tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post3760970806659571950..comments2024-03-18T06:16:18.802-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Ethical RouletteJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger171125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-8654362429788065222014-01-20T08:58:59.157-06:002014-01-20T08:58:59.157-06:00Very well said Joe...keep it up...more power.Very well said Joe...keep it up...more power.Cedrichttp://myonlineroulette.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-78598038802937357652012-09-12T17:24:55.969-05:002012-09-12T17:24:55.969-05:00People should see all this talk about reviews for ...People should see all this talk about reviews for what it is: a giant distraction and an attempt to deflect from the larger issue. <br /><br />$5000 worth of paid book reviews doesn't have the potential to net you two million in sales, but using that money to pay someone to buy your book, so it will end up on a bestseller list, certainly does! <br /><br />When "two million dollars" is potentially at stake, do you think an author who's been bumped off a list by someone who's used deceptive methods going to ignore it? Should they?<br /><br />All the other stuff about sockpuppets to praise yourself and trash your competitor is sophomoric and pathetic. But when you start bandying about dollar figures in the millions, gained by deceptive methods, it moves from pathetic into an entirely different realm.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-28064058438130443272012-09-12T12:53:42.192-05:002012-09-12T12:53:42.192-05:00Sarah,
I went through your reviews and found a ha...Sarah,<br /><br />I went through your reviews and found a handful of 1 star reviews. Not that I think there’s anything wrong with that, in fact it seemed like each time you gave thoughtful criticism on what bothered you so badly. Ultimately, I always try a sample to decide for myself, but when I’m actually looking for reviews on anything I’m considering buying, reviewers like you are exactly who I look for: a reviewer that gives an in-depth look at the material and makes an honest judgment call, and has a mixture of negative and positive reviews. In my opinion that adds weight to your 4 and 5 star reviews.<br /><br />While I don’t like the use of sock puppets and have never considered doing it, I can at least understand where the motivation comes from. Getting book-bloggers and reviewers to even look at my Sci-Fi crime novel has been a challenge to say the least. And I’ve yet to figure out how to get any momentum behind the book, so that casual readers might start writing reviews on it.<br /><br />Out of curiosity, is there a way to get in touch with Amazon Vine reviewers?<br />Ender Chadwickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06236697139446178129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-39091258704593608182012-09-12T12:00:27.600-05:002012-09-12T12:00:27.600-05:00I am an Amazon Vine reviewer and I've been pos...I am an Amazon Vine reviewer and I've been posting reviews, signing them with my real name, for many years. I rarely bother to review books I think are trash, but I did once give a one-star review to warn readers:<br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/Wyatt-Earp-Coeur-dAlene-gold/dp/0967105803/ref=cm_cr-mr-title<br /><br />My intent was not malicious, but to warn potential buyers that the book was a cheap rip-off, full of inaccuracies, and a waste of their time. I took the time to include specific examples to back up my opinion. It was not a hit-and-run one-star review; in fact, it was a lot longer than many of my five-star reviews. I stand behind it and will continue to do so. So maybe you think a one-star review is "shitty", but I think it's equally "shitty" to fail to let readers know that they could be laying out nearly twenty bucks for a book that was a waste of paper.Sarah Stegallhttp://www.munchkyn.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-10122686345282875122012-09-10T17:27:22.108-05:002012-09-10T17:27:22.108-05:00Aside from the outrage and the outrage over the ou...Aside from the outrage and the outrage over the outrage, and the impossibility of altering the human condition, is there any room for constructive ideas? For example, YouTube changed from a star-rating system to a thumbs-up/thumbs-down system. Facebook avoided star ratings altogether. Might Amazon (and other sites such as Goodreads) also come to the conclusion that the star-rating system is too prone to abuse to be useful? In which case, it might also change from star ratings. Would that even be an improvement? I don't know. Maybe there are other ideas that might produce a better recommendation engine.epikleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01417963344148876467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-43874680981784907932012-09-10T11:52:34.023-05:002012-09-10T11:52:34.023-05:00Sorry, I misquoted in my above comment. The hypoth...Sorry, I misquoted in my above comment. The hypothetical question was, "how fucking pathetic is that?" Not, "how fucking stupid." Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-83637249009962327162012-09-10T11:35:44.924-05:002012-09-10T11:35:44.924-05:00People seem to forget this is more than just about...People seem to forget this is more than just about buying good reviews for your own books. It's about leaving negative ones for your competitors, PURELY to promote your own (in the cases where this applies). It's about PAYING for people to purchase your book, so it will show on a bestseller list--which is tantamount to free advertising, and something a "genuine" bestseller "earned." This is about cheating someone out of an opportunity to earn--and I do believe that is an actionable legal defense. Is that going overboard? Probably.<br /><br />There's some contradiction here: Are book reviews worth paying for, or not? When it comes to negative reviews left out of spite, it seems the answer is: reviews don't matter all that much, so get over yourself. Yet it appears purchasing $5000 worth can possibly net you two million in sales. In this case, the answer is: reviews matter a great deal. <br /><br />Sorry, people, but you can't have it both ways. So, which is it?<br /><br />And, Mr. Konrath, when you ask "...how fucking stupid is that?" My answer would be, "About as fucking stupid as creating sock puppets and leaving fake reviews." <br /><br />I don't like to see people publicly flogged either--that's just me--(unless you're a child abuser, in which case all bets are off) but accusing someone of schadenfreude who is merely taken aback, and a little disconcerted, by this news, is insulting. No, it isn't schadenfreude, it's like Dorothy pulling back the curtain to discover the Wizard is a fraud. Every day our heroes fall from their pedestals--Lance Armstrong being the latest. I get no sense of pleasure from it. It's disheartening. Period. <br /><br />And I resent someone attempting to deflect another's bad behavior back to me just because I noticed it. <br /><br />Sometimes it's good to shake the cage a little bit. Hopefully some good will come out of all of this. <br /><br />One can only hope.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-58755803934724756542012-09-10T10:42:49.986-05:002012-09-10T10:42:49.986-05:00Shows how much moral panic I was in - I didn't...Shows how much moral panic I was in - I didn't know about any of this! I did read the article in the UK press about some bestselling authors doing it, but didn't know about Locke et al. So, from the info in this post, my two cents:<br /><br />In a capitalist society, nothing is a zero sum game. Someone being successful doesn't keep you from being successful. Every industry has marketing and advertising and messaging. Most is paid. Does buying a brand of car because we liked it on tv worse than because our neighbor likes it? Just because someone takes a route you wouldn't take, that's not illegal or immoral.<br /><br />I bought Locke's book on marketing. I won't write a 1 star review because he left something out. I did what I always do - took the info that I felt I could use with my personality and goals, and didn't worry about the rest. I wouldn't pay for reviews (because I don't care that much), but I also am not going to spend a couple of hours or more on Twitter per day, as he suggests. So no harm, no foul.<br /><br />If we all spent as much time working on our books as we do on marketing, tweeting, blogging, and moral outrage over yet another straw man, we'd have plenty of our own success. IMHO.<br /><br />Thanks for the good work, Joe!Jenningshttp://jenningswright.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-21677911864922499342012-09-10T03:49:34.640-05:002012-09-10T03:49:34.640-05:00My wife hates my books, and wouldn't give me a...My wife hates my books, and wouldn't give me a good review if I paid her.Walter Knighthttp://www.waltknight.yolasite.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-20376381169830825952012-09-10T03:40:38.544-05:002012-09-10T03:40:38.544-05:00Fake ONE STAR reviews have a disproportionate on n...Fake ONE STAR reviews have a disproportionate on new and self published writers. <br /><br />The most blatant phony ONE STAR reviews are driven by politics, in an attempt to censor opinion. Walter Knighthttp://www.waltknight.yolasite.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-29439964965872494952012-09-09T18:30:52.726-05:002012-09-09T18:30:52.726-05:00I think what Locke did was stupid and a gamble. Wo...I think what Locke did was stupid and a gamble. Would I do it? No. Did it work for him? Maybe. We really will never know if it was the 300 positive reviews that turned the corner for him or luck hit at that time. What we do know is he must be a good writer because people continue to buy his books and he has gotten way more unpaid for reviews then paid for. <br /><br />Sock puppets to prop up your own work is... sad in my opinion... is that really the best someone with thier creativity can think of to develop buzz for their books? Frankly if you are going to sock puppet give yourself some creative 3 star reviews and even an insulting 1 star to stir up your own followers. No I would not do any kind of sock pup petting because it seems stupid to me but if one is going to do it do it with creativity so when caught people might laugh or something.