Why So Many Newby Writers Without a Device

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by HarryT

That's right; it is. It gets all the advertising into one place, so that those who like that sort of thing can go there, and those who don't can ignore it.

Great, I interpreted it correctly, then. I was concerned, because I've pointed new authors there myself.

But, then... I guess I still don't see the point of this thread. It seems to be saying "Marketplace spammers are spamming the marketplace-spam forum with marketplace spam!"

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by HarryT

With the greatest respect, Richard, there's all the difference in the world between a member who chooses not to post much, and someone who comes to MR with the sole purpose of advertising their own products. MobileRead is (supposedly) a discussion forum for those who have an interest in reading on mobile devices; it's not intended to be a marketplace for spammers. I think we can all tell the difference between the two types of person.

Harry, I would like to know the criteria to apply so that I, too, can infallibly "tell the difference between the two types of person."

I also do not see the problem of authors just appearing to make a post in the self-promotion forum to let those of us who like to read know that there are books available. I thought that was the purpose of the author self-promotion forum, to tell other members of MR that a book is available. I wsas unaware that it was only intended to be used by those willing to dedicate their lives to MR.

One other thing Harry: Please explain to me how interest in ebooks can only be demonstrated by listing a device rather than saying none? The connection isn't clear to me. And why is there a special exception for those who currently do not have a device but are lurking to learn about devices in hopes of someday affording one?

Harry, I find there are an awful lot of assumptions based on thin air being made about authors who do not own a dedicated ereader and whose first posts on MR are about their book. Why is that?

[anamardoll]

MR content-guidelines question: Can we change our device to something a little more... intimate than an eReader? Because I would find that hilarious.

I guess you could do "Device: Uses Batteries", but then everyone would think you have a JetBook. (Note to JetBook readers: those have AAA batteries, right?)

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by rhadin

Harry, I would like to know the criteria to apply so that I, too, can infallibly "tell the difference between the two types of person."

The way to tell them apart is that the spammer joins MR, makes one post (probably in the "News" forum) to tell everyone about their wonderful new book, and then disappears ago. Perhaps to reappear in a month's time to do the same thing again. The other sort of poster, well, doesn't.

I also do not see the problem of authors just appearing to make a post in the self-promotion forum to let those of us who like to read know that there are books available.

Ah, if only they did . You only see where the posts end up, Rich. You don't see the dozen posts a day from such people that we MOVE into that forum, because the poster has posted them elsewhere: News, Reading Recommendations, or whatever.

I thought that was the purpose of the author self-promotion forum, to tell other members of MR that a book is available.

Absolutely right; it is.

One other thing Harry: Please explain to me how interest in ebooks can only be demonstrated by listing a device rather than saying none?

I've never said that it is. I believe that was Neil's assertion. No, it's the "appear at MR to post your spam (probably in the wrong place) and then disappear back into the wide blue yonder" attitude that I find slightly irksome. That's purely a personal view, by the way. I'm not speaking here with my "moderator hat" on.

[OneandonlyDoc]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

MR content-guidelines question: Can we change our device to something a little more... intimate than an eReader? Because I would find that hilarious.

I guess you could do "Device: Uses Batteries", but then everyone would think you have a JetBook. (Note to JetBook readers: those have AAA batteries, right?)

...that's kind of hysterical and awesome at the same time. I love it.

[John Carroll]

Until recently, I haven't had an ereader and I've used readers for the computer to check all my formatting. The nook we have now is actually my wife's ereader.

The fact of the matter is that it's a luxury we can't afford. I am the sole provider for our family and we're barely making it. At some point, I'll be getting every ereader out there. Until then I'm doing the best with what I have.

Aside from that, I do try to participate in discussions, though I don't do so as much as I should. And I have been an avid reader throughout my life, primarily of fantasy, the genre in which I write.

[fbrII]

I somewhat get the concern about self-promoters whose only purpose is to plug their books, although it has not been an issue for me as a regular visitor to this site.

On the other hand I don't understand how the ownership of an e-reader plays into the subject. I attend baseball games without a baseball cap and I still consider myself a true fan of the game.

Just my 2 cents on the subject.

[sakura-panda]

Originally Posted by fbrII

I somewhat get the concern about self-promoters whose only purpose is to plug their books, although it has not been an issue for me as a regular visitor to this site.

On the other hand I don't understand how the ownership of an e-reader plays into the subject. I attend baseball games without a baseball cap and I still consider myself a true fan of the game.

