That actually works pretty well as a description of the response of some writers who've hooked up with bad publishers.
- Victoria
[rant] It's the same stupid aspect of human nature responsible for both; for the majority of people who ever lived, the single hardest thing to do (downright impossible, for many people) is to admit "
I screwed up,
I made a mistake, my current unpleasant situation is largely
MY fault." Why do certain abused women stay with and make excuses for their abusers, even when they're not financially dependent upon them? Better than admitting "My friends were right and I was wrong and I made a mistake in choosing this guy." Why do so many otherwise intelligent and sane scam-publisher victims make all these excuses why PublishAmerica and Strategic Books are legitimate publishers, wonderful career opportunities and the best ten thousand dollars I ever spent? Because otherwise, they have to admit they fell for a con. Why did so many in the GOP spend eight years swearing "Bush/Cheney are great Republicans -- dedicated to principles of fiscal responsibility and small government"? Why do so many of my fellow left-wingers now insist "Obama is all about government transparency, increased civil liberties and sticking up for The Little Guy" even though his record in such matters is measurably worse even than Bush's? Why did Germany a few decades back insist "Our current economic problems have NOTHING to do with us starting a war that trashed half of Europe and now we have to pay for the damage we caused; no no no, our problems are all the Jews' fault?"
Because clinging to ludicrous fantasies is psychologically easier than admitting "I screwed up. I was conned. That politico I voted for sold me a pig in a poke. That war we started turned out fantastically bad for us. And if you, Victoria, with all your legitimate publishing credits that actually
make you money rather than
cost you, are trying to talk me out of signing a contract with these vanity publishers -- well, that must mean you're trying to squash the competition. Pulling the ladder up behind you now that
you've climbed it. Perhaps intimidated by a new writer both younger and more talented than yourself? Did you used to date Bobby Fletcher and you're still mad that he dumped you? Or are you a mean, sadistic misanthrope ranting on aspiring authors' blogs because you get off on spite? It
has to be one of those things, because the only other option is to admit that I was wrong." [/rant]
Sorry, drifted a bit off topic there; bits of a real-life disagreement with a friend are falling into my comment. DTMFA, and that goes for authors with Strategic, too.
