Obama Mask Listed As "Terrorist Costume" On Amazon

Oxdown Gazette:

I had heard from a friend that searching on Amazon.com for "terrorist costume" would yield but one costume -- a Barack Obama mask.

Figuring it was a joke, I had to try it for myself. After entering "terrorist costume" in to the "Apparel & Accessories" search box at Amazon, however, the search results were less than funny. Sure enough, there was but one result, a Barack Obama mask selling for $49.95.

...

Since this story has been making a buzz on teh internets, Amazon.com has fixed the "terrorist" listing. I wonder if they will issue an apology?

Read the whole story: Oxdown Gazette

Comments

[IndyReader]

For the longest time Amazon featured masks on their front page of Obama and McCain with gauges of which was more popular. (Obama's was, BTW.) The fact is that anyone can tag an item on the site without Amazon's input. So, if some evil wingnut tagged his mask as "terrorist costume", it wouldn't come to Amazon's attention unless someone else told them, which someone did, leading Amazon to remove the tag.

Sorry, but I'm not giving up on the site for this because their business practices are some of the best on the Internet.

[macbabe]

Amazon.com
[phone]

tell them what you think!!!

[gelfling545]

I have just informed Amazon that I will no longer make purchases there for this reason and canceled my account. I urge others to do the same at least until there is both an explanation and apology.

[Joaninha]

I urge you to get a life and freak out about something RELEVANT next time.

[jdw1981]

It might not be Amazon's fault, but they'd be smart to correct it immediately. They're losing customers by the minute.

[veggiequeenmo]

i just checked and searched for "terrorist" - nothing came up - guess they fixed that problem. but elsewhere...

[Gifts]

Sounds upsetting for Obama supporters, I am sure the Sarah Palin Supporters are just as upset about the Hollywood Hanging of Sarah Palin. Don't cry, Sarah's getting heat too. I guess it is freedom of speech.

[Ramirez]

That mask looks nothing like Obama.

[LiberalDemIda]

It doesn't have to. However, being listed under "Barack Obama Mask" and can be "googled" under the word "t -er_ror. ist", even you have to admit that's egregious.

[peggyleg]

How is this still going on? You mean you can google the "t" word and the mask is there also?

[Bluejay00234]

And to think of all the money I've spent on amazon...NEVER again!

[GallopingCat]

I think it's funny that just like one post bombed Apple's stock, reporters ignorant about how Amazon works have misled people who don't understand how Amazon works and now want to boycott the company. Then the Huffington Post exploits it.

Really, it's a disservice to Amazon when dozens of commenters here have tried to explain to people how user-created tags work, and people just overreact and have public meltdowns of drama. Anybody can create tags to help find products. Find a product featuring any person that somebody might possibly hate on Amazon: Madonna, Bill O'Reilly, Michael Moore. You will find insulting tags associated with their name.

The point is not that the tags exist, but that Amazon should do a better job of policing them.

[cariosity]

Exactly what I wanted to say! Thank you!

[tednottodd]

You can justify it any way you want. It is still Amazon's business, and they are responsible for anything that goes out on their commercial website. If they aren't issuing a statement every hour, they are making as bad a business decision as allowing this to happen in the first place.

Even here on Huffington, all comments are previewed. some may say that it smacks as censorship, but it is their site, and they have the right to delete posts that would either tarnish their name, or would be inflammatory.

[GallopingCat]

And you can refuse to read my last line and pretend I didn't write it.

Me, I'm going back to the election Obama's winning and forgetting about this nonsense.

[BillForObama]

As reprehensible as this election has been, it is incumbent for Amazon to review new pages put up of ANY caricature of ANY candidate. This is something that Amazon should have discovered!!!

Amazon has earned the wrath of any customer who decides that they should. They should pay the cost of doing business as anyone in business does. This is a cost.

[cariosity]

Amazon really needs to revise their tagging system because this is embarrassing! But seriously folks, calm down!! Step back from the ledge!!! We have REAL problems to deal with, like people that are being disenfranchised as I type! Keep your eye on what's really important...WE'VE GOT EIGHT DAYS LEFT!

[fetchezlavache]

Not amazon's fault, although the tagging system is faulty. If you look at the tags on this mask now, two of them are "landslide" and "next president".

[cariosity]

*I* know it's not Amazon's fault that idiots edit their products' tags but it IS their fault for having an unfiltered system that can be manipulated so easily. Even the most simple user-interaction software has filters, why doesn't Amazon's?

[PineyWoods]

I'm sure it was a joke. Just like dressing up in blackface for Halloween is a joke.

Sure, it's free speech. Now, shall we encourage it? Is that the standard for whether we should do things -- the question of whether the action is constitutionally protected or not? I don't think it's unconstitutional to cheat on your wife with your nanny.

I'm not sure if I require an apology from Amazon, because I don't know all of the facts, but as a frequent customer I will be writing them to request an explanation as to how it showed up on their website.

[peace1970]

What a disgrace, I spend Hundreds of dollars on Amazon, I wrote an e-mail, I am no longer a customer of the .com or the amazon.ca!!
Obama/Biden...
Anyone who thinks this is funny is a racist and a bigot....you know who you are....

[fetchezlavache]

This was the work of an outside person who put up the tags. Don't lose your head and take it out on amazon.

[LiberalDemIda]

When it is FACT that 60% of Amazon's 2004 donations went to the GOP, it looks, at the very least, suspicious that an outsider can just come in and put up a mask labeling it a "Barack Obama Mask" with 'terrorist" in its tags.

I have also boycotted Amazon. If Amazon is allowed to "vote" with their donations, then I'm allowed to "vote" with my dollars.

It's that simple.

[blonjon]

Not funny. Don't care whose lover you are. I won't ever do business with them again.

[ObamaLover]

get a sense of humor folks... geez.

[HenriR]

They will claim they were hacked, no doubt. More likely, it was a wacko employee as well as some horribly indolent management­/supervisi­on. But it's the company's responsibility. This stuff is simply NOT FUNNY! I usually do some serious Christmas shopping on Amazon.com. NOT THIS YEAR!

[fetchezlavache]

People...anyone who buys from amazon can put up a tag. The new tags are most complimentary and positive! Take a deep breath and reflect before you try to cut off someone's livelihood. Remember what happened to the Dixie Chicks?