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@jimezsmoot - Re: WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE? (Reply to this comment)
by ackmondual
@jimezsmoot
I remember a similar "trick" used on Amazon. Amazon sold a PS2 (or was it a PS1? It's been such a long time) bundle with all necessary parts, some extras, and with 6 "games". The clumsiness came on the part of the consumers where if they'd either read the WHOLE product page (or not even, as this was mentioned towards the top where the bundle was described and not some tiny fine print at the bottom) or enlarged the bundle photo, they've would've seen that those 6 squares that look like games are actually a complimentary 6 months free subscription to EGM magazine.
What really got me about this was the ppl who were fooled by this didn't even bother to check what games they were getting
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Jul 12 '06
12:06 pm PDT
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it's a gray area, but I'd have to lean towards allowing it (Reply to this comment)
by ackmondual
There is a law that prohibits people from profitting from their own illegal activities. However this is NOT federal law, but set on a state-by-state basis. For example, Jennifer Wilbanks, aka the runaway bride from GA is allowed to sell books on her own story since Georgia doesn't have a law against this. Even if it were, there wouldn't be a law against someone else... say a psyciotrist/commenter on using her case as part of his book on human behavior (her headlines would be the main selling point of his book).
On related note, I heard in the news many years ago that some schools banned the possession of serial killer cards. It ain't illegal, but the schools got to make the call on that one.
As far as the actual review goes, it could be more about Ebay itself as a service and its community, but I think we could let this one slide, seeing how there are already hundreds of reviews already out there on that more relevant topic. However, I would like to point out that some reviews based on just 2 purchase transactions isn't really enough to ebay as a whole. Those reviews bury ebay as bad, which i certainly understand, but if they were to go ahead with say.... 5 more transactions, I'm sure their outlook on ebay would change dramatically. However, writing about how ebay deals with murderbilia IMO isn't completely off topic. It's somewhere in between
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Jul 12 '06
11:54 am PDT
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Missing the point... (Reply to this comment)
by vartian
"I simply think it is wrong for a criminal to profit, directly or indirectly, from the notoriety of his/her crime. The notoriety is inevitable, but the profiting from it is not."
Well, here is the problem: where do you draw the line? Let's say Ebay bans all serial-killer related merchandise on the assumption that some murderer might make a few extra bucks selling paintings of himself as a clown. Done and done, clean and simple...right?
Wrong. Now, lets say that someone, seeing that Epinions.com has taken a "moral stand," decides that a former Enron executive, who was prosecuted for fraud and serving time, shouldn't be making royalties from his new book about the whole mess, and demands that Ebay removes it from their website.
Is it the same thing? No...and yes;Is a dishonest company executive the same as a serial killer? Heck no, but while the killer may have affected a few dozen families at most, the Enron guy helped to financially and emotionally devastate thousands of people and cost the American public and their stock holders untold millions…which is the more heinous crime here?
Censorship is censorship, no mater what you call it. Is there a law against criminals selling autographs? No. Is it distasteful? Yes, but tough. That's part of living in a democracy, my friend. Lot's of stuff that happens every day offends me, and I love it.
There is nothing more offensive to the ideals of Freedom and Liberty than those who would force the rest of us to turn a blind eye to that which does not conform.
And, by the way, you posting this review was a great example of freedom of expression. I may disagree with you, but I love the fact that you wrote from the heart, and I commend you for it.
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Apr 21 '03
3:12 am PDT
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Re: WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE? (Reply to this comment)
by tortillaboy
I simply think it is wrong for a criminal to profit, directly or indirectly, from the notoriety of his/her crime. The notoriety is inevitable, but the profiting from it is not.
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Oct 23 '01
10:36 am PDT
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Re: Glorifying? (Reply to this comment)
by tortillaboy
Not an accurate comparison. If you were to collect, for instance, the knife that OJ used, then that would be the same.
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Oct 23 '01
10:33 am PDT
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Glorifying? (Reply to this comment)
by xexyz
I personally don't think that sales of these types of items glorifies the crimes that these people have committed. Typically, people buy these items as collectors...
After all, could you say that people who collect antique weapons are glorifying war and mass slaughter?
If so, I must say I'm guilty, as I collect antique swords... and needless to say, I have found some of them on Ebay...
