A lame reply from Amazon.com

by Xandria 42 Replies latest jw friends

  • Jesus Christ
    Jesus Christ

    Amazon can't ban books. They can, however, not sell them. Yes, in America there is such a thing as freedom of speech. Just because someone wants to say something doesn't mean that any corporation should give them a stage to say it from.

    The people calling for the removal of this book aren't saying they want a stop to any sort of sexual expression between two or more consenting adults. They are saying stop trying to make a buch by giving the perverts an execuse to screw our sons/nephews in the form of this book. If Amazon stops selling it people can still purchase it elsewhere if they like but people who believe this book is wrong will not support any corporation who does sell it for moral reasons.

    What's so horrible about withdrawing financial support from a corporation that sells something you disagree with? Yes, it has been used by fundies numerous times but just as the people you disagree with have the "right" to say what they want, you have the exact same right to say you don't like it. Withdrawing your support from a corporation you disagree with because they are selling a product that supports child molestors is a person's right.

    Sure, people have the right to go on and on about how people of a different race are somehow less human than mine, they can talk about how horrible gay people are, they can talk about how they wish Hitler would have killed off all those damn dirty jews. That doesn't mean that I have to let them into my house so they can spread their message any further. Same with Amazon. Pedophiles have their right to try to explain their sickness but that doesn't mean that Amazon has to distribute their literature for them and I know for one I wouldn't step foot inside a store that does.

  • patio34
    patio34

    Well stated, JC.

    Pat

  • TTBoy
    TTBoy

    Hmm i typed in PlayBoy and got nothing on the search. Maybe I should have tried porn or adult.

  • rem
    rem

    I prefer Amazon to be agnostic about the books it sells, as long as they are not illegal. I think it's valuable to have a place to buy books somewhat anonymously... any book... even unpopular ones. I don't see amazon as being my moral guide and I don't see what the fuss is all about. Sure, you can try to bully amazon if you want to, but i just think it's silly.

    What if the watchtower was able to get the witnesses to boycott amazon and b&n in order to get Crisis of Conscience off of there. We all know that JW's are too cheap to be a threat anyway , but hopefuly you get the point. What if someday a group of people decides that YOUR morals are wrong and they try to make it difficult for you to get material that you want.

    The better approach, in my opinion, is to rebutt pseudo-scientific claims - not squelch them. If the content is truly illegal, then it should be pulled. I suppose I see added value to Amazon that transcends the content of books they carry - many of which I find repulsive.

    I just hope some people will stop and think about this because I think many are making a knee-jerk reaction because the topic is so sensitive. Again... has anyone here actually read this book? Or is everyone going on hearsay?

    rem

  • LDH
    LDH

    Corporate America is a Crack Whore.

    Period.

    The only 'messages' they get suspiciously are related to their bottom line.

    Although the author has a right to WRITE the book, and the publisher has a right to PRINT the book, and Amazon has a right to SELL the book, the spending public will ultimately decide.

    Either there will be such an outcry that Amazon will not sell the book, or people will be non-chalant about it all and Amazon and other retailers will continue to profit on the blood of our children.

    Somewhere, the RIGHT to do something got confused with the OBLIGATION to do something. Amazon is under no obligation to sell such crap.

    Lisa

    Independent Bookstores Class

  • Jesus Christ
    Jesus Christ
    What if the watchtower was able to get the witnesses to boycott amazon and b&n in order to get Crisis of Conscience off of there. We all know that JW's are too cheap to be a threat anyway , but hopefuly you get the point. What if someday a group of people decides that YOUR morals are wrong and they try to make it difficult for you to get material that you want.

    Well then that's their right to do so. People have as much right to say they disapprove of something and that it shouldn't be available as the people with the offensive message. If I chose to say something along the lines of "the moon is made of green cheese" then other people have the right to call me an idiot and not buy anything from me because of said stance.

    There's nothing wrong with boycotting a corporation because of their stance on a certain issue . In fact, I'm offended by all the people saying this shouldn't be done because YOU are trying to say a group who disagrees with something shouldn't say it. You're stepping on our right to free speech.

    If a group of people decide that my morals are something repugnant to them and try to make the reading material I like hard to get then that is their right. Everyone can disagree and say what they like about a certain issue.

    Once again, this is not about banning the book. This is about one single company carrying it. If Amazon stops carrying it that only means that the people who would like to read it will have to somewhere else to buy it. I don't homophobics. They have their right to say what they like about how god hates gay people (if they only knew he was bi they'd be shocked beyond belief) but that does not mean that I should let them use my property to espouse their views.

    Also, this isn't something along the lines of political ideaologies or spiritual matters that people are trying to have removed. Nobody is saying this because they think their interpretation of dad is better or more right than someone else's. They are trying to prevent pedophiles from having an outlet to spread the beliefs any further. They are trying to stop young boys from being exposed to the perverts who would use them to satisfy their own sexual desires.

  • Trauma_Hound
    Trauma_Hound

    Max Divergent, & Rem you two still don't get it, I WILL NOT SUPPORT ANY COMPANY that sells this kind of book period. The question is, do you support pedophilia or not? If not, then why would you buy books from a company that does? You two still don't seem to get, that this is a private coperation, and that no one here has said "ban" the books, or even burn them for that matter. The person that wrote this, has every right to publish it, but companys also have the right not to sell it, and you two don't seem to get that. I'm the consumer, and YOU can't make me buy anything more from this company. What you choose to do is upto you, but then I would start to wonder about someone that supports a business that sells these kinds of books.

    Edited by - Trauma_Hound on 29 September 2002 17:5:44

  • Matty
    Matty

    Amen Trauma!

  • rem
    rem

    This is stupid:

    Amazon is NOT supporting pedophilia, nor am I. To suggest such a thing is ignorance and borderline libelous. Amazon is not supporting Creation 'Science', UFO conspiracies, etc. by offering those crappy books. And I am not supporting Creation Science by puchasing books from Amazon. Do I stop buying from amazon because I don't agree with Creation Science? No... They are supporting free speech. Their charter seems to be to offer any book, no matter the content (as long as it's legal). I like this and that is why I value amazon. It makes me like them more. In fact, I praise them for taking this stance. Are you going to boycott every company that carries this book? It's just silly.

    I'm not saying no one has the right to boycott... I'm just saying that people who jump to conclusions like this aren't really thinking the issue through. If I were amazon, I wouldn't be too worried about a boycott because people like me who value freedom of speech will just become even more loyal customers of theirs because of their stance. I hope the majority of America still understands how important this issue is and that censorship of ANY kind (including corporate boycott) is repugnant - just as repugnant to me as pedophilia. If they back down, then I will be disappointed.

    Has anyone read this book? Still no answer on that one.

    rem

  • funkyderek
    funkyderek

    I would be more likely to boycott Amazon if they stopped selling the book than if they continued to sell it. If you don't want the book, don't buy it. If you don't want to shop at Amazon because they're selling a book that may contain opinions you find offensive, then that's your right - the whole freedom of choice thing again - but you're unlikely to find a bookshop that conforms exactly to your personal standards.

    Anyway, what is it about the book that's so offensive that it should never be read by anybody?

Share this

Google+
Pinterest
Reddit