Why are cruel parenting sites legal?

[Blu]

I have heard of Gary Ezzo before, and today discovered the horrific Michael Pearl. Pearl and his wife actually advocate beating children under the age of one with 'switches' from a tree, and describe horrendous incidences where they have beaten other peopel's children. He instructs parents to beat children relentlessly.

Since incitement to other kinds of violence is banned, and the beahviour this man admits to is presumably legally child abuse, why is it permissable that he openly encourages people to beat children. To beat babies? (he proudly describes beating an 11 month old on his bare leg with a stick).

I really, really want him arrested.

Um, I'd say it's a pretty sensible position "we'll stock all the books we legally can" and "we'll keep up all the reviews we legally can". A firm that said "we'll stock every book, legal or not" wouldn't last long, would it?

This is what irritates me about this Edam. I can't seem to find the negative reviews which were there yesterday, and my one hasn't been published. So they are censoring, unless I'm being thick and looking in the wrong place.

They haven't put my review on either.

It is pefectly obvious from the 'what other readers bought' list attached to the Roy Lessin book that this stuff is sought by people seeking sexual pleasure.

Caligula, which book are you looking for negative reviews of? I've looked at two Pearl books in amazon.co.uk, and all I can find are negative reviews.

(Based on some other readings today, it seems that Amazon do remove reviews that are defamatory, shocker.)

My review (submitted this morning) isn't there, either. And it was very 'measured' - quoting pearl's own material to show that it isn't even effective for anyone genuinely looking for ways to encourage discipline.

Yeah, Blu, I noticed that too. Ugh ugh ugh.

I have found a few webistes encouraging people to submit negative reviews of this book. there is considerable protest in America.

Much as America has more wacky "beat your kids" groups than the UK, it also has more hardcore AP parents, too. I'm sure there are millions of American parents who are totally disgusted by this.

REVIEW AT BOTTOM OF THIS sorry caps on is critical \link{http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1892112019/qid=1147806436/sr=1-12/ref=sr_1_0_12/026-9422251-7242012\here}

But I can only see one review, by Cate in Birmingham. Am I being thick? Is there something I'm not clicking on?

no you're not I see what you mean now

I agree that selling this book on Amazon legitimises it. The difference between this and the bomb making books is that this book isn't called "how to abuse a child so social services don't find out" it is called "no greater joy" and is posing at a child care book.

A quote about Amazon's business practice:

"The average Borders bookshop in the US can hold, at most, 130,000 print titles. But Amazon.com earns less revenue from the 130,000 top titles in its catalogue than it does from the rest. In other words, Amazon has discovered that there's more money in 'misses' than there is in hits."

My wife brought this abhorant book, and the discussion about it, to my attention. I have spent the last couple of hours looking into it and I think they are breaking the law (although I am no lawyer).

It is illegal to incite a violent crime - which can include written material. There is also precedence from someone who published a book advocating growing canabis - he was prosecuted for incitement. The Children Act of 2004 makes the actions in this book illegal. For more detail, consult my \link{http://www.dailypropaganda.co.uk/2006/05/amazoncouk_are_breaking_the_la.html website}.

As I said, I am no lawyer and I cannot vouch that I am correct, but even if I have got it wrong I am sure there must be A law that makes selling this book illegal. And Amazon claimed that they would continue to sell it unless it was illegal....

Apologies - the link should have read like \link{http://www.dailypropaganda.co.uk/2006/05/amazoncouk_are_breaking_the_la.html\this}

If it doesn't work, just copy/paste this into your browser:
www.dailypropaganda.co.uk/2006/05/amazoncouk_are_breaking_the_la.html

well done for making this public adrew.
the quote about bedtime made me retch.

A list? Is there a list?

..erm, can I quietly say that we should be careful about letting this get out of hand. It's all getting a bit Arthur Miller now. Can't we concentrate on one book first?

No point banning a book, ban smacking instead.

I'm all for that!! Take away my right to smack - don't want it anyway!

Hmmm, I think trying to ban any book is letting it get out of hand.

Banning smacking, though, I do support.

I just got this email from the NSPCC

"Thank you for your E-mail dated 16th May 2006.

The information you have supplied regarding the website, the books and their subsequent availability on the internet will now be forwarded to the NSPCC Area Children's Services Manager. The appropriate action will then be taken; this may involve our communications department contacting a representative of amazon.co.uk directly. The concerns you have raised will be brought to the company's full attention; and this should precipitate an amicable resolution to this matter; hopefully with the offending literature being withdrawn from sale. That said, obviously we can not predict but rather 'hope' that this is the outcome.

If you wish to discuss this matter further I can be contacted via return E-mail. Alternatively, you are more than welcome to ring our 24 Hour Child Protection Helpline on 0808 800 5000 where either myself or a fellow practitioner will be happy to take your call."

I wonder if the NSPCC does any liaison work internationally with child protection agencies in other countries?

I suppose there is a base standard under the UN rights of the child, but apart from that, presumably the different agencies must function very differently in each country?

Just musing...

I sent an email to Save the Children and they work internationally.

could contact other organisations like childline?