Posted on 04/12/2009 4:01:09 PM PDT by Beowulf9
From the La Times:
"Amazon's policy of removing "adult" content from its rankings seems to be both new and unevenly implemented. On Saturday, self-published author Mark R. Probst noticed that his book had lost its ranking, and made inquiries. The response he got from Amazon's customer service explained:
In consideration of our entire customer base, we exclude adult material from appearing in some searches and best seller lists. Since these lists are generated using sales ranks, adult materials must also be excluded from that feature."
Probst is the author of a novel for young adults with gay characters set in the old West; he was concerned that gay-friendly books were being unfairly targeted. Amazon has not responded to the LA Times request for clarification."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...
On Kos and on the Mark Probst Live Journal page, Probst is advocating the left to change their 401k's that support Amazon so they don't support it, and to otherwise 'rebel' against Amazons new policy.
Of course, Google seems to support Probst. Probst is more than likely angry he can't sell his book to a large audience and make money from his 'literature'.
There are quite a few angry comments on both websites there.
So essentially, is Amazon indicating that the gay content is perverted, obscene and outright pornographic?
Rankings are largely irrelevant other than bestsellers. Who cares if your book is No. 1432685 on their rankings?
What I suspect was that the book was marketed for a mainstream audience that he planned to shock with a gay romance scene. If it won’t get ranked, fewer unsuspecting heteros will buy it.
I think that’s prob so. I commend Amazon for their stance.
When I originally tried to put this up I was going to use the link to both the Kos and Probst websites, but got a message from Fr that the article would not be allowed to be posted using those.
Why? Did they take them to court? Is there a legal reason?
Why does everything have to be done to please the left wing?
Including the google news slanting things for the left.
Quick, someone send those guys/girls some tubes of Vagisil.
I just glad books about regular porn, incest, and tourture murderers are still on the list. /s
Oh BOOHOO! Now if Amazon would just stop selling them all together I’d buy more from them.
Oh BOOHOO! Now if Amazon would just stop selling them all together I’d buy more from them.
"Self-published" is also known as "vanity" press. You pay a company to print copies of your book and then hawk them yourself.
Editors are there for a reason. They keep a lot of absolute drek off the shelves.
Amazon will cave - most big companies do when “educated” by the gaystapo.
“Amazon will cave - most big companies do when educated by the gaystapo.”
Possibly, but as far as I am concerned this is the way adult stuff should be controlled. Amazon probably figured the loss of customers from selling this self published garbage was greater than the profits from selling it. The only way the “gaystapo” can win is if they can convince Amazon they will hurt their bottom line if they don’t sell it.
Probst probably thinks gay vacarros rode side saddle.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.