Name and Shame Library Porn Viewers, Pol Says

(AP)  A city councilor in Massachusetts thinks he's come up with a way to stop people looking at pornography on public library computers - name them and shame them.

Quincy Councilor Daniel Raymondi has asked Mayor Thomas Koch to make public a list of people who have viewed pornography on library computers within the past year. The council unanimously approved a resolution on the idea last week.

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Library director Ann McLaughlin tells The Patriot Ledger that using library computers to access porn is against policy, and violators are given two warnings before they are banned. She says she's not sure publicly naming violators would work.

A spokesman for the mayor says the city's legal department is reviewing Raymondi's request.

[FCAEO]

I can't disagree with the constitution. You have to take the good with the bad. Some people think this country and the people in it can be perfect; that just isn't true! You can't tell people what and what not to look at. That's the issue with China now. Nobody is making us stay in America. If you don't like the way our constitution is written then leave the country. Libraries can still make sure that they are aware that people are looking at porn. They can make people use privacy tools like headphones and screen protectors. They can also make people use discretion when kids are present. It's almost the same as letting your kid eat McDonalds everyday; it's not the smartest thing but it's your right! There is a poll on www.AskEachOther.com that's related to this article.

Here's the link: http://www.askeachother.com/q/Do-You-Think-That-People-Should-Be-Able-To-Look-At-Porn-At-Public-Libraries

[reetwow]

Wow that is like way cool. Makes a lot of sense to me dude.

Lou
www.anon-surfing.at.tc

[Tesla1886]

The best way to prevent people from looking at porn on public computers is to use Open DNS ( http://www.opendns.com ) to block it. It requires no software. Just change from the ISP DNS servers to Open DNS servers. Create an account, add your network, then select the categories you want to block. Reboot all computers on that network, so each computer uses the new DNS servers. DONE!!!.

No worries about public back lash from either side of the matter and you have an easy way to make sure your policy is easily enforced.

We have been using Open DNS on all of our client computers for several years and we have had no complaints.

Kevin
Tektility Inc
www.tektility.com

[kapauldo]

(posted to pikk) Approve or Object? Town votes to publicize names of people viewing porn in library [POLL] - http://www.pikk.com/72f49

[toddsinclair]

It is a sad state of affairs when library's are censoring adult material. Porn isn't illegal and why would anyone be "shamed" by publication of a list. You can go to the store and buy a penthouse magazine ... Do they want to stop that too? Sounds like a bunch of puritanical church ladies are running the show over there.

[baldkat82]

This would more than likely violate privacy rights and maybe even the 4th amendment. I think you'll find that if they do actually try to enforce it, they'll be saddled with lawsuits and lose.

Just because it's a public computer, does not mean they can publicly display the browsing history of an individual. The same right to privacy exists to the book rental history of a library patron. You can't go around displaying it in a public manner.