posted on January 23, 2001 06:34:50 PM new
Tampering with another country's economy through threats and intimidation used to be viewed as a proverbial act of war.
Too bad it involves something as silly as regalia rather than oil. I don't think attacking a US company to ban Nazi relics would be enough to attract the attention of cluster bombs.
But if a country is allowed to get away with something relatively insignificant in a global context, what next? How many tyrannical situations developed from seemingly insignificant "first steps?"
Well, thanks to the French effort, sellers on Yahoo now have less American civil rights than sellers on other auction sites. Think about it. That's all I'm asking.
posted on January 23, 2001 08:02:44 PM new
Joice ...
If the subject still is: "French Still Goosestepping after Yahoo", then I have a major problem with it.
I'm sorry, but if you allow this thread to continue it will only degenerate even further. This thread was very obviously created and is being used to allow some to express their political thoughts and discriminitory comments. It has nothing to do (really) with Yahoo or any other auction site.
I'm surprised thay you are not able to see this ...
posted on January 23, 2001 08:43:03 PM new
How can someone discuss what illegal stunts the french courts are pulling without politics coming in ? For the record for the record if the internet had been developed 100 years ago, french items night well be the ones being banner, after Napoleon's conquests, as far as the word goosestepping it has come to be a reference in an Orwellian sort of way, to depict a totalitarian state or frame of mind. The former soviet union had their troops goosestep on a regular basis as do several current nations. The goose step was originally part of a precision load aim fire sequence that when mastered in the age of single shot weapons was highly effective
napoleons troops and the hessian hired troops of the royal brit gov in the colonies used it with alarming effect as did the french at yorktown in defense of our freedom,
an astute student of history knows that there is an awful lot misssing from current history books. My suggestion if someone does not like something or does not want to see something is to turn it off, There's a whole world out there. One one poster is right france should be sued.
posted on January 23, 2001 10:04:18 PM new
Well put !!!
Anyone should be allowed to sell anything that they want (aside from a few things such as body parts, children, etc) without having to worry about consequences.
I'm rather certain that anyone buying a stamp depicting Hitler is not a hatemonger. They are most likely a stamp collector looking for a rare piece for their collection. Most Nazi memorabilia is likely purchased by people who are true War historians and appreciate it for the historical value of the piece itself. Perhaps there are some who buy such items to perpetuate "hate" but, even so, that should be their right as long as they do not do anything that is actually a crime.
And I do not consider it a crime for anyone to own a piece of Nazi memorabilia. Some may remember the Marge Schott debacle from about 10 years ago:
The owner of the Cincinnatti Reds was having a house party when a guest came across a Nazi flag (or something like that) in a drawer. It became public and Schott was eventually forced to sell the team against her will (for other reasons as well).
Once again, I do not collect War stuff or sell any. But I can appreciate the reasons why someone would collect such things. ANYTHING HISTORICAL IS COOL AND SHOULD NOT BE BANNED !!!
posted on January 24, 2001 05:22:52 AM new
auroranorth - Thanks for posting the goosestep info. You saved me a lot of trouble by having to type it! Plus you did a better, more thorough job.
From French wine to French whine...
Who would ever have thought the next Freedom Fighters would be Yahoo sellers trying to resist France!
posted on January 24, 2001 08:37:23 AM new
robboikfootball
Thank You! A true collector is usually NOT a deadbeat bidder, The well known group that is considered a hate group is a real pain, they usually can't afford these items and unfortunately are known for creating havoc on a website. At least this has been my experience. One of my items that was cancelled had several bids on it, the high bidder was a Vet, we were both considered skinheads by this site. That to me is Blind predgidous considering I am of Italian descent.
I collect ww topicals, Pirate ships, Space Technology, any type of War stamp that has a War Plane on it and a family tree. Many I dont even know the country at first, I just look for the Topic. My husband collects U.S. we sell our dupes and topic's we dont collect.
MY favorite countries are Christmas Island, Cook Island's, Cuba, Portugal, Greece, Peru, Mexico, Canada, Japan, Russia, UAE, Africa, China etc. etc. etc. mostly NOT european countries because they are not visually appealing to me, Germany is not my favorite country because I have not found a stamp in my topic that I like, I keep a few because Germany is valuable bookwise most European countries are. We buy in mixed lots, a pound can easily bring in several thousand stamps and 120 differnet countries, my collection is to a point where I am lucky to pull 5 stamps out for my collection for every 1000 stamps. It is alot of work.
posted on January 24, 2001 09:44:35 AM new
I checked out the Brit Yahoo site and all I can say is BIZZARE what reasoning allows something in other countries that a second party has blocked here ? maybe it's because the english have always beaten france in the past ? 200 tears when they fought
posted on January 24, 2001 10:06:43 AM new
Thank You Rebel,
I wasn't quite sure on some of those, You did find a LOvely Helmet. Now we need to work on "Dresden" type collectibles and the other Trophies the Nazi's took from those they terrorized, you can open a whole new can of worms with that. Remember Hitler was also a collector of pretty things many of us are unaware of, many of these things were produced by france, then ended up in hitler's hands taken from the innocent victims of this War. Even the reproductions of such art in unacceptible. So what if they were produced by France. That makes it okay?
