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Aimee Weber · 04-19-2008, 11:15 AM

Glosslip (god I love that woman) posted a detailed exchange between Amazon and a book reviewer whose critical review of Scientology was removed multiple times. I really think you guys should read it.

GlossLip » More Scientology Censoring: Amazon.com Review Guidelines Disallows Critiques Of Authors Or Their Intentions

As a published author with a book on Amazon, it would be unthinkable that I would expect Amazon to bend over backwards to erase any negative reviews of my book as they are apparently doing for Scientology.

This stuff is really getting scary, and people should know.

Ten · 04-19-2008, 11:18 AM

Io Zeno · 04-19-2008, 11:34 AM

Wow.

Cristiano · 04-19-2008, 11:39 AM

Wow, I just read that entire thing, and I am shocked at Amazon's behavior, and impressed at the resolve the author has shown. As a huge supporter of Amazon, this saddens me, and scares me that Scientology is so pervasive.

Mukatsuku · 04-19-2008, 11:41 AM

I am still shocked at the Times article posted previously. Ok, the Times article was going on about how scientology was controlling youtube, but the Times described scientology as a religion. Under British law (which the Times is bound by), scientology is not allowed to call itself a religion and remains a cult.

Aimee Weber · 04-19-2008, 11:51 AM

You know what gets me more than anything ... they are deleting ALL negative reviews. That's astonishingly bold!

Were I shilling for Scientology, I would have deleted any serious, substantive, damaging reviews while leaving behind some token soft-ball or ill-formed reviews (reviews that make the critic look worse than the subject of his criticism.)

But they regularly erase negative reviews (Josh and I saw the number get up as far as 300) all the way down to zero. Amazon isn't even asserting the pretext of fairness. Their overt sacrifice of their own corporate image to protect the interests of Scientology is really audacious.

Here is some perspective provided by a GlossLip commenter:

Book of Mormon: 330 Reviews (5 Star - 195; 1 Star - 98)
Koran (Penguin): 75 Reviews (5 Star - 16; 1 Star - 25)
Boldtext Pew Bible KJV: 232 Reviews (5 Star - 118; 1 Star - 71)

Dianetics: 247 Reviews (5 Star - 221; 1 Star - 0)

Ten · 04-19-2008, 11:51 AM

Quote:

First, Mr. Hubbard asserts that there are only two ways of handling people who fall at 2.0 or below on Mr. Hubbard’s “tone scale” (this includes gays and lesbians, who are at level 1.1). The first is raising them on the tone scale by “unenturbulating some of their theta”. The second is to “dispose of them quietly and without sorrow.” (See page 157, section 1)

Jesus!!! Why do people follow this shit again?!

Quote:

On page 119, Mr. Hubbard informs us that any society in which women are taught anything but (anything and but being italicized by the author) family management, the care of men, and the creation of the coming generations, “is a society which is on its way out.” (Page 119, section 1) Later in this paragraph, Mr. Hubbard asserts that historians can pinpoint when a society begins to degenerate by finding the exact point where women begin operating on an equal footing with men in the business and political realms.

Ten · 04-19-2008, 11:52 AM

Also, question: Why are people using Amazon as a religious debate platform?

Tyche Shepherd · 04-19-2008, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mukatsuku

I am still shocked at the Times article posted previously. Ok, the Times article was going on about how scientology was controlling youtube, but the Times described scientology as a religion. Under British law (which the Times is bound by), scientology is not allowed to call itself a religion and remains a cult.

That's not strictly true - CoS had its application for charitable status as a religious organisation refused by the Charity Commissioners because under British Charity Law it doesn't fit the criteria of being a religion namely Belief in and worship of a Supreme being, Technically Buddhism is not a religion by this criteria either.

This doesn't apply to other Law (such as the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 ) where it would be classed as a religion

Io Zeno · 04-19-2008, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ten

Also, question: Why are people using Amazon as a religious debate platform?

Any time you post a "religious book" to be reviewed it can get into that.

However, that is not the case here. The review was based on a book full of incendiary ideas published in 1950 by an author long dead.

Any recent New Age book would get the same treatment.

Tyche Shepherd · 04-19-2008, 12:04 PM

Doh Double Post

Walker · 04-19-2008, 12:32 PM

Amazon now allow people to comment on reviews too (a very recent introduction at Amazon UK anyway), so every book technically has its own forum now. To start a thread you post a review, and then lots of people discuss/debate it.

