What We Learned from #amazonfail

[nfotxn]

To be honest I found the whole Amazonfail event utterly disappointing from the get-go. The idea that Amazon had spontaneously succumbed to the dwindling power of the Christian Right seemed just entirely improbable. At this point we know it was either a cross-site request forgery (CSRF/XSRF) or a French dude. Nobody really knows other than Amazon themselves. But the fact remains that it was a technical error caused by either an honestly mistaken employee or software exploit.

What I think sucks the most is that an ad-hoc blogging tidal drift took this as an opportunity to freak out as fast as possible. Because that's what activism is right? Freaking out and organizing boycotts as quickly as possible. The speed at which Twitter and blogs operate is break-neck these days. And I don't think in this case it was an advantage. We spent a big part of the Easter weekend egging on Amazon's PR disaster. I can't say I felt like I was supporting anybody's community doing it. It was a calamity of miscommunication, overreaction and under-reaction and frankly humiliating for all involved. Next time let's wait for an actual declaration of war before google bombing, whatdayasay?!

Comments

[gmjambear]

The new, patient Wild West Internet:

Ask questions first, shoot later?

One can only hope.

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

The excitement of fresh outrage is a short lived pleasure.

[bfirrera.livejournal.com]

#amazonfail #glitchmyass After Ellen.com reports that the "glitch" has been happening for more than a year.

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

Yeah CSRF are not a new exploit. So what's your point?

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

Yeah exploits need to be brought to light for sure. But the argument was largely ideological not technical and therefore a bit of a misfire. Like Occam's Razor bitches! Do we need like an association of gay white-hats to prevent this bullshit in the future?

Also interesting point correlating the over-communication with financial markets. I'd never thought of that and it seems a bit obvious now that you point it out. It's less a digital bubble and more of a raving froth though. Can we call it that? A Twitter Froth?

[txkink.livejournal.com]

Love the Occam's Razor reference! I use this a lot in teaching med students who think that an elevated temperature and a few pimples on a patient equals undiagnosed Ebola virus. We also use another phrase to convey the same thing - "when you hear hoof beats think horses not zebras."

And for the record, I agree with you on the Amazon issue.

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

"when you hear hoof beats think horses not zebras."

I'm going to remember that one! Thanks.

[backrubbear.livejournal.com]

Do we need like an association of gay white-hats to prevent this bullshit in the future?

No. The only difference between rabble-rousers and industry oversight is attitude in many cases.

[bfirrera.livejournal.com]

re: our soldiers dying in unjust wars/gay marriage.

1) they were not drafted, they volunteered...many AFTER we entered Iraq...many STILL AFTER we knew there were NO WMDs. It's on them.

2) why can't both be worked on at the same time? I personally think that gay marriages would help the economy (at least the limo rental/florist/tailor/tux rental/catering/wedding band/photographer/rental hall/newspaper (engagement announcements) businesses would be helped among others).

[slumberjack.livejournal.com]

We spent a big part of the Easter weekend egging on Amazon's PR disaster.

very clever there. you get an A+++

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

Oh stop you'll make more more egotistical than I already am!

(thanks!)

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

I don't doubt an exploit was involved. But there's also a rebuttal to weev's code. H4x0rz taking credit for this shit isn't new and really unless he can prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt I'm unwilling to credit. Also as a result the community moderation of Amazon's book has now been removed. So it's a bit of a win.

[bfirrera.livejournal.com]

1) They never did really give an actual apology for it...

2) While it doesn't make sense to me to pander to one group at the expense of another group (especially when the latter group ALSO gives you plenty of money throughout the years), the fact that the filter (whether overzealous or not) that was supposed to be taking out "adult" material took out gay stuff because someone thought "adult" and "gay" were automatically synonymous didn't in turn ALSO take out hetero "adult" material is still pretty suspicious. (they take down Ellen Degeneres' autobiography, but not Ron Jeremy's or Jenna Jameson's?)

3) they only admitted to the "glitch" when they got caught (and they only got caught when they did it to much more well-known/popular gay texts).

Help help, I'm being repressed!

[wwabbit.livejournal.com]

Preach it Brodie!

Internet Drama Takes on the flavour of politics.

[sluggobear.livejournal.com]

Amen!

[abearius.livejournal.com]

I am sure you find your life as a Professional Contrarian quite satisfying. I just wish you listened to music that does not suck.

[blachubear.livejournal.com]

All I can say is great post.