Well another one bites the dust. We’ve just been informed that Three R’s has gone the same way as Moonlight Reader and .
And :
Right. As if it was ever about the product. For all those who’ve been terrorized by her in the past, you can now breathe a sigh of relief.
We haven’t seen an official policy change statement by Amazon, but we know for certain that something is happening on the site. Apart from the AFT deleting their accounts, we do know that Amazon is removing reviews again and possibly the accounts with them. More on this to come.
Hey, that’s great news, but Moonlight Reader is still there.
And this is not really related, but I have a nominee for bullshitting hypocrite of the week: Autumn Heath aka Autumn Turner aka Misanthropic Reader. Here is one of her posts on KDP
http://kdp.amazon.com/community/message.jspa?messageID=709188#709188
Notice how she says
1. I did not ‘invite’ anyone to attack you, or other reviewers.
2. I did not ‘invite’ anyone to ‘down vote’ your ‘reviews’.
3. I have no control over anyone else who might read my blog or BookLikes blog.
But when an AUTHOR posts about a bad review/reviewer on their social media, then THEY most definitely ARE inviting people to attack reviewers. What a lying, self-serving hypocrite. There is no other word for it.
I think we need to separate out reviewers with varying social skills who are honestly giving a personal, if negative, opinion from the genuine bullies. I happen to know Autumn. She has a tendency to be blunt, but bluntness is not bullying.
Personally, I reply to any genuine, written review with a simple thank you. I have plenty of “I am being tough on you because only I know how to write a novel” reviews. They’re a pain, but they’re not worth your name being sullied. My main problem is with the true bullies who rain down hell on people in order to (1) prop up their own and their friends’ titles, (2) hate on people they have some hidden agenda against, and (3) the outright bullies of all other varieties. The one-star hit idiots go without saying.
Can we please understand that, just because someone critiques our work and/or just is too thick to understand our novel or any other reason that is an honest opinion, it doesn’t make them a part of the bully pack? Thanks.
We understand what you’re saying and we agree that honest critical reviewing is not bullying, but we have seen her launch an attack on an author by actively recruiting her friends to do it. Her actions have revealed her intention and it goes way beyond leaving honest critical reviews on books.
If that is the case, I’m not aware of it. I’ll definitely bring that up with her, but I still think that’s a different
issue from the primary problem.
MHO
No worries. You are entitled to your own opinion. Thanks for sharing it! It’s funny you should bring up Autumn now because we are currently writing a post on her. You can let us know what you think as soon as we have it up.
Autumn most definitely has hated on people she has some hidden agenda against, to use your expression. She’s got at least two reviews up on Amazon right now (both one stars) that admit she chose the book because of “hoopla’ or “snublicity” surrounding them on GR. That’s typical of the GR bullies MO: pick a book where the writer got into a fight with a friend of yours and give it one star. I might believe these ‘reviewers’ more if just once they gave more than one star, but no. That’s a review of the author masquerading as a review of the book. What’s more, she may be verging on the unethical: she’s an editor who often says the books she reviews need editing. I hope she’s not trolling for business.
That’s not my experience of her. If true, I would agree that’s very unfortunate.
https://stopthegrbullies.com/2014/03/15/new-bully-attack/
Reading a book you’ve aleady decided to hate just to put a one star on it is again, keeping the fight going just for the sake of it. It also destroys the credibility of their own reviews. There’s an easy answer: review books that you read with the intent to enjoy them. Just don’t read books by people on your BBA list.
I’ve sadly found it necessary to unfriend Autumn over this. She and I have deep disagreements regarding this issue. I cannot agree with this kind of behavior. I think a lot of Autumn and agree with her on many things. Sadly, these issues are incredibly divisive. I don’t understand why cruelty and viciousness must always enter into opinion.
Good advice, Jaq!
To Autumn and the rest: Go back to that time when you chose a book because you wanted to read it, and because you planned to enjoy it. Find that joy again in reading and talking about books, not because some group ringleader told you to, not because you think an author deserved to be punished. What I’m seeing from you and others are people who have been sucked into a cycle of hatred that’s making you miserable. Step back and take a look at what you really want to accomplish in your reading life. Do you want to waste your time and joy on hating authors because someone told you you should? Or do you want to pick up a book that you are truly interested in to read and enjoy that will fuel your imagination for a while? That’s what reading should be like. Don’t give the excuse that you’re tired of so many bad books out there, because you don’t have to read them!!! Choose books that you like and read for the pleasure of it. Forget the “pack” and be happy!
Good riddance to a hypocritical scum-bucket. May she go on to feel all the pain that she inflicted on innocent authors, and have it reflected back at her tenfold.
Awww the poor pwecious thing is “worn out” from “defending her right to read good books”. Does she even know what REAL problems are?? I really do wonder sometimes if any of these idiots have ever experienced actual, REAL problems. They act like authors have destroyed their entire lives, FFS. These people really do need therapy, in a BAD way. These people don’t know what REAL problems are. They’re clueless!
If you want to read a good book, then do your homework BEFORE buying the damn thing, and stop spending all your time taking out your life problems on the people who PROVIDE YOUR FREAKIN’ ENTERTAINMENT.
Therapy, people. Therapy. It’s there for a reason.
Three Rs said “It’s not, and that’s partly while I feel stupid and wimpy for being upset. And yet I can’t stop crying.”
And you know what you and your ilk would tell authors?
SUCK IT UP.
GROW A THICK SKIN.
Well, why don’t YOU suck it up, 3 Rs, and grow a THICKER SKIN? Sounds like you need to.
What’s good for the goose, yada yada… remember?
I am -finished- feeling sorry for these people, because every single time I gain an ounce of sympathy for them, they turn right around and start shit all over again.
Crazy Ang has already posted a screenie of my comment (see above). Says I must be Annette or an ally whining for her. Not that she’s inviting people to attack Annette or anything. She has no control over what her blog readers do.
For the record, I’m just a whiner who saw the link to Autumn’s post somewhere and decided to call her out.
Why do these people always feel the need to announce their retirement? Do they honestly think anybody cares? Just go! You’re not that important! Nobody will notice that you’re gone!
Another liar. She’s still reviewing:
Not surprising.
>I love to read. Someday I’d like to write, but for now I just… love to read
In other words, she’s a coward.