Seeking Skeptic opinions on a dilemma:

[In My Spare Time]

I was recently browsing the nonfiction DVD's in my local library and ran across some [rule8] 9/11 conspiracy video that I hadn't heard of before, don't remember the title right off hand.
The dilemma is this: I'm pretty strongly anti censorship on most everything in the library, but I really want to complain about this bit of ridiculousness masquerading as non-fiction.
Should I:
A) Ignore it the same way I wish xians would ignore material about sex in libraries
B) Complain and ask that it be removed from the library cause it's a bunch of bull[rule8]
C) Complain and ask that it be moved to the fiction section.
or since this looks like a poll
D) Request that they give equal time to the planet X version of 9/11

Thanks all.

[Anti-sophist]

Obviously, ignore it. I'll give you two reasons it belongs there:

1) 1st Amendment: It shouldn't be the libraries job to remove material because it's factually inaccurate, politically motivated, completely wrong, etc. You don't want the library and/or the librarians in this position and to be making these decisions. We shouldn't be worried about people in a library possibly getting misled and/or not doing "enough" research. Libraries are the -last- place you should be worrying about this sort of thing.

2) Educational value. It's useful for research purposes in exactly the same way that old Nazi Propaganda videos or KKK literature is. Just think, what if some high schooler wanted to write a term paper on logical fallacies?

[Devil's Advocate]

I was recently browsing the nonfiction DVD's in my local library and ran across some [rule8] 9/11 conspiracy video that I hadn't heard of before, don't remember the title right off hand.
The dilemma is this: I'm pretty strongly anti censorship on most everything in the library, but I really want to complain about this bit of ridiculousness masquerading as non-fiction.
Should I:
A) Ignore it the same way I wish xians would ignore material about sex in libraries
B) Complain and ask that it be removed from the library cause it's a bunch of bull[rule8]
C) Complain and ask that it be moved to the fiction section.
or since this looks like a poll
D) Request that they give equal time to the planet X version of 9/11

Thanks all.

I was going to say 'C', but A-S is right.

That does not mean you cannot make a little note and put it inside.
:)

[uk_dave]

I'd say ignore it, but I would also be curious as to how it got there in the first place.

Is it an official type of film, with a provenance, or just a dvd a 'truther' has burned off the internet and placed on the shelf?

There should be some sort of criteria for what can be allowed in a library, if only to prevent someone sneaking in a dvd of child porn.

If it's a 'recognised' film then fair enough. If it's some bozos amateur film, I'd say bin it.

[In My Spare Time]

That does not mean you cannot make a little note and put it inside.
:)

Good idea. Link to Gravy's sites to be inserted next time I'm there. You guys are coming down about where I was leaning on this.
At least I understand the feeling that library censors get when they see something they don't like. Good to understand what I'm up against politically.

[cmcaulif]

I was recently browsing the nonfiction DVD's in my local library and ran across some [rule8] 9/11 conspiracy video that I hadn't heard of before, don't remember the title right off hand.
The dilemma is this: I'm pretty strongly anti censorship on most everything in the library, but I really want to complain about this bit of ridiculousness masquerading as non-fiction.
Should I:
A) Ignore it the same way I wish xians would ignore material about sex in libraries
B) Complain and ask that it be removed from the library cause it's a bunch of bull[rule8]
C) Complain and ask that it be moved to the fiction section.
or since this looks like a poll
D) Request that they give equal time to the planet X version of 9/11

Thanks all.

I think A, I have found that many people who watch these films are actually encouraged to do more research on their own, and seek academic resources and expert opinion, and do not take these films at face value(except a few zealots).

[MWare]

Slip a post-it with the URL of one of Gravy's posts in there (or other informed debunking source). Maybe you'll get lucky.

[Minadin]

As long as it's not infringing on any copyrights, I don't see why it should be removed from a public library.

If you really feel strongly about it, you might check to see what their policy is regarding other similarly "controversial" topics. Would they put a pro-creationism book in the science or religion secion? Etc. If in the interest of covering all sides of the issue, you want to make certain that they are also carrying some more factually sound documentaries on the subject, perhaps you could suggest that they purchase one of the many History Channel or Discovery Channel documentaries on the events of Sept. 11, or even offer to donate one for their collection (Libraries tend to be underfunded).

[NobbyNobbs]

I say C. Moving it to the fiction section is not censorship; you are simply classifying it appropriately.

Would you hesitate to let the librarian know if "The Chronicles of Narnia" was accidentally mislabeled as nonfiction? Probably not. This should be no different.


No reason to "complain". Just let the librarian know, in a helpful manner, that the DVD is in the wrong place.

[beachnut]

I was recently browsing the nonfiction DVD's in my local library and ran across some [rule8] 9/11 conspiracy video that I hadn't heard of before, don't remember the title right off hand.
The dilemma is this: I'm pretty strongly anti censorship on most everything in the library, but I really want to complain about this bit of ridiculousness masquerading as non-fiction.
Should I:
A) Ignore it the same way I wish xians would ignore material about sex in libraries
B) Complain and ask that it be removed from the library cause it's a bunch of bull[rule8]
C) Complain and ask that it be moved to the fiction section.
or since this looks like a poll
D) Request that they give equal time to the planet X version of 9/11

Thanks all.
It is fiction, it should be in the fiction section. It is not a complaint, just a fact.

[Axiom_Blade]

Lobby the library to get a copy of Popular Mechanics' Debunking 9/11 Myths: Why Conspiracy Theories Can't Stand Up to the Facts (http://www.amazon.com/Debunking-11-Myths-Conspiracy-Theories/dp/158816635X) (ISBN# 158816635X).

[tsg]

It helps if you understand that "non-fiction" is a classification of the author's intent, not a judgment on whether or not he achieved it.

I also agree with Axiom_Blade's suggestion.

[Anti-sophist]

Lobby the library to get a copy of Popular Mechanics' Debunking 9/11 Myths: Why Conspiracy Theories Can't Stand Up to the Facts (http://www.amazon.com/Debunking-11-Myths-Conspiracy-Theories/dp/158816635X) (ISBN# 158816635X).

Offer to pay for it, if necessary.

The overwhelmingly likely reason the DVD is there is someone donated it.