I went to Sherman's Books in downtown Portland Maine last month to order my copies of Steve Templeton's Fear, published by Brownstone. I also preordered Mary Harrington's Feminism Against Progress. Fear was out and available, but not in the store, which is Maine's largest homegrown bookstore with several stores around the state. Mary's book was not out yet - by just a few days. Feminism came in, but I did not get a call on Fear. I went in a week later to check up. The clerk checked on the order status and said their supplier had removed it from availability. So I ordered it from Steve Templeton's website. I am well into it now. Very good!
I remarked to the clerk, "is it not odd that your supplier said it was available and then it was not. She concurred. I said I was not surprised, as there is massive censorship against this type of book in the covid era. Another young employee came over and engaged me in conversation. He ended up asking me if I was an antivaxxer!!! I disengaged from the discussion, recognizing defeat. An old man with a penchant for serious reading was not going to make any inroads on this fellow.
So this is where we are... An "independent" bookstore is fostering employees who are sure they want to prevent readers from reading what they want.
Agreed. I didn't so admit defeat, as recognize the young fellow was being aggressive. The young woman who was helping me was more conversational, but the guy came into the conversation and folded his arms and stood directly facing me from behind the counter. I was definitely thinking he was stupid, and that I am anti-stupid, but knew my wife would not approve if I took him on. She is also unvaxxed, but has more feminine awareness and a tendency to relationally connect.
I see, thank you. Wives can be tricky, I am married to one and she has caused me some grief in this time of Covid by not believing me about the deceit!
But she did thank me this year for the fact we avoided the vaccines.
Here's my n of 1....
I went to Sherman's Books in downtown Portland Maine last month to order my copies of Steve Templeton's Fear, published by Brownstone. I also preordered Mary Harrington's Feminism Against Progress. Fear was out and available, but not in the store, which is Maine's largest homegrown bookstore with several stores around the state. Mary's book was not out yet - by just a few days. Feminism came in, but I did not get a call on Fear. I went in a week later to check up. The clerk checked on the order status and said their supplier had removed it from availability. So I ordered it from Steve Templeton's website. I am well into it now. Very good!
I remarked to the clerk, "is it not odd that your supplier said it was available and then it was not. She concurred. I said I was not surprised, as there is massive censorship against this type of book in the covid era. Another young employee came over and engaged me in conversation. He ended up asking me if I was an antivaxxer!!! I disengaged from the discussion, recognizing defeat. An old man with a penchant for serious reading was not going to make any inroads on this fellow.
So this is where we are... An "independent" bookstore is fostering employees who are sure they want to prevent readers from reading what they want.
We need Brownstone more than ever!
Re "He ended up asking me if I was an antivaxxer"
I was asked this, not unkindly, by a man somewhat older than me I assumed earlier this year.
I said 'No, I am anti-stupid.' I had just explained about the pointless (at best) of the vaccines.
So my recommendation would not be to admit defeat next time but use a tactic like that. Puts whoever it is on the back foot.
https://alphaandomegacloud.wordpress.com/2022/11/26/a-vaxxers-lament/
Agreed. I didn't so admit defeat, as recognize the young fellow was being aggressive. The young woman who was helping me was more conversational, but the guy came into the conversation and folded his arms and stood directly facing me from behind the counter. I was definitely thinking he was stupid, and that I am anti-stupid, but knew my wife would not approve if I took him on. She is also unvaxxed, but has more feminine awareness and a tendency to relationally connect.
I see, thank you. Wives can be tricky, I am married to one and she has caused me some grief in this time of Covid by not believing me about the deceit!
But she did thank me this year for the fact we avoided the vaccines.