The Definition of Irony, or Idiocy

The io9 blog has a list of ten great sci-fi novels that have been banned, in honor of Banned Books Week last week. They were either banned or challenged in schools and libraries or on curricula for the usual reasons, including language, sex, religious viewpoint and generally subversive ideas. Those who fight to keep books they find objectionable out of other peoples' hands generally just wind up making themselves look like fools and bringing attention to the books they are protesting, thereby making them more appealing to more people.

But this list provides us with even more amusement than usual. In a case of so-ironic-one-couldn't-even-make-this-up, people have tried to suppress George Orwell's 1984 and Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. One hopes they didn't read the books. 1984 was actually accused of being "pro-communist."

Big Brother would be proud!