Comments on: Boycotting bookstores that boycott books? http://deanesmay.com/2006/03/30/boycotting-bookstores-that-boycott-books/ Defending the liberal tradition in history, science, and philosophy. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:15:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Wrong fears « Likelihood of Success http://deanesmay.com/2006/03/30/boycotting-bookstores-that-boycott-books/#comment-152531 Wrong fears « Likelihood of Success Mon, 24 Mar 2008 01:37:38 +0000 http://deanesma.nexcess.net/2006/03/30/boycotting-bookstores-that-boycott-books/#comment-152531 [...] I think Glenn — law professor, right? — just just nipped a piece of the truth on the way out there.  The issue is not, really, having your server blown up.   In fact, this is not a realistic risk in the vast majority of cases.  That risk — and the ability of Muslim extremists to carry out the threatened violence — was overstated in the past, even though the fear of it was very real. [...] [...] I think Glenn — law professor, right? — just just nipped a piece of the truth on the way out there.  The issue is not, really, having your server blown up.   In fact, this is not a realistic risk in the vast majority of cases.  That risk — and the ability of Muslim extremists to carry out the threatened violence — was overstated in the past, even though the fear of it was very real. [...]

]]> By: Ronald Coleman http://deanesmay.com/2006/03/30/boycotting-bookstores-that-boycott-books/#comment-70704 Ronald Coleman Sun, 02 Apr 2006 15:39:10 +0000 http://deanesma.nexcess.net/2006/03/30/boycotting-bookstores-that-boycott-books/#comment-70704 OK, Sissy, but even if it is (and I'm pretty skeptical), it's not such a big deal if I take books out to my driveway and burn them. It's not the end of freedom as we know it. Remember, the problem with book burnings is when they are mandated or at least conducted by the authorities. Private parties, especially ones with no particular market power (compare, say, the <i>New York Times</i>) can burn, ban or boil whatever they want and it doesn't really matter to anyone else. You can just do as Arnold does and go across the street to B&N, and get a nice cup of coffee and a wireless connection, too. OK, Sissy, but even if it is (and I’m pretty skeptical), it’s not such a big deal if I take books out to my driveway and burn them. It’s not the end of freedom as we know it. Remember, the problem with book burnings is when they are mandated or at least conducted by the authorities. Private parties, especially ones with no particular market power (compare, say, the New York Times) can burn, ban or boil whatever they want and it doesn’t really matter to anyone else. You can just do as Arnold does and go across the street to B&N, and get a nice cup of coffee and a wireless connection, too.

]]> By: Sissy Willis http://deanesmay.com/2006/03/30/boycotting-bookstores-that-boycott-books/#comment-70703 Sissy Willis Sat, 01 Apr 2006 11:37:53 +0000 http://deanesma.nexcess.net/2006/03/30/boycotting-bookstores-that-boycott-books/#comment-70703 Points well taken, but in my view their dhimmitudinous response is a metaphorical book burning: <BR /> <BR /><a href="http://sisu.typepad.com/sisu/2006/03/even_as_borders_1.html" rel="nofollow">Inquiring minds want to know</a> Points well taken, but in my view their dhimmitudinous response is a metaphorical book burning:

Inquiring minds want to know

]]> By: Van der Leun http://deanesmay.com/2006/03/30/boycotting-bookstores-that-boycott-books/#comment-70702 Van der Leun Sat, 01 Apr 2006 03:28:40 +0000 http://deanesma.nexcess.net/2006/03/30/boycotting-bookstores-that-boycott-books/#comment-70702 Yes, I agree. That's really the point, isn't it? Yes, I agree. That’s really the point, isn’t it?

]]> By: Ronald Coleman http://deanesmay.com/2006/03/30/boycotting-bookstores-that-boycott-books/#comment-70701 Ronald Coleman Fri, 31 Mar 2006 19:58:16 +0000 http://deanesma.nexcess.net/2006/03/30/boycotting-bookstores-that-boycott-books/#comment-70701 I am not so sure that bookstores are meant to be the official designated agents of "our" free speech. <BR /> <BR />They really are there to make money, selling books. I am not so sure that bookstores are meant to be the official designated agents of “our” free speech.

They really are there to make money, selling books.

]]> By: desertlightjournal.blog-city.com http://deanesmay.com/2006/03/30/boycotting-bookstores-that-boycott-books/#comment-70706 desertlightjournal.blog-city.com Fri, 31 Mar 2006 17:00:17 +0000 http://deanesma.nexcess.net/2006/03/30/boycotting-bookstores-that-boycott-books/#comment-70706 <strong>Censorship or pragmatism?</strong> There?s a brisk discussion going on at Dean?s World on bookstores and boycotts. Andrew Cory says, in part:See, a bookstore?s only stocking priority ought to be ?will it sell?. Once the commercial judgment is replaced Censorship or pragmatism?

