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?

[edamsavestheday]

joven - you could also argue that anyone who is unfamiliar with literary fiction is betraying a lack of education that is problematic in a professional environment. I'm not saying that is the case, just pointing out your claim it's 'unprofessional' is rather leaping to conclusions.

[OwlCapone]

It is a picture of the FACE of a plastic DOLL!

Actually, it is a picture of a sex toy.

Not Baby Annabel.

There is a difference.

[MothratheMighty]

Oh Wonga, didn't you realise that it's a blow up sex toy?
Still not illegal, so I still think that the plain cover was a perfectly sensible response to the concerns.

[magentastardust]

Where does your daughter work? -If it was a school I would say yes inappropriate.
It is obviously a picture of a sex doll not just a doll and if you were easily offended maybe the nipples on show would offend too?
Just a shame that the offended colleagues couldn't say to your daughter. Go for the cover or kindle option so she can enjoy her lunch break without stressing about people have a nosy at her.

[JeanSeberg]

Just to be clear what we're talking about.

www.billleonebookseller.com/pages/books/7310/irvine-welsh/porno

[chipsandpeas]

i wonder how many people complained about 18 months ago with lots of people sitting openly reading 50 shades, ok the cover wasnt offensive but the widespread attention on the books everyone knew the content

[FrenchJunebug]

Joven, seriously? What standard are those?! I dislike the Daily mail and the Sun but would not in a million year stop anybody to read them during their break. Free country.

[whatever5]

I would be really annoyed if I was your daughter. If I was her I would still take the book in but cover it (and all books in the future). They can't complain about what she is reading if they can't see what it is.

[Martorana]

Wonga- I think you might need to take a closer look at the picture on the front of the book.......

[TrueToYou]

magenta
if you were easily offended maybe the nipples on show would offend too?

Do you think the nipples offend if they were on a male doll? Or is it just because it's supposed to be a female?


:)

[sadbodyblue]

is she in a union? if not join one and jet them deal with this.

I think the firm haven't a clue here.

[joven]

edamsavestheday, I don't think you can claim somebody who isn't up to the minute on every fictional book published is 'uneducated', unless you're prepared to accept that you are 'uneducated' because you're unfamiliar with the latest developments in the hobbies of the next person.

FrenchJunebug, it is not a free country, we live in a country governed by laws determining standards of behaviour and private property ownership.

[magentastardust]

Well the cover doesn't offend me personally-but I was just pointing out it wasn't just the face of a doll as some posters were saying.
I suppose I wouldn't want my 6 yr old daughter sitting staring at it across a table on a train.

Erm I guess a cover of just a male torso wouldn't be as offensive-it would surely depend on the context of the cover, just as a different picture of a female upper body may be looked at differently-I think the offensive part to some would be that the image is obviously sexual and it is a sex doll. A male sex doll would probably offend as much.

[TrueToYou]

I think a male sex doll's (God, I really should NOT google it so I know what I'm talking about, but fuck it, I won't infect my laptop!) torso wouldn't offend, male non-functioning nipples are not sexualised the way women's (which HAVE an important function) are.

I guess a male sex doll would only offend if the genitals were on display. (Feel free to tell me I'm wrong, I bow to anyone's superior knowledge of sex dolls! )

[stooshe]

YANBU. Furthermore, any kind of boss with anything about them would have asked the content of the book (in a "styled out" way, of course). Irvine Welsh is a respected author. That your daughter's colleagues and boss do not know this shows them up for the dunces that they are. The colleagues well may have found out about Irvine Welsh if they had asked your daughter about the book instead of snitching to "massa".
Unfortunately in these hard to get a job times, your daughter will have to concede to these fools. She should look about training up or getting another job though., if this is the way it's all going.
If it was me , I'd take in Sons and Lovers by Dh Lawrence. He's long dead and respected. Then again, after this episode, I wouldn't underestimate the low mentality of those three stooges.

[Caitlin17]

Does anyone enjoy James Kelman?

[magentastardust]

Haha yes true-I am not googling to check it out either. Sad as it is lets face it if a male walked into town topless on a sunny day probably not much would be said , however if a female did the same the police would be called and she would be asked to cover up.

It is just a shame that the offended parties couldn't just say to the OP's DD that they felt uncomfortable rather than take it to management.

[stooshe]

YANBU. Thick people"with power" are the bane of the modern workplace. Your daughter should do the email thing (as previously suggested) stating her innocence. She has to cover herself as it would be unwise to underestimate the bitches and bitch asses who may use this "incident" against her if the workforce needs culling.
The subservient thickos or undercover trouble makers are usually kept on.

[TrueToYou]

I agree about the email, I think your DD should compose an email with the phrases suggested here, eg the allowed reading list.

Hopefully the manager will realise then how out of proportion his/her response was, and what an absolute non-event the whole thing is.

[limitedperiodonly]

is she in a union? if not join one and jet them deal with this.

I've been a union member since 1984 and this response on MN always gives me a wry smile.

No offence to you sadbodyblue - truly. I've just picked up on your post.

Union membership has been in the doldrums for years but people are latterly rethinking that.

But even if OP's daughter could find an appropriate one, I'd lay odds that they wouldn't want to touch this.

It's a little bit too difficult.

I'd say that they'd advise her to send an email to her boss recapping the meeting and clarifying that this is mainstream book sold in that most mainstream and reactionary of places - WHSmiths.

Also that the women misinterpreted the cover and she was happy to tear the cover off to avoid upsetting the easily offended or idiots because though I don't really like the sex doll image, it's not the most offensive I've seen in a mainstream publication.

I do hope you're not on a wind up OP. Probably not, but mention of mentalist Muslims always makes me wonder.

[Ledaire]

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



DS once took the book I was reading into school and they were very cat's bum about it.

[ComposHat]

caitlin yes I like James Kelman very much.

[MadIsTheNewNormal]

The title of the book itself is not remotely offensive. I don't know the book or what it's about, but it is perfectly possible for something to be a serious, intelligently written piece about a taboo or emotive or offensive subject. If she'd whipped out a copy of 'Big Slapping Ballsacks on Big Black Men, and waved the graphic close up photos around the office then I'd agree with her colleagues, but otherwise they can take a hike.