Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
I think we would probably all agree that, for example, extra money in your pay packet is an example of the sort of "bonus" that we would accept as being good. What's less obvious is whether a "bonus chapter" of the next book in the series at the end of the current book really qualifies as a "bonus" in the accepted sense of the word, or is it really just advertising?
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We can agree that extra money in the paycheck would be more universally desired than an excerpt at the end of a book. That the excerpt is advertising is immaterial to whether it is a bonus. A sample of Cascade is advertising, yet few would hesitate to call it a bonus.
What is not obvious is that an excerpt is
not a bonus. It seems to be a bonus in the same sense that a packet of Cascade is a bonus. Some people will want the sample of Cascade, others will not. Similarly, some people will want the excerpt. In the days before e-books, excerpts were of more value, because you couldn't simply download a sample. Yet being of less vaue doesn't mean that it is of no value.
In order for the claim that it is a
lie to call an excerpt a bonus it must be a
fact that an excerpt is not a bonus. A difference of opinion does not constitute a lie. a The Arby's sign says "Arby's Roast Beef is Delicious." I don't agree that it is. However, other people do find it delicious. If the sign said "Arby's Roast Beef is Vegan", then it would be a lie.