from US when this is about the importation of the ideological hatred of trans people from the UK and the US.

    The myths too this is all about protecting women and children are absurd when we can clearly see the leaders of this movement have been repeatedly violent towards women.

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Registered Users Posts: 290 ✭✭Honey50000


    Why do kids need to learn about transgenders for really like



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,949 ✭✭✭✭AndrewJRenko




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,822 ✭✭✭cgcsb


    Because they exist. Like planets of the solar system exist, other countries exist, foreign languages exist, different people exist so kids learn about them in school.



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  • Registered Users Posts: 431 ✭✭Become Death


    I think perhaps the reason people may have an issue with transgender and gender itself is the fact that it is a nebulous and somewhat contradictory concept, especially in Irish law.

    How can you teach a child that all genders are equal when you aren't able to put a figure on how many genders that there are?

    If you tell a child that they can be anything they want to be, it can be a little confusing to them, especially when genders and sex are so often conflated when conversations relating to transgenderism comes up.

    Parents should be allowed decide when their children are taught about certain topics and who does the teaching.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,822 ✭✭✭cgcsb


    Where does that end though? Should parents be able to prevent kids in public education learning the earth is spherical? Surely with holding factual information from kids must have a valid reason?

    I think there are valid reasons btw, like where it may cause them undue worry or stress, That's why I think there needs to be a greater effort to sheild children from violence. Kids today are exposed to extremely violent media, and the Helen lovejoys don't seem to care about that, they're only fussed about the gays.



  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    A Librarian here. Fortunately no far right visits in my county.. yet. As a manager I'm particularly concerned about our lone workers. They are instructed to ring gardai.

    One person is up against probably 3 militant, seasoned agitators. Heasam, Lahive and one other usually. They are cowards and never act alone.

    The discussion on where to place certain books is one for civilised discussion with all concerned groups, not mob bully rule. Naturally people have differing viewpoints. But it's something a general consensus can be found on.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,086 ✭✭✭Rubberchikken


    I read about this behaviour from these people with horror.

    A library should be a safe fun educational place for anyone who wants to be there.

    The staff should be able to do their job safely and in a peaceful environment and not have to deal with narrow minded bullies.


    I think education aimed at each age is the best defense against ignorance fear or hatred.

    I do think it has to start at home and shouldn't be foisted on teachers who in some cases may have their own agenda.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,148 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    There isn't really contradictions in law though. Law recognises that some people may choose to identify as male or female gender different to the gender assigned at birth. No contradiction there. Why wouldn't you want people knowing about how the law works.

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,148 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,322 CMod ✭✭✭✭Ten of Swords


    Mod - A number of posts have been deleted as they were dragging the thread off topic. This thread is discussing what has been going on recently at various libraries so let's stay on topic. Thanks



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,148 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    Yeah. I can imagine how workers feel being called groomers and paedophiles etc. Horrendous.

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    We'd already get small scale abuse. But it leaves you shaken. Even with years of service. Libraries are such a feel good service for everyone.

    The method of 'protest' is so crude. And stress builds when you hear they are active in a neighbouring county.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,148 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    Yeah. Horrible. Disappointing that Cork Library will close again because of protests on Saturday

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Registered Users Posts: 290 ✭✭Honey50000


    A library should not close they should stay open on the other hand people have the right to protest.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,148 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    These thugs are going beyond far beyond "protest"; abusing, intimidating and harassing staff, Ripping up books, storming rooms, physically shoving other library users.

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    They are moronic thugs, low IQ level pretty common.

    I'd love if someone said to the Heasman fellow. 'You know your surname origin is from Warwickshire in England, by your 'standards' your ancestors were definitely illegal immigrants' 😅



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,949 ✭✭✭✭AndrewJRenko


    And we’re off again, courtesy of Dublin Clickbait




  • Registered Users Posts: 290 ✭✭Honey50000


    The world is going mad there was a high profile case in a school in England where a student was given out to for not calling another student a cat



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,148 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 921 ✭✭✭Deregos.


    Hardly a very diplomatic debate if the same person who first started this 'discussion' is also the moderator who gets to decide what posts stay in the conversation, and which comments get deleted from the thread . . There's bound to be issues with bias in such a scenario is there not? 🤔



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,949 ✭✭✭✭AndrewJRenko




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,148 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    The library protesters are violent thugs who dont actually give a fùck about women and children as claimed. Trans people exist. End of story really.

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,148 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,949 ✭✭✭✭AndrewJRenko


    Hey, let's intimidate the guy in the wheelchair, said no decent person ever.




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,944 ✭✭✭hynesie08


    I've got a bridge for sale if you're interested.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,770 ✭✭✭✭Calahonda52


    looking for definitive video evidence in the world of AI!

    Complete ******

    Have you seen the Ballinspittle moving statues AI version

    “I can’t pay my staff or mortgage with instagram likes”.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,148 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,637 ✭✭✭kowloonkev


    I didn't really see anything in those videos that is particularly threatening. Some words said might be a bit strong but it doesn't match at all with some of the sentiments in here which suggested it was like the capital hill riots. They're entitled to have strong opinions because I think their main argument that this book should not be accessible to any kids is the correct, regardless of what some parents might think.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,148 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    That says a lot about you that you think it's OK to rip up books and harass and intimidate librarians repeatedly calling them groomers and paedophiles as well as physically shoving people too.

