[...] From Strollerderby. [...]

There is the First Amendment that gives that abhorrent author the right to write such a disgusting book as demonstrated. Amazon has every right to sell and distribute that trash just as it’s our right as consumers to boycott those who distribute and defend such as this.

Good for you! I agree. Dont like abortions? Dont get one! But dont outlaw what you don’t like for anyone else.

There is one flaw in your freedom of speech theory. Amazon does not sell pornographic material. If they had a true freedom of speech position, they would include pornography in their selection of material.

I agree that Amazon need to be more consistent in their freedom of speech position and to clarify its terms of service.

Let’s just boycott everything that we disagree with.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH DOES NOT COVER CONTENT THAT THREATENS THE LIFE &LIBERTY OF OTHERS. It isn’t like Amazon is a news outlet either. It is a store. They aren’t trying to protect anyone’s First Amendment rights, they are just trying to keep their profits. I am against censorship, but this is NOT censorship. I’m sure these monsters can find this book on other sites, including their own. amazon is a private corporation, and they can choose which merchandise they choose to promote. That being said, any company that chooses to promote the sexual assault of children is not a company I can support. If this WERE a first amendment issue, which I do not believe it is, threats of physical harm are not coevered under the first amendment. That’s what this book entails. In the end one must weigh the rights of “speech” against the safety of a child. There is no contest. The negatives far outweigh the positives in this case. I know from experience there are several items that Amazon does not offer that I have searched for college classes, etc. Since amazon does not have a blanket offering of EVERYTHING, how is this censorship? If this disgusting book is of such high demand they deem it valuable to sell then how can it be about anything BUT money? If this is censorship then they also censored my college criminology book. Ironic huh? Don’t use this case of blatant misuse of merchandising as an outlet for your rants against censorship. It isn’t relevant and just gives pedophiles a leg to stand on.

Just how free are we here inthe good ol’USA? Since the ONLY way for companies to understand us is to withhold what they need to function, dollars, BY continuing to buy products you REALLY are condoning their behavior.

They are free to offer that book and also free not to!  We as consumers are free to take our money and walk!  This has nothing to do with free speech- it is about consumers’ right to boycott reprehensible conduct!

I am in favor of sending Amazon a message about this eBook, for all the obvious factors, such as child sexual abuse is crime, but mainly for the reason that it is in clear violation of Amazon’s own content guidelines. The 1st amendment protects the author. It protects speech that is “unpopular”, it does not force a corporation to sell such speech. In one of Amazon’s press releases it was more or less said that they were going to allow the buying public to decide if the want to purchase this book. That shows such a callous disregard for the safety of children. I have decided not to buy from Amazon. I will chose other vendors to purchase my books.

I was just listening to the H G Wells panic broadcast of 1938. Is this the Amazon.com version? Was it an accident that it was published so near Halloween?
BOO!

I see the protections of Freedom of Speech a little differently. To me, it means only that people have the right/print/publish to say what they want without fear of government reprisal. It doesn’t mean that they can’t be censured by private citizens for their comments. For example, the guy who owns the dry cleaner down the street might organize Klan meetings in the back; I may very well take my dry cleaning elsewhere. You’re right about the fact that it is good to have a discussion about what we find abhorrent in the material/topic. I have not read the book, but I did listen to the author describe the book and its intent. From the part of the interview that I heard, and his advocacy of a ‘kinder’ pedophilia, I think he deserves to be locked up. But he can’t be locked up just for saying it. Consumers, however, vote with their dollars. Maybe boycotting Amazon isn’t the most effective strategy (think Baptists boycotting Disney, liberals boycotting Target, environmentalists boycotting BP, chocolate, coffee, blood minerals… all businesses still going strong) but it’s the consumer’s right to support or not support a business. The issue appears to moot, since Amazon has pulled the title. But you point out the dangers nicely: Do we risk treading into an area that censors free speech out of social pressure (already happening?) It’s a careful balance for those of us who might prize things others would object to. Freedom of speech has always been a touchy subject and I think this blogger is brave in coming out in support of an important principle. Clearly, Paula doesn’t support pedophilia or the book, but is trying to say that the principle of free speech is essential – even when we hate what it being said. I see the principle as something that should be sacrosanct. At the same time, I see it perfectly appropriate for people to decide where to put their money.

Paula, I see your point but we both know Amazon will fold. There’s no wrath like the wrath of those who treat ideas as threatening as a vile action. They are within their right to boycott Amazon, but if declaring your unequivocal support for the First Amendment gets rid of some of the more ignorant Babble readers then job well done!

Does this mean that Christmas is canceled? I was just assembling a marching band.

It’s true, I don’t like the publicity this has received, makes me even more ill.

However, yes Amazon has a right to sell this book and I have a right not to give them my business anymore. They made a choice, a bad one in my opinion and I have made mine. Yes, they sell other “objectionable” material” but one that serves as a guide for crimes against children. I believe there is a line and it has been crossed.

There was an interesting discussion on Anderson Cooper 360 last night and the book is clearly a demented “how to” on pedophilia. No, apparently the book does not violate anyone’s First Amendment rights but that doesn’t mean I’m going to ignore my common sense and decency and look the other way.

I think JCM hit the nail on the head. Amazon may be legally justified in offering the book for sale, but not necessarily morally justified. It’s their call whether or not to carry the book and, by extension, their customers’ call how they want to react.

