Search is not working and as a result, I cannot make the soft porn and sex images go away

[macjennifer]

I am going to close out my account unless someone can fix this. I've already stopped looking at eBay at work and now I am too grossed out to even look at it. I just bought a portrait of a woman from the 1800s and what does eBay recommend to me? Full frontal nudity. And search isn't working so I cannot just make it go away.

As a buyer

I want the 'exclude' search feature to work correctly

so that I can shop on eBay at work, and not get in trouble because of the full frontal nudity and sex images, and shop on eBay at home too without being repulsed.

As a buyer

I want an option to make the nude women and sex images that appear under "Related Sponsored Items" that I see after making a purchase to go away

so that I can shop on eBay at work and not get in trouble and shop on eBay at home too.

As a buyer

I want the exclude seller feature to actually work

so that I can shop on eBay at work and not get in trouble and shop on eBay at home too.

If someone will take me seriously, please let me know and I will write the steps to reproduce. Otherwise, I will close out my account that I have had since the 1990s.

[eburtonlab]

If you are browsing an art category or searching using one or two general keywords, there is no way to absolutely guarantee you won't see some nudity, or something objectionable.

Because sellers are responsible for the content of their item titles and descriptions, it is possible that a seller might include some keywords that you are searching for in any listing.

The more targeted your search, the more specific keywords you use, the more you narrow to a particular category (excluding, say, photography), and the more category-specific filters you use, the less likely you are to run into things you find objectionable. But there are no guarantees.

You absolutely can exclude individual keywords from your search.

You can exclude up to ten sellers by username.

If you bookmark or save the resulting search, you can use the saved or bookmarked search as a starting point and continue to exclude those keywords or sellers' items from your results.

It is possible to use an ad blocker and to block specific page elements that you select, such as the rows of sponsored listings that appear at the top of individual item pages, or on the main eBay page, and avoid eBay's suggestions entirely.

You can complain to eBay, and eBay may even remove a few listings that are inappropriately listed or that violate policy, but eBay is unlikely to make the sort of wholesale changes that would make it impossible for you to run into something you find objectionable in the course of your searching.

You are much more likely to get better results by making some slight changes to the way you are searching rather than relying on eBay to change the way the search works, or counting on all sellers to change the way they list their items.

[macjennifer · Accepted solution]

I don't want to be repulsed while looking at art. I want a web site where I can buy art and not be subjected to men having sex, photos of naked women, crotch shots, close ups of butts, and photos of naked women spread eagle with little black boxes covering up the genitals. And if I have to spend hours trying to make this a reality, that's too much effort. Also, eBay is sending the sex photos directly into my feed of recommended images so even if I stopped browsing, I would still have to look at it.

Thank you for your help though... I'm going to close my account. This is ridiculous. I've had my account for 24 years. I will go elsewhere where customer service actually cares.

[remembermonday]

I was sorry to read your experience and that you had to leave eBay as a result. Too many good people have been chased away because of bad seeds on eBay.  I agree that you can delete your search and browsing history.  It should help.  Unfortunately, once you click on the listing eBay will automatically recommend similar items and that is not a good place to be.   Delete the search history with Ebay and clear your browser history.   Please know that eBay has made attempts to clean up the listings.  And mostly this has led to improvement.  It was worse.  I believe it was due to bad decisions made by some of the priors in charge on here.    There used to be some really bad eggs that resorted to harassment - which made the news.   Let's hope there was a thorough cleaning of that group of individuals and they were immediately shown the exit.   Ebay could really clean up economically if they continue down a path of making things more family friendly so the entire family could be involved without having to shield their children's or their own eyes from the "stuff" that gets included in with everything else because it is considered "art" even when it is a photograph, etc.  It seems that AI is only as good as the party or parties that program it-- and if those that programmed it never quite matured and are obsessed with ogling at certain imagery then the AI will give it thumbs up as well.  The bright side is that AI is always learning and if the right people are there to guide it- it will learn to have higher standards.  Here's to hoping that Ebay continues down a path of hopefully one day setting a standard that we can all be proud of.   Even though there has been some improvement.   It's still a work in progress.   The problem is as the saying goes - sects sells.  The question is -  At what price?   And- is it worth it?   A long time ago, for the longest time - certain areas of Europe, as well as other regions of the world made fun of America for being prudish while nudism was an everyday thing to them.   Now, a group has done everything possible to turn the United States into another unremarkable country similar to those in other parts of the world with lower standards of behavior.   The bedroom behavior which used to be private and kept behind closed doors is now out there for everyone to see whether they want to or not.   People allowed so-called celebrities to influence their children.   Not examples of strong women or men for that matter.   Examples of a mess.  A strong woman or man would have put their efforts into creating a positive influence or image.    Instead they take the easy road so they can make money off of it.   Basically, selling their souls.    And look at where the United States and the rest of the world is at now.   There was a reason why the rest of the world looked to us for the longest time as a strong world leader.  Part of that was having standards.  Yes, the "stuff" was always there.   But, now people feel the need to bombard the world with their "stuff" whether they want to look at it or are repulsed by it.    Back in the day, it was not pushed constantly out there for everyone to see including the most vulnerable.   We had a responsibility to protect our citizens from all forms of harm.  Especially the most vulnerable.   Hopefully, maybe now, after all that has happened people will realize that when you desensitize and not allow the youth to have some level of innocence and blast images of "stuff" everywhere - you will end up with a bunch of mixed-up adults.

Watch the news.   Tell me I'm wrong.  If you think I am- you're fooling yourself.

Anyway, I just wanted you to know you are not alone.   

Ebay (and I do mean Ebay - not some mouthpiece member that thinks that they own the Ebay Community), if you are listening, which I think you are trying to now.  Please pay attention to those oldies (sellers and buyers) that have been with you since the beginning and try to reply to their concerns.    This particular issue has been an ongoing one.   You have made improvements. There is no denying that.  But, there is still an issue.   I realize you are trying to stay competitive with social media and other selling sites.  And ask yourselves -  Why?   You are missing what an economic boom it could be for you if people could use your site and not worry about their kids seeing other people's "stuff" when they view your site.  This applies to all "stuff".  Even the vintage and antique photo images which are no different from the more modern.  Be different and set a higher standard so entire families can enjoy the site.   If you insist on continuing down the path of allowing "stuff" to be included in regular categories, then at least allow those that do not want to see the "stuff" to permanently filter it out.