Another Amazon Review Controversy

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mirrorkisses

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I would prefer diversity in my reviews. As a writer, one of the hardest things for me is to get people to tell me constructively what they don't like about my writing and how I can change it.

And that annoys me about the customer thing.... I get many of my books from the library.
 

Inky

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Yeah, I agree, contructive critism can be big-time helpful, and help you to grow as a writer. It's the vicious stuff I can do without. I've been lucky...but I've seen others that received reviews that made me cringe. I bought the book anyway--but I support the underdog :)
 
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mirrorkisses

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You just have to learn not to take it personally (which I'm sure you're aware). It's hard, because we see all our writing as our baby.... And you get angry when people insult your baby. But eventually you have to let your child into the world by themself.
 

Inky

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Waaaaay easier said than done. I'm a hypocrite. I'm quick to tell someone: ah, it's no big deal, shrug it off. But, for myself? I'm weak. Lip trembles...ye' get the picture.
 

Celia Cyanide

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Also, one thing has really been annoying me lately -- what I call "big ass assumptions" in reader reviews. Some reviewers seem to have this assumptions that if someone else agrees with them, then that person must have an agenda or bias. If someone didn't like a book they loved, it's because they're mean or an idiot. If someone liked a book they hated, it's because that person is an unthinking fanboy, or worse, the author or his friend or agent or neighbor. Never mind that there are dozens of reviews written in different voices. :tongue For example, I recently read a review that started with "Now that you have read the reviews herein written by the author's family, agent and publicist I hope you will take a minute to look at one from an impartial reader." What a jerk. Other than that, the review looked helpful, but I refused to click it as Helpful because he started out with the assumption that if you disagreed with him, you are related to the author.

The funny thing is, that is supposed to be against Amazon policy. You're not supposed to comment on or refer to other reviewers at all, at least when you are writing your own review. That is what the comment function is supposed to be for.

The JT LeRoy books all have several reviews by people who say, "I would never read this book, because the author is a liar." Many of these people posted the same review on all of the books, including Labour before it was even released. Why should Amazon allow these reviews to stay when the reviewers admit that they have not read the book? Most of the reviews by people who have actually the books give them 4 and 5 star reviews, but unfortunately, they are difficult to find.
 
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