tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post8552378721798175043..comments2023-10-30T05:46:59.343-04:00Comments on The Doubting Writer: Fake ReviewsJeffOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07947660745120963286noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-71640036736853790722012-09-16T07:21:18.277-04:002012-09-16T07:21:18.277-04:00And that's where the damage is done, the visib...And that's where the damage is done, the visibility. I agree with you, my impression, based on anecdotal evidence, that most people don't pay that much attention to reviews. Locke specifically didn't pump up his books with all five-star reviews (though he didn't pay for 1- and 2-stars), he just pumped them up with numbers. It pushes everyone else down.JeffOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947660745120963286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-26748933187761467192012-09-15T20:30:53.554-04:002012-09-15T20:30:53.554-04:00I heard about this, and have to agree. Other write...I heard about this, and have to agree. Other writers might remember and care, but for the most part I can't think that many readers will honestly never buy a book by these authors again. But time will tell. Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978105784786995834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-91264760534381995652012-09-15T03:11:28.783-04:002012-09-15T03:11:28.783-04:00Established authors will continue to thrive becaus...Established authors will continue to thrive because they have fans who love their books. The consensus seemed to be that most readers don't really care about reviews anyway. It's just a matter of ranking for visibility's sake. I guess that just cheats other authors out of their rightful place on the charts. Nancy Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05735642863696266005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-26243156043681206782012-09-15T01:20:41.306-04:002012-09-15T01:20:41.306-04:00I agree on both accounts, Jeff. I do not condone t...I agree on both accounts, Jeff. I do <i>not</i> condone this behavior, but I doubt these authors will suffer any long term repercussions.Carrie Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01540590799406170410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-51668124529951048572012-09-14T16:54:02.676-04:002012-09-14T16:54:02.676-04:00What's really sad is I'm not surprised. Fu...What's really sad is I'm not surprised. Funny that people feel the need to do that, especially people who already have huge followings. Donna K. Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15763832177263927311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-54614632836704607822012-09-14T15:31:45.384-04:002012-09-14T15:31:45.384-04:00I think you make a great point. When the fuss dies...I think you make a great point. When the fuss dies down, who will really care?<br /><br />I do, but I'm only a tiny fish in a big ocean. I guess principles are just personal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-59471970567041772582012-09-14T09:54:09.852-04:002012-09-14T09:54:09.852-04:00I think--and I'm no expert in how the reviews ...I think--and I'm no expert in how the reviews work--the real damage is not so much people saying, "Whoa, another five-star review for Author X! I must buy his book!" I believe the real damage is the number of reviews boosts the visibility of the page, so his book turns up as a 'suggested item', etc., etc. Locke wasn't just buying 5-stars, he bought 3-stars. It was the volume that was important. I suspect a lot of people don't pay as much attention to the reviews when choosing books as we'd like to believe, but the visibility, that's priceless.<br /><br />And yes, I think there may well be some who pick fights and do bad things based on the precept, "There's no such thing as bad publicity." (I don't believe that one myself, but it seems to have worked for Paris Hilton).JeffOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947660745120963286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-57230927181348413632012-09-14T09:28:33.523-04:002012-09-14T09:28:33.523-04:00***no one knows*** sorry, sleep deprivation!***no one knows*** sorry, sleep deprivation!Lisa Reganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12899014095250160853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-19464958447019147392012-09-14T09:27:35.686-04:002012-09-14T09:27:35.686-04:00It's really pretty appalling what reviews can ...It's really pretty appalling what reviews can bring out in other authors. I think the other thing that some of these authors are trying to accomplish is getting attention at almost any cost. Fake reviews draw outrage which draws attention. Even though the fake reviews draw bad attention--it is still attention. It puts them in the limelight. I'm still not condoning it, I'm just saying. I would bet most people in the writing community know who John Locke is and yet I have a friend named Abigail Dawalt who self-published and she is honest and does not fake reviews and I would bet know one knows who she is. Interesting and really kind of sad how that works. Also sad is that I think you're right. Readers don't care about juiced or fake reviews. They just want a good book. I think what it comes down to is your integrity--are you willing to compromise it to sell a book? <br /><br />You're so right though that this society will accept just about anything--compared to some other infamous things that have happened in this country, I doubt fake book reviews would even be a blip on the ethical radar!Lisa Reganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12899014095250160853noreply@blogger.com