<br /><br />Sock puppet to put down other writers in your genre? Really do you believe reviews by unknowns carry that much power? Are we really that jealous of each other? Do we want to look that foolish if caught out? <br /><br />Signing petitions and being outraged seems a bit much. This keeps everything in the public eye. It makes sure readers are aware of it and that we believe it's a major problem. If it weren't a big problem we would not need to sign a petition we'd let the whole thing fade away quietly. Enough already. I think each did something wrong.ni don't think those wrongs are on the same level. But let's get back to work and give our readers books to read instead of petitions and blogs about the screw-ups some writers make.<br /><br />P.s. my mom would give me a 1 star review if she thought my book deserved it. I'd be afraid to read anything of hers as she would insist I give it an honest review.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05039139421361895786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-6095650379519271272012-09-09T14:12:46.729-05:002012-09-09T14:12:46.729-05:00Joe you don't get it. That's understandabl...Joe you don't get it. That's understandable. As you say you sell lots of books. You have a reputation, a developed career and a following. This shit does not matter to you.<br /><br />Lots of us are trying to build a reputation and following. Reviews are a factor in this. Not the only one thankfully, but this shit does not help. If readers genuinely want to 1 star my books OK. The books need to be able to hold their own. But I'd like a review system that is not too fucked up. One readers can believe in, and I don't like the fact that some greedy people are messing it all up for everyone else. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-19024552408972430752012-09-09T13:58:11.121-05:002012-09-09T13:58:11.121-05:00Thank you for stripping down the topic of ethics i...Thank you for stripping down the topic of ethics in our industry to its bare elements, and for your courage and candor in tackling the difficult questions that we all inevitably confront.<br /><br />Whether this spurs honest debate among others in the industry or not, thank you for summarizing these issues in a manner that will, at the very least, allow this writer to address them as a measure of her own integrity and personal growth.Gina Favahttp://www.ginafava.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-48608195200104991212012-09-09T01:18:00.259-05:002012-09-09T01:18:00.259-05:00I honestly think reviews are more important to the...<i>I honestly think reviews are more important to the AUTHOR than anyone else. Because they are critiques on our work, and authors are often ego-driven and insecure.</i><br /><br />This is a great point, and probably a large part of why people are overreacting.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-80149005896058992562012-09-08T23:18:43.788-05:002012-09-08T23:18:43.788-05:00Am I missing something? Everyone would agree that ...<i>Am I missing something? Everyone would agree that purchasing fake reviews is wrong, but how is that related at all to a Kirkus or PW review, who warn you they might hate your book repeatedly when you are paying for the review?</i><br /><br />I've never seen one of Kirkus's paid indie reviews that I know of, so I have no idea how to judge them. But if money is changing hands, I would have to ask:<br /><br />1. Is this fact disclosed in the review? Does the reviewer state that the review was paid for by the author?<br /><br />2. Has Kirkus actually given out any BAD indie reviews as they warn they might? Do they send the review only to the author or does it go on their website? Is the author given a choice to NOT have the review published anywhere?<br /><br />The whole thing seems a bit suspect to me, but without answers to these questions, it's hard to know.<br /><br />But, as I said before, the industry is full of deceptive practices from ghost writers to house names and artfully truncated review blurbs and author endorsements and paid bookstore shelf space and men posing as women and vice versa under pen names—all of which are designed to get a reader to buy their books. These things are considered to simply be part of the business, and nobody really blinks an eye over them. And the readers, in general, are completely unaware that any of this happens.<br /><br />But if you're going to condemn one sketchy practice, shouldn't you condemn them all?Rob Gregory Brownehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12785299355462748009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-75767421189038008192012-09-08T23:00:12.339-05:002012-09-08T23:00:12.339-05:00Can you see where I'm coming from? I'm not...<i>Can you see where I'm coming from? I'm not targeting your books Rob because I've never looked at the reviews. However, if you have some reviews that appear dodgy then I guess I'd be reluctant to buy.</i><br /><br />Don't worry, I never assumed you were targeting my books specifically. And you certainly have the right to your own criteria when it comes to choosing what books to buy.<br /><br />As I've said elsewhere, I generally ignore reviews when I'm buying a book, because the selection process is far too subjective. I won't let bad reviews or even "dodgy" reviews scare me away and I won't let good reviews sway me into buying.