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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhite Pride Flag for sale on Amazon: will others complain about it too? (Update: Removed!)
There was a thread a few weeks ago about a Nazi swastika flag for sale on Amazon, from one of their affiliated sellers. Some might claim the swastika is 'of historical interest' (one or 2 did in the thread), but the White Pride flag from the same seller is not.
So I complained to Amazon, quoting their own policy: "Products that promote or glorify hatred, violence, racial, sexual or religious intolerance or promote organizations with such views " are prohibited on Amazon.
They replied they'd look at it, but: "however, we won't be able to release the outcome of the investigation", so I wasn't going to get a further reply. It's nearly 3 weeks since they sent me that, and the hateful object it still there for sale (yeah, that's a link to it; some people in the original thread seemed to agree that hate flags are bad, but thought that they are so bad that we shouldn't even link to the offending Amazon page to prove the problem is real. Even though those people showed no sign of doing anything to get Amazon to remove the crap. So, tough, there's the link).
So I think Amazon need multiple kicks up the arse to get that seller to remove that quintessential symbol of racism; and, if we're really lucky, to get Amazon to remove the seller too.
Will anyone else send in some complaints to Amazon?
Here's their general contact page:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/contact-us/general-questions.html
though, in their last email to me, they suggested I use this page, which has an explicit 'report a violation of our rules' option:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/reports
however, it also has a box for 'order number', and I don't know if you can leave that blank.
Update: They've removed it from sale - See reply #25!
chemp
(730 posts)Here's mine:
When I want my neighbors to know what kind of an inbred, racist douche bag I am, I unfurl my White Pride flag.
Nothing makes my tiny, inbred penis grow an extra centimeter or two than knowing that my neighbors see my hatred.
Think I'm gonna run off and screw my sister again.
Jim__
(14,092 posts)I don't know if Amazon has to approve a review before it becomes visible; but I just looked on the site and it still says no customer reviews.
It would be great if they published it.
my review did not adhere to amazon guidelines.
The irony.
maddezmom
(135,060 posts)will let you know if I hear back.
maddezmom
(135,060 posts)Greetings from Amazon.com.
Thank you for submitting your report. All reports are reviewed by our investigations team. For privacy reasons, the results of our investigations cannot be disclosed, but please know that we will take any appropriate disciplinary actions.
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ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)Note that this has been an issue in some school systems...
cynatnite
(31,011 posts)This is called "Picking on Retards". They even have an item defending pedophilia.
There is plenty offensive material that is listed on Amazon. Right or wrong, it's all there. They post this stuff and worse. As much as I personally hate it and find it offensive, people have the right to buy or not buy. They have a right to protest it or not protest it. Amazon is not likely to change their policy on this kind of material. Amazon has come out strong against censorship even if the material is offensive.
I support them on this.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,405 posts)"Picking On Retards is a novel about the hardest lessons we learn. The ones about ourselves"
So, you think a novel about how you shouldn't bully people is similar to a flag that's the symbol of white supremacists?
Here's their policy:
Products that promote or glorify hatred, violence, racial, sexual or religious intolerance or promote organizations with such views
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200277420
cynatnite
(31,011 posts)They've had a huge listing of books and material that a lot of folks find offensive. Amazon also removed gay and lesbian oriented books much to the dismay of many.
Some of what they've offered in the past are books like 101 Reasons You Might Be A Retard, A book promoting pedophilia (it was called Loving boys and boylovers, IIRC), and another much talked about book about advocating pedophilia (that author has since been arrested). I have no doubt there is plenty of other material that will offend you.
People get upset, complain and protest. My attitude remains the same. If you don't like, find it offensive or whatever other problem you have with the product you can protest it and complain about it if you prefer. Your choice. Even if the message is offensive, I say let them have their free speech. There are consequences and you are doing one of those by making people aware of it.
Me personally, I don't care if they have that flag for sale. I don't care if anyone buys it. I do care when it is used to promote their hate-filled agenda. That is when it crosses the line for me.
Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)I wouldn't buy this product myself, but arguably it does not "glorify hatred, violence, racial, sexual or religious intolerance". If the flag said something like "I hate black people" then yes, obviously it would contravene Amazon's policy, but if a "White Pride" flag should be banned, should a "Black Pride" flag also be banned? How about something like "Thank God I'm Irish"?
cynatnite
(31,011 posts)It's no different than the confederate flag. They represent hate and racism. It hardly compares to the Irish or Black flags since historically they have not been used nowhere near the same way as Aryan groups and the KKK have used these flags.
