Wednesday
Nov102010
Amazon Kindle Facilitates Crimes Against Children
Wednesday, November 10, 2010 
If you could dream up a sickening, disgusting and criminal how-to book, what would it be about? How to build weapons of mass destruction? How to kill and bury your family without getting caught? A college student's guide to rape? Torture 101? Well yes, those would all be pretty horrendous. But would you ever, in your most horrible of nightmares, imagine a book called "The Pedophile's Guide to Love and Pleasure: A Child-Lover's Code of Conduct." Probably not. Yet Amazon.com is selling this e-book for Kindle right now.
The book description is:
This is my attempt to make pedophile situations safer for those juveniles that find themselves involved in them, by establishing certian [sic] rules for these adults to follow. I hope to achieve this by appealing to the better nature of pedosexuals, with hope that their doing so will result in less hatred and perhaps liter [sic] sentences should they ever be caught.
I don't want to link to it. It is bad enough that I just typed those words. Google it if you don't believe it or read this post from someone who did download the disgusting book or this news article including interview clips with the perverted author of the book.
Your first reaction is probably the same as mine: CONTACT AMAZON! THEY'LL TAKE IT DOWN FOR SURE! I did that...
It wasn't just me. Lots of people contacted them. They contacted them by phone. They contacted them by e-mail. They left reviews on the Amazon site. They called Amazon's public relations people. Many times Amazon promised it would take the "necessary actions", which we assumed would be taking the book down.
Ultimately, Amazon issued this statement (quoted at Good Feed):
As a retailer, our goal is to provide customers with the broadest selection possible so they can find, discover, and buy any item they might be seeking. That selection includes some items which many people may find objectionable. Therefore, the items offered on our website represent a wide spectrum of opinions on a variety of topics.
Let me assure you that Amazon.com does not support or promote hatred or criminal acts; we do support the right of every individual to make their own purchasing decisions.
Amazon.com believes it is censorship not to sell certain titles because we believe their message is objectionable. Therefore, we’ll continue to make controversial works available in the United States and everywhere else, except where they’re prohibited by law. We also allow readers, authors, and publishers to express their views freely about these titles and other products we offer on our website. However, Amazon.com doesn’t endorse opinions expressed by individual authors, musical artists, or filmmakers.
Is that good enough for you? It isn't good enough for me.
I understand Amazon's desire not to get involved in censorship, but:
1) It has pulled books before for stupid business reasons.
2) I don't think it would be unreasonable for Amazon to establish a few simple rules, such as not selling any how-to guides for criminal activity.
In my mind, selling this type of book is just as bad as handing a gun to someone who says he wants to commit a murder. It makes both the author of the book, and Amazon as the publisher and retailer, accomplices in any crime that is committed by following those instructions. I would imagine that the police will be looking into the author and looking into anyone who downloads this book. Suspected terrorists have been arrested for a heck of a lot less than that and certainly if encouraging someone else to commit suicide is a crime, then encouraging someone to abuse children must be a crime too.
I didn't want to write about this. I had another post planned for tonight. I hoped that a few quick calls to Amazon would resolve it. But since it didn't, I thought you, and your friends, and their friends, and their friends, may want to know what Amazon is up to before you decide where to buy your Christmas presents. Are pedophiles such a big part of Amazon's clientele that appeasing them is more important than removing books that provide play-by-play instructions for illegal and abusive activity? This is not good business for Amazon, period.
I'm not a big boycotter. The only company that I boycott outright is Nestle for decades of unethical business practices and no indication that they plan to change for the better. I don't organize and promote boycotts of companies because of a misstep, even a misstep as bad as this one. However, I am able to vote with my wallet and vote with my blog. There are other places that I can buy the products that Amazon sells and I will. There are other ways I can make money, so I don't really need the Amazon associate links to recommended books in my sidebar. Good companies recognize when they have made a horrendous mistake, they apologize, and they change their ways. Bad companies dig their heels in and hide behind press releases. Which one will Amazon be?
Thank you to Cecily Kellogg for making the world aware of this issue with a tweet earlier today. Thank you to Mile Hi Mama for her play by play reporting of her correspondence with Amazon over the course of the day.
Image credit: Joe Diamond on amazon.com.
UPDATE: It looks like Amazon may have removed the book (either that or high traffic has made that page go down) or they may not have.
UPDATE II: Some people are still able to access it and Amazon customer service says it is available. So maybe it isn't gone.
UPDATE III: The book is definitely gone. However, Amazon has not apologized, explained why it allowed the book and then later took it down, or promised that it won't happen again in the future.
Reader Comments (77)
Jack:
I don't see pedophiles as the biggest threat to my children either. However, I do see people like the author of this book and anyone who would purchase it as threats to someone's child. Maybe mine, maybe yours, maybe someone else's. I also don't worry about terrorists every day, but if there were terrorist how-to manuals on Amazon (perhaps there are?), I would be concerned about those too.