The word French Wine keeps on coming accross my mind everytime I think about the word
Embargo. What would happen if This were to happen? An Embargo on French wine? Sounds like a plan to me. Surely the french wont mind it if they feel those of us in the US are hate mongers anyway.
posted on January 24, 2001 10:52:11 AM new
Can't even figure out which state it is actually in. Seems no one else can either. New York claims it but it's clearly in New Jersey state waters.
Besides, I'm surprised the French haven't demanded it back as we are 'not worthy'...
posted on January 24, 2001 11:11:31 AM new
Sparkeling water? hmmmmmm.........=( that might hurt some of us, I can name several as costly as wine. What is France putting in the water? I will no longer drink the water from a country that indirectly wants to hurt me.
posted on January 24, 2001 12:02:15 PM new
I also enjoyed the comment:
Anyone should be allowed to sell anything that they want (aside from a few things such as body parts, children, etc) without having to worry about consequences.
Actions shouldn't have consequences - American jails are full of people who share that viewpoint.
posted on January 24, 2001 02:30:55 PM new
I can certainly decide what is ok to sell.
EVERYTHING !!!!!
(Except the above mentioned things like body parts, children, slaves, maybe livestock.....)
I just don't see how anyone could seriously say that they are offended when they look at Yahoo! auctions France and see someone else bidding on a stamp with Hitler on it. More communist crap thinkers everyday it seems...
I am offended by people who wear clothes from 1986. SHOULD THEY BE BANNED AS WELL BECAUSE I AM OFFENDED ?????
posted on January 24, 2001 02:37:36 PM newExcept the above mentioned things like body parts, children, slaves, maybe livestock.....)
Why?
Because you have a problem with it? Who made you the arbiter of right and wrong? You don't like it when lines are drawn for you, others don't like it when you draw the line for them. I don't see how you can be perfectly okay with some things being banned yet have a problem when others ban things for you.
posted on January 24, 2001 03:06:52 PM new
Yes, I drew the line at body parts, children etc. I shouldn't have to explain why one shouldn't sell such things online or anywhere.
The "line" which I drew does not encompass all that many items. No one should really have a problem with rules against the selling of body parts, etc.
No one made me the "arbiter of right and wrong". I am giving my opinion, which is very simple. WWII items should not be banned. I simply can't fathom why someone would be offended with Hitler stamps, helmets, firearms etc from WWII.
Another reason I don't like it "when lines are drawn for me" is because eventually the line will keep moving. Next it will be controversial books being banned on Yahoo!......then what kind of world do we have ?
posted on January 24, 2001 03:42:34 PM new
Censorship needs to be done at the browser level only. If I choose (as an American Citizen) to buy, sell, or view Nazi Materials that is my right. I am not a French citizen, and last time I checked I wasn't required to abide by French law.
Pornography is illegal in China and many Arab nations. Does that mean they have a right to censor every of country's citizens because they find it offensive. NO WAY. It doesn't work that way.
If the French government doesn't want their citizens to be able to access Nazi items (or any other items they find offensive) then they need to develop a method of blocking that information through interception of data or mandatory use of government approved web browsers with built in blocking software. They are pissing in the wrong back yard. It is a French problem not an American one.
As for the whole nonsense of a picture of a swastika on an auction site causing someone distress...give me a break. For starters, you shouldn't be looking for what you don't want to find. I am terrified of the thought of being eaten alive by lions. Therefore, I stay out of their cages when I visit the zoo.
posted on January 24, 2001 04:11:54 PM new
robbo ...
I agree with you 100% about WWII memorablia, and in principle with your thoughts on censorship.
I do not agree with someone(s) badmouthing an entire country and it's population just because of some bizzare government policy. If that were the case, I doubt any of us could name the "perfect country" - we'ed all be bashing each other constantly.
I also believe that the majority of the French population (certainly those that buy and sell on eBay et al) are probably just as pissed off as we are, but, like us, "When in Rome ..."
posted on January 24, 2001 04:35:54 PM new
Obviously my attacks have been against the French government, courts, private groups who have filed suit against Yahoo and those who support their decisions in this regard. I have nothing against the French who are trying to do something about it, of which I am reading nothing. Silence is consent? What else can we think?
I have nothing against the French farmer who doesn't even know what a Yahoo is. I have nothing against the little French school kids who hopefully will grow up some day and overthrow their sick, twisted socialist government.
I've got a big problem with the French government and those who support its actions. If silence is consent is any indicator, then I have a problem with the majority of French citizenry who support these actions and who should know better.
Aside from that, viva la Nazi regalia!
[ edited by RebelGuns on Jan 24, 2001 04:39 PM ]