Having said all that, I don't agree with banning it either. Free speech, no matter how offensive, should still be free.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,405 posts)Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)muriel_volestrangler
(101,405 posts)cynatnite dealt with the comparison to "Thank God I'm Irish"; see the link in #12 for what this flag means, the hate group that designed it, and the hate groups that use it.
vaberella
(24,634 posts)It could also be the fact that I own the Afro American Flag... I'm not sure if the Afro American flag promotes the things you mentioned. And that design on the White Pride shirt looks like crosshairs...I guess that promotes violence. Dunno...I'm not seeing the problem and I am hypersensitive to racism.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,405 posts)Here's where it's used:
https://www.google.com/search?q=%22white+pride%22&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB fficial&client=firefox-a
The only people who use it approvingly are extreme racists. No, it's not crosshairs (though that may be meant to be a subconscious association, who knows); it's a Celtic Cross, which they use because it's associated with Northern Europe - to these people, southern Europeans are inferior too, as well as any non-Christian.
http://www.adl.org/hate_symbols/racist_celtic_cross.asp
But putting 'white pride' above it is using it with the same 'trappings' that the KKK intended.
vaberella
(24,634 posts)Again it just doesn't offend me. But the Confederate Flag doesn't offend me either. I find actions and words more problematic than a flag. I also know one too many people who buy this stuff for novelties sake.
RZM
(8,556 posts)I have no problem with people selling or purchasing any flag, including stupid racist flags. While I would never fly such a flag, I respect the right of others to produce, sell, and purchase them if they choose to do so.
As for their policy, they've been violating it all along with the books they sell. Works by Louis Farrakhan and David Duke are just a click away.
Yourhypocrisy
(2 posts)So why is no one here complaining about the USSR Communist flags being sold on Amazon? I mean, the Stalin killed far more people than Hitler ever did. I mean, that is your argument right? That these flags represent the death of 6 million people? Do you only care about millions of people being murdered by the state when the murder is race specific? What about Mao? How many millions of people did he kill under Communism? Maybe you should complain about Chinese flags too. Your bias and hypocrisy is beyond transparent. And why is "White Pride" hateful when Latino pride, Black Pride, Brown Pride, Yellow Pride etc. apparently is not? Why does it seem that you arent concerned or offended by items glorifying racial pride in general? Why is it that only White racial pride offends you? Is that in itself not racist? Please stop pretending to be "liberals". You give true liberals a bad name. You are overtly fascistic, racist and narrowminded. I am disgusted by this thread and people like you make me ashamed to call myself a liberal
Response to Yourhypocrisy (Reply #19)
marmar This message was self-deleted by its author.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,405 posts)pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)At least our MIR Team wasn't fooled.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=284549&sub=trans
Iggo
(47,586 posts)Two and through.
Don't waste brain space on him.
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)the ones w/ "white pride" bumper stickers & other items are racists and claim they're so oppressed that they're not allowed to have pride. If you see images of Neo-Nazi or other type of rallies you'll notice a lot of "white pride" flags & similar items. "white pride" isn't the same as "Latino pride" or other items because those are used to answer back to false claims & views of inferiority as well stating they aren't ashamed of who they are. Now a white person could use those items for honest reasons but honestly there is no reason to since whites are the majority & they don't face much discrimination and feelings of inferiority. Because of that, the only reason I ever known people to purchase these items are racists that often claim blacks & other minorities have all the rights and whites are oppressed.
I'm laughing at your over-dramatization. Personally, I'm not very upset w/ Amazon because taken at face value, there is nothing wrong with it. But I know the motivation behind these items.
jp11
(2,104 posts)percent of those interested in the product, are people seeking this type of item for video/films.
Just because you buy a 'hate' item doesn't mean you revere it, people burn American flags all over the world not all of them get them cause they love America.
Generic Other
(28,979 posts)so maybe your complaints worked. Good for you!
muriel_volestrangler
(101,405 posts)I also tried a search among that seller's products, and it didn't turn up, when it used to. There's still a horribly large amount of variations on the Nazi and Confederate flags from them, but it's harder to say they are there purely to promote hate.
Thanks to anyone who contacted Amazon!