Diversity Lioness misfire?

[Darkwriter]

I'm not about to post every review I get on the forums, but the previous one hurt so much that I want to give you this one, too. It is quite the opposite .

Since Paul somehow failed to disclose it, I'll take a moment to inform you all this person owns the promotional tour company Paul signed on with- and the tour runs until April 15th.

This blatant, clumsy manipulation ploy is really sad. And telling.

 

[Steerpike]

Since Paul somehow failed to disclose it, I'll take a moment to inform you all this person owns the promotional tour company Paul signed on with- and the tour runs until April 15th.

This blatant, clumsy manipulation ploy is really sad. And telling.

As a writer, you should be able to make your points without insulting other members.

The review policy on the site requires authors to agree that they may not get a positive review, since the reviewer is meant to provide an honest assessment of the book. People can take that policy, as well as the underlying promotional services, into consideration when evaluating the review.

 

[Darkwriter]

As a writer, you should be able to make your points without insulting other members.

The review policy on the site requires authors to agree that they may not get a positive review, since the reviewer is meant to provide an honest assessment of the book. People can take that policy, as well as the underlying promotional services, into consideration when evaluating the review.

Provided you're aware the 'reviewer' is also being paid for promotional services, aka full disclosure. At which point it becomes little more than a commercial.

 

[Steerpike]

Provided you're aware the 'reviewer' is also being paid for promotional services, aka full disclosure. At which point it becomes little more than a commercial.

I saw it by clicking on the links in the reviewer bio. I assume you did as well, and suspect other readers are capable of the same feat. Unless you are privy to the inner workings of the promotion company, you can't really say whether or not it amounts to a commercial. Their stated policy is that reviews are meant to provide an honest assessment. You'd have to have inside knowledge to know whether that turns out to be the case or not.

 

[Darkwriter]

I saw it by clicking on the links in the reviewer bio. I assume you did as well, and suspect other readers are capable of the same feat. Unless you are privy to the inner workings of the promotion company, you can't really say whether or not it amounts to a commercial. Their stated policy is that reviews are meant to provide an honest assessment. You'd have to have inside knowledge to know whether that turns out to be the case or not.

When you sign up for a book tour, many of them- such as Enchanted Book Tours- want you to contact them in advance if you're not leaving a postive review (since the purpose is to promote the book) so they can ask you to either make a simple promo post using the materials provided in the media kit or to postpone your review until the tour is completed.

From Enchanted Book Tours Blogger's FAQ:

--I signed up for a review, but I didn’t like the book.--

We want our reviewers to post honest reviews of the book. You shouldn’t feel obligated to write a positive review. A lot of bloggers do prefer to get in touch with us first before writing a bad review. If that happens, we contact the authors and ask them whether they want the review posted. We then forward the author’s response to the bloggers.

If the author doesn’t want the ‘bad’ review posted, we ask the blogger to host a book excerpt instead.

 

[Steerpike]

When you sign up for a book tour, many of them- such as Enchanted Book Tours- want you to contact them in advance if you're not leaving a postive review (since the purpose is to promote the book) so they can ask you to either make a simple promo post using the materials provided in the media kit or to postpone your review until the tour is completed.

So, since that's not what happened here it suggests the reviewer did have a positive impression of the book, or else is being dishonest to avoid that process. Again, you don't have the information necessary to distinguish between the two. I'll generally give people the benefit of the doubt and assume they mean what they say. Pointing out that a promotion is occurring isn't problematic, but doing so using insulting language is unnecessary, contrary to the rules of the forums, and doesn't create the impression that you're making an impartial observation. Better to just make a note of it without the insulting commentary.

 

[Darkwriter]

So, since that's not what happened here it suggests the reviewer did have a positive impression of the book, or else is being dishonest to avoid that process. Again, you don't have the information necessary to distinguish between the two. I'll generally give people the benefit of the doubt and assume they mean what they say. Pointing out that a promotion is occurring isn't problematic, but doing so using insulting language is unnecessary, contrary to the rules of the forums, and doesn't create the impression that you're making an impartial observation. Better to just make a note of it without the insulting commentary.

Paul signed her company to promote his book, then presented her promotion of his book as an unbiased opinion while failing to disclose he's paying her.
The tour owner's own policy discourages but doesn't prohibit less postive reviews, so what would you reasonably consider their own behavior to be regarding any book they're contracted for?

You may consider my framing of Paul's actions insulting, but in light of everything that's occured I disagree, especially as it's factual. So how is what I've stated not impartial and unbiased yet you'll entertain that the review of someone he's paying is?

 

[Devor]

Darkwriter, I can see where you're coming from in questioning the review he posted. But Graylorne is being reasonable in trying to defend himself. At Mythic Scribes, we have policies against insulting or needlessly hostile remarks. All we're asking is that you look for a more respectful way of expressing yourself.

 

[Steerpike]

This blatant, clumsy manipulation ploy is really sad. And telling.

And if you're still in the dark about what was insulting, I'll refer you to the quote above. I have no doubt you can see how that constitutes an insult, made after your initial statement pointing out a potential conflict of interest. There's no need to continue beating this dead horse. Make your points in a civil manner. That's a simple request and an easy one for any writer to follow, given that we use words as part of our trade.

 

[Darkwriter]

Darkwriter, I can see where you're coming from in questioning the review he posted. But Graylorne is being reasonable in trying to defend himself. At Mythic Scribes, we have policies against insulting or needlessly hostile remarks. All we're asking is that you look for a more respectful way of expressing yourself.

As I said, I disagree that I've been needlessly hostile but the objections are noted.

I just have to wonder how his deliberate misrepresentation of this in order to garner sympathy from forum members is considered reasonable, let alone respectful.

 

[Philster401]

I have not read all the posts here and I no authority to do so but I have to say how about you just end the argument here because if both sides continue to fight I see no good coming from it other than someone being kicked off the forum .

And I think you guys have both diverged from the main topic.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

end the argument

Good idea. Consider it ended.