Comments have been massively varied on the issue, but in particular show that for many, this car comes as not a racist item, but an expression of free speech (in fact, many people didn’t really understand why we bothered to bring it to attention). We even noted one comment from another website where someone made the point that the phrase ‘white power’ doesn’t necessarily have to be racist, but could in fact merely be a show of pride in a person’s race, just how slogans such as “black and proud” are commonly acceptable.

However, while we’re obviously open-minded with regards to people’s views, we can’t help but feel many people who don’t see the problem and just think this is “a bit naughty”, may only feel this way because they haven’t seen the real reason why this car is as offensive as it is.

So on that note, here is the picture with the offending word partially covered. We apologise in advance to those offended either by the slogan or the fact we’ve deemed it necessary to censor.

As you can see, what’s said here goes beyond the mere theme to much more hateful territory, taking things to a lower, unnecessarily crass level for the purpose of being deliberately offensive.

And despite what some comments we’ve received claim, this is not a freedom of speech issue: it’s Microsoft’s auction house and as such it’s Microsoft’s terms and conditions we all have to play by.

Microsoft has clearly stated that it is against the rules to, “Publish, distribute or disseminate any topic, name, material, file or information that incites discrimination, hate, or violence towards one person or a group because of their race, religion, nationality, transgender status, homosexual status, or HIV/AIDS status, or that insults the victims of crimes against humanity by contesting the existence of those crimes.”

If you see an offensive car in the auction house, you are instructed to report the vehicle and its owner to Microsoft, who promises to quickly remove both from Xbox Live.

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