San Francisco Library Installs Porn Privacy Screens

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San Francisco has installed porn privacy screens on the computers in its main library. I guess it's time to renew the ol' library card. The added bonus? The library says it is going to install a "pop-up warning" on the computers. Thanks to awsiemieniec for the link.

The library is installing new plastic privacy screens in the hope that the screens will keep those guests' afternoon pastime from offending anyone else. "You see a lot of people looking at porn and such," said regular library visitor Adrian Dumont. He considers it a hazard of using the library computers.
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really makes one wonder why you'd be so blatant to go to a library and watch porn, do you just not have internet access at home?
 
sfsuphysics said:
really makes one wonder why you'd be so blatant to go to a library and watch porn, do you just not have internet access at home?
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Some people don't. What if they're too poor to afford even basic access? What is they're homeless, or living with someone who doesn't have, or can't afford access?
 
While they're at it they should install privacy stalls with soundproof walls and comfortable seating, charge a couple dollars and membership rates will go through the roof!
 
soooo instead of kicking people out/kicking their ass they just spent more tax payer money to enable people to be pervs in public?

Don't get me wrong, porn is awesome. When you enjoy it in the privacy of your home and or adult theater. A public library though? what about the little kids that might be walking from A to B or something?

What does the library expect to come (heh) of this? Do they think people are just going to watch said porn and then walk off and go read a book? No people are going to get horny and doing dirty things in the bathroom or worse right there in the chair.

What's next? complimentary curb side pickup for those collecting welfare?
 
Rather than censoring information (which every librarian ever is adamantly against), they opted to set up their access so that fewer people are offended. There are plenty of legitimate reasons for looking at images which could be considered pornographic. Many colleges I believe allow access to similar material on their library machines. I know mine does.
 
Seems like good financial sense to me.

Which will cost the tax payers more money? Implementing, managing, and continually updating a firewall designed to filter internet access based on the prevailing morality of the week, or buying some molded plastic privacy screens for the displays.
 
sfsuphysics said:
really makes one wonder why you'd be so blatant to go to a library and watch porn, do you just not have internet access at home?
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There's a reason why public libraries exist and have free internet access as well.

You will be surprised or not that not everyone has internet access especially at acceptable speeds to do anything beyond email, IM, or Facebook. Not everyone has cable TV either.

Heck, I didn't get high-speed DSL until 2003 and ATT U-verse in my parent's place until 2007. In high school, I never had internet access especially throughout college. Libraries were the best source of internet access for me. My dorms and college campus were much worse-- 10 Mbps shared throughout the entire campus. All it was good for was accessing the on-campus library's journals and other documents for class. That internet wasn't upgraded until after I graduated college to a campus-wide fiber optic connection.

My friend in South Dakota has internet speeds no faster than 3 Mbps. It's always a wonder we can even play multiplayer games together.

If you think it's going to be a waste of taxpayer money to pay for internet access at public libraries, you really need to get off your high horse.

NOT EVERYONE IS RICH OR HAS A DECENT JOB TO AFFORD INTERNET ACCESS! GET THAT THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULL!

I would not be surprised someone in a low income neighborhood in the city can't afford internet access.

This is why as much as I like technology, be awed by new tech, and read up on it, I really don't like it has to be catered to those who can afford it. The same applies to needed technology such as medical equipment and life-saving medical procedures. If the internet is going to be a tool for education, to open the world to other people, technology should NEVER be catered to only those who can afford it.

If I was a politician running for office, I'll side with the middle and lower income class than someone with a higher income that thinks that they are the only ones that should be entitled to better education, better technology, better medicine, better transportation. People need to start thinking about not only about themselves, but of other people less fortunate than themselves. Greed, ignorance and selfishness is never going to move us forward. And, we can't move forward if technology is only limited to the privileged few.
 
octoberasian said:
NOT EVERYONE IS RICH OR HAS A DECENT JOB TO AFFORD INTERNET ACCESS! GET THAT THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULL!
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Then you need to whack off to porn magazines like we all used to before the advent of the fucking internet.


The library internet is there to allow poor students the ability to do homework and research for papers, not to allow people to fucking whack off while at the library.
 
RadCliffeX said:
Then you need to whack off to porn magazines like we all used to before the advent of the fucking internet.


The library internet is there to allow poor students the ability to do homework and research for papers, not to allow people to fucking whack off while at the library.
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Poo citizens have a right to spank it just as rich citizens do. And religions citizens have the right to tell the poor citizens whaling away on themselves that they are going to Hell, double time for doing the devils work in public.
 
