Comments on: How Thick is Your Skin? http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/05/11/how-thick-is-your-skin/ Where Happily Ever After is Always on the Menu! Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:00:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Darlene http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/05/11/how-thick-is-your-skin/comment-page-1/#comment-24021 Darlene Tue, 13 May 2008 01:57:57 +0000 http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/05/11/how-thick-is-your-skin/#comment-24021 Well said, Linnea. I always hope that exposing bad behavior to the light of day will help bring it to a halt. Ignoring it doesn't seem to do the trick. Darlene Well said, Linnea. I always hope that exposing bad behavior to the light of day will help bring it to a halt. Ignoring it doesn’t seem to do the trick.

Darlene

]]> By: Linnea http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/05/11/how-thick-is-your-skin/comment-page-1/#comment-24020 Linnea Mon, 12 May 2008 17:51:17 +0000 http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/05/11/how-thick-is-your-skin/#comment-24020 apologies for typos--the main pc is still in recovery mode, I'm typing on the tiny laptop, trying to install programs on the pc and the husband is asking me the kinds of inane questions he likes to when he knows I'm stressed, busy and multi-tasking. ;-) ~Linnea apologies for typos–the main pc is still in recovery mode, I’m typing on the tiny laptop, trying to install programs on the pc and the husband is asking me the kinds of inane questions he likes to when he knows I’m stressed, busy and multi-tasking. ;-) ~Linnea

]]> By: Linnea http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/05/11/how-thick-is-your-skin/comment-page-1/#comment-24019 Linnea Mon, 12 May 2008 17:46:18 +0000 http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/05/11/how-thick-is-your-skin/#comment-24019 Kate, I don't recommend any kind of retaliation against trolls. That's exactly what they want you to do then they should up with ten trollish friends and attack again. I do recommend contacting Amazon (50/50 on results with that) if a review is obviously idiotic or hateful. Amazon will remove a review if it's gibberish/nonsensical (I've had those) or if the review is a plug for another author's book/by another author plugging his/her book. The ones that are troll one-stars are more difficult to define. I usually research the troll--often you find all they do are one-star reviews (and I point that out to Amazon) or they've never before read a book in your genre (so how valid is that?). Or the review is a carbon copy of their other reviews, with just names changed. My opening salvo to Amazon is that Amazon's veracity and reputation is hurt by these trolls and their behavior. Sometimes it works better than others. The other thing is I don't link to Amazon on my site and I don't buy from Amazon unless there is absolutely no other source. I don't support or feed the trolls. BTW I think it was one of Barbara Vey's Publisher Weekly blogs that pointed out some of these problems on Amazon, and the trolls found her and flamed up her blog page. So FWIW know they will seek you out. I'm waiting for them to hit this post or others of mine because of this blog. ~Linnea Kate, I don’t recommend any kind of retaliation against trolls. That’s exactly what they want you to do then they should up with ten trollish friends and attack again. I do recommend contacting Amazon (50/50 on results with that) if a review is obviously idiotic or hateful. Amazon will remove a review if it’s gibberish/nonsensical (I’ve had those) or if the review is a plug for another author’s book/by another author plugging his/her book. The ones that are troll one-stars are more difficult to define. I usually research the troll–often you find all they do are one-star reviews (and I point that out to Amazon) or they’ve never before read a book in your genre (so how valid is that?). Or the review is a carbon copy of their other reviews, with just names changed. My opening salvo to Amazon is that Amazon’s veracity and reputation is hurt by these trolls and their behavior. Sometimes it works better than others.

The other thing is I don’t link to Amazon on my site and I don’t buy from Amazon unless there is absolutely no other source. I don’t support or feed the trolls.

BTW I think it was one of Barbara Vey’s Publisher Weekly blogs that pointed out some of these problems on Amazon, and the trolls found her and flamed up her blog page. So FWIW know they will seek you out. I’m waiting for them to hit this post or others of mine because of this blog. ~Linnea

]]> By: Kate Pearce http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/05/11/how-thick-is-your-skin/comment-page-1/#comment-24018 Kate Pearce Mon, 12 May 2008 17:03:21 +0000 http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/05/11/how-thick-is-your-skin/#comment-24018 I think you make some really good points, however, I'd be interested in hearing how you deal with retaliating (in the nicest possible way) because what seems to happen these days is if an author dares to contradict or try and set the record straight, she'll simply get ripped apart even more. Sometimes it feels like a no-win situation. I think you make some really good points, however, I’d be interested in hearing how you deal with retaliating (in the nicest possible way) because what seems to happen these days is if an author dares to contradict or try and set the record straight, she’ll simply get ripped apart even more. Sometimes it feels like a no-win situation.

]]> By: Kimber An http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/05/11/how-thick-is-your-skin/comment-page-1/#comment-24017 Kimber An Mon, 12 May 2008 12:46:16 +0000 http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/pubbedauthors/2008/05/11/how-thick-is-your-skin/#comment-24017 Totally agree, of course. I have found Amazon reviews helpful for something, however. Research. Sure, I have to wade through a lot of junk, but I've learned a lot about wooing readers in the process too, I think. It's not unlike looking over a daycare playground. Some of the children are happy and well-mannered. Some are unhappy, but still well-behaved. Others are little monsters. As the caregiver, I don't hate the little monsters. I try to find out what makes them tick. Some I can help, but some are beyond me and I can only hope the parents find a good therapist. Totally agree, of course.

I have found Amazon reviews helpful for something, however. Research. Sure, I have to wade through a lot of junk, but I’ve learned a lot about wooing readers in the process too, I think.

It’s not unlike looking over a daycare playground. Some of the children are happy and well-mannered. Some are unhappy, but still well-behaved. Others are little monsters. As the caregiver, I don’t hate the little monsters. I try to find out what makes them tick. Some I can help, but some are beyond me and I can only hope the parents find a good therapist.

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