So I guess that's why people are using parts of Amazon as a religious debate platform.

Ten · 04-19-2008, 12:50 PM

Do you think Amazon is protecting its customers by removing these bad reviews...

Protecting them from the Scientology Mafia?

Kesseret · 04-19-2008, 12:50 PM

Well one more reason to add why I haven't shopped at Amazon in 8 years. (though the original reason was good enough to last this long, heh)

This is scary.

Ten · 04-19-2008, 12:59 PM

What was your original reason?

Walker · 04-19-2008, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ten

What was your original reason?

Ten · 04-19-2008, 01:04 PM

God, Walker, please change your avatar.

Walker · 04-19-2008, 01:05 PM

Io Zeno · 04-19-2008, 01:06 PM

He's had that avie forever, Ten.

Doncha like Clockwork Orange?

Kesseret · 04-19-2008, 01:07 PM

I bought 2 dvd's for a friend back then (they were troma movies) and ordered them first week in December (when I do all my Christmas shopping online) and despite the items being in stock and ready to ship I received them late January. The main reason I was so angry was it said IN STOCK. But that year I think they had a problem because friends complained that same Christmas season about the same problem. Still, I hold my grudge- it makes me feel warm and fuzzy. ;-)

Aimee Weber · 04-19-2008, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ten

Do you think Amazon is protecting its customers by removing these bad reviews...

Protecting them from the Scientology Mafia?

I think it essentially amounts to Amazon lying to their customers. Uninformed customers are essentially being told by Amazon.com that nobody has anything bad to say about the Dianetics book.

If that's how Amazon rolls, that's fine. I just think their customers should know how the review system actually works.

LeenaSerevi · 04-19-2008, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ten

Walker, please don't change your avatar.

*Fixed

Ten · 04-19-2008, 01:07 PM

It's the eyeball thing. I've had that eye infection for three days and I've got PTSD now. His avatar is activating my PTSD.

Io Zeno · 04-19-2008, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ten

It's the eyeball thing. I've had that eye infection for three days and I've got PTSD now. His avatar is activating my PTSD.

Then don't look at it, I don't really.

DON'T PRESSURE WALKER HE WILL GIVE IN BECAUSE HE IS TOO NICE.

Cristiano · 04-19-2008, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ten

Do you think Amazon is protecting its customers by removing these bad reviews...

Protecting them from the Scientology Mafia?

Those willing to give up a little liberty for a little security deserve neither security nor liberty. - Benjamin Franklin

04-19-2008, 11:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
Aimee Weber Queen of the Metaverse Edit Status Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,754 My Mood:	Amazon <3 Scientology ... AGAIN Glosslip (god I love that woman) posted a detailed exchange between Amazon and a book reviewer whose critical review of Scientology was removed multiple times. I really think you guys should read it. GlossLip » More Scientology Censoring: Amazon.com Review Guidelines Disallows Critiques Of Authors Or Their Intentions As a published author with a book on Amazon, it would be unthinkable that I would expect Amazon to bend over backwards to erase any negative reviews of my book as they are apparently doing for Scientology. This stuff is really getting scary, and people should know.

04-19-2008, 11:18 AM	#2 (permalink)
Ten Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 6,896 SL Join Date: 10/7/2006 My Mood: Awards: 1	O_o __________________ Shopping Cart Disco http://www.shoppingcartdisco.com THE BEATINGS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MORALE IMPROVES.

04-19-2008, 11:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
Mukatsuku worried homesick Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: 兵庫、日本 Posts: 8,762 My Mood:	I am still shocked at the Times article posted previously. Ok, the Times article was going on about how scientology was controlling youtube, but the Times described scientology as a religion. Under British law (which the Times is bound by), scientology is not allowed to call itself a religion and remains a cult. __________________ -- My Sims Exchange - http://www.thesims3.com/mypage/Mukatsuku My Photography/Graphics Design - http://www.zedpeejay.com Meet-me wiki - http://meetme-english.wetpaint.com

