My readers (both of you) may recall my post about Amazon's practice of selling dog-fighting information. I gave up buying from them when I learned of this.
More recently, I've learned that they're far from alone. Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Powell's... in fact, every online bookseller I could find sells these materials. Apparently, no one wants to risk being accused of censorship.
I can hardly boycott every bookseller, so I guess I might as well abandon my Amazon boycott and just write a new round of protests. I'll just aim at a larger audience now (if I'm going to tweak Amazon, I might as well hit B&N, Powell's, etc.).
I still think it's wrong to sell such materials. There are limits to free speech--just as yelling fire in a crowded theater isn't protected speech, selling materials like this, the sole purpose of which is to teach readers how to conduct an illegal (and cruel) activity shouldn't be supported.
In any case, as I tilt at windmills, I suppose it's good to be able to buy from a major retailer again. I just wish they'd wake up and stop hiding behind their misplaced "we don't censor" nonsense. Every such retailer censors, for they can't possibly carry everything in print. It would be very nice if they gave this some actual thought and did the right thing!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Saturday, February 06, 2010
The problem with Facebook
Facebook has a lot going for it, no question. I certainly have spent enough time on there. But there are problems.
For one thing, lots of people tend to seek one out on Facebook. These people include current friends, as well as people from college and high school (many of whom weren't even real friends back then) and even a few family members. Now, this blog certainly isn't private; anyone can view it. Still, it's not my full name hanging out there, and the various high school and college people aren't following me on here. For any who are, they've chosen to go along for the ride that is this blog. That includes everything from our travels to rugby to sex.
Speaking of sex, I recently was reminded of the perils of Facebook when I made a sex-related comment in my status; something about a great bath... I wrote that "I was going to say the bath 'didn't suck' but that wouldn't be quite accurate" or words to that effect.
That's it. I may not remember the wording exactly right, but it wasn't any more explicit than that. And that got me a note from someone I knew in college who felt it was "TMI." Rather than get into a debate, I just deleted it.
I haven't been blogging enough, and that's one more reminder of the value of this blog. If you visit this blog, you know I may rant about politics, post some photos, talk about sex (even in graphic detail) or go on about just about anything else.
If I want to talk about the fabulous sex Marc and I had this morning when he got me hard and slid his hot, tight ass down on me, I will. I don't want to worry about one of the 258 "friends" on Facebook getting upset (speaking of that "friends" list, I may trim it a little).
Facebook serves a purpose, but I still need a place to share whatever I want!
Speaking of sharing, how about something nice? Friends and long-time blog readers will recall that Marc and I are supporters of LIGALY and the LI GLBT Network. They just launched a new ad campaign, aimed largely at confronting HIV in the African-American community but also meant to fight homophobia by increasing awareness in our suburban communities.
James, a friend and LIGALY staff member, sent me a photo he'd snapped of one of the ads on a railroad trestle (they're also on Long Island Railroad platforms and the sides of buses)...
Click on the photo for a better view!
In case any of it is hard to read in the photo, it says, "I am gay... and this is where I stay, pray & play. We have always been a part of this community."
It's a simple message, but it's a great message. I love it, and I really loved the first time I saw a bus go by with it on there, big as life.
For one thing, lots of people tend to seek one out on Facebook. These people include current friends, as well as people from college and high school (many of whom weren't even real friends back then) and even a few family members. Now, this blog certainly isn't private; anyone can view it. Still, it's not my full name hanging out there, and the various high school and college people aren't following me on here. For any who are, they've chosen to go along for the ride that is this blog. That includes everything from our travels to rugby to sex.
Speaking of sex, I recently was reminded of the perils of Facebook when I made a sex-related comment in my status; something about a great bath... I wrote that "I was going to say the bath 'didn't suck' but that wouldn't be quite accurate" or words to that effect.
That's it. I may not remember the wording exactly right, but it wasn't any more explicit than that. And that got me a note from someone I knew in college who felt it was "TMI." Rather than get into a debate, I just deleted it.
I haven't been blogging enough, and that's one more reminder of the value of this blog. If you visit this blog, you know I may rant about politics, post some photos, talk about sex (even in graphic detail) or go on about just about anything else.
If I want to talk about the fabulous sex Marc and I had this morning when he got me hard and slid his hot, tight ass down on me, I will. I don't want to worry about one of the 258 "friends" on Facebook getting upset (speaking of that "friends" list, I may trim it a little).
Facebook serves a purpose, but I still need a place to share whatever I want!
Speaking of sharing, how about something nice? Friends and long-time blog readers will recall that Marc and I are supporters of LIGALY and the LI GLBT Network. They just launched a new ad campaign, aimed largely at confronting HIV in the African-American community but also meant to fight homophobia by increasing awareness in our suburban communities.
James, a friend and LIGALY staff member, sent me a photo he'd snapped of one of the ads on a railroad trestle (they're also on Long Island Railroad platforms and the sides of buses)...
Click on the photo for a better view!
In case any of it is hard to read in the photo, it says, "I am gay... and this is where I stay, pray & play. We have always been a part of this community."
It's a simple message, but it's a great message. I love it, and I really loved the first time I saw a bus go by with it on there, big as life.
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