I also have trouble with the “slippery slope” argument when it comes to something like this, just as I do when it’s used to oppose things like legalizing gay marriage. (i.e. it will lead to legalizing polygamy, etc.) Can’t we, as a thoughtful and responsible citizenry, look at things on a case by case basis? Our legal system certainly does.

Anyway, I may ultimately disagree with you, but I see where you’re coming from, and I think it’s an important and interesting discussion to have. I applaud your bravery in taking your stance.

I agree, and yet I am aware that by agreeing many people will look at me as if I have a hot bobby pin swastika burned between my eyes. I hate the idea of Amazon censoring any book. My favorite bookstore of all time, AMOK, sold the NAMBLA Bulletin. They also offered what basically amounted to an entire crime how-to section. That was never a section of the store that I had any interest in, but I understood that it was a part of a subversive bookstore that offered many unpleasant offerings that I was interested in that many other people would find repellent. This bookstore is long gone, presumably because of sites like Amazon. These kinds of books have always been available on Amazon. I am not interested in them, so I don’t buy them. I am not interested in pedophilia, white supremacy, bomb-building, or the conjuring of demons, either, but there are plenty of these titles available for those who are. I don’t consider censorship to be one of the weapons in my child protection arsenal. Not everyone has kids, wants kids, or even likes kids. I chose to have my kids because I wanted them, and I don’t feel that I have any right to censor or control what everyone else reads to protect them. It is my job to protect them, not everyone else’s. Frankly, I am tired of seeing rights infringed upon “for the children.” In this case it’s for something obviously awful in every conceivable way, but once you establish that it’s okay to censor speech, who gets to decide at what point between pedophilia guides and Beatles record burnings the line is to be drawn? That thought scares me more than the people who would buy this book. At least I know how to keep those people out of my living room.

How to books on raping and torturing children have no place in any bookstore. We have a responsibility to protect children and others abused by these sick predators. They should ALL be in jail or put on an island somewhere that they have no contact with society. Let them rape each other.

Not distributing this book is not the same as making it a crime to write it. I’m sure there is a ton a terrible books written-let them write away and they can sell them themselves too. As a mainstream and powerful retailer, they have a responsibility to make good decisions about what they choose to offer. This one goes too far with no redeeming qualities, information.

Free speech has limits. I say go on their site and crash their servers. How’s that for free speech?

Amazon is a corporate whore with no regard for free speech. All they care about is money. A common street whore has more integrity.

Boycotting Amazon for Life:
I am appalled that this book has been written. But, alas, we live in a population that includes many sicknesses – intolerance, addictions, racism, homophobia, terrorism, and now we are reminded … pedophilia.
But I am even more appalled and sickened by the conscious decision to evaluate the merit of selling this book as a freedom of speech issue. It is not. Pedophilia is a crime – an extremely gross and monstrously harmful crime. If this book was a study of Pedophilia or even an expose, I could see the merit of getting a dark subject out in the open or exploring prevention and/or treatment. But apparently, this book is a “how to” guide. I admit, I have not read this book and I have no plans to. I am relying on media representation. But if that representation is correct it has no redeeming value to humanity and could represent great harm.
If Amazon makes this book available, I will vote with my wallet – I will boycott Amazon for life.

FREE SPEECH IS NOT AN OBLIGATION OF PRIVATE COMPANIES. Amazon can choose to publish anything, but they can also choose to apply some standard of decency. If consumers don’t like what the company sells, they can and absolutely should vote with their wallet.

I don’t know enough about to the book, having not read it, to really comment, but if it is really as the title of the book suggests surely they should leave it there and use it to track people who are interested in this immoral and illegal activity. Maybe that’s what they are doing already…..

I am glad I am not the only one who supports the First Amendment. Amazon’s choice to remove is a business decision and not one I agree with. I wonder how many of the commenters criticizing this book have actually read it? I have. Every word. And while I don’t agree with the content, the author has a federally protected First Amendment right to write the content. It does not promote harming children. The author admitted today that he chose the title and description to get publicity. Don’t like it, don’t read it. The test of whether this book is permitted is does it call for someone to go out and commit a crime. It does not. You can read my full analysis of this here: http://lorireed.com/why-i-will-not-boycott-amazon-a-moms-thoughts-on-the-first-amendment/

Paula great job! This is a true test of freedom of speech–that which we find the most repulsive.

I’m sorry, Amazon has such a nice variety of stuff that i like, that i can’t boycott it. I’m not for books on child pedaphila neither, but i love shopping on amazon :)

We deleted our Christmas wish lists and I wrote them to tell them why we won’t be shopping there anymore. Our family boycotts several companies (Nestle, IHOP, McDonald’s, Target, Hershey) so it’s really not a new thing for us. We’re all about “voting with our dollars”. Amazon made a disgusting choice to sell books encouraging child rape and abuse. We’re making the choice not to shop there.

My choice to boycott Amazon for catering to child rapists has nothing to do with free speech. It has to do with me making sure tat the stores I support are in line with my values.

Wow @Becca…Getting tracked (and logically following that, arrested?) for READING something? Really? “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Time was, in this country, when people got arrested for reading the wrong thing or saying the wrong thing or just knowing the wrong people. Not just in this country, either, but all over the world…Why don’t you go look up how well THAT went.

Martini Mom, thanks so much for chiming in here and on the BBC. I appreciate the support. It’s good to know that I’m not the only one who holds this wildly unpopular opinion!