Has Amazon Kindled a Small Fire?

Amazon.com may have stoked a small fire in the gay rights movement. Sunday, April 12th, writer and blogger Mark R. Probst called attention to the sudden disappearance of the rankings of dozens of gay and lesbian themed books from the popular sites many listings.

The website offers customers several lists of suggested literature including Amazon.com best sellers, New York Times best sellers, best of the year, seasonal, and more. These lists often help produce more sales by giving authors (both popular and unknown) exposure to individuals who normally would not know of their work.

When Probst wrote to the site questioning the phenomenon he received a response from a Member Services Representative stating "In consideration of our entire customer base, we exclude 'adult' material from appearing in some searches and best seller lists." Seeing as though this is not a new, although little known, policy there was not much argument left. Until CNET reported on that Amazon was also classifying the children's book Heather Has Two Mommies and Ellen DeGeneres' autobiography, My Point... And I Do Have One, as adult. All while books such as former porn-star Ron Jeremy's memoir, Jackie Collins, Zane, and a photography collection of Playboy centerfolds were still being ranked on the website's lists.

When this discrepancy was brought to Amazon's attention they were quick to admit that a "mistake" was made, and that a "glitch" in the company's ranking system had caused the error. Amazon spokesperson Pattie Smith told the L.A. Times that there was no bias and that the matter is being dealt with.

Despite the company apology the masses have not been calmed. Responses to Probst's blog are still flooding in. While some are convinced that Amazon simply made a mistake, more believe that the company simply got caught displaying their bias against homosexuals. I'm not sure who's right. Perhaps it was just a small mistake that happened at a very wrong time. I personally took it upon myself to check out some of the books that were reported taken off the rankings lists, as well as a few that I personally know are of an "adult" nature. The books are still for sale on the sight, though I couldn't find them on any of the lists. I also found nothing on the books' individual pages that offered any kind of warning or categorizing of its "adult" material. Maybe the categorization is just part of the company's way of doing things. But I would think that, being so concerned with not offending customers, they would make sure that searches resulting in such books let the customer know that it was considered "adult". I don't think Amazon was lying to cover their mishap, but I do think they need to tweak their system to make it more thorough.