Big tech's censors are definitely overreaching. And now they're beginning to affect and irritate even the most ordinary, harmless, unobjectionable people -- people like little old me. Last week I received my first "warning" from Amazon for a review I posted about a dreadful new Amazon movie, The Tomorrow War. Here's the charming message…
Big tech's censors are definitely overreaching. And now they're beginning to affect and irritate even the most ordinary, harmless, unobjectionable people -- people like little old me. Last week I received my first "warning" from Amazon for a review I posted about a dreadful new Amazon movie, The Tomorrow War. Here's the charming message Amazon sent:
"Hello. One or more of your posts were found to be outside our guidelines. In order to help our customers make informed choices, we encourage them to review the product and contribute information about it. However, Community content that violate our guidelines or Conditions of Use will be removed.
"Please consider this a first warning.Before submitting your next post, please refer to our Customer Guidelines. Failure to comply with our policies may result in your account being banned from taking part in Community features. Thanks for your understanding in this matter."
And what, Dear Reader, was my sin? Amazon didn't say. But I'm sure I know what happened. My review contained a "verboten" phrase. Was this phrase the N-word? No, Dear Reader, it was not. The phrase I used was the not quite slur adjacent "Magical Negro," a phrase first used by Spike Lee, the Oscar winning black movie director in a presentation he gave to film students back in 2001. Since this phrase is listed in Wikipedia and describes a supporting black character who saves he day for the white lead, I figured it was fine. But apparently Amazon's algorithm or some young woke fool on their payroll didn't think so.
In the past, I've written dozens of reviews for products I've purchased (books, art supplies, furniture, beauty products, etc.) and have likely helped move tens of thousands of dollars worth of stuff. And what was the reward for all my unpaid labor? An obnoxious, high tech slap on the wrist.
Amazon, your actions have consequences, and you have just shot yourself in the foot. I now solemnly swear, on a stack of defaced Amazon Prime boxes, I will never write another review for your greedy, ungrateful company again. Let those revenues sink until your company drowns in red ink.
Your not writing reviews for the products they sell won't affect them one bit. On the other hand, not buying the products to review....Now that is a trend I can get behind.
I've cut WAY back on my Amazon purchases (and I live pretty rurally). I opened a Barnes and Noble account and purchase all of my books there. The only things I buy from Amazon are things I can't find anywhere in a 60 mile radius.
Big tech's censors are definitely overreaching. And now they're beginning to affect and irritate even the most ordinary, harmless, unobjectionable people -- people like little old me. Last week I received my first "warning" from Amazon for a review I posted about a dreadful new Amazon movie, The Tomorrow War. Here's the charming message Amazon sent:
"Hello. One or more of your posts were found to be outside our guidelines. In order to help our customers make informed choices, we encourage them to review the product and contribute information about it. However, Community content that violate our guidelines or Conditions of Use will be removed.
"Please consider this a first warning.Before submitting your next post, please refer to our Customer Guidelines. Failure to comply with our policies may result in your account being banned from taking part in Community features. Thanks for your understanding in this matter."
And what, Dear Reader, was my sin? Amazon didn't say. But I'm sure I know what happened. My review contained a "verboten" phrase. Was this phrase the N-word? No, Dear Reader, it was not. The phrase I used was the not quite slur adjacent "Magical Negro," a phrase first used by Spike Lee, the Oscar winning black movie director in a presentation he gave to film students back in 2001. Since this phrase is listed in Wikipedia and describes a supporting black character who saves he day for the white lead, I figured it was fine. But apparently Amazon's algorithm or some young woke fool on their payroll didn't think so.
In the past, I've written dozens of reviews for products I've purchased (books, art supplies, furniture, beauty products, etc.) and have likely helped move tens of thousands of dollars worth of stuff. And what was the reward for all my unpaid labor? An obnoxious, high tech slap on the wrist.
Amazon, your actions have consequences, and you have just shot yourself in the foot. I now solemnly swear, on a stack of defaced Amazon Prime boxes, I will never write another review for your greedy, ungrateful company again. Let those revenues sink until your company drowns in red ink.
Your not writing reviews for the products they sell won't affect them one bit. On the other hand, not buying the products to review....Now that is a trend I can get behind.
I've cut WAY back on my Amazon purchases (and I live pretty rurally). I opened a Barnes and Noble account and purchase all of my books there. The only things I buy from Amazon are things I can't find anywhere in a 60 mile radius.