Comments on: Freedom of Speech (Just Watch What You Say) https://agnosticmaybe.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/freedom-of-speech-just-watch-what-you-say/ the neverending reference interview of life Wed, 23 Nov 2016 13:52:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Paranoid https://agnosticmaybe.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/freedom-of-speech-just-watch-what-you-say/#comment-4667 Mon, 23 May 2011 00:28:53 +0000 http://agnosticmaybe.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/freedom-of-speech-just-watch-what-you-say/#comment-4667 For some of us, it’s the big brother syndrom. I waited until I could reply from home, so that this wouldn’t be traced to me. At the state level, all computers belong to the state, and can be monitored at any time. I know, sounds paranoid, and it has stopped me from responding a time or two. People have been caught doing blatantly dumb things on state computers, like watching basketball playoffs, or selling things on EBay.

Working at a state library doesn’t let you see the best of the political world, either, and many libraries have to cope with some form of politics. Whether it’s the city government trying to take away the public library’s endowment (because, of course, it’s public money,), to budget time at the state level, one is careful of what one says. One wants to keep a job, in this climate. And some groups are more likely to take what one says in print, whether digital or paper, very seriously. Especially in conservative areas. And then there’s our own small, library world. Does the director really want to hire a trouble maker, or the nice, quiet new librarian from library school? It makes those of us who aren’t a name brand think twice.

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By: A word about why now. | bringyournoise https://agnosticmaybe.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/freedom-of-speech-just-watch-what-you-say/#comment-4656 Sat, 21 May 2011 14:11:23 +0000 http://agnosticmaybe.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/freedom-of-speech-just-watch-what-you-say/#comment-4656 […] I (almost) always like what Andy has to say, and if I don’t like it or agree with it, then I appreciate it. He likes to think big, have discussions on broad,  philosophical library topics as well as specific issues. He probably often makes people uncomfortable, which is a good thing because the discomfort zone is where all the really good and important conversations happen. I also like his “Big Tent” philosophy. Recently he called for all of us in the library world to engage in “saying or writing things without regard to whether it is polite, correct, or otherwise kosher… […]

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By: Joy https://agnosticmaybe.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/freedom-of-speech-just-watch-what-you-say/#comment-4648 Fri, 20 May 2011 15:58:07 +0000 http://agnosticmaybe.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/freedom-of-speech-just-watch-what-you-say/#comment-4648 Great thoughts, Andy. I’ve been thinking about similar things in my own little library world (made even smaller by the fact that I’m a solo librarian in a library closed to the public). My piddly little blog is nothing compared to what you’ve built, but I also didn’t start it until I left my former institution, a place that very much cared what you said and would dole out consequences if they didn’t agree. I’ve never been one to keep my mouth shut, though.

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By: Anon E. Mouse https://agnosticmaybe.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/freedom-of-speech-just-watch-what-you-say/#comment-4638 Thu, 19 May 2011 17:51:11 +0000 http://agnosticmaybe.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/freedom-of-speech-just-watch-what-you-say/#comment-4638 Institutional hypocrisy.

The library, as an institution, values freedom of speech / right to access information for our “patrons” (customers, or whatever your preferred term). I’ve seen very little evidence that it values the same for it’s employees (librarians, etc.). In fact, quite the contrary. IMO, employees are to work (be seen) and not to be heard (unless you are parroting whatever the current institutional dogma happens to be).

So, even if you get as far as wanting to bring up “uncomfortable, controversial, or otherwise unhappy” subjects, then it is a lot safer to do so with a pseudonym or anonymously. Or face the mouse trap.

Mildly squeak I.

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