I agree that the man got more press than he deserves. However, I hope that the outcome is that (a) he is investigated by the police and (b) his neighbours and family members are aware how sick he is so that they keep their children far away from him.
Not all graffiti art is illegal, so I'd be okay with that. Fictional books on pedophilia, I would be disgusted enough about that I would take my business elsewhere, but I wouldn't call it illegal. Books for the KKK...depends what you mean - if it includes hate speech, then according to Canadian laws it would be illegal (although I guess the Americans are more lax about that sort of thing).
I've been trying to formulate my thoughts on this, but forgive me if it comes out rambley..
Interviews with pedophiles reveal that they often believe that there victims "want it". "The child liked it when I tickled. S/he came to my home and did xyz without complaint" etc. They look for justification for their actions. Many (most?) know that it's agains the law, but think the law is wrong. "They just don't understand our kind of love."
A book like this (and the websites I know exist) condone a pedophile's actions. The author says the point of writing it is to teach pedophile's the "right way" to show their "love". His point is that if it's done in a certain way, the child (victim) will comply and thus will not be harmed, i.e. murdered or kidnapped by the adult.
This is COMPLETELY different and a million times more dangerous to potential victims than the Anarchist Cookbook. It is COMPLETELY unethical to argue free speech and censorship on this subject. A book to teach the "proper" way to molest and rape children should not be up for debate and I'm saddened to see it happening here.
You're using terms very loosely here. A private organization deciding not to sell a book is not book banning. For example, a real bricks and mortar bookstore doesn't carry every conceivable title, or anything remotely close to it. They pick and choose what they want to carry. Asking Amazon not to carry an offensive title may not be something you agree with, but it is not book banning.
I completely agree with your arguments, both #1 and #2.
However, let me offer some clarification...
If it weren't for the fact that they'd pulled something before, then I would *totally* stand with them on the "no censorship" stand. If only they'd not pulled something before.
If they have? Then what the hell else is more worth pulling from the "shelves" than this?!
Excellent post and I'm right there with you as you know. I've linked to your post from mine and I really hope Amazon doesn't take the "ignore it" approach as a resolution. It's infuriating that it took a public outcry for them to remove it. Hiding behind the 1st Amendment was abysmal. As mentioned in my post, they are a business, not the sponsors of our Constitution. They can make arbitrary business decisions...just as they have in the past. Pathetic.
[...] Visit PhD in Parenting as she also has a very well written post and opinion on the [...]
I've felt sick to my stomach since I saw this a few minutes ago (yes, I live in a bit of a bubble!). I just wanted to chime in about the freedom of speech issue to remind everyone that there are notable exceptions to this freedom (you can't yell "fire" in a crowded theater, for instance). So, just being in the US does not give one carte blanche to say whatever, whenever. Speech that incites violence is not protected, and rest assured, pedophilia IS violence against children, no matter what "methods" are employed.
A spokesman has confirmed that it's been removed.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/11/11/pedophile.guide/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo
While I agree it could be a slippery slope, I think it could be pretty easy to draw a line between crimes against property and crimes against persons. Certainly both are illegal, yet they are treated very differently by our judicial system. Could similar rules demonstrating severity of crimes be used when setting rules about publishing and selling offensive material?
I've seen that it is gone, but I'm still hoping for a statement from Amazon. Why did they take it down? Can we expect it to stay down? What if someone else publishes a similar book? Without a true response from them on the issues, I'm still kind of wary of Amazon.
I've mulled this over for two days, and struggled with my decision to remain an affiliate and not boycott. As sick as this book and others are, they appear to be legal (I chose not to read excerpts, but am relying on major media outlet reporting). Amazon is a distributor, not a producer of the material, and I shop with them because I enjoy the wide range of titles and products they carry. Unfortunately, in addition to titles and products I use and recommend, their inventory includes many, many things that I find deeply, disturbingly, dark and offensive.
But . . . I've been called a child abuser for having a home birth. I've been told I'm putting society in harm's way by not vaccinating my children. I've been called obscene for breastfeeding, uncovered, in public.
I don't want someone else to decide for me what's ok. I know it's unpopular, and I may hear arguments that change my mind. It's hard to go against the decisions of women I admire and respect, but I'm just not comfortable with this one. :(
I agree with your unpopular opinion, Fred, and my first thought was about pot. So...you're going to take away books about how to grow pot? About how two gay people can get married? Oooh--a guidebook to gay weddings. There are a TON of people who wouldn't want to see that on Amazon, who would be disgusted by the very idea. Why aren't you all up in arms about radar detectors, which help people speed and put our citizens in danger? Why aren't you mad that The Anarchist's Cookbook and Zips, Pipes and Pens are sold on Amazon too?
I'm a librarian. We stock books from all perspectives. There's something in our library to offend everyone. Why do you guys think that YOUR opinion is so right, or so universal? Why does YOUR opinion matter the most? Why do YOU get to decide what materials people have access to?
You going to push for a ban on Lolita, too? She was 12, you know. If you'd take your business elsewhere because a bookstore sold fictional books on pedophilia, why haven't you already? Amazon sells several versions of the book.
