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Amazon bows to UAE pressure to restrict LGBT search results

theguardian.com

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Re: Amazon bows to UAE pressure to restrict LGBT search results

#41

Post by mabbo »

sweetheart wrote: post #4

Is there any argument here in Amazon’s defense? Or is my initial disgust at Amazon truly the appropriate response. I cannot fathom being the person at Amazon who makes that call. Do they sleep well at night? Do they feel good about themselves?

I was in the middle of one of these ethically questionable decisions at Amazon many years ago. Let me explain.

Some people are simply sociopaths and do not care- whatever makes money and gets them promoted is fine by them. Some just ignore the problem and defer to those above them: if says it's okay, I guess we have to do it. And some will churn the entire problem in their head until they can justify it. They find some reason why this makes sense because 'if you think about it, really it's better this way'. Takes a lot of work, but they find a reason.

And that's human nature. People want to believe they are good people, they don't want to lose their job, and they want to find an excuse for taking part in unethical projects.

I feel good that I stood up for what I believed in and left rather than participate. Because in the end, the Government decided that Amazon was wrong on that particular call: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidjeans/2021/02/02/amazon-se...

Re: Amazon bows to UAE pressure to restrict LGBT search results

#42

Post by paulgb »

boeingUH60 wrote: post #31
sweetheart wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, I expect Amazon to stand up against their demands and tell them to go pound sand. Im not naive; I know they won’t. But I can still be disgusted that they won’t.

We peacefully disagree then. I don't expect a company that treats their warehouse workers like s*t to all of a sudden find a moral cause and stand on it, especially when that company has continually shown that it cares about money above all.

I don't think you actually disagree, I think you're both just using different (valid) definitions of expect. “to consider probable or certain” (you) vs “to consider bound in duty or obligated” (sweetheart)

(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expect)

Re: Amazon bows to UAE pressure to restrict LGBT search results

#43

Post by 4gotunameagain »

sgift wrote: post #37
4gotunameagain wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Enlightened ideals were the suffragettes. Was the abolition of slavery. Don't you think calling this LGBT craze an enlightened ideal is a bit overselling it ?

No. Also: Suffragettes and abolition of slavery were both called crazy in their time.

In their time triple distilled water containing radium was sold as an energy drink, they thought bathing was unhealthy, and they ate mercury.

I will go out on a limb and say we can judge things a bit better now.

Sure, right now we accept plastic and plasticisers everywhere around us. Which is crazy. And quite probably contributes to the great hormonal disruption and the trans craze.

Re: Amazon bows to UAE pressure to restrict LGBT search results

#45

Post by Banana699 »

sweetheart wrote: post #24
ominous wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Is there any argument here in Amazon’s defense? Can you phrase the attack you imagine they need defense from in a way that doesn't assume your worldview is the universal position (or that tries to achieve a universal position) everyone must adhere to?

I feel as though homophobia is never an acceptable worldview, so if you want me to reword what I said in a way that doesn’t imply that, I won’t. Some things are simply wrong. This is one of those things. If one’s worldview disagrees, then theirs is simply incorrect on this matter.

>If one’s worldview disagrees, then theirs is simply incorrect on this matter

Anti gay muslims in the UAE (and beyond) have the same exact attitude, so that reduces the whole problem to who has the bigger money\stick\media horn, and they happen to be the ones who have on their territory.

Re: Amazon bows to UAE pressure to restrict LGBT search results

#47

Post by throwawaylinux »

sweetheart wrote: post #4

Is there any argument here in Amazon’s defense? Or is my initial disgust at Amazon truly the appropriate response. I cannot fathom being the person at Amazon who makes that call. Do they sleep well at night? Do they feel good about themselves?

In Amazon's defense, it costs almost nothing to co-opt social movements and use them to fool people into parting with their money. Very cost effective marketing I would say.

Re: Amazon bows to UAE pressure to restrict LGBT search results

#49

Post by ZeroGravitas »

sgift wrote: post #37
4gotunameagain wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Enlightened ideals were the suffragettes. Was the abolition of slavery. Don't you think calling this LGBT craze an enlightened ideal is a bit overselling it ?

No. Also: Suffragettes and abolition of slavery were both called crazy in their time.

The word "Suffragette" was originally an insult:

https://www.nps.gov/articles/suffragistvssuffragette.htm

(As was the word “scientist“).

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