Oh, as usual, dear.

Call it one of the more unfortunate ironies in recent memory. Internet retail giant Amazon has behaved stupidly, in the delightfully ill-chosen words of the President. At the request of the publisher, Amazon remotely revoked the Kindle order on a recent edition of a popular book. But here's why this story survived: they didn't cancel just any ol' Dan Brown special edition. Nope, Younger Brother put the kibosh on the dystopian nightmare 1984. You know? THE ONE ABOUT CITIZENS TAUGHT TO SUBMIT TO A TOTAL GOVERNMENTAL INVASION OF PRIVACY AND PERSONAL FREEDOM?

Oh, as usual, dear:

People who bought Orwell's 1984 and Animal Farm for their
Kindle were surprised to discover that it had disappeared from their devices
overnight. It turns out the publisher changed its mind about offering an
electronic version, and Amazon caved into their demand to sneak into people's
electronic libraries and take back the book at the publisher's request. (via boingboing)

It wasn't even an illegal copy, which one could understand if not justify. The publisher just didn't want to offer an electronic version anymore. You know, like a toddler who's done playing with his ball but doesn't want anyone else to have it. Yeah, kinda like that.

Seriously though! Has anyone at Amazon even read 1984? It's about a all-seeing government that offered 'correct' versions of history and monitored every aspect of its citizens' lives. Oh yeah, and they're also sneaky. There has to be at least one Amazon employee who knows this. And that person didn't have the heart to speak up? "Uh, guys, I know the publisher asked us to and all, but seriously, can I just say? Awk-ward!"

I am so embarrassed for them. Next thing you know, Amazon will be offering the 'corrected' version of books, with all the dirty passages blackened out and objectionable phrases replaced by happier sounding alternatives (like puppy hat party! or rainbow kisses parade!). Because you know what they say...all books are equal. But some books are more equal than others. Yay for doublethink!

Well. It's times like these when I'm so grateful my forefathers had the insight to turn "Orwellian" into a adjective. That way, us youngins don't have to waste our book-learnin' time on such minor details.