How did “To Train Up A Child” Become So Popular?

Posted on December 6, 2011 by elizabeth

Over the next few days, I’ll try to answer some of the questions I’ve been asked after my appearance on Anderson Cooper’s show. This first one is: “How did ‘To Train Up A Child’ become so popular and in what context is it most dangerous to children?”  Also, I’ve signed this petition to have “To Train Up A Child” removed from Amazon. You can, too.

Word of mouth made “To Train Up A Child” popular.

Word of mouth will make it unpopular.

Please sign the petition today.

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  • deltaflute

    EE~ I get a little leery of censorship. 

    I realize the intention is to keep the books from falling into the “wrong” hands and being actually used.  That being said, I still feel that it’s important for others of us to have access to these materials.  The reason being that if someone were to approach you about the Pearl’s and there teachings knowledge is on your side.  You can counteract what the Pearl’s say with statistics, with news stories, with knowledge.  It’s how I’ve combated the use of the Ezzo’s.

    I realize that the Ezzo’s are not nearly as abusive, but some of their recommendations have been known to cause severe malnutrition in infants and hinder bonding.  One of my friend’s approached me with the materials and because I was lent them I was able to publicly through my blog go through each and every point, cite pages from the book, and destroy it with competent and authoritative evidence to the contrary. 

    The Ezzo’s books are in my public library.  I wouldn’t take them out.  They are right there along with the Sear’s books, whom the Ezzo’s despise.  I think parents should read as much as possible and arm themselves with information especially if they have friends who have “joined the dark side” if you will.  I think by having access to these materials people can see why they should be ruled out and encourage others not to follow those practices either.  Otherwise without being able to meet the problem head on, we could easily flounder.

    Knowledge is power. 

    • Katy-Anne

      You know, if Amazon gets rid of this book (and we have the right to our freedom of speech to ask and petition for the book’s removal), the Pearls will still sell it, and so will other vendors. It’s not censorship, it’s those of us who spend our money on Amazon telling Amazon what we think. It would do Amazon well to listen to their customers because if their customers think they are immoral they can go elsewhere.

      It’s kind of like how people who produce pornography have the “right” to post it on the internet. I also have the “right” to put filtering software on my computer so that anyone who uses MY computer cannot access it. Or is that “censorship” too? The censorship argument holds no water. The Pearls have the “right” to express their opinions and everyone else has the “right” to try to shut them down.

    • http://sustainablemommy.wordpress.com/ Naomi

      But, Deltaflute,  EE isn’t calling for censorship–censorship is government suppression of information.  Consumers asking a private company to do X, Y, or Z is not censorship.   I agree with you that exposure is a good thing, but I would argue that petitioning Amazon is one way to get that exposure.

      • deltaflute

        From Wikipedia- Banned books are books in which access to are not permitted.  The practice of banning books is a form of censorship.

        Censorship is not limited to the government.  Again from Wikipedia, censorship is the suppression of speech or other public communication (in this case books) which may be considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or inconvenient to the general body of people as determined by the government, media outlet, or other controlling body (in this case it would be Amazon).

        In it’s most basic definition, to censor something is to cut access to it.

        • Anonymous

          Come now, Delta Flute! You know what I’m REEEEALLY trying to accomplish is to be a “Book Burning Thug!” :D

          • deltaflute

            I never said that.  While I normally enjoy reading your blog, I find that (what I assume is) sarcastic comment offensive.  Book burning is different than book banning.  Banning the Pearl’s books is what your asking Amazon to do, yes?

            I was merely responding to a comment that suggested that book censorship is limited to government entities.  What you are suggesting is censorship outside of government but with another entity, a distributor, yes?  If I’m wrong in this assumption, please explain what it is exactly that you are asking your readership to do when signing the petition.  Thank you.

          • Anonymous

            Laura, it’s ok! I wasn’t being sarcastic, i was jokingly referring to the name the Pearls called me today: “Book Burning Thugs.” (see the post I wrote today about that). :)

            You are totally free to have your opinion and you are totally free to not sign the petition. as a consumer, i’m also free to boycott products and encourage others to do the same. You can call that censoring. I don’t see it as censoring. I also read your post on your blog today about your reasons for calling it that. Let’s just say we agree to disgree, okie dokie? The point is, we’re both on the same side. We’re both trying to stop the Pearls from harming more children and that’s what REALLY matters. :)

  • Scott Morizot

    Thanks for speaking out.

  • https://creativecommons.net/prosario2000/identity Pedro M. Rosario Barbosa

    Elizabeth,, thank you so much to you too. :-)

  • RebeccaF.

    I tried to sign but got an error.   Anybody else?

  • Guest

    I would love to sign the petition, but I saw it also included Shepherding a Child’s Heart and Don’t Make Me Count to Three.  I have read both of these, and have no recollection of these books advocating the spanking on children under the age of one, which is what the petition states.  Any thoughts about this?

  • Jack Isaacks

    Elizabeth, I understand your concern about the Perl’s book being sold on Amazon.

    But the quickest way to  draw attention to a book,  movie, or anything else is to try to make it unavailable. (Note that I’m NOT referring to censorship here.)

    Consider that Amazon would not be carrying his trash if the company thought it could not make a profit by doing so.

  • Nancy

    I signed a couple of weeks ago, and also e-mailed that I will not buy anything from Amazon until this book and their book for wives are no longer sold.  That’s not censorship, it’s just customers speaking with their wallets.

  • http://kansasbob.com Kansas Bob

    “Image Control” – speaks volumes!