American Booksellers Associaton apoligizes for posting anti trans book

[lfromnj]

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/86883-booksellers-denounce-aba-promotion-of-anti-trans-book.html

This is a serious, violent incident that goes against ABA’s ends policies, values, and everything we believe and support. It is inexcusable.

Called it a violent incident lmao.

[Alben Barkley]

The groveling is honestly just pathetic and bizarre. They are a book association. They distributed a book. In a country where there is supposed to be free speech and books are supposed to be read, discussed, and critiqued. Not burned by angry mobs. But these cowards have totally caved into these authoritarian, anti-democratic, anti-speech mobs in the most sniveling way imaginable. The way they just get on their knees and flagellate themselves is stomach-churning. Does no one in this country have any guts anymore?

[Samof94]

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/86883-booksellers-denounce-aba-promotion-of-anti-trans-book.html

This is a serious, violent incident that goes against ABA’s ends policies, values, and everything we believe and support. It is inexcusable.

Called it a violent incident lmao.

Amazon has had issues with allowing the selling of Mein Kampf.

[7,052,770]

The groveling is honestly just pathetic and bizarre. They are a book association. They distributed a book. In a country where there is supposed to be free speech and books are supposed to be read, discussed, and critiqued. Not burned by angry mobs. But these cowards have totally caved into these authoritarian, anti-democratic, anti-speech mobs in the most sniveling way imaginable. The way they just get on their knees and flagellate themselves is stomach-churning. Does no one in this country have any guts anymore?

As long as it's not a governmental book agency, there is no "free speech" issue here. If you insist on wearing the red avatar, you've got to quit parroting low-level Republican talking points.

[Fight for Trump]

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/86883-booksellers-denounce-aba-promotion-of-anti-trans-book.html

This is a serious, violent incident that goes against ABA’s ends policies, values, and everything we believe and support. It is inexcusable.

Called it a violent incident lmao.

Amazon has had issues with allowing the selling of Mein Kampf.

They have trouble keeping it in stock.

[Joe Haydn]

The groveling is honestly just pathetic and bizarre. They are a book association. They distributed a book. In a country where there is supposed to be free speech and books are supposed to be read, discussed, and critiqued. Not burned by angry mobs. But these cowards have totally caved into these authoritarian, anti-democratic, anti-speech mobs in the most sniveling way imaginable. The way they just get on their knees and flagellate themselves is stomach-churning. Does no one in this country have any guts anymore?

As long as it's not a governmental book agency, there is no "free speech" issue here. If you insist on wearing the red avatar, you've got to quit parroting low-level Republican talking points.

It's pretty sad that you think these are Republican talking points. In a free society booksellers should feel free to sell any books they like, no matter how "problematic" their content.

[John Dule]

The groveling is honestly just pathetic and bizarre. They are a book association. They distributed a book. In a country where there is supposed to be free speech and books are supposed to be read, discussed, and critiqued. Not burned by angry mobs. But these cowards have totally caved into these authoritarian, anti-democratic, anti-speech mobs in the most sniveling way imaginable. The way they just get on their knees and flagellate themselves is stomach-churning. Does no one in this country have any guts anymore?

As long as it's not a governmental book agency, there is no "free speech" issue here. If you insist on wearing the red avatar, you've got to quit parroting low-level Republican talking points.

One can criticize behavior in the public without wanting to outlaw it.

[Geoffrey Howe]

The groveling is honestly just pathetic and bizarre. They are a book association. They distributed a book. In a country where there is supposed to be free speech and books are supposed to be read, discussed, and critiqued. Not burned by angry mobs. But these cowards have totally caved into these authoritarian, anti-democratic, anti-speech mobs in the most sniveling way imaginable. The way they just get on their knees and flagellate themselves is stomach-churning. Does no one in this country have any guts anymore?

As long as it's not a governmental book agency, there is no "free speech" issue here. If you insist on wearing the red avatar, you've got to quit parroting low-level Republican talking points.

One can criticize behavior in the public without wanting to outlaw it.

Exactly, but this is actually a free speech issue. Harry seems to conflate freedom of speech as a principle with the First Amendment.

[Fight for Trump]

The groveling is honestly just pathetic and bizarre. They are a book association. They distributed a book. In a country where there is supposed to be free speech and books are supposed to be read, discussed, and critiqued. Not burned by angry mobs. But these cowards have totally caved into these authoritarian, anti-democratic, anti-speech mobs in the most sniveling way imaginable. The way they just get on their knees and flagellate themselves is stomach-churning. Does no one in this country have any guts anymore?

As long as it's not a governmental book agency, there is no "free speech" issue here. If you insist on wearing the red avatar, you've got to quit parroting low-level Republican talking points.

One can criticize behavior in the public without wanting to outlaw it.

Exactly, but this is actually a free speech issue. Harry seems to conflate freedom of speech as a principle with the First Amendment.

Typical authoritarian behavior.

