Enemy action

[nancylebov]

Here's what showed up at amazon recently if you searched on "homosexuality"



At this point, the elimination of books with homosexual content (some of them completely unexplicit) from the amazon search and sales rankings doesn't look to me any more like some half-assed effort to bend to pressure. It looks like serious, intentional policy, though I hope it isn't from the top.

I expect things to get even more interesting when whoever had the bright idea gets identified.

Link thanks to jonquil.

copperbadge has the most thorough discussion I've seen with definitions and where to protest and updates.

Addendum:Here's an interesting theory that it really is enemy action by people manipulating amazon tags for books. On the other hand, there are previous statements from amazon that they had a new policy for "adult" material.

Comments

[cathyr19355.livejournal.com]

Either that, or it means that Fundies with the intent to stamp out homosexuality are presently publishing more books with that agenda than anybody else writing about homosexuality.

I don't think Amazon has an agenda here; I think its search engine hunts for items with the word typed into the search engine in the title or write-up. Books by gay people for gay people are, I suspect, less likely to use the word "homosexuality" in the title than are books by the crusaders trying to abolish it.

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

I may have been too paranoid, but did you catch that many books with pro-gay content have been taken out of the amazon search?

I just did a search on homosexuality at amazon, and some kids' books about families with same sex parents are showing up, but it's still mostly "how not to be homosexual" at the top of the list.

[cathyr19355.livejournal.com]

I may have been too paranoid, but did you catch that many books with pro-gay content have been taken out of the amazon search?

No. How can you tell that's been done? If true, that *is* worth complaining about.

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

As I understand it, the sales rank number has been eliminated for a lot of books with homosexual content. This means that you can find the book if you know the title and author (allowing that amazon search isn't very good anyway) but the book won't show up if you're looking for books like some other book.

May I suggest looking at the copperbadge link in my post, or at my friendslist? The only mentions on your flist was from me and supergee, and his post wasn't conspicuous. My flist has probably gotten two dozen posts from a bunch of different people.

There's been a lot of action on twitter, and what's being called amazonfail has made the LATimes blog.

[cathyr19355.livejournal.com]

Fair enough. You did answer my question, at least. Thanks.

[chomiji]

Well, the first of results from same search on Powell's book store site brings back titles including What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality (which concludes that "the Bible supplies no real basis for the condemnation of homosexuality") and a number of young adult titles with gay characters. Similarly, the same search on Barnes and Noble also brings back What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality, plus a mixture of non-fiction such as When Homosexuality Hits Home: What to do When a Loved One Says They're Gay and a number of novels (both adult and YA) with gay characters. Yes, perhaps the readership of the companies really varies that much, but I have my doubts. Also, you may wish to check out this LA Times blog column on the subject. Gay-friendly books that used to have Amazon sales ranks noted have had those ranks removed.

[avram]

According to a blogger for the LA Times, EM Forster's Maurice is either ranked or not, depending on which edition you look for. (The Penguin Classics edition is ranked, but the WW Norton is not. Both were 2005 editions.) What possible "serious, intentional policy" would account for that?

On the other hand, I just tried searching for "em forster maurice" under "Books" right now on Amazon, and the first hit was the WW Norton edition. No other editions were shown, but the next four things listed were:

• Who's a Pretty Boy, Then?: One Hundred and Fifty Years of Gay Life in Pictures by James Gardiner
• Queer Facts: The Greatest Gay and Lesbian Trivia Book Ever by Michelle Baker and Stephen Tropiano
• National Healths: Gender, Sexuality and Health in a Cross-Cultural Context (UCL) by Worton & Wilson
• Gay & Lesbian London (Time Out) by Paul Burston.

Let's look at the data here...

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

Did you look past the titles? I did. My first page of hits had 16 entries, one of which was a duplicate (same book in Kindle & pb). I rated each one negative (antigay), positive, probably positive (dramas [don't know how they ended], a kiddie book I could only see bits of), or neutral. My counts:

NEG: 4
POS: 6
POS?: 3
NEUTRAL: 2

The double entry is for an item I rate as positive: #7 is the new Kindle edition, and #14 the paperback.


1. NEG
A Parent's Guide to Preventing Homosexuality

See title.


2. NEUTRAL
Homosexuality
* Fiction
* Nonfiction


3. POS
Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality, Revised and Expanded Edition: Explode the Myths, Heal the Church by Jack Rogers

Chap.2 "A pattern of misusing the Bible to justify oppression"


4. POS
For The Bible Tells Me So ~ Gene Robinson, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Imogene Robinson (DVD - Feb 19, 2008)

a compassionate and insightful documentary about the contemporary face of an old conflict between Christian fundamentalists and gay and lesbian people. ... A number of clerics and scholars explain the cultural and historical context for Old Testament quotes routinely referenced as arguments against homosexuality, and point out translation confusion about the real meaning of the Sodom story.


5. NEG
Can Homosexuality Be Healed? by Francis MacNutt

His answer: Yes.

6. POS?
King & King & Family by Linda De Haan, Stern Mijland, and Stern Nijland (Hardcover - Mar 2004)

Picture book. Looks like two guys get married, and adopt on their honeymoon.

7. POS
The Bible, Christianity, & Homosexuality by Justin R. Cannon (Kindle Edition - Jul 14, 2008) - Kindle Book

gives more biblical proof that the word "homosexuals" in contemporary Bibles is in fact false. A great read to give to those who are confused with what the Bible says about gay and lesbian persons as people of faith, or to those who question gay people of faith.

8. NEG
You Don't Have to Be Gay: Hope and Freedom for Males Struggling With Homosexuality or for Those Who Know of Someone Who Is by Jeff Konrad (Paperback - Nov 1, 1987)

I didn't look past the title.

9. POS?
Rock Haven ~ Sean Hoagland; Owen Alabado; Laura Jane Coles; Katheryn Hecht; (DVD - Nov 6, 2007)

seems to have its heart in the right place, showing the conflict between the religious right and human sexuality that occurs between two young teenagers, but the script is minimal, uncomfortable in saying what it really wants to say,

10. NEUTRAL
Homosexuality and the Bible: Two Views by Robert A. J. Gagnon and Dan O. Via (Paperback - Sep 1, 2003)

two New Testament scholars offer different perspectives on the issue of the Bible and homosexuality. a thoughtful and spirited dialogue on a vital and contentious issue in American church life.


11. POS
Uncle Bobby's Wedding

When her favorite uncle, Bobby, announces that he is getting married to his boyfriend, Jamie, Chloe worries that he won’t have time for her anymore.. A celebration of same-sex marriage, this is about family happiness.


12. POS?
Shelter ~ (DVD - May 27, 2008)

Shaun is gay, while Zach appears to be straight, but a casual kiss between the two soon leads to a secret relationship. Shelter may provide some real-life Zachs with the courage they need to follow their passions.


13. POS
God is not a Homophobe: An unbiased look at Homosexuality in the Bible by Philo Thelos

Is God a gay-hating ogre? This author's research demonstrates that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality as a consensual life-style. Find out what the Bible really says about homosexuality.

14. DUPLICATE
The Bible, Christianity, & Homosexuality by Justin R. Cannon (Paperback - Jul 14, 2008)

see #7

15. POS
Fishing In The Right Pond: Finding and Pursuing Gay Guys In a Straight World by Kenneth David Chase (Audio CD - Dec 11, 2008)

See title.

16. NEG
Focus on the Family~Hot Topics~Homosexuality... Different? (VHS Tape - 1999)

Consider the source.

Re: Let's look at the data here...

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

No, I admit I didn't check-- I was too angry about the anti-gay books near the top of the list.