There?s a brisk discussion going on at Dean?s World on bookstores and boycotts.

Andrew Cory says, in part:See, a bookstore?s only stocking priority ought to be ?will it sell?. Once the commercial judgment is replaced

]]> By: Randall http://deanesmay.com/2006/03/30/boycotting-bookstores-that-boycott-books/#comment-70700 Randall Fri, 31 Mar 2006 13:18:22 +0000 http://deanesma.nexcess.net/2006/03/30/boycotting-bookstores-that-boycott-books/#comment-70700 All well and good, but then let's see an end to any sort of discussion about how "we" value free speech. Because, apparently, "we" no longer do. <BR /> <BR />The Muslims gave it a price tag. Price tags have a way of clarifying one's priorities. <BR /> <BR />However, some people are trying to give appeasement a price tag also - the price of bad press and reduced customers. <BR /> <BR />Booksellers are going to have difficult decisions in this Islmast-intimidated world. I don't envy them, but I won't be very impressed next time I hear them tell me how brave they are for publishing the latest cutting-edge attack on McCarthyism, or American theocracy. All well and good, but then let’s see an end to any sort of discussion about how “we” value free speech. Because, apparently, “we” no longer do.

The Muslims gave it a price tag. Price tags have a way of clarifying one’s priorities.

However, some people are trying to give appeasement a price tag also – the price of bad press and reduced customers.

Booksellers are going to have difficult decisions in this Islmast-intimidated world. I don’t envy them, but I won’t be very impressed next time I hear them tell me how brave they are for publishing the latest cutting-edge attack on McCarthyism, or American theocracy.

]]> By: Rhymes With Right http://deanesmay.com/2006/03/30/boycotting-bookstores-that-boycott-books/#comment-70705 Rhymes With Right Fri, 31 Mar 2006 11:46:16 +0000 http://deanesma.nexcess.net/2006/03/30/boycotting-bookstores-that-boycott-books/#comment-70705 <strong>Borders & Waldenbooks -- Fear Leads To Self-Censorship</strong> The Muhammad Cartoon Controversey has led one company to refuse to sell a magazine at its stores -- two of America's largest retailers of books and magazines. Borders and Waldenbooks stores will not stock the April-May issue of Free Inquiry... Borders & Waldenbooks — Fear Leads To Self-Censorship

The Muhammad Cartoon Controversey has led one company to refuse to sell a magazine at its stores — two of America’s largest retailers of books and magazines. Borders and Waldenbooks stores will not stock the April-May issue of Free Inquiry…

]]> By: Bryan Costin http://deanesmay.com/2006/03/30/boycotting-bookstores-that-boycott-books/#comment-70699 Bryan Costin Fri, 31 Mar 2006 02:25:06 +0000 http://deanesma.nexcess.net/2006/03/30/boycotting-bookstores-that-boycott-books/#comment-70699 Hmm. If there had been an actual threat made against Borders I think I'd be more understanding. Unfortunately this doesn't seem to be reasonable caution toward a threat that can be addressed and remedied. It's just pre-emptive self abasement in hopes of avoiding "punishment" for the crime of going about their daily business. Maybe that's not a slippery slope, but if that's their new standard reaction to vague, distant uneasiness then I honestly don't see how it gets better from here. Hmm. If there had been an actual threat made against Borders I think I’d be more understanding. Unfortunately this doesn’t seem to be reasonable caution toward a threat that can be addressed and remedied. It’s just pre-emptive self abasement in hopes of avoiding “punishment” for the crime of going about their daily business. Maybe that’s not a slippery slope, but if that’s their new standard reaction to vague, distant uneasiness then I honestly don’t see how it gets better from here.

]]> By: maryatexitzero http://deanesmay.com/2006/03/30/boycotting-bookstores-that-boycott-books/#comment-70698 maryatexitzero Fri, 31 Mar 2006 01:41:05 +0000 http://deanesma.nexcess.net/2006/03/30/boycotting-bookstores-that-boycott-books/#comment-70698 <i>there's a legal violation here, it should be prosecuted</i> <BR /> <BR />Why, exactly, are the bookstores worried about violent attacks? We can trace that back to the Ayatollah's fatwa against Rushdie (a violation of our laws) to the 9/11 attacks (no Saudi financiers prosecuted due to diplomatic immunity) to the Danish cartoon riots (also a violation of our laws - few prosecuted). <BR /> <BR />We have a long history of not respecting our own laws when Islamists are involved. This is just the latest example. there’s a legal violation here, it should be prosecuted

Why, exactly, are the bookstores worried about violent attacks? We can trace that back to the Ayatollah’s fatwa against Rushdie (a violation of our laws) to the 9/11 attacks (no Saudi financiers prosecuted due to diplomatic immunity) to the Danish cartoon riots (also a violation of our laws – few prosecuted).

We have a long history of not respecting our own laws when Islamists are involved. This is just the latest example.

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