Comments on: Is A ‘Glitch’ Responsible For Amazon.com’s Sudden GLBT Book Censorship?

By: Janey

Janey — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:37:06 +0000

Joanne, there is always a choice. Never allow yourself to think that you can’t make your voice known. Try booksamillion.com. And, yes, I have searched for that section. It was my job.

By: Joanne

Joanne — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:37:55 +0000

I see the point your making – and that may be true for straight shoppers – but somehow I don’t think you’ve ever searched for the gay and lesbian section in a bookstore. It’s most often a long pointless search. Plus many people in different parts of the world, have no choice but to buy their gay literature from AMAZON.

By: Janey

Janey — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:13:23 +0000

Joanne, if you have a problem with Amazon, buy directly form distributors or go to a Borders. I know they have a selection. My point is that if you have a problem with Amazon let them know it by shopping somewhere else. Amazon is not the ONLY place in the world who sells books. And monopolies occur because a company is damned good at what they do. They shouldn’t be punished for doing well. Like I said, if you’re upset, take your business elsewhere. Nothing says “I’ll show you” to a company like taking your business to their competitor.

By: Joanne

Joanne — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:22:44 +0000

Shop elsewhere? Where Janey? Have you tried to pick up the latest lesbian centered book at your local store lately? You won’t find it (Nore will you find The L Word DVDs which are considered = to porn). Sadly many ‘gay’ bookstores are now shut thanks to one or two book websites (Amazon being one) monopolising the market.

By: Janey

Janey — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:18:02 +0000

Not to sound insensitive to the GLBT community, but isn’t it Amazon’s right to not sell things they don’t want to? Just sayin’. And the GLBT community SHOULD shop elsewhere if this really isn’t a “glitch” to show their feelings about it, however, they shouldn’t be condemned for their beliefs, if that’s how they feel. They have a right to refuse service to anyone.

I’m only speaking legal terms here. Obviously, it’s crappy for them to do such a thing, but still. Is it not their right, just as it’s the GLBT community’s right to take their business elsewhere if they feel they’ve been wronged?

By: jessica

jessica — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:42:47 +0000

Hacker claims responsibility: http://i.gizmodo.com/5210424/h.....ag-exploit

By: Charley

Charley — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:36:04 +0000

I sent them the email. Thanks for letting us know! I always try to be a consumer with a conscience.

By: Winona

Winona — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:46:46 +0000

@Patrick – thanks for the info – there’s hope at least! Now it really makes me wonder just who created this “glitch” and if they’ll still have a job by the end of the week!

By: jessica

jessica — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:35:54 +0000

Consider the petition signed! This should be a class action lawsuit for those affected (everyone).

By: jamie-o

jamie-o — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:34:37 +0000

@amy because anti-gay books are not screened. if the mere mention of homosexuality were an issue, anti-gay books should be included. a very selective (non-glitch) process occured to get results this way.

By: amy

amy — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:08:24 +0000

Why don’t any of you believe that this is simply a glitch? Some times a glitch is simply a glitch.

By: elizabeth

elizabeth — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:52:56 +0000

I already commented above, but I just wanted to throw in that a friend posted a link to a cnet article about this on facebook, with her own quote “I didn’t know you had to be an adult to be gay…”

By: Janelle

Janelle — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:00:31 +0000

I tried out what would come up when I typed in homosexuality and my stomach dropped to the floor when I got the same results that were mentioned. I have signed the petition and requested my account be deleted. Trent, thank you for letting us know about this.

@ Patrick – It’s good to hear that there is some part of the company (first hand, too) that isn’t what is being suggested in these problems. From what Gillian’s comment said, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was just an American issue.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:00:52 +0000

@gokarm- I think what you wrote is the most likely scenario. I actually worked for Amazon for a year, when I lived in Seattle, and their treatment of LGBT workers was pretty phenomenal. They have a gay employee group that meets once a month (during company time) and the group even marches in Seattle’s Gay Pride- complete with the Amazon logo proudly displayed.

Anyway, just thought I might shed some light on their company practices. It really was a great company to work for in terms of LGBT rights, so I would hate to hear this actually turns out to be true!

By: zachary

zachary — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:59:15 +0000

@Lauren — Powells.com is a really great site! I’ve even noticed that they have better prices than Amazon on some rarer books.

By: lauren

lauren — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:31:56 +0000

People: use Powells.com instead! It’s a locally owned (now GIANT) bookstore out of Portland,OR that does online shipping of new and used books. It’s a cool, liberal, counter-culture sort of place that treats LGBT (and everyone else) equally. This is BS on the part of Amazon.

By: gokarm

gokarm — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:30:35 +0000

I’m very disappointed. I know Amazon is huge, and this could be a matter of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing. A few bad apples given too much control over something and screwing the company over royally. It WILL depend on how Amazon deals with this outrage, but I don’t buy the “glitch” excuse for a minute. It’s the twinkie defense all over again.

By: jamie-o

jamie-o — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:22:51 +0000

thank you for the number. i called and gave my email (proof i’m a customer) and asked if the filtering policy was still in effect. the customer service rep said yes indeed it is. i politely informed them they would not get my business as long as it remains. he said something muddled like it might be changed soon.

By: Winona

Winona — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:16:17 +0000

I will be contacting them and/or signing a petition, definitely. Horrid treatment of the LGBTQ community has made me stop shopping at stores like Wal-Mart and Meijer; although I would hate it, I would stop buying from Amazon.com if it came to that.

Or perhaps it’s just some sort of strange Day of Silence promotion…

By: Roxster

Roxster — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:42:09 +0000

@ Elizabeth: Ditto. Its disturbing because it says a lot about this “glitch” and its disturbing that once you remove the targeted books, the top ranked book it recommends (if i’m understanding the system and the situation correctly) is the guide to preventing homosexuality. I’m not shocked there are people that would actually publish and buy a book like that, but that doesn’t make it any less of a ridiculous stupid waste of paper.

By: Gillian

Gillian — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:38:15 +0000

I just checked that, it seems as though it’s only the American site, because the Canadian site didn’t have any of the books censored…

By: Janice

Janice — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:22:43 +0000

I sent an e-mail Trent. Thanks for enlightening us.

By: kittycatastrophe

kittycatastrophe — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:19:15 +0000

I posted about this last night; the “glitch” thing sounds sketchy as hell but I am waiting to see how this all plays out. I am a big Amazon shopper, have been for years, but if this thing isn’t handled in a satisfactory manner I am going to have to close my account…which will kill me, trust. I was so mad last night I was going to actually open a Twitter account to rage about it. lol

By: D-Rebel

D-Rebel — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:15:13 +0000

Thanks for making me aware. This is unacceptable, and I won’t put up with it. I sent the e-mail. I hope others do the same.

BTW Trent- I read daily and never told you, I LOVE YOUR BLOG!

Elizabeth

By: elizabeth

elizabeth — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:11:03 +0000

I sent mine as well. I find it hard to believe that a “glitch” caused this situation. That had to be a pretty smart “glitch” to skip disgusting books like the guide to preventing homosexuality, while targeting books with no mention of homosexuality in the title.
ditto on “The way they handle it…” so far they’re only making it worse.