This is Part I of commentary on a post that originally appeared on the SLJ (School Library Journal) site on October 28, 2009. In this section, BookHarpie will discuss the amateur nature of the post by a kidlit book diva.
BookHarpie has always thought that the SLJ was a serious sort of publication. They've got a print issue. They've got articles and a Google Page Rank of "7". You know, they seem like the real-thing. But the ole Harpie was pulled up short by a post that appeared in October when Fuse #8, aka Betsy Bird, Amazon reviewer #32 (classic status #37 as of this date), posted a commentary about Amazon's Vine program and it's reviewers.
You can find that post here. BUT let me tell you that it's been thoroughly edited from the original Yes, EDITED and without any notice of said changes. The author, you see, apparently did not do any research and when people called her out on the fact that she apparently just made stuff up, she went back and sneakily edited her post so that it didn't look as lame as it was. [Thus possibly making commenters look like they didn't know what they were talking about.] This, of course, is extremely uncool and in extreme violation of good posting netiquette. (The law reads something like you are allowed to go back and fix spelling and broken links... but no material changes without notation if people have commented.)
For example, she wrote originally that Viners (people who are apart of Amazon's Vine program) can choose 2 items per month which they sometimes have to return. Well, guess what? As was pointed out several times by people who actually know, they may choose up to 4 items per month.
One commenter said: I am just really surprised by the lack of accuracy in this post. First of all, Viners are able to get up to 4 books per month which they get to keep--always.
To which the author replies: Interestingly I did originally write that it was four items, but in my research it was unclear as to whether or not it was four or two.
To which I can only respond by rolling my eyes and saying: Oh really.
(By way of disclosure, we should tell you that the BookHarpie is a part of the Vine Program, which is only natural, for wherever there is a need for a critical eye, there will be a need for BookHarpie.)
Beside the tacky last minute CYA, the Really Lame part of this response is that all of this information is available on Wikipedia ('Amazon Vine' link see entry under "Vine Voices Newsletter). So hello, despite claims to the contrary, it doesn't look like any research was done. BookHarpie means, who doesn't Google and look at Wikipedia when starting their research?!? Sooo, nope... not any apparent research. And BookHarpie would have thought the SLJ had higher standards.
Next... Why that silly article on the Amazon Vine in the First Place. Or, you are keeping my golden words from the eyes of the masses.
BookHarpie has always thought that the SLJ was a serious sort of publication. They've got a print issue. They've got articles and a Google Page Rank of "7". You know, they seem like the real-thing. But the ole Harpie was pulled up short by a post that appeared in October when Fuse #8, aka Betsy Bird, Amazon reviewer #32 (classic status #37 as of this date), posted a commentary about Amazon's Vine program and it's reviewers.
You can find that post here. BUT let me tell you that it's been thoroughly edited from the original Yes, EDITED and without any notice of said changes. The author, you see, apparently did not do any research and when people called her out on the fact that she apparently just made stuff up, she went back and sneakily edited her post so that it didn't look as lame as it was. [Thus possibly making commenters look like they didn't know what they were talking about.] This, of course, is extremely uncool and in extreme violation of good posting netiquette. (The law reads something like you are allowed to go back and fix spelling and broken links... but no material changes without notation if people have commented.)
For example, she wrote originally that Viners (people who are apart of Amazon's Vine program) can choose 2 items per month which they sometimes have to return. Well, guess what? As was pointed out several times by people who actually know, they may choose up to 4 items per month.
One commenter said: I am just really surprised by the lack of accuracy in this post. First of all, Viners are able to get up to 4 books per month which they get to keep--always.
To which the author replies: Interestingly I did originally write that it was four items, but in my research it was unclear as to whether or not it was four or two.
To which I can only respond by rolling my eyes and saying: Oh really.
(By way of disclosure, we should tell you that the BookHarpie is a part of the Vine Program, which is only natural, for wherever there is a need for a critical eye, there will be a need for BookHarpie.)
Beside the tacky last minute CYA, the Really Lame part of this response is that all of this information is available on Wikipedia ('Amazon Vine' link see entry under "Vine Voices Newsletter). So hello, despite claims to the contrary, it doesn't look like any research was done. BookHarpie means, who doesn't Google and look at Wikipedia when starting their research?!? Sooo, nope... not any apparent research. And BookHarpie would have thought the SLJ had higher standards.
Next... Why that silly article on the Amazon Vine in the First Place. Or, you are keeping my golden words from the eyes of the masses.
============================
For other pertinent thoughts see Steffan Piper's "Amazon Vine as Target Practice"
Very amusing and informative post.
ReplyDeleteBut I empathize with Ms. Bird's plight and have to defend her, even if only in a small way.
If you are a top Amazon reviewer and are not in the Vine program, it’s a lot being in grade school where you were the only kid not invited to the birthday party. That and the fact that few outside of the Vine program have any inkling of what Vine is all about can make for some major sour grapes and the beginnings of some elaborate conspiracy theories.
Amazon doesn’t really let on about the program and the Wikipedia entry, though informative, is still incomplete. Moreover, it is never clear with a Wiki if the information there will change over time.
So Ms. Bird made some interesting and relevant points, even if some of her facts were off. If Ms. Bird was disgruntled about Vine, she isn’t the only one. We all know that our Vine reviews are the ones that garner way too many unwarranted negative votes, from people who just hate Vine. She also generated a lot of discussion with many replies from Vine members. Hopefully, this will clear the air as much as possible, so in the end it wasn’t such a bad thing. As to amending her post, she did put an asterisk after the statement and noted that it was corrected.
The BookHarpie certainly understands 'sour grapes'. She doesn't eat them, but enjoys the savory tang it adds to the flesh of those she devours. And yes, I suppose Ms. Bird would indeed be very tangy.
ReplyDeleteAnd, of course, you are correct about the Wikipedia entry. Like all Internet materials they must be evaluated with a suspicious eye. (This would include your, mine, and Ms. Bird's comments, as well.)
But the Harpie must ask two fake questions. First, does Ms. Bird receive no freebies? I would think she has as many as Ms. Harriet Klausner, and so why should she be concerned with what others receive. Is she that greedy? Probably not.
No, it would seem that the real problem is that she HAD an advantage-- which she apparently did not feel bad about taking advantage of-- and now that advantage is gone, and she feels deprived, her ego crushed by a lack of confirming votes. (With the stagnation of the voting ranks, we doubt she will slip much, regardless of the quality/length of those reviews)
As for negative reviews (and yes, this comment is getting rather long), that post complains about too many positive reviews, as well. Or at least it did. We would need to go back and see what the post says today. There was not initially any asteriks, but we see that there are now. (BookHarpie thinks that perhaps her squawking was heard and acted on.)
All in all, a very intelligent and thoughtful post, Jojoleb. We give you the freedom of our lair.