to think that DD1 should be allowed to read whatever book she likes while on her break at work?

[wongadotmom]

DD1 (21) has just told me she was asked into the office at work today as a complaint had been made against her.

She initially assumed that it had been to do with her work but learned that two women had actually complained that they were offended by the book she had been seen reading while on her lunch break.

The book was 'Porno' by Irvine Welsh - I have not read the book myself therefore cannot judge whether it is offensive or not.

DD said that she was really into the book at the moment and offered to put a cover over the book so that no one could see what she was reading.

She was told no and must show more sensitivity to the womens' religion and must not bring the book into work again.

She is a little shaken up by this incident as nothing like this has ever happened to anyone else and people actually read The Sun and The Mail during their breaks with no problem.

I have told her that she should be allowed to read whatever she wants on her unpaid break but AIBU?

[BackOnlyBriefly]

Next time I see someone with a bible I shall complain and they will be stopped yes?

[hackmum]

The saying "Never judge a book by its cover" seems pertinent here.

Seems an odd thing to be offended by. After all, she was just reading a book. She wasn't asking anyone else to read it.

[vvviola]

I guess so Pigeonhouse. I was living in pretty conservative countryside, so most people did cover up - but my trips to the cities were quite an eye opener

[Destinysdaughter]

Ooh I want to read Porno now!

Not working so only one who could be offended by it would be the cat. :)

[Quangle]

I thought this was going to be about Fifty Shades of Grey which I have seen people reading in all sorts of inappropriate places including in our office kitchen and, hilariously but weirdly, in the Princess Diana Playground which is one of those right-on, no adults unless accompanied by kids, sensory play zones. And it was a man reading it while ignoring his children

Of course the complainers were being ridiculous - they obviously don't know the author or the book or realise that pornography is not normally labelled "Porno". It makes them look a bit daft although I agree that the cover is quite edgy. I don't feel a need to show sensitivity to anyone's religion if their religion requires them to judge a book they know nothing about. That's the equivalent of showing sensitivity to people who don't know what they are talking about which is not generally a good idea. But you are not going to have a reasonable discussion with people who object to seeing books so probably best just to get a kindle.

[limitedperiodonly]

When I was 14 my mother worriedly asked me about about a book I was reading called Sex Tips For Girls.

She thought I was seriously going off the rails. I explained it was a feminist primer for teenagers.

A bit like How To Be A Woman but not nearly as fucking irritating.

[Leonas]

It seems very childish of her colleague to have reported it rather than speak to her directly. I personally wouldn't be offended by it but I can see why (due to the cover and title) other people might be. She obviously wasn't trying to offend/ be controversial but it maybe isn't the most appropriate book to take into work?

[Dawndonnaagain]

She shouldn't be allowed to read things in public that the manager thinks are inappropriate or offensive.

We do not (fortunately) have censorship over what we are allowed or not allowed to read yet.

[MothratheMighty]

Leonas, in certain working environments perhaps. If she was working with children or vulnerable adults for examle. I wouldn't have chosen that book for 20 minutes silent reading in class for example.
But in an adult work environment? Her solution of putting a cover on it was the mature and reasonable response. It's a shame that others inher workplace didn't respond in kind.
As a staunch vegetarian, should I have the right to veto the contents of other people's lunchboxes?

[NancyJones]

Ok, I think in all seriousness your dd needs to put in writing her willingness to remove the cover. In her letter she needs to state that the book is not actually porn or offensive material and as such she feels she should not be banned from reading mainstream literature in the workplace.

Such a letter pref by email will cover her should it go any further. She should also ask for clarification on workplace policy in this matter. ie why is The Sun which is a publication known to contain a mildly pornographic image allowed but not a piece of literature?

There's no point in anyone getting uppity about the Muslim thing. Either the women or the manager or both have decided that this is justification for the request. I don't see where the op has made a 'thing' about them being Muslim. It's irrelevant to the issue insomuch that it doesn't really matter why they felt the need to complain. If the op hadn't mentioned the reasons given to her dd then rveyone would have asked what reasons her dd was given.

