A highly publicized incident taking place in Virginia lends some credence to the idea that an amateur writer might wish to remove his work from the public view because of its effect on his professional life. Jim Webb, who is running for senator in that state has been asked to withdraw because of his 'XXXXX-rated' fiction. This demand was issued by the oddly named Traditional Values Coalition. The incident in one of Webb's novels they cite as the reason for this demand is the usual taken from context and exaggerated in position passage as is most of this sort of nonsense. However, it is easy to see how a person who has written a few less than chaste lines might decide that such footsteps were better erased before they can rouse the easily roused sheep against him should he ever harbour thoughts of public service.

There are many reasons why one would prefer that certain writings be expunged from the record. I have done that myself from time to time. As to 'rights', I am not so presumptuous as to think I can declaim ex cathedra on that topic. If there is something I read which I truly value, I make a print-out of it so that I may indulge in the archaic habit of curling up with a cat and a good read. And I cannot possibly fault those original creators who prefer that their carefully crafted characters not be pulled this way and that by those who had no hand in the genesis. They have every reason to expect their preferences, however irritating, be respected.