*Sigh* Ratings exist for a reason.

[TimeChaser]

And no, this isn't about video games for once. It seems that in Orange County, Florida an 11 year old checked out a manga (Japanese comic book) from the young adult section of the library. The manga was from a series called "Peach Girl," which is typically considered of the high school drama genre. It's clearly labeled "Teen: 13+" on the back.

So, apparently, this particular volume has a girl set up to be date raped (and before anyone asks, something at that rating would never have nudity or graphic sex) which is, unfortunately, straight out of real life. So now the mother's mad because her daughter read about it, even though the manga was obviously rated Teen.

See here: http://www.local6.com/news/5497816/detail.html#/index.html

[revolve]

1. Um yeah beacuse date rape is okay if your 13+

NT

[WindRavenX]

3. Did you read the OP?

Clearly says that this has no nudity or graphic language.

[revolve]

5. Yes I read the OP

AND IT SAYS
"this particular volume has a girl set up to be date raped"

why should it be okay for someone 13+ to read about someone being date raped
Also, did the parent check this out for the minor?

[WindRavenX]

6. Define "ok"

Most manga of this genre deals with real life issues-- and yes, date rape and sexual harassment is part of that, especially in this age.

As to the second question, if the parent failed to check out the 13+ label, that fault lies on the parent and not the library or larger society.

[XemaSab]

4. Welcome to DU!!!!

:hi:

[TimeChaser]

10. Um, yeah, because date rape isn't a part of reality for girls 13+

[XemaSab]

2. Hear, hear....

Ratings exist so that parents can make informed choices, and if parents are too lazy to pay attention to ratings, it's not society's fault.

[revolve]

7. Did you read the article

The library checked it out to her without the parents consent

[WindRavenX]

8. So?

Are they going to require age checks to read certain books now?
I was reading shit about the holocaust and war and other violence and scary stuff waaaay before I was 13.

[XemaSab]

9. Yes, I did read the article

I even clicked on the link. ;-)

[Withywindle]

11. Since when do they need parental consent for library books?

Seriously, is this a new development? Because when i was around that age, maybe just a little older, I was checking out Stephen King horror novels, fairly steamy romance novels, the serious YA novels of the time (late-70s/early-80s) that were about teens dealing with pregnancy, prostitution, rape, gangs, drug addiction, etc. Nobody ever asked me what my parents thought about it. (And honestly they wouldn't've objected, my parents never censored my reading). Small Bible-belt town, too.

[KitchenWitch]

12. Are you aware that an increasing number of girls at age 11

are physically women (as in they have reached physical maturity). Things such as rape and sexuality are very real issues at that age.

If the parent did not take the responsibility for checking out the contact, IMHO, that parent has no right to gripe about it.