'? 's Guide' gone from Amazon.com WTF?

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northside7
northside7 Members Posts: 25,739 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited November 2010 in The Social Lounge
Following mounting public protests, a self-published book advocating adult-child sex is no longer available for sale on Amazon.

The book, "The ? 's Guide to Love and Pleasure: a Child-lover's Code of Conduct " by Philip R. Greaves II, includes graphic "first person" descriptions of a child's sexual encounters with an adult, "presented as an adult's recollection of his youthful experience," as well as advice to pedophiles afraid of becoming the center of retaliation. The electronic book, which is not illustrated, was available for $4.97 from Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle e-reader.

Initially, Amazon defended the sale of the book, issuing a public statement. "Amazon believes it is censorship not to sell certain books simply because we or others believe their message is objectionable," it read. "Amazon does not support or promote hatred or criminal acts, however, we do support the right of every individual to make their own purchasing decisions."

It is not clear if the e-book was removed from the Kindle story by Amazon or the self publisher. The link to the original "? 's Guide" sale page now returns an error message. In an unexplained turn of events, the page was removed last night, reappeared, and then disappeared again. Amazon has not yet responded to msnbc.com's requests for more information.

Protesters "are free to think whatever they want to think about the book," Greaves said in a TODAY Show news segment filmed before the book disappeared from Amazon. "Every time you see (pedophiles) on television, they are either murderers, rapists or kidnappers," the "? 's Guide" author said as reason for publishing the book. "And you know, that's just not an accurate presentation of that particular sexuality."

Msnbc.com purchased the e-book for purpose of review before it was removed from the site. Greaves' self-published work contains six academically-titled chapters in which the author attempts to add cultural context and express sympathy's for his intended audience's cultural plight.

Also included in the e-book are tips for "safe sex" with a child, as well as an emphasis on self-gratification using legal material such as teen magazines. To that end, the two sexually graphic stories "presented as an adult's recollection of his youthful experience" could be interpreted as thinly-veiled examples of pedophilic-themed erotica.

Similarly-themed written erotica, whether couched as fantasy or "an adult's recollection" is readily available on the Internet. When such content does not include imagery, it walks a very thin legal line in the United States. Federal law defines child pornography as a visual depiction of minor, or someone who appears to be a minor, engaging in explicit sexual conduct, whether the image includes real people or illustrations. *Unlike countries such as Canada and Australia, the U.S. does not specifically ban written child pornography.

Adult (legal) pornography, while available in book and magazine form, is not permitted in the Kindle e-reader store. This is possibly because of its iTunes partnership with the notoriously porn-free Apple which removed both "Ulysses" and the "Kama Sutra" from its own book store.

A customer review on the "? 's Guide" Amazon page written by "Outraged Mother" read, "The line of immorality is at best a zone with ill defined boundaries. Whatever. This crosses into the unsavory and shameful side of the zone. Take it down."

"There is a point when, even though a company has a no-censorship policy, that selling certain books is simply wrong," read

"Disgusting Abomination," the title of another customer review. "Not censoring is one thing, and I commend that, but choosing to sell this book on a site that accessed by millions of people (including children) daily is reprehensible. This is a disgusting choice you have made, Amazon. Whatever money you are making off this book can't be worth the ire you are receiving for selling it."

As news and outrage about the book spread, the first (presumed) Internet jokester chimed in with "A fantastic guide," the first five star review:

"I can't thank Amazon enough for keeping this great work of literature up for those of us with 'special tastes.' The instructions and images in the guide were extremely insightful and led to a wonderful experience for both myself and my partner. Thank you for protecting free speech, Amazon!"

In 2002, Amazon.com cited the First Amendment as justification for offering another book that advocates adult-child sex, "Understanding Loved Boys and Boylovers," by David L. Riegel. Further, the paperback book is still available on the site .

At that time, Amazon stated, "Our goal is to support freedom of expression and to provide customers with the broadest selection possible so they can find, discover, and buy any title they might be seeking."

An Amazon employee emphasized that "Understanding Loved Boys and Boylovers" was "not a 'how-to' manual for molesting children. The author simply expresses his point of view about what he feels are misunderstood."

"? 's Guide" also triggered mounting outrage on Twitter and beyond. A chorus of Twitter users is calling for Amazon to pull the book, and a campaign to push the hashtag #BoycottAmazon into Twitter's top trends is underway.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40129858/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/

Dont know why my other thread was closed, wrong forum? Anyways, they haves guides now for this ish smh....

