Quote:
Originally Posted by Steven Lyle Jordan
You're not from these parts, are you?
You're not from these parts.
That's the thing: You don't have to. You don't like Locke... walk away.
|
The issue here is not with one writer, it is with what he has done to a system that all writers rely on. If none of the reviews on Amazon or any of the eBook review sites (Goodreads etc.) can be relied upon, what point is there is attempting to choose a book that a person might enjoy? What he is doing is turning book buying into a lucky dip. He is doing damage to tens of thousands of people, possibly millions, both writers and readers. Walking away is hardly going to help. It is not dissimilar to swapping the labels on packets or cans of goods in a supermarket - no one can be sure of what they will actually get when they purchase something. It might be just what they want, but it is far more likely to be something that they will not enjoy or find useful.
You surprise me, I had built an image of you over the past year of two of someone who is thoughtful and considerate, someone who has some real standards. It is often surprising to find that the little subtletys that go toward building an online impression can be so out of whack. I would not have expected you to be accepting of cheating in an industry that you have so much invested in. There are many ways to build a following, to gain attention. Your idea regarding offering free books to those who provide a review is possibly a good one. Another tried and tested on is the loyalty system - offering discounts for subsequent purchases by the same reader. Paying for reviews is not a good one, it damages everyone to some degree.