04-19-2008, 11:51 AM	#6 (permalink)
Aimee Weber Queen of the Metaverse Edit Status Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,754 My Mood:	You know what gets me more than anything ... they are deleting ALL negative reviews. That's astonishingly bold! Were I shilling for Scientology, I would have deleted any serious, substantive, damaging reviews while leaving behind some token soft-ball or ill-formed reviews (reviews that make the critic look worse than the subject of his criticism.) But they regularly erase negative reviews (Josh and I saw the number get up as far as 300) all the way down to zero. Amazon isn't even asserting the pretext of fairness. Their overt sacrifice of their own corporate image to protect the interests of Scientology is really audacious. Here is some perspective provided by a GlossLip commenter: Book of Mormon: 330 Reviews (5 Star - 195; 1 Star - 98) Koran (Penguin): 75 Reviews (5 Star - 16; 1 Star - 25) Boldtext Pew Bible KJV: 232 Reviews (5 Star - 118; 1 Star - 71) Dianetics: 247 Reviews (5 Star - 221; 1 Star - 0) Last edited by Aimee Weber; 04-19-2008 at 02:26 PM..

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04-19-2008, 11:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
Io Zeno Don't make me Stoking the fires of Hell Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York City Posts: 16,450 Blog Entries: 1 My Mood: Awards: 1	Wow.

04-19-2008, 11:52 AM	#8 (permalink)
Ten Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 6,896 SL Join Date: 10/7/2006 My Mood: Awards: 1	Also, question: Why are people using Amazon as a religious debate platform?

04-19-2008, 12:04 PM	#11 (permalink)
Tyche Shepherd Fortuna vitrea est showing due respect to authority ... Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK Posts: 5,016 SL Join Date: 26th April 2007 My Mood:	Doh Double Post

04-19-2008, 12:32 PM	#12 (permalink)
Walker Push Button Receive Electro Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: UK Posts: 10,313 Doom Rider Champion! SL Join Date: 13 May 2006 XBOX Leaderboard: 36^th My Mood:	Amazon now allow people to comment on reviews too (a very recent introduction at Amazon UK anyway), so every book technically has its own forum now. To start a thread you post a review, and then lots of people discuss/debate it. So I guess that's why people are using parts of Amazon as a religious debate platform.

04-19-2008, 12:50 PM	#13 (permalink)
Ten Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 6,896 SL Join Date: 10/7/2006 My Mood: Awards: 1	Do you think Amazon is protecting its customers by removing these bad reviews... Protecting them from the Scientology Mafia?

04-19-2008, 12:50 PM	#14 (permalink)
Kesseret I has flavor. Meerkatting Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 213 Business: KessKreations SLShopper Ads: 8 My Mood:	Well one more reason to add why I haven't shopped at Amazon in 8 years. (though the original reason was good enough to last this long, heh) This is scary.

04-19-2008, 12:59 PM	#15 (permalink)
Ten Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 6,896 SL Join Date: 10/7/2006 My Mood: Awards: 1	What was your original reason?

04-19-2008, 01:04 PM	#17 (permalink)
Ten Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 6,896 SL Join Date: 10/7/2006 My Mood: Awards: 1	God, Walker, please change your avatar.

04-19-2008, 01:05 PM	#18 (permalink)
Walker Push Button Receive Electro Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: UK Posts: 10,313 Doom Rider Champion! SL Join Date: 13 May 2006 XBOX Leaderboard: 36^th My Mood:

04-19-2008, 01:06 PM	#19 (permalink)
Io Zeno Don't make me Stoking the fires of Hell Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York City Posts: 16,450 Blog Entries: 1 My Mood: Awards: 1	He's had that avie forever, Ten. Doncha like Clockwork Orange?

04-19-2008, 01:07 PM	#20 (permalink)
Kesseret I has flavor. Meerkatting Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 213 Business: KessKreations SLShopper Ads: 8 My Mood:	I bought 2 dvd's for a friend back then (they were troma movies) and ordered them first week in December (when I do all my Christmas shopping online) and despite the items being in stock and ready to ship I received them late January. The main reason I was so angry was it said IN STOCK. But that year I think they had a problem because friends complained that same Christmas season about the same problem. Still, I hold my grudge- it makes me feel warm and fuzzy. ;-)

04-19-2008, 01:07 PM	#23 (permalink)
Ten Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 6,896 SL Join Date: 10/7/2006 My Mood: Awards: 1	It's the eyeball thing. I've had that eye infection for three days and I've got PTSD now. His avatar is activating my PTSD.