RadCliffeX said:
Then you need to whack off to porn magazines like we all used to before the advent of the fucking internet.


The library internet is there to allow poor students the ability to do homework and research for papers, not to allow people to fucking whack off while at the library.
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Part of some research is looking at images that others might be offended by. Naked paintings, nude statuary, evolution. The point is its better to allow people to watch porn occasionally, if that means everyone has access to uncensored knowledge.
 
aero449 said:
I'd rather little kids see nudity and sex rather than violence and bloodshed.
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So rather than letting the little kids watch brave heart you'd rather they go to the local library to see some crusty old dude whacking off to some horse porn? :p

I have no real comments on the topic other than "buahahaha".
 
octoberasian said:
There's a reason why public libraries exist and have free internet access as well.

You will be surprised or not that not everyone has internet access especially at acceptable speeds to do anything beyond email, IM, or Facebook. Not everyone has cable TV either.

Heck, I didn't get high-speed DSL until 2003 and ATT U-verse in my parent's place until 2007. In high school, I never had internet access especially throughout college. Libraries were the best source of internet access for me. My dorms and college campus were much worse-- 10 Mbps shared throughout the entire campus. All it was good for was accessing the on-campus library's journals and other documents for class. That internet wasn't upgraded until after I graduated college to a campus-wide fiber optic connection.

My friend in South Dakota has internet speeds no faster than 3 Mbps. It's always a wonder we can even play multiplayer games together.

If you think it's going to be a waste of taxpayer money to pay for internet access at public libraries, you really need to get off your high horse.

NOT EVERYONE IS RICH OR HAS A DECENT JOB TO AFFORD INTERNET ACCESS! GET THAT THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULL!

I would not be surprised someone in a low income neighborhood in the city can't afford internet access.

This is why as much as I like technology, be awed by new tech, and read up on it, I really don't like it has to be catered to those who can afford it. The same applies to needed technology such as medical equipment and life-saving medical procedures. If the internet is going to be a tool for education, to open the world to other people, technology should NEVER be catered to only those who can afford it.

If I was a politician running for office, I'll side with the middle and lower income class than someone with a higher income that thinks that they are the only ones that should be entitled to better education, better technology, better medicine, better transportation. People need to start thinking about not only about themselves, but of other people less fortunate than themselves. Greed, ignorance and selfishness is never going to move us forward. And, we can't move forward if technology is only limited to the privileged few.
Click to expand...

If you are poor and the only thing you do on your free time is poor then too bad. Get your ass a job and get service at your place. This isn't about rich vs. Poor. Its to do with pervs using the public computers for porn. That's not what they are for. If you are really poo, these asshats should then be applying online for jobs.

I'm below the "middle class" but work to get by. I pay insurance, phone bill and rent. If a person is just a lazy bum then they belong on the streets and off public libraries so students can use the computers for an actual purpose. I know its hard around here in the US if you ain't wealthy but if you strive to better yourself, you can make something off yourself and contribute to society,
atleast in a small way. I hate leeches and people who like to take advantage of things just because they can do it.
 
Tudz said:
So rather than letting the little kids watch brave heart you'd rather they go to the local library to see some crusty old dude whacking off to some horse porn? :p

.
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no no. he means kids watching the actual porn. Not watching some dude watching porn
 
Jasec said:
If you are poor and the only thing you do on your free time is poor then too bad. Get your ass a job and get service at your place. This isn't about rich vs. Poor. Its to do with pervs using the public computers for porn. That's not what they are for. If you are really poo, these asshats should then be applying online for jobs.

I'm below the "middle class" but work to get by. I pay insurance, phone bill and rent. If a person is just a lazy bum then they belong on the streets and off public libraries so students can use the computers for an actual purpose. I know its hard around here in the US if you ain't wealthy but if you strive to better yourself, you can make something off yourself and contribute to society,
atleast in a small way. I hate leeches and people who like to take advantage of things just because they can do it.
Click to expand...

Dude. Put it this way, I know smart folks who've been limping by unemployed for 2-3 years. "Better yourself" and "get a job" is far easier to say than do right now.
 
i wonder how the Japanese handle this.

they must have a shitload of porn pc's at the library
 
Skripka said:
Dude. Put it this way, I know smart folks who've been limping by unemployed for 2-3 years. "Better yourself" and "get a job" is far easier to say than do right now.
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That's not what I meant. I'm talking about people who don't seek jobs, don't care and they know they can get government assistance and get it like its candy.

