"Read books. Not profanity.” Clean Reader's tagline is short and simple, but what it stands for, and the responses to it, are nothing. The swearing censorship enforcement has set off a firestorm of ideological debate, and neither side is backing down. So who is right? And what is at stake?
So what, exactly, is Clean Reader? It's an e-reader app Don't you like Amazon? Alternatives to Kindle eBook Reader App for Android Don't like Amazon? Alternatives to the Kindle eBook Reader App for Android Amazon has its own set of flaws that send readers searching for an alternative that is just as good. Looking to get away from Amazon, Kindle and DRM? Here are some of the best eBooks... Read More clean,” “cleaner,” or “absolutely clean” version. The app replaces instances of profane words, so “Shit” is replaced with “monster,” “Bastard” becomes “idiot,” “penis” is displayed as “groin,” nearly all female genitalia become “background ,” “breast” becomes “breast,” “bitch” becomes “witch,” and so on and so forth.
The books are sold in their entirety; there is no permanent change of words, a fact that is important in this discussion. Readers can choose what they (or often their children) see written, and that choice can be changed at any time.
Unsurprisingly, the app was created by two parents whose daughter had an unpleasant experience when she stumbled upon a book. They thought that an app like this should already be available, but they couldn't find it, so they created it themselves. In an email to outspoken critic Joanne Harris, author of Chocolat , they said they had no idea what would cause this type of response.
The buzz surrounding Clean Reader came primarily from authors, though many readers have also been outspoken. The main problem most authors have with the app is that it presents their book in an altered form without their permission. The Society of Authors has declared that the app violates the authors' right to integrity by presenting a form of "derogatory treatment" to their book, and constitutes a case of false attribution.
Harris has been one of the most vocal critics of the app:
Authors, of course, choose their words carefully, and for a reason. Whether it's to set the correct context, correctly characterize a figure in the book, or simply create an overall atmosphere that contributes to the feel of the story, profanity can be used in novels. And removing those words from the novel can have effects on how it's interpreted.
However, some people are offended by those words. This is not a discussion of whether or not you should being offended by them, is just a fact. There are many people who are offended by blasphemy; and there are many people who want to prevent their children from being exposed to those words. 8 Great Movie Review Sites For Parents With Kids In Mind 8 Great Movie Review Sites For Parents With Kids In Mind Fancy a family movie night? Let's explore some of the best kids movie review sites so you can choose the best site for your family's needs. Read more . And because of that, they are hesitant to read or let their children read books that contain profanity or sexual depictions.
Just to be totally clear, I'll say it again:this is no a discussion about whether or not people should feel this way or try to shelter their children. Harris has attacked conservative Christianity as peddling a "toxic message" through Clean Reader, and I think this has made his overall argument less serious. Let's not make the same mistake..
It is clear that the interests of these two groups, authors and sensitive readers, are at odds. Authors want their books to be published in unaltered form, and readers would like the opportunity to read these books without being exposed to words that offend them. Unfortunately, no point has been found yet.
And indeed, the authors appear to be winning the fight; Clean Reader took all the books out of its store, rendering the app almost worthless. However, they are working on an app update that promises a better experience. What that means is unclear (and they won't say).
There have been some pretty convincing arguments on both sides. April in The Steadfast Reader supports this:
Rhoda Baxter also points out that censoring the words in a particular scene doesn't make that scene any less offensive or upsetting; there's a rape scene in one of her books, and even if the profanity is taken out, the date rape remains (even if it's not so clear what happens). And she points out that the app wouldn't replace a lot of words in the scene anyway.
And, of course, authors do have rights. They work hard to create their art, and they would like it to remain unchanged. That is understandable. But do they have the right to determine how people read? That is much less clear. Cory Doctorow says it's a free speech issue:
He compares Clean Reader to selling a book and a bookmark and tells the customer to take the bookmark and cross out a line on a specific page; That's not a crime against the author, even if it's not a big deal for literature. He even compares Clean Reader to ad blockers; while these pieces of software can be bad for the internet It's All About Ethics In Theft Games Journalism:Why AdBlock Needs To Die It's All About Ethics In Heist Games Journalism:Why AdBlock Needs To Die A Simple Browser Plugin and free removed Joystiq Internet. More information:without a doubt, it is a right of the editors. Publishers Need To Stop Crying About Adblock Publishers Need To Stop Crying About Adblock Ad blocking is a natural choice for any consumer for one simple reason:it's an easy way to get rid of an annoyance. Read more to determine how they interact with the web.
This is why Harris is confusing the issue of authors' rights with his disdain for conservative Christianity and is detrimental to his argument. By trying to place books above the freedom to read what we want, she aligns herself against censorship on a religious, rather than a moral, issue; And few people will defend the abolition of religious freedom..
Clean Reader may appeal to a specific audience, but that audience has a right to exist. Just because Harris wouldn't raise her kids that way doesn't mean the app should be taken off the market so others can't.
And there is certainly a group of readers who appreciate the app. There are a number of good reviews for the app from readers who enjoy reading more when they don't have to read words that offend them. And if you can find your way past the authorial rants on the internet, you'll see that there are more people than you might expect who are interested in clean reading. This clean reading group on Goodreads has nearly 1,500 members. There are blogs, Facebook groups, and Twitter accounts dedicated to clean reading. Say what you want about the app, but it fulfills a demand.
Interestingly, there is one issue that has only had a little bit of discussion in this whole debate that I think is very important, and that is the issue of who is being censored. Censoring books by yourself is different from censoring them by others. Institutionalized censorship is very different from personal censorship, especially if there is no "off" switch, as there currently is in Clean Reader.
It is hard to imagine the institutionalized anti-Semitism and library burnings that stem from a few hundred or thousands of people censoring books for their own reading or for their children. Incorporating censorship into social structures can cause problems, but that's not what Clean Reader aims to do.
From what I can tell, Clean Reader is meant to be a lens through which an individual reader can read a book in a way that is more suited to her tastes. And if you subscribe to the idea that a book exists entirely apart from the author, it's hard to argue against someone's right to do that. Yes, artistic integrity is at stake. But so is the freedom of being a reader.
The technological age has given rise to our desire to personalize everything; Our computers, our smart watches, our cars, even our Internet experience itself... why not the books we read?
What do you think? Should Clean Reader be allowed to censor books? Or is that a violation of copyright? Would you consider using this app with your children? Share your thoughts below!
