Censorship at EBAY

[spooked]

I just finished reading a moving book about the Warsaw Ghetto, told through the eyes of a street child (Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli).
The book focused so much on the armbands with the Star of David that Jews were forced to wear, that out of curiosity, and to make it more "real", I checked ebay to see if there might actually be an armband for auction (I've found stranger things on ebay!)

Anyway, my search for "jewish Armband" came up with two items

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2F&krd=1&from=R8&MfcISAPICommand=GetResult&ht=1&SortProperty=MetaEndSort&query=jewish+armband

but when I clicked on either of them, this is the message I get:

Dear User:

Unfortunately, access to this particular category or item has been blocked due to legal restrictions in your home country. Based on our discussions with concerned government agencies and eBay community members, we have taken these steps to reduce the chance of inappropriate items being displayed. Regrettably, in some cases this policy may prevent users from accessing items that do not violate the law. At this time, we are working on less restrictive alternatives. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause you, and we hope you may find other items of interest on eBay.


What the heck is this?? Is this part of the Patriot act or something??? WHAt "legal restrictions" prevent us from seeing these auctions? WHY are we in the USA not allowed to see these two Concentration Camp/Jewish armbands?!

[beyurslf]

1. That is strange.

Germany has laws against anything Nazi-related. This could be included in that I suppose. I don't see how it coudl affect us here though.

[WoodrowFan]

2. I suspect

I suspect that it was accidently marked as being a Nazi item.

[spooked]

4. Strange indeed

I am in New England. Where are you?

[Philostopher]

3. Hmmmm.

I was able to pull them both up. Where are you?

[Heddi]

5. What country are you registered as living in

I know that people registered on Ebay as living in Germany (and a few other countries that I can't think of right now) are prohibited from viewing such things because the country (germany) has a ban on the sale of such items.

And just a side note---Ebay is a private company. they can prohibit the sale of, or promote the sale of (or viewing of, etc) of anything they want. It's not censorship.

There are plenty of things that I can't buy on Ebay--bongs, anything related to Marijuana, vibrators, etc. Is it censorship that they don't allow these things to be sold on their venue? Is it censorship that Target doesn't sell bongs or Vibrators? Is it censorship that you can't buy nudie mags on Ebay?

No, no no and no. It's their company policy.

Check your registration information to make sure that you're not somehow listed as living in Germany, or any other restricted country. If that doesn't get you anywhere, contact Live Help on the home page. They're most helpful, and quite pleasant (in my experience)

[spooked]

6. I checked,

just to be sure, and I am definately registered as living in the USA.

I understand that ebay is a private company, and a great one at that, but I am confused as to why the "item has been blocked due to legal restrictions in YOUR home country". I'm assuming that the "home country" they are talking about is the USA, but maybe it's just a computer glitch.

[Heddi]

7. Try this

Ebay has glitches all the time, and this usually helps me get them straightened out (most of the time)

Log out, log back in, log out, and log back in again. Then try to view the page.

You don't have any settings where you would be reading Ebay in German or anything, do you? this is weird.

If you're still having problems, seriously, go to Live Help on the home page. They should be able to help you out

[Heddi]

8. Also, you might be interested in knowing

for both of these auctions, the items are reproductions, not original armbands.

THe 2nd armband seller has many negatives for selling reproductions and I guess not listing them as so in his auction.

The first one is stated that it's not original, and perhaps a movie prop. :)

Here are some of the Negs for the 2nd listing:

pwojtowicz


Complaint : IMMITATIONS. FAILED TO REPLY TO EMAILS.
Complaint : NO REPLY. IMMITATION ITEMS. ITEMS SOLD KEPT PRIVATE. BEWARE
Complaint : Never again Clames I didnt Pay now discover Replica Ripoff
Complaint : Sells reproduction belt buckles ,uses same picture over and over
Complaint : FAKE armband--a bad one at that!! Buyer beware of items from this person
Complaint : RingNotOld& NOT stamped 800...Is cheap modern ring
stamped 925/please refund!
Neutral : KNOWS he sells fakes but won't put on listing, WON"T buy from him gain!
Neutral : Had expert look over piece;NOT AUTHENTIC... Nor Original..nor pre1945!
Praise : never stated authentic but it is a fake! Will NEVER buy from him again!
Complaint : Items are FAKE! Beware of buying items from this seller! NOT original WWII items
Complaint : Again a very poorly made badge,you will get what you pay for.be careful
Complaint : Items are FAKE! Beware of buying from this seller! NOT original WWII items!
Complaint : poorly made fake armband not made during ww2 as listed on ebay auction

[spooked]

9. Thanks all...

Guess the best thing is the Holocaust Museum.

[grasswire]

10. they pulled up for me, too

Maybe you have some kind of filter on your puter so kids won't see nazi stuff?

[Gulf Coast J]

15. You CAN buy nudie mags on Ebay

You just have to know where to look...

[spindoctor]

11. Ebay's policy is understandable

These types of "souvenirs" are very popular with neo nazis who collect this kind of memorabilia for whatever perverted reasons.

I share Ebay's opinion on this matter. Goods like this should be treated with proper respect and not be auctioned off to whomever.

[Must_B_Free]

12. What about native american artifacts?

does that not also count as genocide? How come one group has a special status that noone else has?

[spindoctor]

13. There is a difference

Or actually, several differences

1. There is no significant number of neo-colonists collecting memorabilia of Indian masacres.
2. There are no artifacts specific to the murder of Indians (like the armbands in the original post).
3. There is no organization that is still today determined to wipe all Native Americans from the face of the earth.

It's not about a special status for a "group", it is about a special status for these specific artifacts. There is no ban on Jewish artifacts, there is a ban on artifacts relating to the holocaust.

I can't think of such items relating to Native American genocide, but I doubt that General Custer's scalp would be allowed for auction on Ebay;)

[_]

16. Not sure of Ebays policy....

but Paypal has restrictions on Native American objects (seeing as Ebay owns PayPal, the same policies probably apply).

http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/ua/use/index_frame-outside&ed=artifacts_grave

Artifacts, Grave Related Items, and Native American Crafts Policy

The following rules govern all items sold using PayPal as well as all items listed on websites listed in PayPal Shops. PayPal cooperates with the Department of the Interior, Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Federal Bureau of Investigation in determining which artifacts, Native American items, cave formations, and grave-related items are protected under specific federal laws and what may lawfully be sold under these laws.

Native American items
You may not use PayPal to sell Native American human remains and grave and burial-related items. This includes masks and "prayer sticks" from all Southwestern tribes.

Artifacts
You may not use PayPal to sell artifacts taken from any federal, state, public Department of Interior Agency (NPS, BLM, USFWS), Department of Agriculture Agency (USFS), Native American land, or battlefield.


The list of prohibited items is pretty extensive: everything from Autographed Items to human remains. Nazi/WWII memorbilia falls under the offensive catagory

http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/ua/use/index_frame-outside&ed=offensive

Although it states: WWII memorabilia that does not bear the Nazi or SS markings (generally may be sold using PayPal).

Electric chairs and related capital punishment items are also prohibited. :(

If you browse through the list of prohibited items, it seems like %95 are for legal or liability reasons.

[DoNotRefill]

14. They probably think you're French or German...

there are very strict laws regarding symbolic things connected with the Nazis there, with good reason.

IIRC, Ebay got charged with violating French law for allowing such products to be displayed in france via the internet.

Ebay's covering their asses.

[_]

17. Yahoo and Google were also hit with the same Frensh law

and ordered to filter out Nazi related websites and material.

http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/1488031