[7,052,770]

The groveling is honestly just pathetic and bizarre. They are a book association. They distributed a book. In a country where there is supposed to be free speech and books are supposed to be read, discussed, and critiqued. Not burned by angry mobs. But these cowards have totally caved into these authoritarian, anti-democratic, anti-speech mobs in the most sniveling way imaginable. The way they just get on their knees and flagellate themselves is stomach-churning. Does no one in this country have any guts anymore?

As long as it's not a governmental book agency, there is no "free speech" issue here. If you insist on wearing the red avatar, you've got to quit parroting low-level Republican talking points.

It's pretty sad that you think these are Republican talking points. In a free society booksellers should feel free to sell any books they like, no matter how "problematic" their content.

Yes. They are free to sell or not sell whatever books they like or don't like. The American Booksellers Organization can use its free speech to say what it wants about this book.

[7,052,770]

The groveling is honestly just pathetic and bizarre. They are a book association. They distributed a book. In a country where there is supposed to be free speech and books are supposed to be read, discussed, and critiqued. Not burned by angry mobs. But these cowards have totally caved into these authoritarian, anti-democratic, anti-speech mobs in the most sniveling way imaginable. The way they just get on their knees and flagellate themselves is stomach-churning. Does no one in this country have any guts anymore?

As long as it's not a governmental book agency, there is no "free speech" issue here. If you insist on wearing the red avatar, you've got to quit parroting low-level Republican talking points.

One can criticize behavior in the public without wanting to outlaw it.

Exactly, but this is actually a free speech issue. Harry seems to conflate freedom of speech as a principle with the First Amendment.

No one other than the government has any obligation to enforce some kind of "freedom of speech" concept to things they don't like.

I really don't care about this book either way, other than a quick review online shows that it's waaaaay outside the scientific mainstream, to the degree that it probably needs a disclaimer about that. But the non-governmental ABA has no obligation to promote it if it doesn't want to.

[Fight for Trump]

The groveling is honestly just pathetic and bizarre. They are a book association. They distributed a book. In a country where there is supposed to be free speech and books are supposed to be read, discussed, and critiqued. Not burned by angry mobs. But these cowards have totally caved into these authoritarian, anti-democratic, anti-speech mobs in the most sniveling way imaginable. The way they just get on their knees and flagellate themselves is stomach-churning. Does no one in this country have any guts anymore?

As long as it's not a governmental book agency, there is no "free speech" issue here. If you insist on wearing the red avatar, you've got to quit parroting low-level Republican talking points.

One can criticize behavior in the public without wanting to outlaw it.

Exactly, but this is actually a free speech issue. Harry seems to conflate freedom of speech as a principle with the First Amendment.

No one other than the government has any obligation to enforce some kind of "freedom of speech" concept to things they don't like.

Nobody is talking about laws or enforcement. Free speech does not exist unless the vast majority of the individual participants (businesses, individuals, other entities, of which the government is only one) respect it in principle and act accordingly.

[7,052,770]

The groveling is honestly just pathetic and bizarre. They are a book association. They distributed a book. In a country where there is supposed to be free speech and books are supposed to be read, discussed, and critiqued. Not burned by angry mobs. But these cowards have totally caved into these authoritarian, anti-democratic, anti-speech mobs in the most sniveling way imaginable. The way they just get on their knees and flagellate themselves is stomach-churning. Does no one in this country have any guts anymore?

As long as it's not a governmental book agency, there is no "free speech" issue here. If you insist on wearing the red avatar, you've got to quit parroting low-level Republican talking points.

One can criticize behavior in the public without wanting to outlaw it.

Exactly, but this is actually a free speech issue. Harry seems to conflate freedom of speech as a principle with the First Amendment.

No one other than the government has any obligation to enforce some kind of "freedom of speech" concept to things they don't like.

Nobody is talking about laws or enforcement. Free speech does not exist unless the vast majority of the individual participants (businesses, individuals, other entities, of which the government is only one) respect it in principle and act accordingly.

Your definition of "free speech" does not exist and never has. Controversial books have always had trouble finding people to print, publish, and sell them - in fact, it's probably easier to do so today than ever before.

[Geoffrey Howe]

You have a very strange definition of the principle of freedom of speech if you think it only relates to enforcement by the State. It encompasses something much broader, which I think most agree that individuals and private entities should respect. The difference is that in America the government must respect freedom of speech. But that doesn’t mean it is right for others not to. Of course, the definition gets murky when one descends into poor quality writing/research for publication, for example - but that is why the blanket prerogative only applies to State sanction.

[7,052,770]

You have a very strange definition of the principle of freedom of speech if you think it only relates to enforcement by the State. It encompasses something much broader, which I think most agree that individuals and private entities should respect. The difference is that in America the government must respect freedom of speech. But that doesn’t mean it is right for others not to. Of course, the definition gets murky when one descends into poor quality writing/research for publication, for example - but that is why the blanket prerogative only applies to State sanction.

No, I have the normal one. The ABA is under no obligation to distribute this book if they don't want to.

[Geoffrey Howe]

You have a very strange definition of the principle of freedom of speech if you think it only relates to enforcement by the State. It encompasses something much broader, which I think most agree that individuals and private entities should respect. The difference is that in America the government must respect freedom of speech. But that doesn’t mean it is right for others not to. Of course, the definition gets murky when one descends into poor quality writing/research for publication, for example - but that is why the blanket prerogative only applies to State sanction.