Comments

  • northside7
    northside7 Members Posts: 25,739 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2010
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    kai_valya wrote: »
    i saw this on the news this morning, sick bastard. but i agree with amazon, cuz to censor any literature is a slippery slope. some libraries have banned the catcher in the rye or to ? a mockingbird. at least we know who is writing this book. it's definitely vile material, but that's the cost that must be paid insure literary freedom i guess


    Freedom of speech, freedom of expression.. Saw the interview with the guy who wrote the book, sounding like he was about to breakdown and cry. Talking about "its not that bad for the child in the relationship" wtf? smh This is not a good look for him, people know who you are, they've seen your face..
  • cantwejust...
    cantwejust... Members Posts: 4
    edited November 2010
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    Slippery slope indeed! However vile a publication it shouldnt be censored,if you dont like something dont read it dont buy it!
  • b*braze
    b*braze Members Posts: 8,968 ✭✭✭
    edited November 2010
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    Lol... Are we mad they took it down or are we mad it was even up? That is the real question.
  • Swiffness!
    Swiffness! Members Posts: 10,128 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2010
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    You can buy The Turner Diaries from Amazon.

    FREE SPEECH FTW
  • earth two superman
    earth two superman Members Posts: 17,149 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2010
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    i heard odeisel wrote the foreword for this book.
  • kingblaze84
    kingblaze84 Members Posts: 14,288 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2010
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    Free speech is a ? .....we got rappers talking about selling yayo and killing their enemies, this book can't be any worse.

    Than again, I've never been molested either. Not as a child at least.
  • edeeesq
    edeeesq Members Posts: 511
    edited November 2010
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    Like it or not, Amazon has to think of bottom line which is $$$$$. Is it willing to lose mucho guap over a $5 book from a crazy ? ?

    Staying true to your ideals is one thing, but when its all said and done, its a business....
  • tru_m.a.c
    tru_m.a.c Members Posts: 9,091 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2010
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    edeeesq wrote: »
    Like it or not, Amazon has to think of bottom line which is $$$$$. Is it willing to lose mucho guap over a $5 book from a crazy ? ?

    Staying true to your ideals is one thing, but when its all said and done, its a business....

    so which scenario will amazon lose more money for...

    breaking the code of freedom of speech, freedom of literature. Which will result in all scholars losing confidence in them???

    or appeasing those that don't want to see the book on sale???
  • BlackxChild
    BlackxChild Members Posts: 2,916 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2010
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    tru_m.a.c wrote: »
    so which scenario will amazon lose more money for...

    breaking the code of freedom of speech, freedom of literature. Which will result in all scholars losing confidence in them???

    or appeasing those that don't want to see the book on sale???

    ? are u seriously defending a book on how to ? a 10 year old.
  • tru_m.a.c
    tru_m.a.c Members Posts: 9,091 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2010
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    ? are u seriously defending a book on how to ? a 10 year old.

    ? do you seriously lack reading comprehension skills??? I'm thinking of the bigger picture here. I'm not even thinking about the book. I'm thinking about the freedom of speech aspect. But I would take it that the previous Supreme Court ruling on pornography or graphic content would come into play with a book like this.
  • Skeratch
    Skeratch Members Posts: 1,395 ✭✭
    edited November 2010
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    When one person's freedom of speech infringes on the rights of others, then a line has been crossed. ? this paedo's freedom of speech, he's encouraging other paedophiles to victimize children.
  • rusty shackleford
    rusty shackleford Members Posts: 1,736 ✭✭✭
    edited November 2010
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  • Swiffness!
    Swiffness! Members Posts: 10,128 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2010
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    tru_m.a.c wrote: »
    so which scenario will amazon lose more money for...

    breaking the code of freedom of speech, freedom of literature. Which will result in all scholars losing confidence in them???

    or appeasing those that don't want to see the book on sale???

    yea, i don't think TOO many people are gonna be mad at Amazon for censoring THIS book....
  • edeeesq
    edeeesq Members Posts: 511
    edited November 2010
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    tru_m.a.c wrote: »
    so which scenario will amazon lose more money for...

    breaking the code of freedom of speech, freedom of literature. Which will result in all scholars losing confidence in them???

    or appeasing those that don't want to see the book on sale???

    I don't think there are too many scholars sitting back ? off at Amazon for choosing not to sell a book encouraging crimes against minors.

    Not to mention, I'm sure there's some crazy ? site he could sell his book on now he has been shunned from Amazon.

    Beware Chris Hansen though...
  • northside7
    northside7 Members Posts: 25,739 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2010
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    edeeesq wrote: »


    Beware Chris Hansen though...


    The predator hunter....
  • northside7
    northside7 Members Posts: 25,739 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2010
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    kai_valya wrote: »
    my fav thing to do on sunday night is watch reruns of to catch a predator, i swear this show is pure comedy. chris always has the best line when he comes around the corner, and it's every predator's "first time" doing it. last week i saw 2 guys that had both showed up twice.


    lol Same here, I thought I was the only 1. That guy that came in naked who wanted to do stuff with the cat, the deaf guy lol damn, the guy that came lookin for workin, next dude who pulled up in the semi truck. Its also funny when they bring the cameras out, some guys be like "Sir pleeassse" lmao. I think one of those guys that came twice was named tobert or dogbert, just lookin at him you can tell something was not right in his head...