I don't agree with pedophilia and I personally think it's disgusting. But it wasn't too long ago that people had the same opinions (and laws) about homosexuality.
It was only seven years ago that the last of the sodomy laws were repealed.
I'm curious to know Kate how you got from a request to remove a "How To" guide for pedophiles to books on pot and gay marriage. Do foresee a groundswell movement for public acceptance of pedophilia? Is that the basis of your argument?
And surely, as a librarian, you can appreciate that a fictional book which has a controversial character in it (like a pedophile) or controversial subject matter is not the same as a non-fictional guide on how to abuse children?
I'd like to reiterate that in no way is anyone proposing a ban on this book. The author is free to self-publish his book and promote it unless the government says he can't. Personally, I am not going to boycott Amazon, but I do support the movement to ask that the title be removed. Amazon is a private company (again I repeat myself) and can be as selective as it likes in the books it chooses to either publish or sell. It does not equate to a library, in any fashion, including funding or mandate.
I saw that yesterday too. At first I was very scared, and horrified, but I did a little digging to find what the video actually was. It has an "R" rating, and it turned out to be a video of a "naturalist" commune workout room. It's not sexual at all, but there is nudity -- from the one screen shot that's available it looks like ranging in age from teen to middle-aged.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-us-amazon-pedophilia-book,0,893887.story
[...] if you want to read more about it PhD in Parenting has a good piece as does Gotcha, Baby. But since this is my blog, and I am an only child (which for [...]
Did you see he's now under police protection? It appears as though there have been threats posted online listing his address. The article I read (I believe from the NY Times) said they police were watching his residence for his protection.
Coupon Mole:
Yes, but I think they are also investigating him.
I wanted to add this further information to this very upsetting thread: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2010/11/amazon-pedophile-book-1.html
Alright. PERSONALLY, if this were still an issue (as the book appears to be gone)..
As a survivor myself.
I'm conflicted. Okay, these are pedophiles anyway. They like to have sexual relations with children, regardless of a book about it. I'd honestly like to read that book. Because it'd give me further insight into perverts and then I'd understand more about what happened to me.
The perverts are always talking to each other. Banning this book won't stop them from talking to one another about methods of avoiding capture/discovery, methods of grooming, and whatnot.
These people are sick. I believe it's some sort of genuine brain malfunction. A cross-wiring of some sort. Not an excuse but an explaination.
But why don't they have a conscience and become monks or something?!
This book should be a how-to book about how to become a monk or someone who meditates a lot instead of molesting kids.
I guess there is a section about getting your jollies from legal pornography (teen (re: 18 year olds that look very young.. 18 year olds that have disorders that make them look like children..). That's nice.
But I can't help but thinking that I wish there was a book called "Why you should kill yourself painlessly if you're a child molestor".. I suppose it'd be encouraging criminal behavior tho and be banned. Would you have a moral problem with that?
I'll still be patronizing Amazon.com. They are not evil. They're just kinda stupid.
Sorry, the article was in the Huffington Post. Must have been the only time I ever read the site.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/12/phillip-ray-greaves-being_n_782707.html
Realistically, if large booksellers, such as Amazon refuse to publish a book then the book isn't likely to be accessible to the majority of people. It ends up being close to a ban.
Yes, let's not have open debates because people have strong feelings about the subject being debated. Calling me unethical because I think there should be discussion? That's what I'm saddened by.
Instead of putting each other down for speaking up about how we feel and think let's have respect for one another. State your opinion about the subject. Maybe your argument will change mine. Call me unethical (or any other put down) for wanting to state my thoughts and feelings? No way am I going to listen to what you have to say.
A ban is issued by an authority. Governments, school districts, these are authorities. A retailer is under no requirement to sell all material that exists. In fact, one might argue that a major function of the retail system is to help customers find specifically what they are looking for, and retailers are successful because of their selectivity and ability to market to a group of people based on what they want.
Amazon can set their own standards for what they choose to sell without omission being "close to a ban". Amazon is an online retailer. This is a Kindle product. Only 21% of the world has access to the internet, and I can guarantee you, a miniscule percentage of those own Kindles. Do you think that Barnes and Noble or Borders SHOULD carry this book or they are "banning it"? Way more people are able to buy books from them.
To anyone who claimed what the author was doing was only morally reprehensible and not actually illegal, he has been arrested:
"You cannot engage or depict children in a harmful relationship," said Polk County, Florida Sheriff Grady Judd as he described the Florida obscenity statute officials used to charge Philip Greaves with distribution of obscene material depicting minors engaged in conduct harmful to a minors.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/12/20/florida.obscenity.arrest/index.html?hpt=T2
to those that want amazon to explain why they had the book on their sight, Amazon has Millions of books on their site, they can never go through all the content of Every book, and rely on you to tell them of any book such as this.
there is no way that even amazon could hire enough people to read every book that may come across their site, because they are in the book business, they sell books, regardless of the books content, as long as it is legal, and people want it, they will sell it.