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Aug 29 '01
3:00 pm PDT
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Just wanted to say... (Reply to this comment)
by jlava73
I gave you a Very helpful because you provided information that I felt would be helpful to someone making a decision whether or not to use ebay. I felt the information you provided is not
general information that everyone would know.
Great eyeopener!
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Aug 06 '01
7:47 am PDT
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WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE? (Reply to this comment)
by jimezsmoot
What if these murderers letters were published in a book about serial killers and sold in bookstores?
I understand your reasoning but as the Media say when people complain about violence on TV such with movies like 'Seven' or 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' ....'swtich it off!' BUT you'll also miss out on gems like 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' and 'X-Files'.
By the way, the empty box story isn't a myth. During the Christmas rush last year {2000}, the white-hot item was the Playstation 2. One person was out $470 because she bid on and won and auction entitled 'WOW! PLAYSTATION 2....BRAND NEW BOX!' . She failed to notice the ad didn't say 'Brand new IN box!'. Poor thing. Live and learn folks!
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Jul 31 '01
1:46 am PDT
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Well.... (Reply to this comment)
by jeffs320
You wrote this very well, and I believe you expressed your opinions on this subject rather well, so I think everyone should leave you alone about that...
I just think you should have included a little more info about ebay itself rather than just that the fact you do not use them because they sell Murderabilia.
Just out of curiousity, do UBid and Yahoo Auctions sell Murderabilia as well, or is it just Ebay? I would be curious to find out...
Jeff
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Jun 26 '01
4:06 pm PDT
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Re: Muderabilia?++ (Reply to this comment)
by hedge777
Muderabilia, Merderabilia, what's in a name?
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Jun 20 '01
11:19 am PDT
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You learn something everyday (Reply to this comment)
by bad_xxx1999
My main reason for commenting is the other comments for this opinion that suggest you did not say enough about ebay. If someone was to comment on every aspect of ebay, it would be way to long and hardly anyway would seriously read through the whole comment.
My experience with ebay is half and half yeah they have a lot but yahoo auctions allows you to contact people a lot easier. I have won two auctions where I never got a reply from the two questions i had asked and then when I had won two auctions I waited and waited, I email the seller and wait again, finally they email and say they emailed me and never got a response. It is happening again with an auction I had won three days ago, where did this person go? And where the ****** is the bad religion window cling I won and sent a **** money order (which is hard to trace). I am sorry more items means more unreliable people. so all i have to say is Go Yahoo!!!! But I really do not spending hours typing and typing pros and cons. Just like I do not feel like waiting day after day for a response or the item I sent payment for two weeks ago.
I am straying from your comment.
I think great job, you gave one good reason to stray from ebay. And I learned a new word.
-Johanna
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Jun 09 '01
7:58 pm PDT
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Well, hmmm... (Reply to this comment)
by tortillaboy
Thanks for all your opinions on my opinion. Sure is nice to be able to stir things up every now and again.
:^)
tb
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Apr 23 '01
6:36 am PDT
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I may be mistaken, but.... (Reply to this comment)
by caithnessfan
It is my understanding that there are laws in place already to prevent criminals from profiting from their crimes.
As for those who are still living, they can make no money/profits from the sale of items used in the crime, any items or monies gained through the crime etc.
As for those who have departed our plain of existence or whatever you chose to call it, they can't take it with them so they are not gaining from the sale either.
I have lost a family member to murder and though it wasn't a serial killer or the likes I still have the opinion that these items, while not to my liking or taste, have the same right to be on EBAY as any other autograph, photo, or whatever.
Your opinion in general wasn't bad but only focused on this one detail.
Format and grammar and spelling were good so kudos there any way.
caitnhessfan.
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Apr 18 '01
9:47 pm PDT
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This is the base un-facts of Murderablillia (Reply to this comment)
by kyalien
While the comments made were somewhat coherent, the fact remains that the killers never profit from the merchandise! As we all know Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy have all shuffled off this mortal plane and it's a bit tough for them to profit from this. However, Wayne Henley who sell's his art through galleries does NOT take a profit from his art. Mr. Henley is serving 6 99year term sentances for his involvement with Dean Corll and the money that is made from the art is split in 3 and goes to the victims families (for the pain they have suffered.), murder support groups (To try and stop such murders.), and the last part goes to his mother for the pain that she has felt through the ordeal (I also class her as in the victim support because she had to take the horror of what happened just as much as the families who lost a family member.). Also, anyone that is selling murderabillia on Ebay is not the murderer. So read both sides of the story before you throw your 2 cents worth in and get the facts right! Also, if you disapprove of murderabillia and you are a christian, don't go to church because right up there at the front is a cross and we all know who was murdered on that symbol don't we!
