Dubai: Gulf News readers are highly offended by a new e-book that functions like a guide for paedophiles. It was available on the online store Amazon.com and is self-published.
They are calling on the website to exercise greater social responsibility in what they offer, as it might encourage anti-social elements and child abuse.
The book, The Paedophile's Guide to Love and Pleasure: a Child-lover's Code of Conduct, offers advice to paedophiles and sets out relationship lines that should not be crossed.
Aida Al Busaidy, an Emirati, thinks the book is "offensive".
She said: "I don't understand why anyone would want to do this. Some people would use it as an excuse — if it is alright for one to write about it, then it is something that is acceptable!"
According to Aida, the only positive such a book could have is giving you an insight in to the mind of a paedophile. "You may notice something in people that you didn't notice before," she said.
Boycott
Aida is an online shopper and believes that due to one book an entire website should not be banned or boycotted.
She said: "The website offers many things, which may not be available in this part of the world. Shopping online is convenient. It depends on what you shop for."
Dubai resident Peter van Veyeren, a South African national, was absolutely "disgusted" on hearing about the book.
He said: "Such books should not be available on a vast platform like Amazon.com. The website's administrators should regulate or validate what they sell."
Veyeren and his wife are frequent shoppers on the website.
He said: "What you purchase is a personal choice. Someone who wants to read something of this sort will find it anywhere. However, a website should be more careful with what they sell."
Tripti Pathak, an Indian national, is concerned, too.
She said: "If you think from a parent's perspective, this is quite scary. People leave their children at daycares, with a babysitter or drop them off at nurseries. It makes you wonder about each person the child interacts with."
Pathak feels uncomfortable knowing that such books are so easily available.