OP, what has your dd decided to do?

[BackOnlyBriefly]

Unless she is very strong and secure in her job I would advise dropping it, even though I hate saying it.

However she does need to deal with it if there's any chance that next time she is in trouble they say "this is her second offense. Last time was forcing porn onto her colleagues"

[NancyJones]

Which is why she needs to email stating clearly what the book was and that it is not pornographic material. She also needs to state clearly that she has offered to remove the cover of the book.

[MothratheMighty]

Back is right, your DD needs to cover herself by formally and politely writing down exactly what happened, and her response. It isn't as if management have shown themselves capable of managing effectively.

[drspouse]

Have they also complained about The Sun (as it is actually pornographic)? (The Mail is just politically offensive).

I think she should respond politely, state that she is happy to cover up the book, and (if you can persuade her that she is!) state that she's offended as a woman by people reading actual pornography (The Sun) at work but she hasn't complained as she thought people had the right to read what they wanted on their break.

[BranchingOut]

I agree that it is probably a good idea to write a response.

The manager is so going to regret raising this, now that s/he has to come up with a policy for what is actually appropriate literature for the staffroom...

But I do think that sensitivity towards others may be sensible. This reminds me that a friend at school wore a German army coat with a swastika on it for a while, because it was 'vintage'. I suggested that displaying that emblem might not be a great idea.

The problem is that while you might know the attitude with which you are reading/wearing/displaying something, other people do not and might fly off the handle to your own detriment....

[tomverlaine]

The impression I get is that either the manager or the women in question are using their religion as an excuse to act - people are more nervous at offending someone on religious grounds that on general prudishness grounds. I suspect OP's daugher is not really in aposition/confident enough to argue back -particularly as she isn't of the religion in question so can't say point blank that its not offensive.
In her place I would have just asked for specifics - eg what was offensive. But i think its weak management- the manager should have pushed back on the two women and asked them to clarify and also to speak to OP's dd directly first.

[Caitlin17]

The book was on display openly in bookshops when it was published and will be on the shelf of most bookshops.

[specialsubject]

make it clear that it is not a pornographic book, then ignore.

people who get 'offended' by words clearly don't have much of a faith. Because if they did, they would know they are right and their beardy-weirdie will look after them in the after life.

[edamsavestheday]

How ridiculous! Banning books is bad enough but banning people from reading? Someone needs to remind the manager this is a Western democracy, not Nazi Germany or Afghanistan under the Taliban.

Agree she should put her response in writing. IMO She should point out this is mainstream literature available in any bookshop and that she is disappointed the complainants didn't speak to her or make any attempt to find out about the book, merely jumped to erroneous conclusions. She should ask whether there is a workplace policy on approved reading material during breaks, and whether there is a list of banned books.

and if there is a list of banned books, she should leak it...

[FrenchJunebug]

what Edam says!

[wongadotmom]

I am personally offended by porn, soft porn, The Sun, The Daily Mail, Star, etc, etc.

Having seen the cover of this novel I do not see it as offensive think it is quite an amusing picture, and not pornographic. It is a picture of the FACE of a plastic DOLL!

I have told some people in RL about this incident and everyone I spoke to is shocked and appalled about it. Thanks to posting on mumsnet first I omitted to mention the religious reasons that dd was given. I really can't be doing with RL bigots coming along saying 'what next they'll be trying to ban Christmas, they're all wearing burkas blah blah boring blah' as some have on this thread

DD (the rebel) has taken the book to work with her and she said she is going to take her 1 hour lunch break off the premises. I hope she is ok.

[MothratheMighty]

Let us know how she gets on.

[joven]

Regardless of the content, bringing a book with the name "porno" into a professional setting is pretty poor judgement. Just because you are on an unpaid break doesn't mean you don't have to abide by certain standards.

[JeanSeberg]

I think you need to look at the picture a bit closer wonga and imagine what the mouth part of the doll is intended to be used for.

[ComposHat]

If she likes Irvine Welsh she may well enjoy James Kelman's How late it was, how late. Kelman is the writer Irvine Welsh wants to be.