Google....So Much For The Slogan, "Don't Be Evil"

[Brickjectivity]

In most cases, I'd agree with you. But, in this case this type of conversion therapy has proven to cause more problems in the persons life than it solves. Whether it's at the hands of licensed psychiatrists or religious organizations that are even less qualified, all it's ever done is driven people to drugs, infidelity, and suicide. This app should have no home...

Currently what are the kinds of apps Google does not allow? I don't know this, so maybe censoring this is not as extreme as it sounds. I know they don't allow some kinds of porn, because I have looked.

 

[icehorse]

Google under fire for 'pray away the gay' app in the Play Store
Excerpted....
Google has come under fire for featuring an app that encourages gay people to seek controversial conversion therapy in its online store.

The app, created by US Christian group Living Hope Ministries, advises young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender teenagers and adults to become heterosexual through prayer and therapy. The app also offers Bible study-style guidance.

I recently switched to DuckDuckGo - so far so good.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Like the article said, hopefully this is a matter of getting through red tape, not a matter of a policy decision.

I suspect it probably is, though if it isn't I doubt we'd ever know.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I recently switched to DuckDuckGo - so far so good.

Obviously not relative to the OP as DuckDuckGo is a search engine, not an appstore where people can download various programs for their tablet/phone, such as an app that is based on a form of therapy that has been condemned and denounced by every health (physical and mental) organization that I'm aware of due to the damage it causes.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

The app is still available as of January 11 —
I installed it today, and I’m looking at it right now. Here’s what it teaches:

Same-gender sex is ‘sordid’ and is caused by a disease like diabetes.
Same-sex attraction is a harmful addiction like drug addiction.
Men who have sex with men are behaving like dogs who have no control over instinctual sexual behavior.
Most men who experience same-sex attraction were sexually abused as children.
Lesbians experience same-sex attraction because they don’t trust men and because they allow themselves to be possessed and controlled by other women.
Same-sex attracted people need to be and can be healed from the bondage of sin, disease, and addiction.
Changing same-sex attraction requires pain and sacrifice.
One-on-one friendships are dangerous and unhealthy for same-sex attracted people, who should pursue group friendships instead of individual friendships.
Parents should tightly restrict their same-sex-attracted minor children’s social interactions and Internet access. Same-sex friendships should be discouraged or forbidden.
Parents should firmly direct their minor children into counseling programs that will cure them of same-sex attraction.
People attempting healing from homosexuality experience higher success rates than people attempting healing from alcoholism and drug addiction.
Pray Away the Gay? Try Google Play! – James Finn - The Blog – Medium

I was going to complain about interfering with capitalism but this seems misleading. Of course there are plenty of misleading ads on TV and radio.

As I continue to claim, there really is a cure for ignorance. The problem is, those most in need of such medicine are also those least likely to take it.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

I think it's a scam.

How much does lifetime hormone therapy cost?

How much are boob jobs, cosmetic surgery, and sex change operations?

How much money is made on anti-depressants, anxiety medication, and therapy?

I think the medical profession is just profiteering on people whom are vulnerable and need help. If you hate yourself for any reason, something is wrong mentally, and the focus should be on that not selling people boobs and injections.

I don't hate people that suffer from it, but it's like anything... If I come out and tell you that tomorrow I am The Grand Architect, it doesn't make it so. We don't help sick people by entertaining their delusions, but we become evil when we play a long just because we can make some money on it. We also become evil when we play along to feel good about ourselves, at the expense of someone else's mental health.

And here's were a little of that cure for ignorance might do some good.

Not until you realize that it is entirely possible that the various parts of anybody's "sexual nature" might not match up, you'll never get it. But here's the deal: your physical body can express one gender, while that other incredibly important sexual organ (the brain, which so few of the ignorant suppose is any such thing) can express another. And the consequence of that is called "gender dysphoria." It's very real (though I don't suffer from it), and it is something that you could actually learn about, if you could be bothered.

 

[Mindmaster]

And here's were a little of that cure for ignorance might do some good.

Not until you realize that it is entirely possible that the various parts of anybody's "sexual nature" might not match up, you'll never get it. But here's the deal: your physical body can express one gender, while that other incredibly important sexual organ (the brain, which so few of the ignorant suppose is any such thing) can express another. And the consequence of that is called "gender dysphoria." It's very real (though I don't suffer from it), and it is something that you could actually learn about, if you could be bothered.

I don't realize parts of people's sex don't match up unless they're intersex, then I'm perfectly happy to do so -- because they were born that way.

And, biology isn't like a debate, it doesn't matter what you think. There are some odd exceptions like chimeras or whatever, but for the most part gender = chromosomes. Everything else is fantasy, and it's about as real as calling yourself a vampire. Though, don't get me wrong -- I don't hate those people, I think they're troubled, need help (a lot of it), and it's a complex problem.

