Comments on: Apple Pulls Neo-Nazi Albums From German iTunes Store

By: aks

aks — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 12:55:51 +0000

have to ban those type of songs.

By: Wes

Wes — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:54:03 +0000

Another thing to add is that free speech (at least in America) is liberty given under the conditions that it does not incite harm or violence. The common example is that you can’t yell “Fire!” in a crowded theatre because people will get hurt. Now I haven’t listened to this band’s music, but if they are encouraging their audience to injure any group, then they are breaking this condition.

By: erichansa

erichansa — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:08:57 +0000

I am from Germany and we have laws against neo nazism and there is no way that apple can sell cd’s which promote nazism.

By: BS Ames

BS Ames — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 09:13:13 +0000

Free speech is given by the government. Apple is not owned by the government. I don’t understand where the problem is about free speech. Also, this is in Germany.

Also, Apple should be able to put this up if they want to. If you don’t like it or don’t agree with it, then don’t buy it. What’s the problem?

By: robert

robert — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 06:35:18 +0000

Rap isn’t illegal in Germany. Pro-Nazi material *IS* illegal in Germany. When you’re a large company you don’t go campaigning for things like freedom of speech (especially when we’re talking about speech that isn’t popular with the majority). I think Apple did the only reasonable thing they could have. It’s pretty foolish to break the laws of a country you are operating in.

Free speech doesn’t mean you can say anything anyway (even here in the US): fighting words, libel and obscene speech isn’t protected.

By: mr crowley's sense of rationality

mr crowley's sense of rationality — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 05:44:37 +0000

Rappers are telling fictional stories. Intense, yes, but fiction. They know this and so should we. I’m not for a second saying people don’t read it as true and act on it, but I truly believe the difference is simple…

A rapper does not believe in their music as reality.

A neo-nazi is attempting to use their music to spread a specific message.

Fiction cannot be compared to true motive. It’s like comparing harry potter to an inconvenient truth (kinda…but you get the point…hopefully).

So it’s not so much about the “bad words” as it is the purpose and reality behind those words.

Scott Drake- Great point about Apple having the rights. Free speech absolutely does not apply here.

By: Mr Crowley

Mr Crowley — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 01:23:39 +0000

They still sell lots of rap music that describes murder, rape and other negative content.

By: Scott Drake

Scott Drake — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 01:15:07 +0000

You know, people think they’re entitled to free speech whatever the circumstances, but that just is not true. Apple is a private entity and they can release or withhold whatever the hell they feel like. And honestly, good for them for removing this crap from their store.

By: Pee-Eater

Pee-Eater — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:56:35 +0000

Ya know, people collect Nazi stuff. I don’t condone it, but they do. At the same time, it shouldn’t be in the iTunes store.

With iTunes, Apple is more than a product/software company, they are in media. And they need to make proper decision. Eliminating this BS is a good move.

By: p@r@noid

p@r@noid — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 23:56:59 +0000

As much as I would love to see any ideology which is connected to Nazism relegated to the history books, I can’t condone Apple doing this, just as I can’t condone the German state for outlawing the band. We need to start teaching people critical thinking, and the ability to discern, not censor fallacious, hate-filled babel. Censorship is the lazy way, and as with all Duct Tape solutions, it’ll break and make things worse down the road.