Wish I Could Put These Books in "Days Gone By"

[fureverywhere]

As I've often posted I spin through zillions of used books. The local library has ongoing used shelves. Drop off ten bring home six. Plus there are regular sales and rummage sales. Did I mention I really really enjoy reading????
Usually I donate back what I won't look at again. Maybe a handful I'll keep.

Very rarely will I take a book out of circulation. The only time I will throw out a book is visible mold. Sometimes a book will be in really rough shape and the material might be so outdated it's not worth donating back even. If a book mentions groundbreaking cancer developments and is copyrighted 1972...yep time to toss it.

But very rarely does something offend my sensibilities enough to want to perhaps burn the book. I picked up a bag the other day. Mixed titles, a bunch of dog themed ones. One was copyrighted in the early eighties seemingly celebrating the pit bull breeds. Oversized and beautiful pictures n' tons of information.

Until you get to the middle chapters..." What Makes a Superior Game Dog?"...EH OH Then it goes right in the toilet from there. The author defends his right to fight dogs. In his logic a good sportsman will end a fight before a prize pup is mauled beyond repair. A good fair fight between equal weight dogs keeps that from happening.

After the queasy feeling settles down and you read further...the author mocks those sensitive animal advocates. His logic is that people treat food animals horribly. Once again he assures the reader that dogs don't really get hurt in a proper fight. It's like a good workout for them, keeps 'em in shape.


Oh he even goes on with full instructions on how to build a durable pit and everything.
You know this book will never see the light of day again...

The second book...different author...is how to create a good guard dog. One of the worst misconceptions that pops out. There are some breeds better suited to property protection than others. The bull breeds in particular are completely devoted to their humans. They are not suited to being left alone to guard property for long periods. Being tethered and away from human interaction can lead to extreme fear or aggression in some dogs.

The author of this book seems to feel that any dog can be roughed up enough to train it for protection. One of his tips...If your dog growls during training you want to use a choke chain. At the first growl grab him by the collar and lift him off his feet. I knew a guy who trained his dogs like that. They guarded his property really well. One night he went out in the yard and those dogs put him in the hospital.

I'm thinking of tossing both books in a roaring bonfire.

 

[Carla]

Let's hope you have the only copies of these books. I know some people probably still believe being mean to animals is the way to get them to obey, but when they do, it's out of fear. What a life.

 

[Ruth n Jersey]

Yes, best to get these books out of circulation as soon as possible. I am glad you got the books even though it was upsetting for you to read. At least you will destroy them. Someone else could bring them back after reading them or worse yet get some ideas from them.

 

[fureverywhere]

The "training" book alone...jeez...I mean I've seen both sides of some of the bone heads who shouldn't have dogs. There are people too lenient. We've gone to the dog park and there are a bunch of folks who might mean well. But they don't have a clue how to train their pups. They're begging and pleading with their dogs to obey.
" Bitsy, come here, Bitsy!"
" Bitsy, right now come over here"
Somebody grab her..." Bitsy now come here, come to me"
" BITSY I said come here"...she won't listen to me, " Bitsy do you want a treat? Bitsy!"
I just had her leash " Bitsy come here..."

That should be the most important command a dog learns. If there is a car coming, an unexpected fight in the park, anything at all...your dog has to come instantly on command. I spoil my dogs stupid...but it's a state of mind...they have to respect you. They have to truly want to make you happy. If they obey they have hugs and smoochies and so many treats and tushy rubs.

But if Mommy is not happy she squinches up her eyes and oh no, we. don't. want. that...You don't brutalize a dog ever. You build mutual love and respect and everyone is happy. The stronger your dog, the more important it is. But I might add even with a teacup size it is still a very good thing.

I've met people with tiny dogs who think it's cute when Fifi growls and shows teeth to strangers. No it's not, not at all. It's plain bad manners and poor training. They would be terrified of my dogs doing that same face. Fifi should know better as well. What it boils down to is either learn proper dog training or get a cat

 

[Capt Lightning]

Ah, so you're the censor? You decide what books other people should read or not, is that it? These books may be abhorrent, out of date and many other things, but would you feel the same about books on sex, religion, politics etc.. just because you disagreed with them?

In the end I suppose it's your choice to stop others reading them and making up their own minds!

 

[Ralphy1]

Mein Kampf is now being published in Germany again...

 

[Capt Lightning]

I must add that I don't intend my reply to be in any way personal. Simply that although we may disagree with the content of some freely available books, it is not our place to prevent others from reading them. That would just be imposing our views on others.

 

[Ralphy1]

Hmm, I have been burning copies of Lady Chatterly's Lover for years whenever I came across a copy..

 

[fureverywhere]

I dunno Captain, certainly you must have a personal line of censorship. Okay hypothetically you're browsing books and magazines. Nobody is looking over your shoulder and you can take or leave any material. You pick up a book that begins as a photo essay. Babies, early childhood, school age, adolescence. As you open a page there is a picture of a crying little girl holding up her dress and exposing herself. The next page is a toddler boy naked and bound in duct tape.

At this point you might have some strong feelings about this reading material. You skip to the author page and there printed on the back pages are internet sources for people who really enjoy children. Maybe there is a book chapter on the best ways to meet children without detection. It could be argued this book is merely informative. Certainly we can't censor one book of photographs without censoring them all.

Perhaps you would put the book back on the shelf. I wouldn't. Both dog fighting and kiddie porn are illegal in the United States. But of course in some other countries such activities aren't regulated. So should we ignore such things in foreign publication? I've had human children so I could kill a pedophile with my bare hands. I have a dog who is built like a "sporting dog" dream. Somebody teaching a dog to kill on command for their own profit makes me sick.

So that's my opinion. " Mein Kampf" has historical significance. A book that traces the heritage and history of dog fighting can have historical significance. A modern day book that promotes white supremacy or fighting animals for fun and profit? No historical significance there.