Comments on: Glitch, Ranking, And Porn, #amazonfail

By: No News But Contests Yes | Literary Escapism

No News But Contests Yes | Literary Escapism — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:37:50 +0000

[...] in the first place as well as some insider information and Lilith Saintcrow has a couple of fascinating articles and regarding the glitch, plus she has a bunch of good links to check [...]

By: JP

JP — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:43:13 +0000

I’ve been following this relatively closely (and your updates have been a HUGE help, so thank you!!!!), and I just came across the story on CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/04/14/amazon.gay.lesbian.ranking/

Much the same as what every other news outlet is saying, but what struck me is the comments section: I was completely taken aback by all the “Rah, rah censorship!” posts on there. Seriously, what is WRONG with society these days? It makes me sad.

By: Amy

Amy — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:36:13 +0000

I came here because I knew you’d have a post on this – and that it would be a well-researched one with lots of information and opinion. I’m so glad you do! I was astonished when I heard that Amazon was censoring GLBT literature as “adult” and essentially pornography not fit for the sensitive eyes of the widdle bitty adult Americans…. I saw a post somewhere where someone said how well this shows the power of one company on an entire industry. How true.

By: Erica

Erica — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:59:34 +0000

Assuming I feel like buying the explanation that the French language is to blame, why on earth would I want to trust a company that is incapable of keeping a “translation” problem from wreaking massive havoc with a central feature of its sales structure? (Plus that whole “oh yeah it was just France causing problems haha” explanation doesn’t really tell us why there’s an adult-deranking policy in place back as far as February.)

I’ll stick with Powell’s.

By: Emma

Emma — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:51:57 +0000

I find it awfully hard to believe that a language barrier caused this bruhaha…please. If this really is the case then it’s time to give me a straight jacket. Coz to be brutally honest I’d rather believe Aliens live at No 10 Downing Street.

Once again thank you for keepingf us in the know.

By: Wolfinthewood

Wolfinthewood — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:03:04 +0000

Once again, thanks very much for the update. I feel the same mistrust of Amazon as you do, for much the same reasons. This post is interesting, though the source is unverified.

By: DiAnna/blackrose78

DiAnna/blackrose78 — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 05:27:37 +0000

Lilith, you have been awesome about keeping us up to date on this, and you’ve also kept your awesome sense of humor about it, too even thought I know you’re as pissed as the rest of us. Thanks so much.

This whole freaking situation is idiotic, honestly, and in some ways, I’m somewhat ashamed to be from the Seattle area. (although, if this isn’t fixed by Thursday, I swear, I’m gonna take something and throw it at their offices when I’m over there! …. I wonder if I threw those apples that were going bad away out of the van….. /distraction… Don’t MESS with a pissed off vet with PTSD! LOL)

Seriously, though, you’ve been a great source that I’ve known I can trust, and between you and Feministing, I’ve been able to keep up on most of this. I’ve cancelled my Amazon account, but not before I changed my ‘profile’ to say
“Until such time as Amazon can pull their collective heads out of their ARSES and realize the GLBT community, and the feminist community are not to “adult” for the general populace, and that we’re not going away any time soon, I will not be using my amazon account.”

Now I’m off to follow the links you left us at the top of this here, particularly the SmartBitches one… I like them.

By: Cally Beck

Cally Beck — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:21:57 +0000

First: I find the whole idea of blaming the language barrier laughable, though I don’t think the amazon reps did so, rather some of the “unnamed employees.”

Second:

“intend to .. make this kind of accident less likely to occur in the future.”

1. This is not an apology.
2. This is not a retraction of the policy of de-ranking bestselling books because of a moral judgment call that as far as I am concerned, Amazon is not qualified to make on my (admittedly relatively newly, @ 21) adult behalf.

Unfortunately, while Amazon’s statement MIGHT address the GLBT angle, it doesn’t address the stuff that I, personally, am more bugged by. I’m not GLBT. While I studied feminism in college, I doubt I’ll be writing any more theses on the subject. What angers me, and what Amazon isn’t addressing, much less retracting (much less apologizing for) is:

- we think it’s totally okay to categorize some books as “adult” (okay, fine, categorization is problematical but useful)
- we think it’s totally okay to remove the sales ranks and thus directly impact the livelihoods of the authors of “adult” books
- we’re totally okay with making it harder to find a book we would otherwise think you would want, because (our computers) think it’s adult content
- we have shoddy customer service that can’t find its **** with a homing beacon

Also I’d just like to say thanks for covering this in detail, and for taking time out of your very busy day to keep the rest of us succinctly up to date via a source I, at least, feel I can trust, without making me run around to piece it all together myself (not that I haven’t been doing that most of the day, but well, classes are a downer and you’ve helped fill in the pieces).

A lot of my friends follow feministing, etc, but I just find you more relatable, and truthfully closer to a role model, so thank you.