I understand dysphoria, but I also understand it's a psychological problem that needs treatment. We don't cure the drug addict by giving them more drugs, or the obese by supplementing their cheeseburger intake. No, we cut them off, correct them and encourage the right behavior, which some people have a hard time learning. The other thing that irritates me is that even after transgenders go through surgeries, treatment, and whatnot they still kill themselves frequently and many desire to revert. If this was solving their problem they'd be freaking happy and move on, but that's not what's going on. I know quite a few transgenders, and man they're all pretty sad folks. So, if that's all I got to go by, I'm not down with what's being done in this realm at all. Politics, white knight points, and whatever be damned.

 

[Mindmaster]

Currently what are the kinds of apps Google does not allow? I don't know this, so maybe censoring this is not as extreme as it sounds. I know they don't allow some kinds of porn, because I have looked.

I'm not really an expert on this, but apparently you're good if you're not Alex Jones, lol.

Anyway, this type of "therapy" is only capable of doing harm to people so I can't support that type of thing.

 

[David T]

Keep yer eyes peeled for this sign...

He is the devil!

 

[Brickjectivity]

I need a rating button that means "This post confuses me."

 

[Mindmaster]

Doesn't matter what you think. Science and medicine do not agree with you.
And, BTW, treatment for my knees cost way more than trans-related services. IBS is also a financial mountain to climb in order to diagnose the disorder. And the cost of being hospitalized and admitted into crisis care units and PHP and IOP would be staggering if I were still in denial about myself and miserably depressed and yearning for death.

Man, I understand the struggle, but it still comes off as a scam. And, if you ask me, I think all of these treatment providers failed you. If they can't teach you how to accept yourself as you were then they're not doing their damn job as far as I am concerned. In many ways, I feel "transgenderism" is a label of convenience for them to stop doing their work and put you in a bucket. I _hate_ that it feels like that to me, but that's the vibe. I guess if you survive that's better than the alternative, but it still doesn't really address the problem.

Science/medicine has been just making up **** for awhile, and a lot of it is they're willing to sell their souls for grant money/endowments. So, you can't completely trust that either. I'm sure if you go digging, all the "transgender" information is sponsored by the same people that sell the hormones, silicon boobs, and whatever else. Cash is king, if you forget it you'll get duped. So pardon me if I take these findings with a grain of salt, as any sensible person should. "Woke" scientific organizations get a **** load more money even where they're spewing complete nonsense.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

I don't realize parts of people's sex don't match up unless they're intersex, then I'm perfectly happy to do so -- because they were born that way.

And, biology isn't like a debate, it doesn't matter what you think. There are some odd exceptions like chimeras or whatever, but for the most part gender = chromosomes. Everything else is fantasy, and it's about as real as calling yourself a vampire. Though, don't get me wrong -- I don't hate those people, I think they're troubled, need help (a lot of it), and it's a complex problem.

I understand dysphoria, but I also understand it's a psychological problem that needs treatment. We don't cure the drug addict by giving them more drugs, or the obese by supplementing their cheeseburger intake. No, we cut them off, correct them and encourage the right behavior, which some people have a hard time learning. The other thing that irritates me is that even after transgenders go through surgeries, treatment, and whatnot they still kill themselves frequently and many desire to revert. If this was solving their problem they'd be freaking happy and move on, but that's not what's going on. I know quite a few transgenders, and man they're all pretty sad folks. So, if that's all I got to go by, I'm not down with what's being done in this realm at all. Politics, white knight points, and whatever be damned.

As I've said, there's a cure for ignorance, but tragically, it involves work you appear unlikely to be willing to undertake. The very simple fact of the matter is that nobody in the business of psychology would agree with you that gender dysphoria is "a psychological problem that needs treatment." That it is a thing of the mind, they would agree there. That it can be treated, they disagree. That it can be supported -- that's another story. That alignment between the body's external gender and the mind's internal gender identity can be surgically achieved is not certain.

But to cavalierly write off such persons, that makes me sad.

 

[Revoltingest]

If you're very very quiet you can hear the radical anti-Christian group GLAAD combust.

I'm actually amazed Google would do this. Conversion therapy is absurd. However, I thought Google was way too liberal , especially as they're keen on censorship of anything conservative, to allow this.

I wonder how long till they cave to the pressure to remove it and make a public apology.

As you point out, they've an oddly inconsistent brand of bigotry.

 

[Revoltingest]

At least until the next Presidential election...

You sure have an inscrutable way of phrasing things.
But I'll say this...
As long as I have the lucre, it doesn't matter who is Prez.

 

[Revoltingest]

I think it's a scam.

How much does lifetime hormone therapy cost?

How much are boob jobs, cosmetic surgery, and sex change operations?

How much money is made on anti-depressants, anxiety medication, and therapy?

I think the medical profession is just profiteering on people whom are vulnerable and need help. If you hate yourself for any reason, something is wrong mentally, and the focus should be on that not selling people boobs and injections.

I don't hate people that suffer from it, but it's like anything... If I come out and tell you that tomorrow I am The Grand Architect, it doesn't make it so. We don't help sick people by entertaining their delusions, but we become evil when we play a long just because we can make some money on it. We also become evil when we play along to feel good about ourselves, at the expense of someone else's mental health.

