Dangerously e-books: How do I know if my ebooks have been altered?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I do not understand how changing "gay" to "light-hearted" can be considered the same sort of change as "to-day" to "today," which he also said he did. The first is a deliberate and blatant alteration of the author's text.

Just as changing "Dago" to "Levantine", or "Ten Little Niggers" to "Ten Little Soldier Boys" is. Language use and meaning changes.

[doubleshuffle]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Clearly this is not something he considered an error, and he has not changed it despite vehement objections that followed when he told the forum what he'd done.

Considering the fact that Alex did remove the epub-upload right after the initial discussion here, perhaps you should consider the possibility that he just forgot about the mobi version. I enquired about it in his upload thread, and perhaps we should wait for his reaction.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by HarryT

It is a little disappointing that none of the people who are complaining the loudest seem willing to actually put in a bit of work to help proof-read the books in our library.

Please explain to me how a proofreader would somehow help in a situation where an uploader has made a deliberate change--"gay" to "light-hearted," for example.

Please explain to me how a proofreader would ensure that even accidental errors get corrected by the uploader.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by doubleshuffle

Considering the fact that Alex did remove the epub-upload right after the initial discussion here, perhaps you should consider the possibility that he just forgot about the mobi version. I enquired about it in his upload thread, and perhaps we should wait for his reaction.

What? How do you know that?

I went to the library, searched for the title and found the upload. I don't know how you've now decided that something was removed.

[doubleshuffle]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Please explain to me how a proofreader would somehow help in a situation where an uploader has made a deliberate change--"gay" to "light-hearted," for example.

Please explain to me how a proofreader would ensure that even accidental errors get corrected by the uploader.

A proper proofreader would compare the uploaded version against the source text and point out all differences to the uploader. And for the umpteenth time: We have general agreement here that textual changes like the one Alex made (which is the only example of something of such seriousness that you can provide, btw) should not go unacknowledged.

[doubleshuffle]

Originally Posted by Catlady

What? How do you know that?

I went to the library, searched for the title and found the upload. I don't know how you've now decided that something was removed.

How about reading my posts? Here I pointed out that there is no file to download in Alex's post for the epub version of his book.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Just as changing "Dago" to "Levantine", or "Ten Little Niggers" to "Ten Little Soldier Boys" is. Language use and meaning changes.

So now you're OK with it? You weren't when he first mentioned it. See post #117:

I want to read what the author originally wrote, not what a later "editor" has changed at a whim. Sorry, Alex - your library upload is appreciated, but speaking personally I'm not at all in favour of this type of arbitrary editing.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by doubleshuffle

A proper proofreader would compare the uploaded version against the source text and point out all differences to the uploader. And for the umpteenth time: We have general agreement here that textual changes like the one Alex made (which is the only example of something of such seriousness that you can provide, btw) should not go unacknowledged.

I asked HOW THE PROOFREADER COULD ENSURE THAT THE UPLOADER MAKES THE CORRECTIONS. I did NOT ask what a proofreader does.

AlexBell's change is the one we're discussing because it's something he specifically told us all about.

[doubleshuffle]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I asked HOW THE PROOFREADER COULD ENSURE THAT THE UPLOADER MAKES THE CORRECTIONS. I did NOT ask what a proofreader does.

Torture?

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by doubleshuffle

How about reading my posts? Here I pointed out that there is no file to download in Alex's post for the epub version of his book.

I don't know how you got to that page--a search on the title "Queen of Hearts" in the library returns only the page with the mobi file as AlexBell's upload.

[jbjb]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Please explain to me how a proofreader would somehow help in a situation where an uploader has made a deliberate change--"gay" to "light-hearted," for example.

Please explain to me how a proofreader would ensure that even accidental errors get corrected by the uploader.

You were the one suggesting a requirement that all submissions be proofread:

Originally Posted by Catlady

How about not allowing uploads that have not been proofed?

If you really want that requirement it would seem only fair for you to volunteer to do some of the proofreading yourself.

In this case, as each upload has its own thread, there's nothing stopping you posting details of any errors or alterations you find. The original uploader might not change the uploaded text, but the details of the modifications would be there for all to see.

/JB

[Catlady]

I am not going to proofread books for the MR library. Period.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I am not going to proofread books for the MR library. Period.

So you're perfectly happy to dictate terms to the people who do the work, but not willing to do a stroke of work yourself. Is that a fair summary?

[jbjb]

Originally Posted by HarryT

So you're perfectly happy to dictate terms to the people who do the work, but not willing to do a stroke of work yourself. Is that a fair summary?

That seems to sum it up nicely, as far as I can see.

/JB

[issybird]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Just as changing "Dago" to "Levantine", or "Ten Little Niggers" to "Ten Little Soldier Boys" is. Language use and meaning changes.

I'm repeating myself, but since you are also: an entity with a financial stake in a copyrighted work changing it to maximze its return is quite different. It's understandable and sometimes it's unfortunate and sometimes it really is necessary.

But while I get a profit motive, I don't get wanting to fiddle with a classic text, whether it's for perceived stupid readers or brainwashing or whatever ill-considered or malevolent reason. If someone does make such changes, I'd like to know. I think finding such works in the MR context would be surprising, but I accept it can happen. I'd like to have a community belief that such things are unacceptable and to be discouraged where possible.

I also know that in this particular case, the uploader puts a lot of effort into his books and that he meant well, but made what I consider to be a poor decision. That's the kind of change that could be affected by a few simple guidelines. With the truly malevolent, obviously they wouldn't herald their changes, but that's also the type of thing that is more readily detected (and the bemused downloader could post in the upload thread to alert others), as opposed to a slight dumbing down which will more likely pass muster. I just don't care to read it.

You do what you can in these situations. Again, I would think that those who spend a lot of time verifying every comma and em dash before uploading would like to discourage deliberate textual changes (without noting it) to the extent possible, especially when they don't care to read such works, either.