that’s just weird
A library in Holland is lending out people, as well as books, in a new initiative aimed at challenging stereotypes.
People can borrow gay people, gipsies and Muslims for an hour and talk to them about their lives, reports Nu.nl.
Jan Krol, director of the public library, in Almelo, said one of his assistants came up with the idea.
He added: “It’s a good way to challenge stereotypes. Clients can lend out a Muslim woman in a head scarf and ask her the questions they wouldn’t dare to if they met on the street.”
The library has contacted ten people from different backgrounds who are willing to have a chat with library visitors in a pub near the library.
such measures really make me wonder about the kind of world we’re living in…especially since even to me, it actually doesn’t seem like such a terrible idea.
for some reason, this reminds me of “the whore of mensa“, a short story by woody allen. if you’ve read it, you’d remember that men used to buy time with “prostitutes” who could stimulate them mentally.
well, in a way, now you CAN rent out people who will stimulate you mentally, by telling you about their experiences and lives and thereby, perhaps ridding you of your biases and broadening your views.
like i said, that’s just fucking weird.
and perhaps much needed.
p.s: i had to change the title for the post from “fucking weird” to just weird because my stupid service provider BLOCKED the page, because the word “fucking” was in the url.
bastards.
odd idea, but if you can just reach one person…
Comment by ghost — August 23, 2005 @ 1:17 pm
It is weird, but how many times in your life do you have the opportunity to talk to someone who, to your mind, is “totally different” than you? Most people would be reticent to just importune a stranger on the street…”I see that you’re a Muslim–care to talk?” Look at it is live reference.
Comment by Kristie — August 23, 2005 @ 3:20 pm
And library users interested in the service are most likely to be open and accepting to begin with. A reality show like this should work better.
Comment by ali — August 23, 2005 @ 3:20 pm
good point, ali.
i have been trying to research this and apparently a swedish library does the same thing - an excerpt from the article:
Sweden’s Malmö public library has taken an unusual step to combat peoples’ preconceptions about Muslims, homosexuals, gypsies, animals rights activists and, naturally, journalists. The “Living Library” project lets punters borrow real people for a 45-minute chinwag in the cafe.
i wonder whether they have christians or jews, for the muslims to talk to and question (obviously some muslims have preconceived notions about christians, which is why some even condone the screwed up version of jihad, because they think “these infidels are filthy and deserve to die”.)?
do they have heterosexuals for the gays to chat to, to find out why in the world would a guy would want to be with a woman?
what i’m getting at is that in a way, them profiling gays, muslims and gypsies(??) struck me as quite biased to begin with.
Comment by rocky — August 23, 2005 @ 3:50 pm
very weird but I can’t fault it either. and very good point that rocky- it does seem a tad…well, yes biased to have *only* them in the program. Though in these places its likely the christians (and more ‘mainstream’ ones) will sit idle….
Comment by vAgue — August 23, 2005 @ 4:39 pm
i’d volunteer as typical crass american.
if only, for what sounds like, a free meal.
Comment by stone — August 23, 2005 @ 11:46 pm
The visuals of a Muslim Woman in a Headscarf sitting in a pub in Holland chatting casually about herself to a complete stranger got me giggling!
Comment by uberhomme — August 24, 2005 @ 10:48 am
Oh yes. You’ll be thrilled to know that the Google Ads for your page include Orthodox Tv (for Orthodox christians) and Free lectures on Islam (www.islamhouse.com). Now is that weird or is it (very) fuzzy logic ?
Comment by uberhomme — August 24, 2005 @ 10:50 am
uber, that vision IS hilarious!
and lectures on islam?! yayyyy!
Comment by rocky — August 24, 2005 @ 2:04 pm
I think this library idea is superb. It has enough strangeness and gimmickry to be rather alluring to people but the actual breaking down of barriers that it could achieve is very serious.
Comment by Red Baron — August 24, 2005 @ 10:50 pm
oh and I’ll take a neo-con for a week.
“no no, those marks were there when I took him out!”
Comment by Red Baron — August 24, 2005 @ 10:50 pm
It is too gimmicky. The meeting is purely voluntary. People who volunteer are already open to the idea. They can as easily start up such a conversation at the coffee shop, grocery store, public transport node, or religious/ cultural center of choice. The only positive here is the willing-to-talk volunteer minority representative. But the numbers are too small. No significant breakthroughs in inter-ethnic/religious relations are going to be achieved. Teaming up different people in trying situations is what would work.