Just my 2 cents on the subject.

Unless your income based on the purchase of that baseball cap, it really is not the same thing.

I work for an automobile manufacturer and all of my cars have been one of their brands, purchased new. I am confident in our product and willing to put up my money to prove it.

I don't purchase every car we make, nor do I purchase a sample from every brand or model year. Neither is anyone implying that an author should own a sampling of every ebook reader available.

The point of the thread is that if an author is interested in their own product -- an ebook -- then it seems reasonable to expect them to have a device for using that product.

The field in the profile is pretty open to whatever creative phrase users want to enter in it -- "Nook" or "PC with ADE" or "still looking for The One True Device" or "Not Any" -- and having it empty implies that the user is not interested enough in the forum (or its membership) to step through the profile and see what information is commonly shared. It may not necessarily be TRUE, but when someone posts only book promotions, doesn't participate in the common areas of the forum and doesn't complete their profile, it does feel as though they are not interested in the community itself.

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by sakura-panda

The point of the thread is that if an author is interested in their own product -- an ebook -- then it seems reasonable to expect them to have a device for using that product.

Why? I'm not trolling, I'm serious.

Authors write and -- ideally, in my opinion -- when they finish writing, they self-publish. Back in the day, this was prohibitive because "self-publish" meant "find a printer" and resulted in a small run of extremely high-priced books that most people simply couldn't afford.

Now they can self-publish for nothing and the world is better for it.

Whether or not an author owns an eReader is immaterial. Some authors will research formatting (or will pay to have it done) and will turn out flawless files without ever loading it to a device; others will have 6 eReaders and it won't occur to them to test their book on any of them. Strange but true.

I've not yet heard a good reason for why an author should invest in an eReader device before self-publishing as an eBook. (And considering how much the files vary on different devices, I think the only logical conclusion to this argument is that authors must own EVERY eReader device.)

[Hellmark]

Originally Posted by fbrII

I somewhat get the concern about self-promoters whose only purpose is to plug their books, although it has not been an issue for me as a regular visitor to this site.

On the other hand I don't understand how the ownership of an e-reader plays into the subject. I attend baseball games without a baseball cap and I still consider myself a true fan of the game.

Just my 2 cents on the subject.

I think the idea was that if you are to use ebooks, you have to have something to read them on. If they don't have anything to read them on, then they're not fans of ebooks, and are just seeing us as potential sales and nothing more. For instance, the one example of the author trying to shill their books, but then stating that they don't actually read ebooks because they like real books. It can kinda be insulting.

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by Hellmark

I think the idea was that if you are to use ebooks, you have to have something to read them on. If they don't have anything to read them on, then they're not fans of ebooks, and are just seeing us as potential sales and nothing more. For instance, the one example of the author trying to shill their books, but then stating that they don't actually read ebooks because they like real books. It can kinda be insulting.

I know it's going to utterly shock the MR community to tell them this, but some people who read eBooks read them solely on their computers. Since "device" reads as "Branded eReader", it's easy enough to leave it as 'none' instead of slapping in "Dell-brand laptop".

And does it really matter what the author thinks? A few years again, Rowling was running around giving the impression that SHE didn't like eBooks because paper was SO important to her, but I don't recall there suddenly being a major crisis of conscience over that.

[OneandonlyDoc]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

I know it's going to utterly shock the MR community to tell them this, but some people who read eBooks read them solely on their computers. Since "device" reads as "Branded eReader", it's easy enough to leave it as 'none' instead of slapping in "Dell-brand laptop".

But you still use a specific software for that, right? Whether it's Adobe Digital Editions, Calibre, ect ect, you're still using something to read the books, right?

I agree that the "branded ereader" tag could be misleading in this context, though.

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by OneandonlyDoc

But you still use a specific software for that, right? Whether it's Adobe Digital Editions, Calibre, ect ect, you're still using something to read the books, right?

I agree that the "branded ereader" tag could be misleading in this context, though.

The field says:

E-Book Device
Your (prospective) e-book device. If you haven't deviced yet just enter none.

The field is hard to find (imho), not grammatically correct ("deviced"? did they mean "decided"?), and potentially VERY confusing since it also (apparently) includes devices you sort of INTEND to buy.

[Ditchleyportrait]

IF YOU SWITCH THE POSTBIT-STYLE TO MODERN IN EDIT OPTIONS, IT SAYS "Reader:" instead of "Device:"

[anamardoll]

WHAT?