July 24, 2016

Anti-Semitism is alive and emboldened in TrumpAmerica.

In an effort to downsize I am currently selling some books from my personal library online on ABE Books. I received an order on Friday for a very large and heavy book, and since ABE does not allow the bookseller to list a specific shipping charge for a specific book, but only an average charge, I sent the customer a cordial email saying that I have to charge an additional $6 to cover the extra shipping and insurance charges. The price of the book was $95 and was the least expensive copy available on the site. The charges are completely legit. This is the email I received in response:

"Does that sound like a fair deal to you larry?
I'll list a book for sale, knowing full well what it weighs, then, when someone attempts to buy it, I'll extort them for more money.
You must be a nice jewish man.
I trust you'll understand my outrage and disgust at your greed.
And you people wonder where and how anti-semitism propagates itself."

I've been exposed to anti-Semitism before but, I guess because of the terrifying cultural context we're living through at the moment, I was particularly upset. Prior to Trump/Palin would someone in his position have felt it appropriate to make such a statement? This is a person who was buying a relatively expensive art book, not Nazi memorabilia.

After thinking about it for a while, I wrote what I thought was a relatively restrained response: "Dear Sir- For your information, ABE Books does not allow the bookseller to list a specific charge for a specific book. You can only list the shipping charge for an average book, so if the book is particularly heavy it is necessary to add an additional charge.

You sound like a very angry, bitter, and bigoted person. I hope that some day you will realize the error of your ways." His response was more vile than his original post.