The Vent and Rant Thread

[JSWolf]

I didn't buy it. I didn't download the free sample. I won't do either. I am keeping track of it though.

[Piper_]

I haven't either. I'd rather walk on coals.

I had to stop reading reviews after about 5 of them, like this one:

63 of 106 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars I Support Amazon, November 10, 2010
By
Freedom of Speech is a Double-Edged Sword
This review is from: The Pedophile's Guide to Love and Pleasure (Kindle Edition)


Regardless of the nature of the content of this book, I think many people are completely missing the point of allowing this to be sold. Libraries and librarian associations of America have long been steadfast in their defense of the constitutional right to view and consume literary works of all kinds. I do not support the stance of the author of this book but fully support Amazon's stance on this.

Censorship is a slippery slope and we should not be entrusting the government or private parties to deem what is appropriate for the public at large.

Information availability is a pillar of a democracy and as such should be guarded from any degree of censorship. This goes for television, video, books, arts, music, and anything else that can be considered a method of personal expression.

People may misuse this information, but that responsibility does not fall on Amazon's, B&N's, the local library's, or the government's shoulders to predetermine. All Americans should stand opposed to censorship of all kinds.

Use your brains, people!

OK then. Maybe I'm just all wrong, but it seems to me that he and others - including Amazon - have gotten so dependent on easy platitudes, they are the ones not using their brains, because they can't or won't recognize the critical distinctions, such as:

a) gov't vs a private business, which makes a statement about its values by what it chooses to sell, and its customers make statements about theirs by their reactions, and

b) book burning vs just not selling it at Amazon, and

c) protection of free speech about controversial things like religion and politics, vs protection of the promotion of pedophilia, for which there is no legitimate controversy.

Is there? I just can't think of how selling this book benefits anyone other than pedophiles.

Last thought: to me, the worst part of Amazon's public statement was where they said they wanted to have anything available that a customer wanted to buy.
So, there we go. Never fear, child predators - Amazon will make sure your needs are served just as anyone else's would be.

OK, it's not that they want to help pedophiles, it's just that they can't figure out a way to avoid it. Because, they think, if they say no to you, then the next thing to go MUST be Mein Kampf.

Because, you know, we're unable to figure out where to draw a line between types of things - beyond the fact that both "offend some people."

OK, I need a head-spinning smilie. I'm vented out.

[desertgrandma]

Like this?

[Piper_]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Like this?

LOL Yes, that is perfect. Thank you!

[Piper_]

It's gone!

I just tried to reload the page and got a 404!

[kennyc]

You BROKE IT!

[Piper_]

Originally Posted by kennyc

You BROKE IT!

lol I wasn't actually reloading often, but the thought did cross my mind that mine was the straw that broke the - you know.

Maybe it was my star-spinning head?

[desertgrandma]

What the page says.......


Looking for something?
We're sorry. The Web address you entered is not a functioning page on our site

Go to Amazon.com's Home Page

[JLeighs]

I can still see the book for sale.

[Roger Parkinson]

There's some well reasoned argument here and I'm late jumping in. First, I'm very happy the page has gone away. Either Amazon did something or a Higher Power stepped in. I'm relaxed either way on that.

It may not be that the fear is the next thing is Mein Kampf. The fear is probably that the next thing is something like anti gay literature (or the banning of pro gay literature). Probably all of the expressions of repugnance people make about gays translate easily into what we all (I hope) say about pedophiles. Oh, just for the record, I'm straight so this isn't a personal thing.

Now, if you have a law banning pedophilia should you allow books about it? Well, you have a law banning the robbing of banks but there are books about that. Possibly there shouldn't be but there are. I'm pretty sure none of us want the government to say there should be no books about robbing banks.

But if Amazon decides that they dislike bank robbing books and refuse to stock them they are within their rights. And we are within our rights to take our own position on that, ie we might boycott them because we dislike the kinds of books they stock (even if we would like to buy their other books).

This seems like the best solution to me, and it looks like the one we've actually got. Amazon (or maybe that Higher Power) have taken the page down because people are offended. They are allowed to do that (or to choose not to) and we are allowed to take our business elsewhere if they don't. This is very, very different from the government saying they have to, and bringing along people with guns to ensure they comply.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by Roger Parkinson

There's some well reasoned argument here and I'm late jumping in. First, I'm very happy the page has gone away. Either Amazon did something or a Higher Power stepped in. I'm relaxed either way on that.

