Lets start off with saying that we in no way support the KKK in any form. However, we have a seller who has some KKK items that he picked up in a box lot (at the bottom). Does anyone know of an auction venue that will accept these? Will eBay allow them?
We don't want to start any kind of moral debate about selling offensive items. We just want to see if these would be worth purchasing since we had problems before with a Nazi book that we acquired.
posted on January 25, 2002 04:59:51 AM
It depends on how old the KKK stuff is and then you are the whims of the ebay police. They kill some auctions and let others continue. I recently sold a group of American G.I. captured Nazi stuff. I cut pieces of paper and put it over each swastika and then posted a statement that the group celebrated the defeat of Naziism NOT the endorsement of it. You might try that approach but you will still be at the whims of some unknown entity in cyberland. Good luck!<br />
[ edited by bigiron on Jan 25, 2002 05:20 AM ]
posted on January 25, 2002 06:23:01 AM
Are the members of the KKK idiots? Absolutely!! Are they illegal? No!! That said, Ebay should have no right to cancel auctions they personally find distasteful. Quite a few people find Black Power items to be distasteful but they are allowed. I would list them and see what happens. Last time I checked this was a free country and free speech is still permitted.
posted on January 25, 2002 06:39:12 AM
I for one believe in the concept of freedom of speech and expression, even though there are those who limit it for various reasons.
The controversial items, like KKK and Nazi items should be traded freely and openly. In the overall scheme of things, don't you think the Spanish Inquisition, or Stalin's reign of terror, or the Khmer Rouge committed as many if not more repulsive acts?
These decisions about what is acceptable to sell are based on pressure from outside, and arbitrary and capricious decisions from the inside of ebay, usually by narrow minded but well meaning folks from Salt Lake City where ebay runs customer service from. Anyone who has been there knows what a repressive and sad place that is for non-Mormans, Olympics or not.
So sell away, these are items with historical significance, would make interesting school projects and community displays, and to hell with those who would limit your ability to study and contemplate the past.
posted on January 25, 2002 07:08:15 AM
Well, did some research and looks like, despite free speech, etc., etc., the Ebay police will indeed kill just about any KKK auction unless its a book. Yahoo takes a similar stance. Look in current and completed auctions and you hardly find any in Ku Klux Klan or KKK (other than L@@@KKK - LOL!)
posted on January 25, 2002 08:38:51 AM
I would suggest you tell the seller to collect the KKK items and donate them to the nearest university black studies program.
Sale of KKK items means blood money. I certainly wouldn't want my name associated with it.
Not everything that is salable is worth selling. There is a big difference between hate items and historical items.
posted on January 25, 2002 11:10:30 AM
You could probably list them on epier as most of the ww2 era nazi item collectors moved there when ebay booted that segment of the community. Epier tends to allow traders and collectors to freely list items that are not politically correct at other sites. Be Careful Listing those types of items from your regular trading name as there are people online who will cause you much trouble for daring to do so.
Best of luck
