Why do People Write Such Bad Reviews? - Page 2

mr ploppy · 05-01-2012, 12:18 PM

I saw a 1 star review for a zombie book once that was complaining that it was too violent. I bought it straight away, but I was quite disappointed because it wasn't as violent as I expected it to be based on the review.

QuantumIguana · 05-01-2012, 08:50 PM

I gave a 1-star review to the Meat Lover's Guide to Cooking because it didn't have enough vegetarian recipes. Then I gave a 1-star review All Vegetables All the Time: a Vegetable Loving Vegan's Guide to Cooking Nothing But Vegan Vegetables for not having enough met recipes.

Well, not really, but you do see reviews like that.

xg4bx · 05-01-2012, 09:31 PM

its fairly easy to spot the troll reviews. they're usually 1 sentence long,filled with bizarre grammar and utterly lack punctuation.

however there are funny and creative troll reviews-

http://www.uhpinions.com/

GA Russell · 05-01-2012, 10:49 PM

Thanks for that link, xg!

JSC_1 · 05-02-2012, 08:08 PM

Authors have to grow a thick skin, however. Even award-winning authors get 1 star reviews. Not that it doesn't sting, but it is to be expected. What one likes and doesn't like is very subjective.

silasgreenback · 05-02-2012, 08:30 PM

It seems that for many, bad reviews are supposed to reflect on the reviewer's refined tastes and I'll pay a lot more attention to a one-star review of an electonic device than I will for a book or restaurant.

WPotocki · 05-04-2012, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synamon

The real killer for me is an author who tells me how many cats they own, I'm clicking that back button faster than you can microwave a kitten.

Oh, I have one cat named Persephone.

How kind of you to ask!

I have some pictures here if you'd like to see ....

VydorScope · 05-05-2012, 08:06 PM

My first book has both 5 and 1 star reviews. I have had some very insulting reviews, and some great praises. Currently the praises are way ahead of the insults, so I carry on. It is hard to know what makes people want to anything, you just have to develop a thick skin and carry on.

VydorScope · 05-05-2012, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VydorScope

My first book has both 5 and 1 star reviews. I have had some very insulting reviews, and some great praises. Currently the praises are way ahead of the insults, so I carry on. It is hard to know what makes people want to anything, you just have to develop a thick skin and carry on.

Funny how fate plays out... while I was here posting that I got a new FIVE star review on B&N and a... ONE star on Good Reads, complete with foul language and comments about how I have no business writing anything ever.

Ah well... I carry on...

apbschmitz · 05-05-2012, 11:51 PM

On the other hand, you're not necessarily obliged to grow a thick skin as an author. Decades ago I worked for a small weekly newspaper in the Midwest. One of the writers reviewed what was then a new Saul Bellow novel. Not only did Bellow trouble himself with an angry response; he went on at such length that the reply was longer than the original review. Given the vastness of Bellow's reputation at the time, it was like getting a personal letter from a very pissed off God.

SpeakOfTheDevil · 05-06-2012, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATDrake

Perhaps people write such bad reviews because they've read such bad books.

In any case, I link you all to "Bad Review Bingo", which you can play along with that blogpost*.

* Also, from a reader perspective, seeing authors publicly express such disdain and contempt for people who presumably took time out of their lives to actually read said author's work, if not actually pay for it, even if they ended up seriously not liking it and said so on the internet, is kind of fun, but also ultimately a turn-off.

But hey, it saves me time and money by helpfully pointing out whom I never need read nor buy from.

"Bad Review Bingo". That is awesome. *bookmarked*

dworth · 05-08-2012, 05:58 AM

You'll never please everyone. Whatever you write, someone will hate it, and someone else will love it for the same reasons.

05-02-2012, 08:30 PM	#21
silasgreenback New Leaf Turner Posts: 260 Karma: 1026664 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Hadestown Device: Kobo Glo	It seems that for many, bad reviews are supposed to reflect on the reviewer's refined tastes and I'll pay a lot more attention to a one-star review of an electonic device than I will for a book or restaurant. Last edited by silasgreenback; 05-02-2012 at 10:23 PM.

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05-01-2012, 12:18 PM	#16
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	I saw a 1 star review for a zombie book once that was complaining that it was too violent. I bought it straight away, but I was quite disappointed because it wasn't as violent as I expected it to be based on the review.

05-01-2012, 08:50 PM	#17
QuantumIguana Philosopher Posts: 2,034 Karma: 18736532 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2 gen, Kindle Fire 1st Gen, Kindle Touch	I gave a 1-star review to the Meat Lover's Guide to Cooking because it didn't have enough vegetarian recipes. Then I gave a 1-star review All Vegetables All the Time: a Vegetable Loving Vegan's Guide to Cooking Nothing But Vegan Vegetables for not having enough met recipes. Well, not really, but you do see reviews like that.

05-01-2012, 09:31 PM	#18
xg4bx Are you gonna eat that? Posts: 1,633 Karma: 23215128 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Phillipsburg, NJ Device: Kindle 3, Nook STG	its fairly easy to spot the troll reviews. they're usually 1 sentence long,filled with bizarre grammar and utterly lack punctuation. however there are funny and creative troll reviews- http://www.uhpinions.com/

05-01-2012, 10:49 PM	#19
GA Russell Als, Lions host Semis Posts: 7,716 Karma: 31487351 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	Thanks for that link, xg!

05-02-2012, 08:08 PM	#20
JSC_1 Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 100562 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: Kindle	Authors have to grow a thick skin, however. Even award-winning authors get 1 star reviews. Not that it doesn't sting, but it is to be expected. What one likes and doesn't like is very subjective.

05-05-2012, 08:06 PM	#23
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	My first book has both 5 and 1 star reviews. I have had some very insulting reviews, and some great praises. Currently the praises are way ahead of the insults, so I carry on. It is hard to know what makes people want to anything, you just have to develop a thick skin and carry on.

05-05-2012, 11:51 PM	#25
apbschmitz Lord of Frogtown Posts: 149 Karma: 1154748 Join Date: May 2011 Location: St. Paul MN Device: Kindle	On the other hand, you're not necessarily obliged to grow a thick skin as an author. Decades ago I worked for a small weekly newspaper in the Midwest. One of the writers reviewed what was then a new Saul Bellow novel. Not only did Bellow trouble himself with an angry response; he went on at such length that the reply was longer than the original review. Given the vastness of Bellow's reputation at the time, it was like getting a personal letter from a very pissed off God.

05-08-2012, 05:58 AM	#27
dworth Zealot Posts: 140 Karma: 2094632 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bradford, UK Device: kindle pc	You'll never please everyone. Whatever you write, someone will hate it, and someone else will love it for the same reasons.