No, I have the normal one. The ABA is under no obligation to distribute this book if they don't want to.

 

[7,052,770]

You have a very strange definition of the principle of freedom of speech if you think it only relates to enforcement by the State. It encompasses something much broader, which I think most agree that individuals and private entities should respect. The difference is that in America the government must respect freedom of speech. But that doesn’t mean it is right for others not to. Of course, the definition gets murky when one descends into poor quality writing/research for publication, for example - but that is why the blanket prerogative only applies to State sanction.

No, I have the normal one. The ABA is under no obligation to distribute this book if they don't want to.

 

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The ABA is under no obligation to distribute this book if they don't want to.

A purely technical point: a booksellers association does not distribute books. Publishers and wholesalers do that. A solitary promotional copy of a book to each member shop is not distribution.

[Ferguson97]

The groveling is honestly just pathetic and bizarre. They are a book association. They distributed a book. In a country where there is supposed to be free speech and books are supposed to be read, discussed, and critiqued. Not burned by angry mobs. But these cowards have totally caved into these authoritarian, anti-democratic, anti-speech mobs in the most sniveling way imaginable. The way they just get on their knees and flagellate themselves is stomach-churning. Does no one in this country have any guts anymore?

As long as it's not a governmental book agency, there is no "free speech" issue here. If you insist on wearing the red avatar, you've got to quit parroting low-level Republican talking points.

One can criticize behavior in the public without wanting to outlaw it.

Exactly, but this is actually a free speech issue. Harry seems to conflate freedom of speech as a principle with the First Amendment.

No one other than the government has any obligation to enforce some kind of "freedom of speech" concept to things they don't like.

Nobody is talking about laws or enforcement. Free speech does not exist unless the vast majority of the individual participants (businesses, individuals, other entities, of which the government is only one) respect it in principle and act accordingly.

Free speech is when the ABA is forced to publish my bigoted book.

[DINGO Joe]

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/86883-booksellers-denounce-aba-promotion-of-anti-trans-book.html

This is a serious, violent incident that goes against ABA’s ends policies, values, and everything we believe and support. It is inexcusable.

Called it a violent incident lmao.

Amazon has had issues with allowing the selling of Mein Kampf.

They have trouble keeping it in stock.

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/58783/who-gets-royalties-mein-kampf

[Fight for Trump]

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/86883-booksellers-denounce-aba-promotion-of-anti-trans-book.html

This is a serious, violent incident that goes against ABA’s ends policies, values, and everything we believe and support. It is inexcusable.

Called it a violent incident lmao.

Amazon has had issues with allowing the selling of Mein Kampf.

They have trouble keeping it in stock.

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/58783/who-gets-royalties-mein-kampf

I did it for charity.

https://talkelections.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=244150.msg5231748#msg5231748

[Joe Haydn]

The description of this as a "violent" incident is what pushes their groveling and hysterical apology over the edge. Lots of strange language used here.

Luis Correa, who works as a bookseller at Avid Bookshop in Athens, Ga., was first made aware of the issue when fellow booksellers emailed him Morrissey’s tweet. Correa identifies as a queer, Latino, and fat-bodied person

 

With that said, the inclusion of a book like this in an association's promotional materials should not be equated with the debate around selling books. It's much more disturbing that activists have been successful in pushing to keep books off of shop shelves and out of the online marketplaces.

Wait, Morrissey’s involved in this somehow? Just when I thought this story couldn’t get any crazier…it’s like he follows me wherever I go.

[DINGO Joe]

The description of this as a "violent" incident is what pushes their groveling and hysterical apology over the edge. Lots of strange language used here.

Luis Correa, who works as a bookseller at Avid Bookshop in Athens, Ga., was first made aware of the issue when fellow booksellers emailed him Morrissey’s tweet. Correa identifies as a queer, Latino, and fat-bodied person

 

With that said, the inclusion of a book like this in an association's promotional materials should not be equated with the debate around selling books. It's much more disturbing that activists have been successful in pushing to keep books off of shop shelves and out of the online marketplaces.

Wait, Morrissey’s involved in this somehow? Just when I thought this story couldn’t get any crazier…it’s like he follows me wherever I go.

Sadly, not that Morrissey, though it'd be par for the course these days.

[Big Abraham]

Free speech is when the ABA is forced to publish my bigoted book.

If it wasn't clear that the AMERICAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION is not a publisher, the post immediately prior to yours clarifies that it is not. Why do you insist on holding strong opinions on subjects on which you cannot be bothered to master even the most basic and obvious facts?

Perhaps consider the poster.

[Geoffrey Howe]

With that said, the inclusion of a book like this in an association's promotional materials should not be equated with the debate around selling books. It's much more disturbing that activists have been successful in pushing to keep books off of shop shelves and out of the online marketplaces.

Reminds me of an exchange I once read in a newspaper comments section on an article about some absurd wokery:

A: Are they going to start burning books?
B: They don’t need to. You just need to get into a publishing house and convince them the book is “harmful.”