Amazon.com is going to have a little bit of explaining to do after customer ratings for LGBTQ-themed books began disappearing and they removed the literature from searches and lists.
According to Amazon:
"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.
Hence, if you have further questions, kindly write back to us.
Best regards,
Ashlyn D
Member Services
Amazon.com Advantage"
Really?
So why does Playboy: The Complete Centerfolds still have its rating? While Ellen DeGeneres: A Biography was initially stripped of its rating?
Since the "ratings policy" went into action, inciting online protest, Amazon tried to explain the blatant censorship away with a "glitch."
While many LGBTQ books have had their ratings restored, Amazon has failed to issue an apology.
Wow, I'm really glad that you found this "article" on Perez. My final project topic is about the representation of the LGBTQ community. This past weekend after I did some research on books I went to Barnes and Noble to pick a few up and out of my list of 10 potential books, they carried none of them. I wonder what impact it makes when places make these types of books hard to find. It also amazes me that Amazon would have these books "disappear" from their searches. By not having these books available, places are making a statement whether they recognize it or not.
ReplyDeleteOh another perez addict! I definitly stay up to date on pop culture from his blog too. Interesting blog about amazon. I'm shocked that amazon have the nerve to consider lgbt literature as "adult." In our society, it seems that "adult" means pornography. Is this amazon's way of saying that gay literature is as obscene as pornography? Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteWas it mostly affecting "grown-up" LBGT books or childrens books as well? I might have to look into that. If those books are obscene just because they might feature some sexual content wouldn't the entire genre of women's romance novels be adult as well? Some of those books get pretty explicit and no one thinks twice about that. Some people have a lot of difficulty being comfortable with anything different than themselves.
ReplyDeleteThis is so interesting! Over the past year, as I've begun to use Amazon more frequently I've grown to really respect the site for all the services it provides- it's ranking of products is one of those services that I have found useful. Although not all ratings can be taken to heart/seriously, it's nice to be able to read an opinion about a product. I'm so upset that Amazon would seclude LBGT by only taking away their ratings; I'm even more upset that a Playboy book was still allowed to keep theirs! This really makes me step back and take a second look at the type of company Amazon is, and where their priorities are in terms of sales. I can understand if the LBGT books were controversial in terms of sexuality, but if that is the case then a Playboy book MUST be put in the same category.
ReplyDelete