Etsy Bans "Congrats, You Got Raped" Cards and Other Mean Things

[The Straight Story]

Etsy Bans "Congrats, You Got Raped" Cards and Other Mean Things

Etsy is changing its prohibited items policy after a public relations crisis erupted over some offensive items listed in the handmade goods marketplace.

Etsy is a warm, fuzzy, generally adorable brand. The knick knacks they sell are cute. Their name is cute. The DUMBO office where they host their cutesy craft nights is cute.

When users browse Etsy they do not expect to find snark about rape and breast cancer. Yet one Australian woman stumbled across some greeting cards for sale on Etsy from YouStupidBitch.com with sarcastic congratulatory messages like "Congratulations! You Got Bad-Touched" with the description, "Get creeped on, get raped? Know someone that has? Then this card is for them."

Other cards included messages like "Congratulations! She'll make a great starter-wife," "Congratulations! You Have Breast Cancer" and "Congratulations! Your Kid Has Down Syndrome."

Etsy responded to the woman's shocked email to say, essentially, these cards don't violate our policy (which at the time prohibited the disparagement race and religion, but not misogyny or remarks about disabilities). "It is important to us that we allow members of the community to express their own sensibilities, and to develop their shop identity to suit themselves and their market," a representative wrote. "What is offensive to some may be intended as a statement about culture by an artist."

(pics at link of some of the items)

http://www.observer.com/2011/media/etsy-bans-congrats-you-got-raped-cards-and-other-mean-things

[niyad]

1. regardless of their policy, what kind of sick, twisted, woman-hating mind comes up with something

like that?

(on second thought, the question is the answer)

[old mark]

2. I believe a lot of RWers will be disapointed...sick shit...K&R...

[Heidi]

3. Good.

Recommended.

:kick:

[Darth_Kitten]

4. I love Etsy.....

it's a fantastic site.