h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"where they burn s they will some day also burn people" (henrich heine, german author, poet and journalist, 1797-1856)

I think that happened to Savonarola in Florence.

Is it okay to burn phone books?

It depends on why you're burning them. Some cities would rather have you recycle them. If you heat your house with burnable stuff, you might get some nice heat from the phone books.

only if you tear them in half first, Hati

I heat the house with those indeed. Actually I use them for starting the fire.
IMHO they print too many phone books. People tend to prefer online phone books.

True, but if you don't have an efficient incinerator you will add some nasty stuff to the air.

Luckily the phone books are on cheap paper and only black/white. That's as harmless as it gets. That is, there are of course covers and colourful pages but that's not good for burning anyway. Mostly made of limestone, not wood.

*Joins in 'please don't'*

I think they should call it off, too. I bet none of them have ever read it.

Well said! I agree, the world has enough discord already without resorting to this stunt.

Seriously, this is the most stupid, ignorant, arrogant, vainglorious and act.

What do they think will resort from this?

Some sort of catharsis for the people who do the deed.
Also, vicarious pleasure on the part of people who wouldn't do it themselves, but like to see it done.
For those who might have to rush in to mop up any violent or destruction repercussions, there is a sense of worry and dread.
For those who wouldn't be personally involved in a cleanup, there's a feeling of powerlessness and angst.

OK, let me rephrase this... could anyone possibly believe that anything GOOD is going to come from an action like that? Has it, ever, in the history of the world?

I must have missed something here? What exactly is this in reference to?

Off the top of my head, though, if it's school books or surplus library books, there are many third world countries that could use the texts.

I didn't at first get what the pirate was referring to but the news tells me that there is some shirt for brains pastor in Florida who plans to get his fifteen minutes of fame by burning the qu'ran in remembrance of 9/11.

It's not that he doesn't know how many human lives will be lost as a result of this stunt, it's that he doesn't care. He'll get a big applause from his forty eight parishioners.

And the news media somehow feel impelled to let the world know that he's doing it.

that's what the news media are for, paulh

*joins the 'please don't' campaign*