POD For You

[puzzled]

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/11/18/805516/-Trawling-for-assassins:-Evangelical-nuts-want-Obama-dead-UPDATED:-CAFEPRESS-DROPS-MERCHANDISE

[Mayhem]

i don't buy the argument that because a bumper sticker says it, people are going to go out and do it. I believe a lot of people are idiots, but even I give them more credit than that.

I never "honk if i love" anything. I'm certainly not going to go assassinate a president because a bumper sticker suggested it.

[BGryphon]

I agree that a sane person wouldn't do so. But if we are expected to believe that someone spouting threats supposedly based on writings in the Koran can lead less-balanced people to violence than we have to be prepared to believe the same for Bible-based ones.

[lyricalb]

There's a lot of crazy (I HAVE A BIG BUTT!) people out there, and I'd believe anything of them.

[kayecee]

Friendly reminder:

politics + religion = KayeCee's finger hovering over the lock button just in case it starts to take an unpleasant turn

[Kate]

Threatening the president's life, whether as a joke or not, is illegal.  I'm surprised that Zazzle hasn't yanked them yet.

[BGryphon]

Kate; it's a fine line. The text of the verse referenced on products is not a threat- the following verse is. I agree that it's despicable but I also get nervous about people getting in trouble for inferred or presumed meanings.

[Kate]

I wouldn't call CP or Zazzle removing a product 'getting in trouble'.  I also don't agree that it was a fine line.  Seemed perfectly straight forward to me.

[RobertPlantFan]

And thus illustrating quite nicely why it is a fine line. Six hundred people can look at the same thing and each come away with a different interpretation. Places like CP and Zazzle, as we all know, work on the side of caution. Well not caution. Can't say that.

[lyricalb]

Well not caution. Can't say that.

 

[BGryphon]

Zazzle responds at http://blog.zazzle.com/2009/11/18/statement-on-psalm-109-products/ saying (after a reminder that open debate is generally encouraged) that they "have begun efforts to remove them from our website, and we will be vigilant to the publication of similar products moving forward".

[Mayhem]

i'm going to start making bumper stickers that say "send mayhem money" then

[DustyLeaf]

There's a lot of crazy (I HAVE A BIG BUTT!) people out there, and I'd believe anything of them.

Out there ? :gazes over at KC: 

[kayecee]

[JMGNole]

(CRUDNUGGETS).  I was hoping for some GOOD news about CP or Zazzle.  Instead, it's nutjobs.

This t-shirt shazbot ain't for the timid.

[babydave]

I am pretty impressed by Zazzle's take-a-stand attitude and by the clarity of their blog entry, and for that matter, by the overwhelmingly positive tone of all those responses on the blog. Not only has Zazzle acted ethically, but (WANNA TRY THE GOOD COP/BAD COP ROUTINE?), they ACTED -- amazing, that!  Meanwhile over at Cafepress ...nothing. Typical. So Zazzle will get a well earned, if perhaps minor marketing windfall.

Happy selling at Zazzle.

BD

[BoltZ22]

I am pretty impressed by Zazzle's take-a-stand attitude and by the clarity of their blog entry, and for that matter, by the overwhelmingly positive tone of all those responses on the blog. Not only has Zazzle acted ethically, but (WANNA TRY THE GOOD COP/BAD COP ROUTINE?), they ACTED -- amazing, that!  Meanwhile over at Cafepress ...nothing. Typical. So Zazzle will get a well earned, if perhaps minor marketing windfall.

Happy selling at Zazzle.

BD

CP pulled the merch before Zazzle did...



FROM THE FINAL UPDATE (in the original link):

...the upshot is that the person behind this website and the Psalms 109 merchandise has been reported to the Secret Service.

Scary...

[Kate]

Let me put it this way.  Christians stress that all biblical quotes must be taken in context or you are not following the religion properly.

[lyricalb]

I really think you're dancing on the fine line, here, Kate ...

[Kate]

I think you're reading something into that, that isn't there.

[BGryphon]

Christians stress that all biblical quotes must be taken in context or you are not following the religion properly.

There is as wide a variety of views on understanding the bible as there is about understanding the US Constitution- from 'strict constructionalism' through to 'keeping it relevant'.

[scarebaby]

So Cafepress has reversed their stand and will allow this scum (SMELLS LIKE A WET DOG IN HERE!) in their marketplace. But that's all I expect of them, if it's a choice between ethics and money, Cafepress will choose filthy lucre every time.  Zazzle is, so far, sticking by their decision to remove this (CRUDNUGGETS).  Good for Zazzle.

There's also a move afoot to boycott Cafepress, this is being fostered at not only Kos but also Democratic Underground and other progressive sites.

[Kate]

Do you have a link to CP changing their mind?  I don't see it in the original post.

[scarebaby]

At dailykos:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/11/19/806109/-Psalm-109:8-Merchandise:-Cafe-Press-Reverses-Its-Decision

also, Democratic Underground closed its Cafepress store and is moving to Zazzle.

[scarebaby]

Here's what CP says:

"Cafepress looks at content on a case by case basis, and makes decisions about what content is permissible based on our content usage policy.

Anti-presidential gear has been a mainstay at Cafepress since we were founded in 1999 and has become a key component of political discourse.  Our site has become a cultural barometer of public opinion and as such designs often come into question.  In managing our content we are trying to protect self expression, while making sure we are not advocating violence.

We initially pulled the Psalm 109:8 content from our products today because broader media dialog indicated that these designs potentially suggested violence towards the president. Based on current public discourse and further review of the actual content, we have determined that it is fair political commentary and we are in the process of reinstating this merchandise.  As with all of our content, these designs will continue to be reviewed and if at any time their meaning is construed as advocating violence we will revisit our decision."