Two angrifying things

[usuallyhats]

This morning on the Today programme I heard Beryl Bainbridge talking about how if you borrow a book from a library and never give it back, that's not really stealing. I BEG TO DIFFER. She also went on about how libraries are too welcoming now and not intimidating enough (not her exact words, but that was the subtext). She said there used to be rows and rows of books that aren't there any more. Know why that is, Beryl? Because people like you STOLE THEM ALL. (Caveat: I was half asleep when this was on so may have misinterpreted; can't listen again as am at work, but the clip is here, at 7.22.)

File this one under "why we still need feminism": the Lawn Tennis Association All England Club has straight out said (I was going to type "admitted", but that would imply they felt a need to hide it) that they decide which court to schedule women's matches on based on how "conventionally attractive" the players are. There's some discussion of this here; I can't manage to say anything more coherent than "AHHH WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?" I am also less than impressed that, going by the players mentioned in the linked article, "conventionally attractive" means Victoria Azarenka and Sorana Cristea (both white) but not Serena Williams (who is black). Not content with just being sexist, it looks like they're shooting for racist too.

Excuse me, I have to go and find a wall to bang my head against.

Comments

[alexthai.livejournal.com]

Interesting!

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

*Offers you a cushion to put between your head and the wall*

[usuallyhats]

*accepts gratefully*

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I am so glad I never watch tennis. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

What, they don't track library books down over there? If it doesn't come back, they fine you for late return; as I've never kept or lost a book, I have no idea what they do in that case. Charge people for a replacement, I hope. Or does she advocate just nicking the books without checking them out? WTH? What about all the people like me who can't afford to buy the many books they read?

[usuallyhats]

Yeah, we charge fines and eventually chase people up with invoices and summary bills and so on, but even then they've probably had the book for ages. I think she was talking about books she got out decades ago when, presumably, everything was less automated, and never ever returned - she seemed to think that because she hadn't intended to steal them, it didn't count somehow. Stealing books from libraries makes me so angry, because it's depriving lots of other people of the chance to read it, or forcing the library to buy a new copy with money they don't have.

I prefer watching tennis to any other sport, but I'm not sure I'll enjoy it so much after this.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I hope she gets lots of comments about her attitude.

I find it boring, and I don't suppose I'm that surprised it's so sexist since they make women wear miniskirts; what the hell's wrong with shorts? But then a lot of women's sports do (like netball here) or did till recently. [rolls eyes]

[usuallyhats]

and I don't suppose I'm that surprised it's so sexist since they make women wear miniskirts

That's a good point. I'd hoped that equalising the prize money for the men's and women's singles tournaments was a sign that they were beginning to make some progress, but it seems not. Argh.

*wanders in from friendsfriends*

[birdsflying]

Raaage, raaaage. What is she on? Of course it's stealing - the book doesn't belong to the reader, it belongs to the library. And the cost of replacing/reprocessing/etc will impact the library! Raaarrgghhh!

I have just passed that link on to my workmates. There is a lot of librarian grumbling happening now!

Re: *wanders in from friendsfriends*

[usuallyhats]

the book doesn't belong to the reader, it belongs to the library
Yes, exactly! It's the attitude that says "this book belongs to the public, I am a member of the public, therefore this book belongs to me."

[airie-fairy.livejournal.com]

How can you simultaneously think libraries aren't intimidating enough and want keeping their books forever to be okay? They'd have to be really welcoming for that.

And OMG. It's...and Serena Williams is a huge, huge tennis player, too, as an added layer of WHAT IS WROOONG WITH YOU and they're shunting her aside 'cause she's not white/hot? WTF.

[usuallyhats]

It's ridiculous. And the fact that they don't even seem to see anything wrong with it only makes it worse - they seem to think it's perfectly fine to judge female players based on their looks and not their skills. ARGH.

[(Anonymous)]

I heard the beryl bainbridge thing too and was fully awake, and that is exactly what she said. she wants libraries to be awe-inspiring and slightly intimidating like they used to be in.. and sort of aligned them with churches (which these days are trying really hard not to be intimidating, but that's another point) And yes! She did say she found a book at home that she'd taken out in the 50/60s and seemed to have no remorse about it.

I just hoped she was expressing ridiculous opinions for the sake of it - that's the only plausible explanation!

Jess

[usuallyhats]

Her comments about wanting libraries to be intimidating struck me as pretty snobbish, too, especially when she complained about people reading newspapers in libraries, then clarified that she only objected to them being there for people who couldn't afford to buy them. Grr!

[the-smut-fairy.livejournal.com]

Yes, I heard that woman on the radio this morning. The interview started by the assertion that "people don't steal books from the library" or similar, at which point I may have shouted at the radio "I just audited two libraries and yes they sodding do!"

The Independent had an article covering that "sexiest tennis player" list, entitled "Sexiest tennis". When I first saw the headline (after reading the F-Word coverage) I entirely unintentionally failed to read the second "e".

[usuallyhats]

The interviewer didn't help, but at least he seemed vaguely shocked that people would nick books from libraries, rather than trying to pretend it was ok. RAGE.

Hee!