Thread: Is AOL anti-American?

For six years we have had AOL dial-up, and I truly believe I have finally gotten fed-up and am ready to give them up for someone else, here's why;

I noticed around Fourth of July that on my email backgrounds I could only find one background with anything remotely applicable to the 4th, simple watercolor looking fireworks. No American flag, nothing stating "4th of July", or anything about America's independence and pride in patriotism.

Today I wanted to have a patriotic background for a special email, and could not find anything to do it with. I decided to call AOL myself and ask after and exhaustive search in their system.

Mr. soandso, from India no less, answered my call and I asked him this question, "I have been a paying customer of AMERICA online for about 6 years, I have even recently had an increase in my rate because I do not use a credit card (I use my debit card instead), and my email portion of my paid for service, does not offer me ANY patriotic American themes, WHY?". He replied that if I go to the little blue button and see where it says "add a background", I did and all that does is goes to my own files to see if I have something I can use.

So, to make a long story short, I asked why AMERICA online provides email backgrounds for "Cinco de Mayo" and "Gay Pride", and Kwanza", why not patriotic for July the Fourth, and mainly an American flag, which is the MOST American holiday possible?". This is what this man said "ma'am, it is illegal for us to provide a flag background as an illegal person might use it to send bad pictures (I know he meant porn/nude) out to people or sites".

I said "so the United States government has told AOL that they cannot provide specifically a flag background image for their customers?". "Yes, that is correct" he said.

Hmmmm.....now mind you all, I just downloaded Incredimail, and they have ALL sorts of flag background images of and with the American flag, all for FREE!!!! So I have to assume Incredimail is in deep doo-doo, or AOL are liars and anti-American. Tomorrow I am trying to find out who in the U.S. government told AOL that it was illegal to provide a flag background image, this office or person would want to know that Incredimail is doing it!

Though, then again, maybe AOL is LYING????.........What do you all think I am going to find out? Do you want to bet that it is NOT illegal? Seems they are happy to provide a "Cinco de Mayo" background, which is not EVEN an American holiday or celebration. So, time will tell, and if I find out they are not being honest and lying to cover their outsourcing derriers, I am coming back to this thread and letting you all know, and want you all to spread the word. Although as it stands right now, I already believe AOL is anti-American, but I'll reserve judgement till I have proof.

Hi American Elizabeth,

Originally Posted by AmericanElizabeth

Is AOL anti-American?

Correct.

And... They fired most of their staff and moved to India.
The H-1B Non-immigrants are really proud of AOL, as is the US Senate.

Excuse me a sec. Can't seem to find my barf bag.

*AMERICA* ONLINE IS LYING. THERE IS NO SUCH LAW. DID HE CITE THE LAW WHICH FORBIDS THIS? THERE ARE AMERICAN FLAG GRAPHICS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. IT CANT POSSIBLY BE ILLEGAL. HABIB IS FOS.

please let me know what you find because I have been a aol user for 15 years. I will drop them like a hot potato if this is true. I shoud just because they use INDIAN companies to handle their customer service.

BTW. IT THERE AN AMERICAN ISP PROVIDER?

find someone else the only way these companies will learn is to...the almighty Dollar....find a local...

Coto, I really feel they are, but plan to "check". I think it would be the FCC that would have jurisdiction over ISP's? I'll find out and get back to this thread, so we have PROOF and can spread the word.

In the meantime, I am looking at what our options are, (DSL, another dial-up, etc...). In the meantime I am using Incredimail so I can have ANY background I want.

It really "ticked" me off when I realized there was one for "Cinco de Mayo", which really isn't even a terribly important holiday in Mexico, only to illegals here to have something they can claim "pride" in, or excuse to get drunk.

BTW, PLEASE start spreading the word, and do feel free to call AOL at: 1-888-217-9271, which is their tech support. Give them a piece of your minds for being the lying anti-American, money grubbing, job outsourcing scab of a company they are (did I miss any other descriptions?). PLEASE feel free to quote this story.

American Elizabeth and Red Pony 353,

Always subscribe to a local Internet Service provider, where you know the staff in person. I use one that's a mile from where I live, and I visit them frequently.

This is what this man said "ma'am, it is illegal for us to provide a flag background as an illegal person might use it to send bad pictures (I know he meant porn/nude) out to people or sites".

Let me get this straight........no American flag because someone might use it to send bad pictures....Gay Pride background is ok because no one will use it to send bad picture.....hmmmmmmmmmmm

Never argue with an idiot; they'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience." ~ anonymous

Going to DSL I think Coto. With Verizon, which is our phone company. There are some local ones, but not so sure about them being DSL or not.

As for the no American flag versus the Gay Pride thing, yeah know what you were thinking there. It's a DUH moment on AOL's part to try to make that argument and think it will win.

Maybe this is another company that needs to feel the wrath of the American public like Miller and Bank of Illegal Aliens, eh?