It may not be that the fear is the next thing is Mein Kampf. The fear is probably that the next thing is something like anti gay literature (or the banning of pro gay literature). Probably all of the expressions of repugnance people make about gays translate easily into what we all (I hope) say about pedophiles. Oh, just for the record, I'm straight so this isn't a personal thing.

Now, if you have a law banning pedophilia should you allow books about it? Well, you have a law banning the robbing of banks but there are books about that. Possibly there shouldn't be but there are. I'm pretty sure none of us want the government to say there should be no books about robbing banks.

But if Amazon decides that they dislike bank robbing books and refuse to stock them they are within their rights. And we are within our rights to take our own position on that, ie we might boycott them because we dislike the kinds of books they stock (even if we would like to buy their other books).

This seems like the best solution to me, and it looks like the one we've actually got. Amazon (or maybe that Higher Power) have taken the page down because people are offended. They are allowed to do that (or to choose not to) and we are allowed to take our business elsewhere if they don't. This is very, very different from the government saying they have to, and bringing along people with guns to ensure they comply.

So........you are comparing robbing banks and anti gay literature, which deals with adults, with pedophilia, which is sexual relations with children and babies.

You have to draw a line somewhere. I draw mine here.

[nohmi2]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Like this?

If we are confused about the lack of *rage* which this so-called piece of literature should be receiving, what about those on the brink of adulthood?
Will they also never say "So far, and not further" in their quest to placate the lowest denominaters in society?

What is the next piece of garbage that we should just 'walk away from' all in the name of Freedom of Speech?

Comparing that with gay literature is ridiculous. That's going from the sublime to the ridiculous. Count the amount of gays in the fields of Medicine, Arts, Science, Literature,
Entertainment and a plethora of other fields down through the ages, who had to live lives of misery trying to cloak their sexual orientation, whilst paedophiles (in prominent positions) were practically deified.

These were adults: consenting adults.

We live in Interesting Times, but, quite frankly 'Might is Right' appears to be the credo. Bullying tactics have become the norm.

Right is wrong.
Wrong is right.

Man is the only animal that rapes it's young.

[recluse]

It appears that the filth in question is now "Not Currently Available"

Of course, it would be wise to remain vigilant.
These creatures are notoriously sneaky.

And to put this Freedom of Speech nonsense to rest,
if the Law, in it's compromised state, inadvertantly or intentionally, protects a group or idea that is pure, unadulterated evil, you don't quote said law and allow it to continue.
You ignore said law and fight back.
Right is right.
Wrong is wrong.
If you can't stand up for innocent children against the monsters in our midst, then you are aiding and abetting their actions.
There is no farking grey in this.
Only black and white.
Grow up, stand up and prove that you actually have the empathy, morals and the common sense to be called human.
Or get the Hell out of the way.
This world doesn't need any more PC, handholding stupidity.
It needs vigilantes.
What we used to call heroes, before scum had lawyers and special interest groups.
Because decent people should never be held hostage by someone else's inability to face Reality.

[Iphinome]

Originally Posted by recluse

It appears that the filth in question is now "Not Currently Available"

Of course, it would be wise to remain vigilant.
These creatures are notoriously sneaky.

And to put this Freedom of Speech nonsense to rest,
if the Law, in it's compromised state, inadvertantly or intentionally, protects a group or idea that is pure, unadulterated evil, you don't quote said law and allow it to continue.
You ignore said law and fight back.
Right is right.
Wrong is wrong.
If you can't stand up for innocent children against the monsters in our midst, then you are aiding and abetting their actions.
There is no farking grey in this.
Only black and white.
Grow up, stand up and prove that you actually have the empathy, morals and the common sense to be called human.
Or get the Hell out of the way.
This world doesn't need any more PC, handholding stupidity.
It needs vigilantes.
What we used to call heroes, before scum had lawyers and special interest groups.
Because decent people should never be held hostage by someone else's inability to face Reality.

Maybe this argument should be moved to politics and religion?

[TGS]

Will we be boycotting any outlet that makes Nabokov's Lolita available?