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,478 ✭✭✭apache


    What exactly is the problem with the book? I've heard a few things about it and if any of it is true I don't think it should be accessible. But I'm trying to figure out what is fact and what is fiction? It's not like I have a copy of the book to check it.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,148 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    Ross Lahive arrested in possession of knife. My understanding reading that article is he was in possession of the knife while tackling the Lord Mayor. Librarians and others have been highlighting their violent tactics for about 2 years now.


    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,637 ✭✭✭kowloonkev


    The people who are defending it are basically saying that it's not freely available to kids without parental consent. However I think any adult who gives that book or consents to a kid under 16 reading it is close to child abuse. Is it grooming? I wouldn't go that far. I think giving kids some of that information is dangerous and makes them more vulnerable to abusers as they may think certain actions are normal, even for their age group. That's basically why I am sympathetic to protests because I think nobody under 16 should be allowed to get that sort of material, especially from a public institution.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,148 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    Shameful.

    You want to censor books and you want to ban young people from learning. And comparing information to abuse is bigoted and disgusting. Plus of course you are not looking to censor any general books on sex education. Proves its even more about anti lgbt bigotry.

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,822 ✭✭✭cgcsb


    An interesting point of view. So the big question is WHY do you think withholding this information protects children from predators? I've seen many interviews with abuse survivors and the only thing they all seem to have in common is that they say they were innocent, they didn't understand what was happening or they assumed this must be normal. Surely informing them early that these are sexual acts and there are age of consent laws is empowering them to protect themselves.


    As an aside, are you seriously suggesting that there are 16 year olds in this country who do not already know what a blow job is?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,637 ✭✭✭kowloonkev


    It's funny getting a morality lesson from someone who is happy for under 16's to learn how to perform sexual acts to please men.

    We're not talking about censoring the book. It should be available to any consenting adult or even 16 and above is fine with me.

    I doubt we'd even need to have this conversation if the book was entitled 'Here's how to blow your man for Junior Cert girls'. It's just the protected status of LGBT community that enables this kind of garbage to go unchecked.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,148 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    The idea that young adults shouldn't get sex education because they might get abused if things are honestly explained to them is frankly off the wall bizarre nonsense. In fact its the very opposite - keeping them uneducated and ignorant means they will not fully understand what's going on and likely to pick up their information/education from pornography sites.

    This is completely all about censorship and denying young people proper education and it is very much anti lgbt bigotry as noone says a thing about other sex education books.

    There was a post on this in CA recently where a person was explaining that he learnt in his youth all about what gay relationships might look like from porn sites and this ended up with him having a very skewed and messed up attitude to relationships.

    That is the result of this desire for censorship; hiding away information and attitudes about healthy and positive relationships and leaving people to inform themselves in many negative ways.

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,637 ✭✭✭kowloonkev


    I'm sure that this book is probably a great learning tool for young people in the community and probably 99% of it may be fine for younger teenagers. It's unfortunate that they had to include some things for shock factor in order to get attention but I suppose that is good marketing and has ultimately made everyone involved more money.

    It's sad that some members of the community are so hardcore that nothing with the LGBT label on it can be wrong or out of order, and anything they produce should be available to all.

    Any criticism of course must be anti LGBT. That is the company mantra.

    I don't remember being taught about blowjobs in sex education classes in junior cycle and I doubt schools are teaching that these days too. Maybe that's why people aren't complaining about it. As for other books available in public libraries, whether they are straight or gay I think it is morally wrong (and a bit sick of any adult) to voluntarily give access to this kind of information for u16s.

    Below 16 is not a young adult by my definition. Above post just tries to change my original argument because my actual argument doesn't suit theirs. In my opinion 18-25 are young adults but I'm prepared to accept 16-18 will be better off knowing some of this information depending on their own development stage.

    Regarding abuse, my opinion is that kids knowing this information and learning it from a 'trusted' source such as a library or school makes it normal and acceptable. (Most kids are smart enough at a basic level to recognise a trusted source from an untrustworthy source) I think that these kids may be vulnerable to consenting to perform these acts on abusers as a result, which could lead to abuse going on long term.

    Just out of curiosity, if anyone believes such a book protects kids from abuse by educating them, then what age is your limit? Maybe you'd want it rolled out in primary schools? (no need to answer, just being flippant to make a point)



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,148 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    There is no hard-core company mantra. Merely highlighting extremist violent anti lgbt hatred.

    The books are educational.

    Violent groups with extremist anti lgbt and anti youth education agendas are campaigning to censor and remove them.

    This is absolutely an anti lgbt campaign based on homophobic/transphobic hatred. Using disgusting shameful bigoted language and slurs about child abuse show this. There is also no attempts to remove or censor general sex education books only lgbt ones.

    The main agitators have shown they are all violent thugs and are all also linked to other far right racist violent movements too.

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



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