Goodreads Librarians Group discussion
Book & Author Page Issues
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There's a cover .. but it's ... just ... inappropriate
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Well, either it is or isn't the correct cover for that edition, right? If it's the wrong cover, don't upload it. We don't censor covers.
There are people who will appreciate the opportunity to wince along with you. Some netizens dedicate themselves to searching out past awfulness.
I agree it's an anachronism but since there are full frontal shots of enormously breasted women and other such things, it's OK :)(And of course, we don't censor covers, for which I am glad.)
What is offensive to one person may not be to another. If each librarian censored covers/descriptions/etc. due to personal beliefs this datebase would be in tatters.
You know, I had just been about to upload my cover image, only to discover that someone else had beaten me to it. There's a cover showing for this book now. (Their copy is in better shape than mine too, so I guess I won't bother with mine) They didn't leave a record of who they were, at least not where I know how to get at it, so thanks to the unnamed benefactor.You all are right. I mustn't leave out things just because of personal discomfort. It is censorship. This way, well, you can see what the book really looks like and what people considered okay back then. And it's not covering up history.
Thanks for your advice. I'll keep it in mind if something like this comes up again.
Not coming from US, I didn't find it offensive at all, just historical.
Sandra wrote: "Not coming from US, I didn't find it offensive at all, just historical."Agreed. Or hysterical. This book has been on my "to buy" list for years.
Abigail wrote: "Nothing hysterical or nationalistic about your concern"For the record, I meant hysterical as in funny. It is a funny picture. It was probably always MEANT to be funny. And the reference to it being British, and therefore possibly worse than normal, is just annoying, especially since Benchley was American.
However, since people have been trying to ban Enid Blyton (and not just Noddy and the Gollywogs) I find it difficult to take these arguments seriously.
Banjomike wrote: "And the reference to it being British, and therefore possibly worse than normal, is just annoying, especially since Benchley was American...."No one said that. No one said Benchley wasn't American. It's a British edition (Dennis Dobson, Ltd.), which is what Alessandra said in the first place.
Indeed she did. It is just irrelevant.
Abigail wrote: "..."I agree with just about everything in your post. My background on this issue is primarily that I collect illustrated books and books of cartoons, many of which seem to provoke such discussions.
Images like the book cover being discussed are from the past, nearly 50 years old. Post the image then forget it.
Oh man, I'm sorry for the trouble I stirred up. The comment about Britain wasn't meant to suggest badness, although now that I look at my earlier post I can see how that concern might arise. It was just meant to be information about the context of the book. I sure didn't mean to imply that British books were worse in this or indeed any respect than American ones.
Banjomike, I did take your use of "hysterical" to mean "very funny" and took no offense at all, no worries.
And you all have certainly convinced me: post the book covers. Be honest about the past.
Alessandra wrote: "Oh man, I'm sorry for the trouble I stirred up."It is these "trouble" posts that help to make Goodreads such a fascinating site. I DO like your postcript: Be honest about the past. Nice one.
It's a collection of humorous Robert Benchley essays from 1952, of a piece with many of his books here, with a cover and interior art by Gluyas Williams.
Now, I've been uploading covers which aren't in the database yet. I could upload this one, but ...
It's from Britain, it's from 1952, and it has (cringe) black African caricatures on the front cover, with a white explorer sitting on a camp chair observing what looks like a leg bone.
It's soooo offensive!
What should I do?