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Comment by wan23 | Hacker News Reader

That list of banned books in Michigan is really interesting. Just from the first few pages -

A+ Certification Exam Guide - May facilitate or encourage criminal activity

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons - Threat to the order and security of the institution; role play

Against the Wind - Threat to the order/security of institution (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206757.Against_the_Wind)

Art of Seduction (The) - Threat to order/security institution

Bookkeeping for Dummies - This book may facilitate crimial activity because the book includes tax forms which may be used to facilitate the filing of false or fraudulent tax documents.

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The Michigan list is nuts. "Google Power, by Chris Sherman" is probably the dumbest one I've found so far -- it's just a book about how to use Google better. "So how did the inmate break out of his cell?" "He googled 'let me out'." "Shoot, if only we had banned that book!"

Also "ESPN - NBA Draft Preview" was banned with the reason: "The magazine includes an article which describes acts of bondage and sadism inflicted on individuals.". wat.

I. . .What on earth?

Why not ban chemistry textbooks? Learning about rapid oxidation reactions could be a threat to the order and security of the institution.

Michigan does ban an organic chemistry textbook—Fox & Whitesell—for just that reason.

I. . .I am really glad I don't live in Michigan, I guess. Are there any other interesting ones? I can't seem to find the list.

EDIT: Oh, never mind, I didn't realize they actually linked it in the article. Whoops.

> I. . .I am really glad I don't live in Michigan, I guess.

Why? If you lived there you would have some capability of changing it. You aren't an inmate.

Because it would seem that if, for whatever reason, I was mistakenly accused and convicted of something, I would basically have no way of continuing my life.

Also, I refuse to support a local (bleh, state, whatever) government with taxes just so they can ignore my vote. I'd rather live in a state where my vote goes to someone who supports my gripes. And yes, I recognize that that sucks, and that if more people moved to places where they could change things with their vote, things would actually get changed. But I'm one person, and me moving wouldn't solve anything.

I think your concern is misplaced. Just because you like coding and reading that an overcrowded ghetto California prison is going to be so much better than Michigan's in case you get mistakenly accused and convicted of something?

I'm 100% sure that wherever you currently live would comically and ironically undermine whatever you just said here in one way or another.

Basically you could find something to gripe about and something to ignore, and any of us could find out how your gripes aren't being supported.

> You aren't an inmate.

Presumably. Some states allow internet use, do they not?

I wish mine did. I've found it very difficult to teach inmates who don't have access to it, and in my opinion it has become an essential part of life.

Oh, that's nice. Tell me, what content is appropriate for a person who was arrested for dealing a few ounces of weed?

Motherfucker might find a chemical reaction that blows up!

Fuck acetic acid! Fuck sodium bicarbonate!

Would you please stop posting unsubstantive comments to HN? We're hoping for a higher quality of discussion here.

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Advanced Dungeons & Dragons - Arms and Equipment Guide, Rules Supplement - Weapons/security threat

They also seem to dislike Magic: The Gathering. And Tai Chi.

They've even got books in there banned because they "depict sexual acts". Not violent sexual acts, or acts with a minor. Just "sexual acts".

Can't exercise, can't play cards, can't even masturbate - just what are you allowed to do in prison?

They're only allowed continued existence in prison. /s

What's interesting is that The Art of Seduction is written by the author of The 48 Laws of Power, which is hugely popular among inmates. However, the Art of Seduction is almost entirely about romantic influence, and most of its lessons are about manipulating the emotions of one single target individual....so in my opinion it's hard to see how The Art of Seduction should be off-limits to prisoners.

Escapes have traditionally featured a charismatic prisoner who seduced a member of the prison staff into doing something at least marginally helpful (i.e. "accidentally" leaving an internal door unlocked).

Prisons don't want prisoners any more capable of social-engineering staff than they already are.

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