Glitch my White Queer Ass!!!!

[eumelia]

Over this holiday weekend (Yes, the debacle happened over Easter and Passover) concerned patrons of Amazon.com were made aware of the new sales ranking policy of which I've already spoken about.

Because the internet is going berserk over this, with good reason, Amazon has put forth a statement claiming it was all a glitch.

Amazon responds to queries, blames a 'glitch':

Responding to our initial post, Amazon Director of Corporate Communications Patty Smith e-mailed Jacket Copy. "There was a glitch with our sales rank feature that is in the process of being fixed," she wrote. "We're working to correct the problem as quickly as possible."

I'm sure they are.

I don't have any new links, I unfortunately live in a Time Zone that isn't on the up an' up with everything, so once again I tell you, go to the Link List on Meta Writer, comprehensive and steadily growing.

I think perhaps now is a good time to talk about what this all actually means.
Because it is not just LGBT themed books.
The books targeted are non-fiction history books, biographies and autobiographies written by queer folk, self help books (including a suicide prevention book written by Transwoman Kate Bornstein), guides to BDSM (which is not LGBT specific), various feminist books and non-fiction books.
Need I say more?

Obviously any book that had the word "gay", "lesbian", "queer" etc was put in the adult filter. Because them dirty queers are all about the sex - unlike the hetero explicit erotica books and Playboy centrefold books.
Quite innocent, I'm sure.

I mentioned, in a previous post that I considered this move a reactionary response to the social change going on the US. Proposition 8 aside, more and more States are giving same-sex couples the right to marry and other domestic partner rights, like in Iowa and Vermont.

I don't think you have to think too hard to consider that the majority of Amazon.com's share holders are White Heterosexual Middle Class (and above) Men, who most likely listen to "Family Values" centred associations and NGO's.
Maybe that is a bit of a generalisation, but I don't think it's too far fetched.
Edited To Add: I stand corrected, see comments.

The double standard is glaring.
The assumption is, of course, that we must protect the innocents from this sort of thing - it's okay for the kiddies to find a dildo, but not a guide for the gay youth entering college.
Why?
Well, once again the assumption of heterosexuality plays a part of this whole mess.
You don't have to explain sex between "He" and "She", that's normal, that's natural, that's what we know to be True.
In order to explain how Heather has Two Mommies, you need to explain to your child that a baby from a stalk to the cabbage patch is on one way of baby making.
In order to understand what a Lesbian is, you ave to explain what a vagina is... and we can't have that, no siree Bob.

In any event, this shit cannot fly.
And most likely Amazon will find that it shot itself in the leg due to the fact that a large amount of their customer base are in fact, LGBT and lest we forget the Authors who will very likely crackdown on this nonsense.

Looking forward to the fall out.

Comments

[lilacsigil.livejournal.com]

Amazon.com has an unusually high number of young, liberal, urban shareholders, and it's a company generally known for being respectful to gay employees and their families. It's quite shocking, and out of character that they are doing this.

There's a few theories out there that this is some kind of malicious attack, but I've seen no actual evidence, and I look forward to a full explanation from Amazon - whether it was accidental or malicious, there's certainly a major classification error going on, and it's a very hurtful one.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Really?!
Then this is even more shocking and hurtful.

[qilora.livejournal.com]

AGREED.

makes you all the more want to go shake fingers at them and scream WTF???

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

I seriously think everyone should buy what they can either from local independent book stores or Better World Books (http://www.betterworldbooks.com/).
That's where I'm taking my money.

[shelestel.livejournal.com]

I'm assuming you've read http://tehdely.livejournal.com/88823.html ?

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

I have, it's an interesting theory and I must say that I was reminded of strikthrough.

Sadly, there's no way to know for sure, nor do I think that Amazon will be letting us know what exactly happened.

I'm not too optimistic about an apology, though I'm hoping it will be forthcoming.

[hemlock-sholes.livejournal.com]

and how about this: http://community.livejournal.com/brutal_honesty/3168992.html

The poster himself must be a troll, but the idea he gives is practical. I'm beginning to think that Amazon was making a mistake/victim of a scam and not doing something Wrong or Malicious.

I'm holding off my Amazon-boycott till further information comes through.

P.S. In any case, www.bookfinder.com is the best way I know of to find books online.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Please read my next post (http://eumelia.livejournal.com/400001.html) regarding the intentions of this move - not a "glitch" apparently.

And yeah I read that, was amused and moved on. Did not think it was anything but a troll the moment I saw it.