Another Lesson

I’m about to put the finishing touches on my presentation for the Florida Romance Writers’ convention which is all about online self-promotion. It’s always nice when examples appear that so neatly define what I’m trying to say, which is, in this case, think before you post anything.

Writer and editor Steve Berman reviews an anthology, receives an email from one of the authors who is offended by a one-line evaluation of his story and jaw-dropping douchebaggery ensues. First, the author, one Kevin W. Reardon encourages Berman to kill himself, not once but twice – and asks that he take his cat with him as well – then threatens Berman’s life, prompting Berman to contact the authorities to file charges of harassment.

For the particulars, go ye below the fold for links-aplenty. But if you’ve seen enough, just shake your head with me and wonder WTF, people, WTF. With the threats of heckling over Jane’s and my presentation at RT placed on the WTF spectrum with this absolute fucknut setting the DEFCON-10 NutJob level, I have to wonder if online reviewing should come with combat pay.

[Thanks to Jeaniene Frost for the links.]

It starts here:

http://mroctober.livejournal.com/365820.html?thread=4814076#t4814076

With more here:

http://mroctober.livejournal.com/365929.html?thread=4816233#t4816233

and here:

http://mroctober.livejournal.com/365929.html?thread=4834153#t4834153

and the final moments here:

http://mroctober.livejournal.com/366570.html

and here:

http://mroctober.livejournal.com/366570.html?thread=4838634#t4838634

and then what got the police involved:

http://mroctober.livejournal.com/366570.html?thread=4844010#t4844010

Comments are Closed

  1. Barb Ferrer says:

    I saw this over the weekend.  The stupid, it seriously, seriously burns.

    It’s like I said in comments elsewhere, do we, as writers want good reviews?

    D’uh.  Yes, of course.

    Are we upset when we read reviews that seem to indicate that reviewer read a completely different book and somehow mistook it for ours?

    D’uh.  Yes, of course.

    Do legitimate critical reviews sting?

    D’uh.  Yes, of course.

    We’re human and we’re effectively putting ourselves out there.  I’m sure there are tons of the SB detractors just lying in wait for April so they can get their so-called “revenge” on the Smart Bitch Guide.

    It’s stupid and childish and I know the SBs won’t bother responding because this is how you handle the bad and stupid reviews.  You just ignore them.  Reardon would’ve done well to follow that sort of plan.  Now, instead, he’s known throughout the land as a first class douchnozzle with serious issues.

  2. ev says:

    Ya know, if this were a movie plot, no one would think it was believeable.

  3. Lori S. says:

    Wow.  Just…wow.

  4. isidri says:

    I can totally see this winding up as an episode of “Law & Order”.

    This may be the most spectacular author meltdown since Anne Rice vs. The World.

  5. Leah says:

    And come on, that wasn’t even a really bad review.  I got similar comments on my DA first page and from a contest comment sheet.  I thought they were helpful.  Fix the beginning, work on the relationships.  Cool.  Common problems for a lot of writers.  Pay special attention to it in the next story.  It’s that simple.

    But yeah, I can see it on L&O;, too.

  6. The thing that struck me about this was not the shocking result
    (this just in: Crazy People Live on the Internets) but the way it might have been prevented.

    No, and I don’t mean the fellow should have taken down the “review” and befriended said crazy. But whatever happened to that ages old axiom, “Don’t feed the trolls”?

    The blogger posted this author’s e-mails and his replies and make the entire thing public. He obviously elicited lots of laughs and support from friends in the meantime. Plus, his readership made a point to reply (and not very tactfully, politely, intelligently, or well, all of the time) to those posts made by Crazypants.

    Dudes. Stop. Feeding. The. Trolls.

  7. I caught this over on LJ in SF_Drama last weekend.  It is absolutely beautiful, from an internet wank point of view, because of how completely innocuous the original comment is.  It almost brings a tear to my eye, that’s how breathtaking and awe-inspiring this guy’s stupidity is.

    Now, let’s start the countdown clock, because I’m fairly certain that by posting this here, Smart Bitches is now responsible for the stroke this guy will have when he realizes that whoops, he’s destroyed any future he might have had in the industry.

  8. Julie Leto says:

    LOL, Jennifer.  I almost wish I was going to RT so I could be there to shout down the shouters.  People are crazy…

  9. JoanneL says:

    No, and I don’t mean the fellow should have taken down the “review” and befriended said crazy. But whatever happened to that ages old axiom, “Don’t feed the trolls”?

    Generally I would agree but I think sometimes you have to allow the trolls enough rope to show just how dangerous they can be and then take the necessary steps to shut them down.

    I know the SBs won’t bother responding because this is how you handle the bad and stupid reviews.  You just ignore them.

    OH NO, please… Say it isn’t so? Tell me the SBs will respond to reviews of The Guide. Please. *g*

  10. Barb Ferrer says:

    OH NO, please… Say it isn’t so? Tell me the SBs will respond to reviews of The Guide. Please. *g*

    Well, depends on the level of stupid, I suppose.  I’m sure there will be some lulus that bear mocking.

  11. JewelTones says:

    Don’t even get me started with online people.  They are crazy.  It’s like being online gives them some perceived anonimity so therefore for they (think they) can say or do anything, include threaten.  I have a friend going to a conference soon and she’s been getting the “just wait til you get there and we get a hold of you” type messages too.  I always worry about her and she always blows me off.  *sigh*  At least this year there will be security.  Be safe, Sarah and Candy.

  12. Teddypig says:

    Nah, strokes are for little old plagiarist who play the violin. The worlds smallest from what I have heard.

    If there is a god this guy will accuse SB of contributing to his erectile dysfunction.

  13. ev says:

    I have a friend who has a daily blog. A year or so ago her daughter accidentally drowned. It was a very sad time, but we were all there to support her. Then the crap started- people posting who blamed her for the accident, what a bad mother she was, blah, blah, blah. Now her hubby previews all comments before approving their posting.

  14. Angela says:

    Wow.  It just goes to show how quickly things get out of hand with the idiots on the net.  I can’t believe how far some people take things in the supposed “anonymity” of the web.

  15. Suze says:

    Interestingly, in the last couple of weeks, I’ve seen two documentaries about manners and the current lack thereof.  One was narrated by William Shatner, and one featured an interview with Miss Manners herself.

    Maybe we’re starting to reach that critical mass where people will stop tolerating rudeness.  I hope.

    In any event, Miss Manners says that new social rules are not necessary.  Technology hasn’t created new ways to be rude, just more opportunities.  It’s always been rude to allow interruptions to your conversation; the fact that the interruptions are coming on cell phones is irrelevant.  It’s always been rude to call people names and swear at them, the internet just provides connections with more strangers to insult.

  16. Jaime Benton says:

    Are we sure this guy isn’t dictating his love blogs from a tiny room with padded walls?  And I can’t say that the seething responses from the other readers were that excited. I, for one, could think of alot better use for an eggplant.  Forget stop feeding the trolls.  T.O.B.A.S. ( take out back and shoot)  The author of this blog should have realized he was dealing with a whack job by page 2 and just stopped egging him on. Too bad you can’t block someone from blogging like you can from phoning…

  17. Sandia says:

    Every time I see soemthing like this happen, I’m amazed at how small minded some people are.  If you’re going to publish your work, then be ready to be criticized…..

  18. Delia says:

    I saw this while it was temporarily on Fandom Wank over the weekend, and the WTFs just never ever stop.

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