<br /><br />While I myself appreciate getting good reviews and dislike the bad ones, they are ultimately only a matter of opinion, and one man's treasure, etc., etc.<br /><br />I think MOST readers, however, choose books because they sound good to them. The cover looks good, the story blurb sounds exciting, the sample chapters are written in a style the reader enjoys.<br /><br />Whether or not Joe Reviewer loves or hates a book really means nothing to most readers, in my opinion. James Patterson gets a ton of one-star reviews, yet people still buy his books. (I wish I had his sales.) The readers like his books and don't give a hoot what anyone else thinks.<br /><br />I honestly think reviews are more important to the AUTHOR than anyone else. Because they are critiques on our work, and authors are often ego-driven and insecure.<br /><br />Where I think reviews are valuable are on things like appliances or electronic equipment and the like. Tangible items that either function well or don't, or are built well or not. <br /><br />With books, music, movie, art—any creative product put up for sale—the reviews are, as I said, too subjective to mean anything.<br /><br />That's my take on it, anyway. <br /><br />Rob Gregory Brownehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12785299355462748009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-83357565954267747552012-09-08T22:40:49.933-05:002012-09-08T22:40:49.933-05:00I agree with much of what you say in your blog, Jo...I agree with much of what you say in your blog, Joe.<br /><br />I am a self-published writer with my 1st novel in paperback and eBook format on Amazon, trying to navigate my way through the marketing maze. Amazon's KDP Select programme has benefitted thousands of people like me in getting our books noticed. However many free sites promoting KDP free deals will only do so if a book has an average of, let's say for the sake of argument, reviews of 4* and higher. While on the one hand I understand why they do this, on the other it's clear that the importance given to 5* reviews is unrealistic, illogical and open to skullduggery, especially when every reviewer has different criteria for evaluating the books they read.<br /><br />Indie authors want to support each other and I promote others' books by sending out e-mails, Tweeting about them or posting them on my Facebook page as other Indie authors promote mine. If I have read a book and enjoyed it I say... but many of the books I'm helping to create exposure for I have not read.<br /><br />I don't think I'm doing anything unethical because, contrary to the direction in which the world seems to be heading right now, I believe individuals should accept responsibility for their own actions. In this case I mean that buyers should take the responsibility of deciding for themselves whether they want to buy a given book and not rely on what they have been "told" by reviewers. In today's information-rich world and with the "Look Inside" facility Amazon offers, potential buyers have access to more data than ever to help them make informed decisions.<br /><br />In any case, not every 1* review is a bad thing. My book, The Zul Enigma, has a slating 1* review on its Amazon US page that drew out the following 2 comments: "I wasn't sure about this book until I read your review. Now I KNOW I want to read it!" and "Thanks for the recommendation!"<br /><br />@JMLeitchJ M Leitchhttp://www.thezulenigma.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-90244496465197826882012-09-08T20:43:25.966-05:002012-09-08T20:43:25.966-05:00Am I missing something? Everyone would agree that ...Am I missing something? Everyone would agree that purchasing fake reviews is wrong, but how is that related at all to a Kirkus or PW review, who warn you they might hate your book repeatedly when you are paying for the review?<br /><br />I'm not following how paying a credible source for its time in giving it's opinion is related at all to buying sock puppet reviews. Yet, I keep seeing references to how people lost respect for those services when they allowed indie writers to contract the services.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-57520031351124811082012-09-08T17:31:05.010-05:002012-09-08T17:31:05.010-05:00"There is a price to be paid for being my fri..."There is a price to be paid for being my friend, or for supporting me publicly."<br /><br />I've argued some of your point on Twitter, and mentioned your name, and ALL responses I got from the "publishing community", agents, editors, and authors, either called you an ass-hole as if that defeated all your arguments, or said you were crazy... lol Likewise, they seem to throw me out the window when I bring you up at any point. <br /><br />I think it shows a lot that so many fear what you say. I'm actually still looking for an agent, but at this rate, I'll be thrown in with the likes of your kind. AKA, the rich writers. LOL.<br /><br />Darn?Jacob Chastainhttp://www.jacobchastain.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-909603388276750582012-09-08T16:49:05.421-05:002012-09-08T16:49:05.421-05:00@Rob:
