Smashwords Succumbs to Censorship
Found on The Digital Reader on Tuesday, 28 February 2012
The forces of Puritanism struck another blow yesterday. Mark Coker, the founder of Smashwords, sent out an email to all authors, publishers, and agents
Paypal, Smashwords’ payment processor, has issued an ultimatum. Someone at Paypal is grossed out by certain types of erotica sold via Smashwords, so those ebooks have to be pulled or Paypal will drop Smashwords as a customer. And the ebooks have to be pulled by Monday, or else.
So ultra conservative PayPal who only knows missionary after the lights are out has problems with erotica; and especially incest, rape and bestiality fiction. For all fairness I hope that PayPal will enforce this new rule with everybody. That would, amongst others, include Amazon and eBay. Most greek mythology would be gone. Even the bible couldn't be sold anymore. Or Twilight since those werewolves and vampires aren't human either. Wait, there is also Species with the aliens, and the list goes on.