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Apr 15 '01
10:24 pm PDT
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Re: I+don't+do+titles (Reply to this comment)
by straight_up
Thank you very much for what seems to be the only opinion that supports our constitutional rights.
Our society will never be bettered by the lessening of our freedoms. I think every one should be very cautious about what they wish us to have restrictions on and laws against. Like my motto states, "Beware you just might get what you wish".
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Apr 13 '01
6:15 pm PDT
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Muderabilia? (Reply to this comment)
by Aahz
Don't You mean Murderabilia?
Peace,
Aahz
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Mar 11 '01
9:20 pm PST
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Valid points. . . (Reply to this comment)
by legar
There are few forms of censorship that I endorse, but you have hit the nail on the head when you suggest that people offended by murderabilia avoid ebay. Commercial censorship by consumers allows each of us to make our own judgment calls. In this case, I tend to agree with yours. I lost a brother to murder, if not serial murder, and there is nothing I would want less than to see the drunk s. o. b. who killed him make money from his crime. Good review. Leslie (legar)
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Mar 11 '01
2:11 pm PST
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Sorry... (Reply to this comment)
by vein
For the SH, but there just wasn't enough information in this review about the website to support a higher rating.
If you choose to ad more information, I will be happy to re-rate the opinion.
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Mar 08 '01
5:16 pm PST
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one downfall (Reply to this comment)
by Pasius
im sorry please tell me more on ebay... I will change my rating if you do so.... this is only one point that is bad on ebay....and I don't even think this is too bad, they are letting people sell what people will buy!!!
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Mar 06 '01
6:44 pm PST
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Re: I don't do titles (Reply to this comment)
by tortillaboy
Give me a break...this site is all about opinions, and here I expressed mine. Preach it somewhere else brother.
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Mar 04 '01
8:17 pm PST
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Two for One-- A Great Deal (Reply to this comment)
by gracenwilk
I loved this opinion, tb! It isn't often that I get to increase my vocabulary and learn something really important at the same time.
Thanks for waking us up to this side of EBay, and for doing it with style.
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Mar 01 '01
9:44 pm PST
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I don't do titles (Reply to this comment)
by autoamerican
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But the fact is, they do censor items. You can't list alcohol, firearms, fireworks, postage meters, tobacco, something that infringes on copyrights or several other items listed on: http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/png-items.html, after all these are illegal in some cases. It is not illegal however, for one who has killed, raped, or even eaten numerous people to profit from his notoriety. This is simply wrong.
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eBay doesn't decide what's illegal or legal. You can't sell alcohol, tobacco or other drugs online because they can be purchased easily by minors. Fireworks aren't allowed to be sent through the mail, and postage meters are only allowed to be sold to businesses under special circumstances. You didn't mention promotional recordings, which I collect, are also not allowed on eBay.
Murderabilia is not illegal, and for good reason. If I want to collect Ted Bundy autographs, why should I not be allowed to? If you want to collect pictures of the Virgin Mary, or even sell them online, what right do I have to try and stop you because I'm offended? I don't think that your personal view on murder memorbilia should have tainted your opinion - write about the service, not your political views. If you want to discuss politics, write a manifesto and mail it to the Washington Post like every other nut in America.
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Feb 19 '01
2:44 pm PST
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My opinion of the site as a whole is good... (Reply to this comment)
by Lisa_J
but I do agree that this sort of merchandise shouldn't be allowed. Overall, I feel Ebay has done fairly well with keeping certain things off. When I have reported obscene things - they have been removed.
Ebay is a good place to purchase and sell childrens designer clothing! =)
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Feb 10 '01
12:36 pm PST
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Glad To See You Back! (Reply to this comment)
by tchoate
So glad to see you back writing here, not that I haven't enjoyed your writing on other sites, but I am glad to see you here. Great job on this epinion and looking forward to more.
Twyla-tchoate
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Feb 09 '01
9:12 pm PST
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