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Dr. Seuss books deemed offensive will be delisted from eBay

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Re: Dr. Seuss books deemed offensive will be delisted from eBay

#981

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nobody is suggesting that eBay should be forced to facilitate the sale of a patticular book. The concern is over what society feels is shameful and how it's handled. Right now we are ashamed of things we shouldn't be and the remedy we're choosing is exclusion. That doesn't sound like a formula for success. On top of that, this is all being pushed by a tiny minority that has gained more power than we realized. Surely…

Indeed, the arbitrariness of the leftist standards, and how easily and frequently they are liable to change, is in fact the point . President Obama praised, quoted, and recommended Dr. Seuss's books in official press releases throughout his presidency, all the way to his last year as president - 2015: https://nypost.com/2021/03/03/barack-and-michelle-obama-prai... But now, barely 6 years later, the Leftist Mob has co…

> But now, barely 6 years later, the Leftist Mob has come for Dr. Seuss, and we're all bullied to recite that Dr. Seuss is racist, was racist, has always been racist.

What? No one is trying to cancel Dr Seuss. No one is suggesting that he was a bad or hateful person. His estate has decided to no longer publish a small number of his books. They are doing this because they feel that they contain hurtful stereotypes: https://www.seussville.com/statement-from-dr-seuss-enterpris...

I have used stereotypes and language in the past that, in retrospect, I recognize as hurtful, despite thinking it was not a big deal at the time. I no longer use those terms, or tell those jokes. That is part of maturing as a person.

The estate has a duty to protect the legacy of Dr Seuss, which was very positive and inclusive. I don't think it is unreasonable to assume that, were Dr Seuss still alive, he might consider whether a Chinese-American child would feel uncomfortable with the images in "And To Think I Saw It On Mulberry Street", or whether an African-American child would feel uncomfortable reading "If I Ran the Zoo", and revise those works.

Re: Dr. Seuss books deemed offensive will be delisted from eBay

#982

As dis-heartening as this story is, compared to a couple of years ago, it is encouraging to see lots of comments from people beginning to wake up to what is going on with this craziness and not being modded here. Free speech is about protecting the right of the un-popular and views that some may find utterly repugnant. Why? because, as we are seeing with all of the woke craziness, when you don't stand up for everyone…

There's two kinds of freedom: freedom from and freedom to. These are some children's books that contain illustrations that some people find offensive and the publisher (and sellers) are deciding they no longer want to be associated with and sell to children. There are internet forums where the images are available and people can view them without the police knocking your door down, and I'm sure these are available in…

Compare to Charlie Hebdo. Suppose, after the massacre, retailers "chose" not offer it in stores (because if they didn't there may be fatal consequences). Should that really be celebrated as "freedom to"?

Isn't Ebay acting here similarly over a preemptive concern of blowback from a small group of determined activists?

Freedom to cower.

Re: Dr. Seuss books deemed offensive will be delisted from eBay

#983
post #301

It has to be made clear that this isn't about legality. It's also not about whether this "technically qualifies" as "banning" or "censorship". It's about what kind of society we want to live in. I want to live in an open society. I want to be able to watch movies and read books that offend people. I want to be my own censor and I want everybody to be their own censor. We're grown-ups, we can make decisions like this…

[deleted]

Re: Dr. Seuss books deemed offensive will be delisted from eBay

#985

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Free speech doesnt mean an obligation for people to provide you a platform, nobody is obligated to carry my book or let me on tv. You may criticize how that is carried out, but its not anti free speech to say racist cartoons dont need to be published

You've defined what you think free speech isn't , but can you define what free speech is , in your opinion?

Being able to speak without interference from the government. I also think there is a spirit of free speech where the consequences for your speech should not exceed the speech itself, though that is obviously less precise and kinda up to individual judgement

Re: Dr. Seuss books deemed offensive will be delisted from eBay

#986
The fact that you can buy Mein Kampf on eBay (along with thousands of things far more objectionable than a few children’s books) is what makes eBay’s actions that much more hypocritical and reprehensible.

If eBay was already a place clean and free of racism and bigotry, then fine. But it isn’t; not by a long shot. And you don’t start cleaning house by dusting the Knick-knacks…

Re: Dr. Seuss books deemed offensive will be delisted from eBay

#987

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be clear the "freedom from" I'm referring to here is the freedom for innocent bystanders - children in this case - not to see lazy racial stereotypes surreptitiously in what should be a funny book that either offends them or gives them a false/bad impression of those races. Throughout history society has decided what (legal) things are acceptable in public - public executions, graphic sexuality, violence. Today, (…

Every time I see people espouse "freedom from", I have to point out you're making a claim on everyone else to keep you safe from something you don't like. You don't have that right. The world is not safe. Nowhere are you guaranteed happiness, or refuge from upsetting ideas. You are guaranteed the right to pursue happiness. The outcome is a function of how fast your legs are. In a nation that sincerely values the conc…

No, it doesn't. "Freedom to" rob does not supersede "freedom from" robbery. "Freedom to" kill does not supersede "freedom from" death. This is an asinine and juvenile view of how rights work.

Re: Dr. Seuss books deemed offensive will be delisted from eBay

#988

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You've defined what you think free speech isn't , but can you define what free speech is , in your opinion?

Being able to speak without interference from the government. I also think there is a spirit of free speech where the consequences for your speech should not exceed the speech itself, though that is obviously less precise and kinda up to individual judgement

>Being able to speak without interference from the government.

Why should freedom of speech apply only to authorities from the public sector?

Re: Dr. Seuss books deemed offensive will be delisted from eBay

#990

As dis-heartening as this story is, compared to a couple of years ago, it is encouraging to see lots of comments from people beginning to wake up to what is going on with this craziness and not being modded here. Free speech is about protecting the right of the un-popular and views that some may find utterly repugnant. Why? because, as we are seeing with all of the woke craziness, when you don't stand up for everyone…

There's two kinds of freedom: freedom from and freedom to. These are some children's books that contain illustrations that some people find offensive and the publisher (and sellers) are deciding they no longer want to be associated with and sell to children. There are internet forums where the images are available and people can view them without the police knocking your door down, and I'm sure these are available in…

Seems strange that eBay would delist these though, given they still list items like this https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Cast-Iron-Jolly-African-Man... as well as books like "Little Black Sambo". Seems like they are more interested in following the latest trends than purging their platform of objectionable content.
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