What tells me it's no scam is that no one would go thru that expense &
agony unless there were some overwhelming compelling need to do so.
Talk to the trans folk here on RF.
Ask them if they're doing this because the medical biz talked'm into it.

 

[Mindmaster]

As I've said, there's a cure for ignorance, but tragically, it involves work you appear unlikely to be willing to undertake. The very simple fact of the matter is that nobody in the business of psychology would agree with you that gender dysphoria is "a psychological problem that needs treatment." That it is a thing of the mind, they would agree there. That it can be treated, they disagree. That it can be supported -- that's another story. That alignment between the body's external gender and the mind's internal gender identity can be surgically achieved is not certain.

But to cavalierly write off such persons, that makes me sad.

I have my own opinions, I've read, they don't line up with others, and you know that's fine.

That's doesn't mean I'm out for their blood or have some disdain for them. In fact, it's completely the opposite. The problem is exacerbated by how absolutely ***-backward mental health is in comparison to other areas of medicine. To me, transgenderism is real, but in the way that any idea in someone's head is real. I've seen nothing that biologically supports it, except whack science mental gymnastics that are too flexible in fact for me. When that changes, I'll be happy to be wrong... When there is hard evidence, I really have nothing to dispute.

But, that being said, mostly the problem for me is I think people are not getting the help they're really needing... they're getting a sugar pill. Feel free to convince me otherwise, but for the moment there lies my issues for the most part.

 

[Revoltingest]

I recently switched to DuckDuckGo - so far so good.

I've used it before.
I can't remember how it went.

 

[Mindmaster]

What tells me it's no scam is that no one would go thru that expense &
agony unless there were some overwhelming compelling need to do so.
Talk to the trans folk here on RF.
Ask them if they're doing this because the medical biz talked'm into it.

I don't think it's that simple, but I definitely see the economic advantages to supporting these beliefs. (Which, is ultimately, how I understand them.)

Of course, in that, I think medicine doesn't really give a damn it just wants to sell treatments to people. Healthy happy folks aren't paying for therapy, drugs, and whatnot. The system (especially in mental health arenas) isn't curative as much as it's focused on on-going maintenance and hocking its wares.

Most people hate something about their bodies, but this is an extreme and people attempt to normalize it. I can't, but mostly because there is no evidence that I should. That doesn't mean I don't sympathize with people suffering from such conditions any less that I would someone suffering from schizophrenia, depression, or some other malady of the mind. On the contrary, it's quite the opposite...

 

[Revoltingest]

I don't think it's that simple, but I definitely see the economic advantages to supporting these beliefs. (Which, is ultimately, how I understand them.)

Do you see financial advantages to being trans?
I sure don't.

Hey, @Shadow Wolf....
How much profit are you making off of this scam?

Of course, in that, I think medicine doesn't really give a damn it just wants to sell treatments to people. Healthy happy folks aren't paying for therapy, drugs, and whatnot. The system (especially in mental health arenas) isn't curative as much as it's focused on on-going maintenance and hocking its wares.

Most people hate something about their bodies, but this is an extreme and people attempt to normalize it. I can't, but mostly because there is no evidence that I should. That doesn't mean I don't sympathize with people suffering from such conditions any less that I would someone suffering from schizophrenia, depression, or some other malady of the mind. On the contrary, it's quite the opposite...

We need to get some views of those closest to the matter.
I can only discuss what I observe. No experience here.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

I have my own opinions, I've read, they don't line up with others, and you know that's fine.

That's doesn't mean I'm out for their blood or have some disdain for them. In fact, it's completely the opposite. The problem is exacerbated by how absolutely ***-backward mental health is in comparison to other areas of medicine. To me, transgenderism is real, but in the way that any idea in someone's head is real. I've seen nothing that biologically supports it, except whack science mental gymnastics that are too flexible in fact for me. When that changes, I'll be happy to be wrong... When there is hard evidence, I really have nothing to dispute.

But, that being said, mostly the problem for me is I think people are not getting the help they're really needing... they're getting a sugar pill. Feel free to convince me otherwise, but for the moment there lies my issues for the most part.

I'm not in the business of "convincing" anyone about that which I don't entirely understand myself. But I would ask you to consider this: if a person has a brain that deeply, fundamentally identifies that person as male, and yet that person's body has a vagina rather than a penis and testicles, what do you think is the best way of getting those two disparate parts of that poor individual in better alignment? Do you really think that the professionals who deal with this have not given the matter at least a little thought (I personally think they've given it a lot)?

To the best of my knowledge, nobody, anywhere, has ever managed, through any means at all, to change a person's fundamental experience of their own identity. If you know of any examples, let's hear about them.

Biologically, by the way, bathing various parts of the developing foetus in hormones can have different effects at different times during development. What if brain development doesn't happen at precisely the same moment as genital organ development happens, and what if, at those two different times, for whatever reason (and these could by myriad) the hormone bath is different? Because something you said earlier was overly simplistic, which was "for the most part, gender=chromosomes." Because you see, it's much more complex than that. Chromosomes hold our genes, but gene expression or suppression is controlled by more than just themselves, but rather to whole cascades of variations.