https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/19/yumi-stynes-welcome-to-sex-education-book-big-w-removes-bans
Publisher of Welcome to Sex by Dr Melissa Kang and Yumi Stynes defends book after conservative campaigners claim it is ‘teaching sex to children’
Australia, don't become America.
Big W, take your books off the shelves if you feel that's the right thing to do, however, you have negotiated with terrorists. These fuckers now know that by abusing staff at Big W stores, they can get what they want. Well done!
I didn't realise these kind of culture war astroturfing regressive religious groups were this active in Australia. I hope there is something we can do at a societal level to prevent this escalating.
I'm happy for people to have their beliefs but these things all feel like they are being done cynically by dark forces that want to change the fabric of our society - Or maybe I am off with the fairies, I don't know sometimes.
Am I alone in thinking that? What can we do about it?
The alt-right social media propaganda effort from the US over the past decade has been a scattershot approach and had a large effect on a lot of the English speaking world.
Plus Rupert Murdoch, Boris Johnson, other right-wing grifters big and small using it to their advantage.
There aren't many good options except dealing with the people and the money running the operations, I think.
I don't fall into any of those groups but I find the book absolutely disgusting and not suitable for children. It's basically telling young girls "oh it's up to you... it's fine to send nude selfies but only if you want to and maybe crop you head out of the shot." No no no no no. We need to be empowering girls to respect themselves enough to never send nude photos under any circumstances. And that's only one of my issues with this trashy book.
these things all feel like they are being done cynically by dark forces that want to change the fabric of our society
At least some of it is from Kremlin and CCP shills and bots. They can't compete with "the West" militarily, but they can get on social media and divide people.
Capitulation to fascists only emboldens them and perpetuates the problem. You protect your staff by pursuing those who threaten them by every means available to you.
This is a big fear of mine. If or when American democracy collapses Australia may very well follow suit. Too many Australians mimic the politics of the states.
We need to dismantle the media monopoly before then. That cunt Murdoch and his ilk have an outsized influence on our political landscape. They're taking too many lessons learned with managing Americans and using them here.
Are these folks wanting to ban "where did I come from?" & it's follow up "what's happening to me?" As well?
I don't get this manufactured outrage we have had books on these topics for young people for generations.
Where was the union in all of this?
* Googles 'Big W EBA'
* Result 'SDA'
I wouldn't be surprised if the upper echelons of the SDA are totally fine with all of this, if not cheering it on.
What would you expect the union to do? One of the union's roles is to protect the health and safety of its members. If taking the books off the shelves stops the abuse, I suspect they would support the move.
The SDA are known to be extremely socially conservative, having donated to campaigns against same sex marriage and anti-abolition. I suspect what the original comment is trying to say is they would likely approve of the customers actions.
I don't consider the book sex education. I consider the contents of that book to be filth and promoting child pornography.