Comments on: Should (and would) libraries filter public holodeck content?

By: Tube

Tube — Tue, 27 May 2008 04:55:02 +0000

Why bother exploring space if you have a holodeck?

By: IndigoRain

IndigoRain — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 21:42:34 +0000

Marie, I don’t think holodecks have screens. You’re *in* the environment.

I think they’d definitely filter them, just like they restrict what you can access on the internet.

By: Mitheral

Mitheral — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 23:26:14 +0000

How would a Holodeck even fit into this atmosphere?

Libraries around here are for more than books. They include stuff like CD/DVDs, internet access and meeting rooms.

By: jmd82

jmd82 — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:27:06 +0000

As Jess mentions, you’d have to do some kind of filtering for <18. I work as a school’s IT admin, and we have to filter for not only porn, but there’s also legislation in place or coming about that could cause us to loose funding for not filtering social networking sites. Ya know, big bad predators and RAMPANT and all.

I still think it’s weird in a library. I mean, it’s books. Books.

Libraries have had computers since I was a wee lad, and I’m 25 so it’s not like technology’s new to libraries. Once upon a time, computers were like WHOA. Same thing with the holodecks- at some point, they could be WHOA and in 50 years, it’ll be “meh”

By: Anthony

Anthony — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 04:27:56 +0000

Uh, just because some video=entertainment does not mean all video=entertainment.

By: Marie Mon Dieu

Marie Mon Dieu — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 03:21:46 +0000

Alrighty then. 18 and older, whatever they want. Minors, no. Too bad, so sad.

I wouldn’t object to this in an educational environment, such as seeing how the Pilgrims lived or your regular museum/National Geographic stuff (like story time led by a librarian).

But to play Grand Theft Auto, no. Not even with parental permission would I think living out violent fantasies in 3D is a cool thing for teenagers to hook up with.

I still think it’s weird in a library. I mean, it’s books. Books. Things people write and other people read and you loan them out. How is a library a great place to have a private room for this stuff, even with a private room?

Am I too old to answer this question? Doesn’t video experience, 3D or not, belong in the home as entertainment?

By: Josh Millard

Josh Millard — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 02:26:08 +0000

For the sake of argument, let’s presume the Holodeck would be in a relatively private, sound-proofed area.

By: Marie Mon Dieu

Marie Mon Dieu — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 02:21:03 +0000

My library allows one hour access to the computers. I assume a Holodeck would be distracting to other patrons. So Bill Gates, et al, would be SOL, because don’t most libraries require people to be fairly quiet? Or is it something like this? If so, I’d still think the screen would be considered disruptive to other patrons.

As in, I can check out any book or video that I want, and I can sit at a computer and look at what I want, but I can’t do some activity at a library that would interfere with other patrons’ quiet use and enjoyment of the facility. How would a Holodeck even fit into this atmosphere?

By: Tehanu

Tehanu — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:38:19 +0000

The only concrete thing I remember about the Holodeck is that Picard and crew would pretend to be pirates or detectives. So I guess the question is, what do libraries do now about access to something like WoW or Second Life?