I would buy this argument for an ISP, since the big ones do exhibit monopoly or oligopoly power in many parts of the country. But there are plenty of places to buy and sell stuff other than eBay and there are plenty of ways to pay for stuff over the internet other than Paypal. eBay and Paypal aren’t close to being monopolies.
Well, not really, they’re still showing the reruns but they’re stopping the sale of items with the flag, such as miniature General Lee cars.
Exactly. Some nutcase has his picture taken with the Confederate flag then goes on a murdering rampage, so “obviously” it was that flag’s fault.
And while we’re at it, we better go tear down that Confederate Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery because if the flag is evil, that memorial must be terrible.
I, for one, am in favor of making “racist asshole” a protected class, like sex, religion, and sexual orientation.
This is the most preposterous argument I’ve read in at least an hour.
eBay is not a monopoly, isn’t even close to being a monopoly, and isn’t ever going to be a monopoly. eBay isn’t within shouting distance of being a monopoly. Nobody is stopping anyone from possessing, displaying or flying Confederate flags. eBay is perfectly within their rights to refuse to sell whatever the hell they want.
You do not have a right to buy anything. Nothing in the Constitution of the United States of America says “Congress shall pass no law prohibiting the purchase of anything.” If eBay won’t sell you a racist flag, sew one yourself.
Nobody is blaming the flag for the murders. The murders have just helped a number of people figure out the obvious: that the Confederate flag is a symbol of bad things and we should stop celebrating it.
Can you take out “the hood mentallity” from people in the hood?
On the contrary. It’s a complete goddamned coincidence that in a state so racist that a Confederate flag flies on state property all year round, a psycho with delusions of grandeur and stunted humanity would latch onto racism and go kill a bunch of black people. No linkage! No linkage!
As BrightNShiny said, there are plenty of other places to sell the slavery flag.
ebay is one marketplace, but its the internet, they don’t control access to it. Any business can put up their own website and sell their own items, they don’t need ebay for that.
And rap music causes murder.
Regards,
Shodan
eBay has restricted racially and ethnically offensive items for years. There seems now to be a growing consensus in this country that the confederate battle flag is racially offensive so, given this change in public perception, this is in keeping with a policy that few, if any, questioned before.
You’re saying that as a joke but I would bet more black people have been killed by rap music listeners than Confederate flag owners.
In the last 200 years?
And is that per capita?
We’re not allowed to look at the origins of the flag. That’s cheating.
I live in the south where I see the “It’s not racist, it’s just historical” argument all the time. I think it’s dubious (the confederates never used the flag) but whatever, I’m cool with that.
However, for right or wrong, the flag has become a symbol of racists and is seen as racist by many people. That means that anyone flying the flag is either a racist or doesn’t mind being confused for one. 99% of the time it’s a racist trying to claim that it’s just historical. It’s almost never a history buff lamenting what the flag has become.
The swastika was a symbol of good luck for eons and the original salute to the American flag is the same as the Nazi salute, so anyone is more than welcome to go around with a swastika and throwing a Nazi salute and say it’s because they wish America good luck, but I’m not listening if they get the least bit upset when everyone thinks they’re a Nazi.
Will CF bikinis be banned?
I am in favor of removing the Confederate flag from statehouse grounds and from courthouses and other public spaces (except maybe military parks where it might be appropriate). I think those public spaces belong to all, and I think one segment of the population ought not be made to feel uncomfortable and unwelcome there, particularly when their tax dollars are helping to finance the place.
On the other hand, I do not agree with the move by Wal-Mart, eBay, and Amazon to ban sales of items adorned with the flag. I am opposed to censorship, whether it comes from governments or from corporations. If you think people should not fly the flag, then the weapon to use is moral suasion, not bans. Strong-armed suppression of this sort will only lead to backlash, I suspect.
I’m pretty sure they don’t sell swastika flags or SS memorabilia either… are you saying they should be required to? A store like Wal-Mart (large as they are) obviously has limited shelf-space… you’re not seriously arguing that they must stock every kind of flag, right? Online retailers don’t necessarily have limited space, but why must they be required to sell confederate flags (or any other symbol)? Must they sell racist screeds like the Turner Diaries? Must they sell bomb-making books?
Germany has a huge number of people that like US Civil War re-enactments. Consequently, German manufacturers turn out lots of Confederate reproductions-should these be banned as well?