I have no idea which authors you're tal...@Rob:<br /><br /><i>I have no idea which authors you're talking about and don't really want to know. But I think there's a real danger in calling someone out based solely on a suspicion and not on hard fact.<br /></i><br /><br />I'm not calling anyone out... I'm calling everyone out.<br /><br />This is the problem, I don't now who is scamming me. Just like I don't really know if the Ab-Cruncher 3000 is going to knock the three inches of fat of my gut.<br /><br />I'm sure as fuck not about to buy the ab-cruncher because we all know someone who has been stung on that front.<br /><br />Can you see where I'm coming from? I'm not targeting your books Rob because I've never looked at the reviews. However, if you have some reviews that appear dodgy then I guess I'd be reluctant to buy.<br /><br />chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-77480323003310578442012-09-08T14:30:42.023-05:002012-09-08T14:30:42.023-05:00OK, after lurking for a couple of years, here'...OK, after lurking for a couple of years, here's my first comment - the answers to your questions! :)<br />1) Yes, I'd probably accept a blurb from a Big Name Author, but I wouldn't aks for it, so BNA would have to find me first (highly unlikely, LOL).<br />2)I have given away free copies (with Smashwords coupons) to reviewers - and didn't lash out on Goodreads when some of them didn't deliver. Yes, a couple didn't review it (I did it with my first title, then I moved on, I don't do it anymore unless someone asks for a review copy), and I don't care. And no, I'd never hire a publicist.<br />3)Mom wouldn't write anything, but I can imagine a friend. I'd probably tell him/her what I really think in private, asking him/her if he/she wants me to post the review. And I don't go below 3 stars, especially with indie writers.<br />4) No, I'd have to read the book to blurb it. Unless it's a friend, in that case I'd blurb the author, much like you! :) But if I got paid those sums, hell yeah, I can reinvest them in paid reviews... no, wait, that's sick! :D<br />5)No, I don't really check my reviews anyway, and I don't give 1 stars.<br />6) If I had earned the 5K with the book blurb on #4, yeah. Otherwise I don't have money to spend on paid reviews. My indie writing account is already in the red for editing and some cover expenses, I'm not adding marketing and reviews to the lot! ;) And I'd rather have genuine reviews than spambots... good or bad, doesn't matter! Oh, and no money for ads either (unless I earned as above, LOL)...<br />7. Actually, no. I don't have time. My TBR list is way too long already. So unless I lose my DayJob and need another income, no, I won't review for money. I'm not a very good reviewer anyway! ;)<br />8. I traded blurbs once. Not sure I want to do it again. Not sure it increased my sales, or hers. I don't ask friends for reviews. But I ask buyers and giveaway winners to leave a review - which doesn't always happen, but I can't force them, can I?<br />9. I have a blog, a Facebook page and a Goodreads profile. That's it. I don't wander in forums and don't respond to reviews - ever. And I certainly don't have time to set up sock puppets accounts! ;)<br />10. No, I won't review a book I haven't read (or that I read in beta stage, like a writer friend asked me to. I told him I'll review his book when I read the final version - also because I never read the whole thing in the first place). And I won't give 1 star reviews to an author just because I don't like him/her.<br />11.I'm against cyber-bullying. Even when I hear very stupid writers complain on forums, I might rant on my blog, but never give names.<br />12. No, I didn't sign that petition, I thought it was fairly stupid in the first place. And I don't believe in petitions saving the world anyway! :)<br />Thanks for the questionary - now I better go back to writing!<br />BarbAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-60713931430092218712012-09-08T14:02:09.586-05:002012-09-08T14:02:09.586-05:00So how would you tell one of these fakers apart fr...<i>So how would you tell one of these fakers apart from an honest reviewer, say, someone like Ellen J. Grogan?</i><br /><br />Well, Ms. Grogan is a longtime reader and FB friend who is always asking when the next book is coming out, so I know her reviews are genuine. But sometimes you get a one or two-line review that just doesn't ring true, and when you check and see your book is the only one they've reviewed, you have to wonder. Which, I suppose, is their intent. They want readers to wonder, too.<br /><br />I honestly didn't think anything of it until other writers began to notice the same thing happening to them over the last couple days.<br /><br />I have been told by one author, however, that Amazon had some kind of glitch in their review system recently, so maybe this is merely a case of reviews piling up and only getting published over the last couple days.<br /><br />Who knows? As I said, I can have my suspicions, but I can't really speculate, and I ultimately don't think it will be harmful to any of us. Maybe the reviews ARE genuine. Either way, they don't seem to have much effect on the sales of the book. I'm convinced that most readers are like me and don't read reviews.