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March 15, 2002, 07:25 PM | #1 | |
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*sigh... Google goes anti.
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=26819
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March 15, 2002, 07:50 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: November 14, 2001
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Freedom of Association
I have no problem with a private company choosing who it wants to be associated with, or what ads it is willing to run. Private property is the foundation of freedom; not this egalitarian collectivism that claims I can do anything I want on your property. The latter perspective is for socialists, archists, and any group that uses coercion to get their way.
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March 16, 2002, 03:06 AM | #3 |
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The problem is not so much Google choosing not to accept gun ads, but that they are being very disingenuous about their true intent. For example, the spokesman says Bowman's food ads were refused because "the same site also sells knives" but if you run a Google search for "knives" two sponsored links appear. Seaches like "chef" and "cooking" also provide links to sites that sell knives and food. Google won't admit that the real issue is guns. Their policy is doublespeak, and they deserve to be called on it.
There's nothing wrong with gun owners using coercion (in the form of public pressure and boycotts) to attempt to get their way. It's much better than the socialist (government force) and anarchist (terrorist violence) methods.
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March 16, 2002, 03:17 AM | #4 |
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Hubby and I sent this email to Google...
To the Google Entities it May Concern:
It has come to our attention that you have an "advertising policy" by which you refuse to run ads for any site that sells firearms, knives, or accessories/parts thereof. You state, according to this policy, that guns and knives are among the "assorted weapons" you deem "unacceptable". Your policy is indicative of bias, bigotry, and appalling ignorance. Who are you to deem entire classes of legal products "unacceptable"? Who are you to issue a blanket condemnation of businesses that deal in one or more products related to firearms or knives? Your failure to recognize the rights of all Americans to engage in legal trade in the products of their choice demonstrates a clear lack of understanding of history, of our Constitution, and of ethical business practices. Clearly, you are engaging in an elitist mentality, setting yourself up as an "authority" over the millions of Americans who use the above-mentioned products in a perfectly legal, moral, and ethical manner. Your elitist authoritarianism puts the ideology of those few who have been engaged in the attempted destruction of our rights to protect our homes and families above the time-honored rights recognized in our Constitution that guarantee to every American life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. You would decide, based on ignorance, prejudice, and a wholly unrealistic view of life, how others should exercise their guaranteed rights. And yet you are freely engaged in the business of your choice, which seems to be lucrative to those involved, whether executive, employee, or stockholder. I remind you that it is those same aforementioned rights which you so blatantly refuse to recognize for others that is the basis for your success. Until our discovery of your discriminatory practices, Google was our favorite search engine. No longer. Unless you change your practices to allow the advertising of legal trade in firearms, knives, and parts/accessories thereof as you would any other trade item, the Google Homepage will not be seen on our desktops. The facts of your discriminatory business practices are being widely disseminated throughout the Internet, and soon, there will be lists of the businesses who are allowed to advertise on your site. Those businesses will be contacted and informed of your practices, and they will be told that as long as they advertise on your site, there will likewise be no patronization of their products and/or services. Do not bother replying to this letter with some trite little auto-response detailing a series of lame excuses for your discriminatory and hypocritical practices. We will accept only a complete reversal of your policy, nothing less. You are hereby BOYCOTTED, effective IMMEDIATELY. Sincerely, Calamity Jane and Hubby =-=-=-=-=-= The more letters detailing similar sentiments Google receives, the sooner they'll get the message, eh? Let's ensure that they feel our power where it hurts: in their pocketbooks.
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March 16, 2002, 03:24 AM | #5 |
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CJ “The world is a fine place and worth fighting for.” ~ Ernest Hemingway |
March 16, 2002, 05:23 AM | #6 |
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You what it means?
Google has the right not to advertise guns?
Good. Gun owners have the right no to visit google. Cut their market by 80,000,000. |
March 16, 2002, 06:05 AM | #7 |
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Join Date: February 24, 2002
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Google Is On Notice
It is becoming very difficult and depressing to keep up with all the anti-gun, anti-freedom, and anti-American companies, governments, and services.
