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annundrielYesterday an older woman came into the library and made me want to cry for the state of humanity. Or, I guess, for ignorance. And maybe not cry, but bang my head against the desk.
This woman came in because she'd gotten a notice in the mail that we had a book on hold for her. She didn't remember ordering anything and she wanted to know what it was. The last time I saw her in the library, she ended up checking out a book by David Baldacci. She was looking for something new to read and she'd seen his name a lot so she thought she'd give it a try.
Apparently since then she's been in and the regular librarian has ordered her several other books by him. The book that came was one of those.
She also had two books to return, but had forgotten them at home. "They're by him, too," she told me. "But I didn't like them. They were murder mysteries. Too gory for me. I want home-spun type stories. I don't like best-seller books these days. They're all filled with language and filth and whathaveyou. You know. Homosexuals and lesbians. I don't know why they have to put that in there. But I guess that's what writers do."
I just...nodded and smiled, basically. It's my job to help the patron, not to censor or judge in anyway. (Plus, I don't like confrontation and I'm not going to change the mind of some little old lady in a five minute library visit.) But, ooooh, I wanted to say things. Or would have wanted to if I hadn't been a little in shock.
I wanted to say, that's the world, lady. It's filled with different types of people doing different types of things. Media is covered with representations of heterosexual love and those images are forced on gay people all of the time. So what if one or two homosexuals show up in your books? There or so many other things to focus on or think about.
It also reminded me of something Hugh Jackman said in Entertainment Weekly in response to talking about playing Peter Allen in The Boy From Oz and kissing a guy:
Anyway, now I also want to know what she meant by "that's what writers do." Market "filth"? Sensationalize? Try to make it on the best seller list by being shocking?
I was annoyed. It wasn't until after she pulled out of the parking lot that I realized, wait, I write gay porn. Little does she know who she's talking to.
As per![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
olivelavonne's suggestion, next time I see her I am going to think "the dirtiest, filthiest porn at her."
Now to go work on school board and other bits of writing. Those prompts gave me multiple ideas and I hardly know what to do first.
This woman came in because she'd gotten a notice in the mail that we had a book on hold for her. She didn't remember ordering anything and she wanted to know what it was. The last time I saw her in the library, she ended up checking out a book by David Baldacci. She was looking for something new to read and she'd seen his name a lot so she thought she'd give it a try.
Apparently since then she's been in and the regular librarian has ordered her several other books by him. The book that came was one of those.
She also had two books to return, but had forgotten them at home. "They're by him, too," she told me. "But I didn't like them. They were murder mysteries. Too gory for me. I want home-spun type stories. I don't like best-seller books these days. They're all filled with language and filth and whathaveyou. You know. Homosexuals and lesbians. I don't know why they have to put that in there. But I guess that's what writers do."
I just...nodded and smiled, basically. It's my job to help the patron, not to censor or judge in anyway. (Plus, I don't like confrontation and I'm not going to change the mind of some little old lady in a five minute library visit.) But, ooooh, I wanted to say things. Or would have wanted to if I hadn't been a little in shock.
I wanted to say, that's the world, lady. It's filled with different types of people doing different types of things. Media is covered with representations of heterosexual love and those images are forced on gay people all of the time. So what if one or two homosexuals show up in your books? There or so many other things to focus on or think about.
It also reminded me of something Hugh Jackman said in Entertainment Weekly in response to talking about playing Peter Allen in The Boy From Oz and kissing a guy:
I don't waste time or energy with it. I think there's far too much importance placed on people's sexuality anyway. I love sex, it's great, but it's not the measure of love or a relationship. And whether you like girls or boys, whether you like the light on or off: Who cares? I always find sexuality one of the least interesting things about a person.
Anyway, now I also want to know what she meant by "that's what writers do." Market "filth"? Sensationalize? Try to make it on the best seller list by being shocking?
I was annoyed. It wasn't until after she pulled out of the parking lot that I realized, wait, I write gay porn. Little does she know who she's talking to.
As per
olivelavonne's suggestion, next time I see her I am going to think "the dirtiest, filthiest porn at her."Now to go work on school board and other bits of writing. Those prompts gave me multiple ideas and I hardly know what to do first.
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(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-29 10:15 pm (UTC)My dad has always said "What do you care about who that person sleeps with unless you want to sleep with them yourself."
Pretty good stuff. And all those people who complain about the gays going to hell? Well, then I hope I'm going to hell too (could it be any other way?) because that's where the fun is going to be happening.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-30 04:29 am (UTC)Why are people so...so...close-minded?
What your dad says is similar to what my mom says. "I don't care who anyone wants to sleep with unless it's me."
If believing that all people deserve to love and be loved means that I'm going to hell, so be it. All the cool, interesting people will be there. It'll be fabulous.