Also you can find a job but you must be willing to "lower your expectations" sometimes. I'm talking low paying jobs. Its better than nothing but some people feel like they are too good to work those jobs. :rolleyes:

I've been there and family members. Its tough but you must be willing to do your part.
 
Jasec said:
That's not what I meant. I'm talking about people who don't seek jobs, don't care and they know they can get government assistance and get it like its candy.

Also you can find a job but you must be willing to "lower your expectations" sometimes. I'm talking low paying jobs. Its better than nothing but some people feel like they are too good to work those jobs. :rolleyes:

I've been there and family members. Its tough but you must be willing to do your part.
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And guess what, with the cost of living those low-paying jobs don;t pay the bills. And when push comes to shove saving $50/month ($600/year) for an ISP service and hoofing it to the library to check email is a far more viable move economically than not paying for your car registration.
 
Skripka said:
And guess what, with the cost of living those low-paying jobs don;t pay the bills. And when push comes to shove saving $50/month ($600/year) for an ISP service and hoofing it to the library to check email is a far more viable move economically than not paying for your car registration.
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Good point but those are not the people I mind going. Its pervs going to whack off on public libraries. I'll leave it as that.
 
I would just like to point out that there is no mention of people masturbating while looking at porn in the library, in this article. I'm not a lawyer, but I'm certain that it's a serious crime to masturbate in public.

Just because someone is looking at porn doesn't necessarily mean that they are aroused and feel the need to masturbate. To some people it's just entertainment.
 
octoberasian said:
There's a reason why public libraries exist and have free internet access as well.

You will be surprised or not that not everyone has internet access especially at acceptable speeds to do anything beyond email, IM, or Facebook. Not everyone has cable TV either.

Heck, I didn't get high-speed DSL until 2003 and ATT U-verse in my parent's place until 2007. In high school, I never had internet access especially throughout college. Libraries were the best source of internet access for me. My dorms and college campus were much worse-- 10 Mbps shared throughout the entire campus. All it was good for was accessing the on-campus library's journals and other documents for class. That internet wasn't upgraded until after I graduated college to a campus-wide fiber optic connection.

My friend in South Dakota has internet speeds no faster than 3 Mbps. It's always a wonder we can even play multiplayer games together.

If you think it's going to be a waste of taxpayer money to pay for internet access at public libraries, you really need to get off your high horse.

NOT EVERYONE IS RICH OR HAS A DECENT JOB TO AFFORD INTERNET ACCESS! GET THAT THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULL!

I would not be surprised someone in a low income neighborhood in the city can't afford internet access.

This is why as much as I like technology, be awed by new tech, and read up on it, I really don't like it has to be catered to those who can afford it. The same applies to needed technology such as medical equipment and life-saving medical procedures. If the internet is going to be a tool for education, to open the world to other people, technology should NEVER be catered to only those who can afford it.

If I was a politician running for office, I'll side with the middle and lower income class than someone with a higher income that thinks that they are the only ones that should be entitled to better education, better technology, better medicine, better transportation. People need to start thinking about not only about themselves, but of other people less fortunate than themselves. Greed, ignorance and selfishness is never going to move us forward. And, we can't move forward if technology is only limited to the privileged few.
Click to expand...

And this whole rant has what to do with porn in libraries?
 
I once saw a man(hobo) on the streets of Philadelphia masturbating to people walking by, personally I'd rather he do that in a library or at least some government funded area so most of us could avoid him.
 
I'm of the opinion porn should be blocked, along with malicious websites, at the library.

If in the highly unlikely event that a porn filter gets in the way of some fruit admiring Michael Angelo's David, he can request that the filter be temporarily bypassed. Or, maybe a couple computers without filtering can be maintained - with industrial sized containers of Germ-X next to them.
 
I can't believe anyone thinks tax money should be spent so people can watch porn for free. This is a basic human right now? The world really has gone mad.

IMO they should come up with a kiosk-type interface for public library computers, like a custom Linux distro, and make it freely available. Allows you to access the card catalog, obvious web resources like Wikipedia, and that's it. Those attempting to bypass it or access clearly lewd materials in public view should be asked to leave.

I'm not opposed to having privacy screens, especially if it keeps kids from seeing the stuff, but that doesn't mean the public library should be a place poor people hang out to get their rocks off. There is absolutely no legitimate reason public resources should go to that.
 
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