I don’t usually condone judicial activism but that would work in such cases. Force people involved in hateful activities into living/ working together. Make their lives a microcosm of the world, where such understanding and cooperation is imperative for any long term peace and prosperity for all peoples.
Comment by ali — August 24, 2005 @ 11:59 pm
No significant breakthroughs in inter-ethnic/religious relations are going to be achieved.
I don’t think that’s as much of a certainty as you pose it, Ali. I would agree that it’s unlikely, but I don’t believe in massive sea change among people. “People” do not change; individuals do. And if one person even thinks about this for a minute, and for the first time in his/her life thinks differently about bigotry, for just a moment even, well then, that’s a victory. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you keep getting what you’re getting, and this little shake-up might just be the butterfly that causes someone else’s hurricane. You never know when truth will walk up to you and doink! you in the forehead.
Comment by Kristie — August 25, 2005 @ 2:18 am
ali, it might work with people who are ’sitting on the fence’ as far as passing judgments on muslims, gays and gypsies are concerned. perhaps they are just about to write off all muslims as terrorists or women in islam as oppressed and head off to this library and shout ‘one muslim to go, please!’ and that conversation helps them figure out where they stand.
as far as judicial activism or forcing people to live together doesn’t work - look at israel and palestine! or hindu muslim conflicts that still persist.
everyone thinks THEY are right and perhaps if they sit across another person and chat to them about another way of life, they may begin to understand (if not completely accept) and allow such differences to co-exist peacefully.
or may be we’re just being naive and you ARE right.
Comment by rocky — August 25, 2005 @ 8:15 am
Is there a surcharge for overdue people ?
Comment by uberhomme — August 25, 2005 @ 9:49 am
:D well done, Uber! I’m laughing over my danish.
Comment by Kristie — August 25, 2005 @ 3:04 pm
u know…. i kinda think de idea’s not bad either!!!!
;-) guess we’re both weird then!
mmmm… i wonder who wud like to rent me out, now. lol
Comment by rahul — August 25, 2005 @ 4:01 pm
only in the netherlands!
Comment by sara — August 25, 2005 @ 4:22 pm
And I am laughing over my swede.
Comment by ali — August 25, 2005 @ 5:39 pm
Is there a web equivalent of a rimshot for these comedians? Or a punch for me.
Comment by ali — August 25, 2005 @ 5:42 pm
In other unrelated news the artist formerly known as alibhai was found dead in his library. His beloved Holland & Holland Royal Double and a book “Being Unfunny for Idiots” were among the items found beside him. No one cares to investigate further.
Comment by ali — August 25, 2005 @ 5:51 pm
I agree the likelihood of it single-handedly solving the problems of the ficticious ‘clash of civilisations’ is a slim one. But I think it is the sort of thing that is just too curious for many to resist. It’s like when the first series of Big Brother was on you knew you shouldn’t but you couldn’t help but have a gander.
To begin with it is the converted who are likely to get involved in the library scheme but over time I think it would expand a little thru’ word of mouth. And besides, it’s an attempt that doesn’t hurt any so has to be worth a try.
To get around your sh1tty isp try using the word feck. It’s a legitimate Irish cuss word and gets round the filters.
Comment by Red Baron — August 25, 2005 @ 9:47 pm
What about legal liability? That should kill it.
Comment by ali — August 26, 2005 @ 9:07 am
What legal liability? Last I checked, not against the law to talk to strangers.
Also, Ali, don’t try to be as funny as I. You’ll hurt yourself.
Comment by Kristie — August 27, 2005 @ 12:38 am
They would have to thoroughly pre-screen the participants to avoid lawsuits should things go very badly during or as a result of the meeting. You are right. Its not illegal to talk to strangers, yet. But a corporate or municipal body with cashola in the bank has responsibility to assure the safety of people who are trusting them to provide a secure venue with sane participants. One violent conflageration followed by a lawsuit is all that is needed to shut this craziness down.
Hurt my self? I was so funny I killed. Did you not hear the self-inflicted shot heard around the world. I should have noted though that the library collections people were after me for the overdue idiots guide.
Comment by ali — August 27, 2005 @ 2:42 am
Rocky, could you email me the source for both these stories? I mentioned it to someone at work and we’re working up an article on libraries in general and community cohesion….
Comment by EasyJetsetter — September 2, 2005 @ 6:42 pm
I love it. I’m happy to lend myself out to anyone as long as they’ll buy me a meal/drinks.
Comment by Sin — September 19, 2005 @ 3:30 pm