We're really not making a big enough deal of the fact that @amazon has begun deleting books.
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https://twitter.com/between2worlds/status/1364991158716420102
Amazon now claims the right to bar all books that are "inappropriate or offensive."
justthenews.com/nation/technol…
Of course, nearly *every book* worth reading could be characterized as 'inappropriate' or 'offensive' to someone. /2
justthenews.com/nation/technol…
Of course, nearly *every book* worth reading could be characterized as 'inappropriate' or 'offensive' to someone. /2
But also, Amazon is manifestly dishonest about censoring books that are "offensive" or "inappropriate."
They continue to sell books like this, which discusses very young children performing fellatio.
amazon.com/Beyond-Magenta…
And I don't believe they should stop selling it! /3
They continue to sell books like this, which discusses very young children performing fellatio.
amazon.com/Beyond-Magenta…
And I don't believe they should stop selling it! /3
Books that surprise and inform and challenge us to see things differently are usually offensive to someone.
In the short term, sounding the alarm may increase sales of a particular book. But this is a dangerous move - and we are all too complacent about it. /4
In the short term, sounding the alarm may increase sales of a particular book. But this is a dangerous move - and we are all too complacent about it. /4
When a company controls over 83% of the market for books, it begins the process of deleting ideas from a society.
A bookseller can sell whatever it wants. If 'Marxist Books' wants to only sell books that conform to its ideology, OK; that has integrity.
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A bookseller can sell whatever it wants. If 'Marxist Books' wants to only sell books that conform to its ideology, OK; that has integrity.
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But this is the "world's largest bookseller." Amazon can basically make books disappear for *all readers* -- and does so on a blatantly dishonest basis.
Under guise of removing "inappropriate" content, they will really be removing ideas they disfavor.
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Under guise of removing "inappropriate" content, they will really be removing ideas they disfavor.
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Please do not make the mistake of analogizing this to a tiny Colorado bakery. There's a huge difference betw one baker refusing to make a particular cake and Target, Amazon, or Apple deleting content: scale - i.e., the difference between homicide and genocide. /7
Start to understand the power of scale.
The difference between Maoist Books refusing a book and Amazon, is that books Amazon disfavors will never be published in the first place -- which is exactly what the book banners want. /8
The difference between Maoist Books refusing a book and Amazon, is that books Amazon disfavors will never be published in the first place -- which is exactly what the book banners want. /8
If the pipe that 83% of book sales flow through shuts off, those books will never get published. Why would a publisher take a chance on a book that @amazon won't carry?
It won't.
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It won't.
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NOW is the time to get upset. For the moment, while we can still express this on @twitter, NOW is the time.
Writers are being dropped by agents and refused by publishers *right now* because of Amazon's move.
Time is running out. /10
Writers are being dropped by agents and refused by publishers *right now* because of Amazon's move.
Time is running out. /10
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