Much of this, to be sure, is harmless nonsense, such as the installation instructions that come with popular software products. But paper is by far the favorite medium of pornographers. Ransom notes use paper as well. Several years ago a scientific journal published instructions for building a nuclear bomb. An irresponsible rumor can be set in type, and then printed and distributed by the millions, with no guarantee whatsoever of its accuracy.
Paper poses a special peril to children.
Unlike a computer, a filthy magazine can easily be snuck into the house in an innocent-looking lunchbox. It can be hidden under a pile of sweat clothes in the bottom dresser drawer. Any page can be folded, placed in a pocket, and secretly transported or shared with other children. Books can even be read by flashlight in bed, long after Dad has requisitioned the family computer and is trying to log on to AOL, naively believing that junior is safe from corruption just because he is tucked in and offline. It is fine to say that parents are responsible for what their children read.