tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1008954639175647714.post3566488303247906032..comments2024-01-06T01:32:29.535-05:00Comments on reading avidly dot com: Personal attacks over a book review. How utterly ridiculous.NancyOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027036137062767840noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1008954639175647714.post-81689336512202419422010-04-19T08:23:53.154-04:002010-04-19T08:23:53.154-04:00Thank you, Jeannie. I did end up writing the revie...Thank you, Jeannie. I did end up writing the review, and hopefully left no openings for nastiness.NancyOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027036137062767840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1008954639175647714.post-78521894614207920752010-04-17T22:50:53.978-04:002010-04-17T22:50:53.978-04:00Excellent post Nancy. It seems that nastiness and ...Excellent post Nancy. It seems that nastiness and rudeness really come out behind the veil of anonymity. And really, what is the point? I hope you don't let others irresponsible remarks & behaviors keep you back from posting your quality reviews.Jeannienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1008954639175647714.post-84499755590287687942010-04-16T15:12:23.432-04:002010-04-16T15:12:23.432-04:00Bookmole (what is your name, anyway? LOL), Pete, A...Bookmole (what is your name, anyway? LOL), Pete, Alyce and Alaine: thanks for the comments. I guess I don't generally read books that cause that much controversy and bring out the worst in people. I'm not for internet censorship either, but I do wish people would think before they type!NancyOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027036137062767840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1008954639175647714.post-47563107109701557242010-04-16T15:04:26.401-04:002010-04-16T15:04:26.401-04:00Thanks, Jennifer. I'm still thinking about it ...Thanks, Jennifer. I'm still thinking about it but after hearing what you all have to say, I'm a)glad I'm not the only one to feel this way, and b)more inclined to post the review than not.NancyOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027036137062767840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1008954639175647714.post-22257188515922795342010-04-16T13:41:17.600-04:002010-04-16T13:41:17.600-04:00I agree with you. Thankfully I've never reall...I agree with you. Thankfully I've never really had that happen on any of my posts (I guess I'm just not controversial enough). I do think that people tend to say things anonymously that they would never say to someone's face. And of course being anonymous gives them that bravery that they wouldn't have otherwise. I'm sure others end up with that kind of "pack" or "herd" mentality. Saying things because others are saying it so it makes them feel free to say it too. Like the way riots start in crowds. Anyway, it doesn't make any of it excusable. I'm sure there are others that just love to incite people to nastiness. Saying awful things to get a reaction.<br><br>I know if you go to a political news article from an major online paper you will see the same things in the comments. Sometimes I read the comments just to see how ridiculous people can be.Alycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919057159829023714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1008954639175647714.post-3798327436049596322010-04-16T04:56:36.175-04:002010-04-16T04:56:36.175-04:00Hi Nancy, I found the same thing you did and stopp...Hi Nancy, I found the same thing you did and stopped reading Amazon reviews a few months ago because they could be so nasty. I don't think there is any need to criticise a book if you don't enjoy it, we all have different tastes.Alaine - Queen of Happy Endingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17176725771593204577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1008954639175647714.post-584249178099849392010-04-16T01:29:55.922-04:002010-04-16T01:29:55.922-04:00I joined GoodReads really early, about 3 years ago...I joined GoodReads really early, about 3 years ago. That was my first experience with reviewing books, but the other people who first joined seemed to almost consider themselves refugees from Amazon. They told all kinds of horror stories like this about reviewing over there. They also talked about authors working the system to make sure that good reviews made their way to the top of the list and how there was really no support from Amazon when something like this happened to them. I took what they said to heart and refuse to review on Amazon or Shelfari (Owned by Amazon) and don't even look at the reviews. I know things like this happen elsewhere, but I know that at least on GoodReads they have very clear Terms Of Service and easy ways to flag comments and even block other members to give us as reviewers some kind of protection from this kind of behavior. We're kind of on our own on our blogs, but so far I haven't heard many reports of attacks like this happening. I think you should write your review and not worry about the rest of it. Your regular readers would probably never act like that and we would back you up if someone else decided to act like a jerk. Besides, I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that you can actually block people through blogger. It might not be much, but it's something. Just please don't let the jerks win, and they will if we let them affect our behavior.Jennifer G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04804424405257091608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1008954639175647714.post-83438822039642817362010-04-16T01:00:16.967-04:002010-04-16T01:00:16.967-04:00There are a good number of blogs I read where the ...There are a good number of blogs I read where the comments/forum sections just get bogged down in the type of mindlessly hateful stupidity you talk about. It's sad, really. I live in a country (China) where internet censorship is the norm and I would never advocate for it, as such. Still, it's such a shame that the potential for thoughtful discourse, whatever the subject may be, is drowned out by the idiocy of whatever blow-hard can shout the loudest. One of the reasons I started my blog was so that I could have a place to discuss books intelligently with other similarly inclined people. Having started mine up and looking around at other book blogs (like this one), it's nice to see that there are others out there who have similar feelings. <br>Good post!petekarnashttp://petekarnas.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1008954639175647714.post-74309498543064224422010-04-15T23:33:07.142-04:002010-04-15T23:33:07.142-04:00Isn't this so sad? I have seen this on Amazon ...Isn't this so sad? I have seen this on Amazon everytime I look up a book that is remotely related to politics or religion. Its sad to see "book lovers" behave this way. I agree that the anonymity of the internet brings out the worst in some- we will probably never realize this side of these people if we meet them in person..The Book Molehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06512295920884437943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1008954639175647714.post-43814836592708178542010-04-15T22:01:20.973-04:002010-04-15T22:01:20.973-04:00Thanks, both of you! You're both exactly right...Thanks, both of you! You're both exactly right. And yes, that post was a bit cathartic. I'll give the Soraya review some more thought, definitely. <br><br>thanks so much for caring enough to write.NancyOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027036137062767840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1008954639175647714.post-20549978905168026862010-04-15T21:09:41.718-04:002010-04-15T21:09:41.718-04:00I share your frustration in every day life Nancy -...I share your frustration in every day life Nancy - I speak my mind, but believe that does not need to be done in a nasty or hurtful way. I live by the principle of do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Unfortunately I've come to the conclusion that some people have such low self-esteem that they 'think' it makes them feel better when they attack others - after the initial repulsion to this behaviour, I actually pity those people because they must deep down be so unhappy to act in that way, and they are missing out on the nice feeling one gets when one is simply nice to another person expecting no reward in return.<br><br>PS: I bet that vent-post felt cathartic. I hope you eventually feel like posting a review on the book - I say ignore the nasties...Booklover Book Reviewshttp://bookloverbookreviews.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1008954639175647714.post-61773598351788696462010-04-15T21:07:00.115-04:002010-04-15T21:07:00.115-04:00I have spent a lot of time, too much time, wonderi...I have spent a lot of time, too much time, wondering what is going on in people's minds when something like this happens. The hate and idiocy is really hard to stomach especially when it is a book. <br><br>At first, I wanted to just shut the PC down or not participate in the real life conversation at all, but then I realized something. What is that quote? "Evil prevails when good men do nothing." By staying silent and not rising to be heard to disagree, I feel like I am condoning the vile behavior. So now, I try to say something constructive, no matter how hard it is.Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16890023141515213059noreply@blogger.com