<br /><br />I just find human behavior so odd sometimes. If you have a problem with me, for whatever reason, then why not simply send me an email or engage in honest debate on forums like this?<br /><br />I have opinions, other people have opinions, and there's room in this world for all of them. You may find me disagreeing with you, but you'll never find me attacking you in a malicious way.<br /><br />In the meantime, I'll just keep writing more books and hopefully people will continue to buy them. So far so good.<br /><br /> Rob Gregory Brownehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12785299355462748009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-12527623045853408242012-09-08T13:20:05.777-05:002012-09-08T13:20:05.777-05:00I understand your new agenda is to desensitize eve...<i>I understand your new agenda is to desensitize everyone to the point where they don't have any moral barometer, and lying, cheating, deceiving are all acceptable.</i><br /><br />My agenda is that judging others for their morality is misguided at best, harmful at worst.<br /><br /><i>When a lot of people think something one of your friends has done is low end, it's not a witch hunt or hysteria.</i><br /><br />When that person gets humiliated in the media, and is being condemned non-stop on social networks, I'd call that witch hunting and hysteria.<br /><br /><i>What you're missing, though, is that all the insistence that paying to deceive readers with fake reviews only makes you look like a douche.</i><br /><br />I think a lot of people are douches.<br /><br />I don't alert the media and condemn them in a kangaroo court without carefully analysing and discussing the issue. I don't call up 400 friends to sign a petition denouncing their douchery.<br /><br /><i>Your problem is that people have good bullshit detectors, and the defense of Locke and Leather, et al's tactics smacks of it.</i><br /><br />And I defend your right to cowardly post your silly opinion.<br /><br />Just I'll defend the right for people to do things I don't agree with, because that's what being in a free society is all about.<br /><br />But I won't join a mob to publicly humiliate an individual who does something I don't like. Especially when it hasn't even been proven what they'e done is wrong. JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-30095991711170798402012-09-08T12:31:36.728-05:002012-09-08T12:31:36.728-05:00Interesting blog. From the comments I see that any...Interesting blog. From the comments I see that any opinion that unethical behavior is bad and wrong should be tempered by moral relativism wherein no act or deed is worthy of condemnation. Additionally, I see a lot of language being used to brand honest outrage over unethical behavior as "witch hunting" or "mob mentality."<br /><br />When a lot of people think something one of your friends has done is low end, it's not a witch hunt or hysteria. It's a lot of people expressing that they think it's a shitty, low end thing to do.<br /><br />That's it.<br /><br />I understand your new agenda is to desensitize everyone to the point where they don't have any moral barometer, and lying, cheating, deceiving are all acceptable. To express that they aren't is a witch hunt. You've been more than clear. It's a very attorney-like approach. What you're missing, though, is that all the insistence that paying to deceive readers with fake reviews only makes you look like a douche. It's akin to defending a child molester because he's your friend. "In Greece, young boys were the companions of older men, thus the moral outrage is unfounded, etc."<br /><br />Everything can be excused if one's agenda is to excuse. And there is nothing as difficult to convince as a man with good reasons to not recognize what he remains unconvinced about.<br /><br />Per your statements, lying isn't condemnation-worthy. Deception isn't condemnation-worthy. Anyone expressing moral outrage must be involved in a witch hunt. Lots of hyperbole there. Lots of loaded words to frame the opinions that your agenda doesn't jive with as idiocy or hysteria.<br /><br />Your problem is that people have good bullshit detectors, and the defense of Locke and Leather, et al's tactics smacks of it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-60053424837187571322012-09-08T12:14:39.733-05:002012-09-08T12:14:39.733-05:00Rob Gregory Browne: I have no idea and won't s...Rob Gregory Browne: <i>I have no idea and won't speculate. But I know it's happened to at least three other authors in the last couple days and we've all contacted Amazon.</i><br /><br />I had a look at some of your book listings on Amazon and found a couple of recent five-stars from people who've only ever posted a single review, but how can you tell they're fake? <br /><br />Most of my one-star reviews are pretty short as, in the same way that most happy families are happy for the same reasons (to paraphrase Tolstoi), most good books are good for the same reasons (good plot, good characters etc.) there's not too much you can say about a good read beyond that fact that you enjoyed it. <br /><br />So how would you tell one of these fakers apart from an honest reviewer, say, someone like Ellen J. Grogan?T Ludlowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04135962676990122827noreply@blogger.com