Here we have the latest hidden agenda of the Google Search Engine. We have used Google for many years, and have invested a lot of our time and expense to help promote them. We are appalled at their behavior. We are building our own search engine, and will be removing all of our Google components we have put in place. We have been in talks with Bowmans Brigade... and it looks as though there is a good recourse for legal action. Read Googles response to our e-mail: http://guned.com/index2.html ...Same ol' bullcrap, just like Dell. Mike GUNED.COM |
March 16, 2002, 07:50 AM | #8 |
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Goodonya, Mike. Welcome aboard, by the way.
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Don Gwinn: Chicago Gun Rights Examiner |
March 16, 2002, 11:22 AM | #9 |
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Great job, Mike! (And great site!) Keep us informed, and welcome to TFL!
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CJ “The world is a fine place and worth fighting for.” ~ Ernest Hemingway |
March 16, 2002, 11:51 AM | #10 |
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My guess is some lawyer type told them that if they accept ads from someplace that sells knives or guns and a knife or gun that is sold by them is used in a crime, that they might get sued. As long as personal responsibility takes a back seat to blame and frivilous lawsuits, stuff like this will happen.
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Skip Pacheco, Libertarian for State Representative Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation, that we can not be trusted with arms for our own defense? Where is the difference in having our arms in possession and under our direction, and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands? -Patrick Henry |
March 16, 2002, 01:56 PM | #11 |
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Okay...I'm going back to AltaVista. And sending Google a letter.
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March 17, 2002, 01:44 AM | #12 |
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related...
I contacted Ibill ( www.ibill.com , a company that handles billing and shopping carts for business web sites)about a shopping cart and CC billing system for a client who sells reloading supplies, after discussing it with the sales rep we got close to a deal and he checked with his supervisor. came back with "because the govt might change the regs on reloading parts and make them illegal we won't handle billing for companies that sell them" this company DOES however do billing for Adult sites on the net. even though Ashcroft has said he is going to go after them. the guy who ownes Americans for Gun Safty (I think thats the name, the one Americans can't join) made his pile on the Net..
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March 17, 2002, 03:10 AM | #13 |
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Americans For Gun Safety Is A Joke.
Here is some of the context copied right from their front page:
We also believe that with rights come responsibilities. We seek stronger new gun laws and tougher enforcement of current laws. Our goal is to help keep guns out of the hands of criminals and kids, and to promote responsible gun ownership. Anytime you see keywords like 'Stronger Gun Laws' or 'Criminals' or 'Kids' - you can bet 100% it is a commi website! Americans For Gun Safety is a wolf in sheeps clothing. It is decieving some good gun people into believing they are something they are not. Nanaimo Barr, if you can get solid e-mail or proof of ibill.com, we will post their anti gun agenda. Mike GUNED.COM |
March 17, 2002, 05:24 AM | #14 | |
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So where are they? Where's the beef?
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March 18, 2002, 09:28 AM | #15 |
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I've done a little research...
and have found that their policies are at the very least arbitrary. One of their "premier partners", otherwise known as healthy benefactors is REI. REI sells the same knives most cutlery stores do. They also have a number of advertisers that are sporting goods stores who carry guns and knives. I think that this is a prime example of a policy enacted to make themselves appear politically correct, but unenforceable at the outset due to the diversity of businesses that carry knives and other weapons.
A quick search or two will easily demonstrate the hipocracy of their policies and the statements that they have made regarding this issue. Gee, I wonder when they'll dump REI?
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March 18, 2002, 09:34 AM | #16 |
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KMKeller,
The we need to complain to Google about finding those knife and gun seller! Oh the horror! Let's get Sports Authority and REI on our side.
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March 18, 2002, 04:57 PM | #17 |
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Dischord
Done. I had the google toolbar installed on my web browser. When I went to uninstall it, they asked me why.... I answered with my opinion of their policies and cited the examples I'd uncovered.
Also, I believe Victorinox and Swiss Army are advertisers... I have also discerned that Rifle Magazine Riflemagazine.net is an advertiser, as is sportsmansguide.com, and the guns auction section of Ebay Ebay gun section. More extensive research will most likely reveal many more such advertisers. Oh, and so is Wal-Mart!
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