tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post615829235417513179..comments2023-11-02T02:40:48.410-07:00Comments on Crime Fiction Collective: Out of Balance!L.J. Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-49023717030631352402013-07-01T18:21:03.409-07:002013-07-01T18:21:03.409-07:00Yeah, I don't really like that feature, either...Yeah, I don't really like that feature, either, Terry. But the worst, in my opinion, is raising one negative comment to the same level as 30 positive ones! That's way out of whack and doesn't reflect the true situation!Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-2482135001395272992013-07-01T18:17:16.113-07:002013-07-01T18:17:16.113-07:00I've been having trouble leaving comments on B...I've been having trouble leaving comments on Blogger blogs today -- I've left them on 2 different blogs, but they never showed up. The gist was a few 'lower' reviews often lend credibility; if they're all 5 stars, people thing they're all friends and family--or you "coreced/bribed" people to leave them. What I don't like is the fact that they average the stars. I like the chart where you can see the range--a low rating can drop the average number of stars, and that's what shows up at the top of the book page.<br /><br />TerryTerry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-32955161005957093492013-07-01T18:11:07.243-07:002013-07-01T18:11:07.243-07:00That's a great idea, David! Would you do that ...That's a great idea, David! Would you do that for me? I'd really appreciate it if you would! It looks like my blog post backfired on me here, as two people have agreed with that person since this post has been up! Darn! Should've kept my mouth shut. The thing is, a lot of people appreciate me mentioning the diverse opinions of the experts or "gurus" in the field, then adding my own opinion. Kind of one-stop shopping. Plus many of the later chapters are almost all just my opinions gleaned through my editing or reading of thrillers, with examples from my editing (disguised) or popular thrillers.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-8108417886193084082013-07-01T18:03:10.739-07:002013-07-01T18:03:10.739-07:00First, congratulations on the many well-deserved p...First, congratulations on the many well-deserved positive reviews. Second, yes, that sort of he-said/she-said artificial imbalance is unfair - sort of like the news, unbalanced and unfair. Remember the old Point/Counterpoint segment on 60 Minutes, made fun of by Saturday Night Live? Political "analysis" today is much the same, without a sense of proportion. Tennis matches with the judge not caring if the ball's in or out.<br /><br />There is one active counter, though. Amazon asks "was this review helpful?" Get some friends to say "no" to the obvious hatchet-job (like the person who only read 3 chapters) and "yes" to any of the good ones. I don't mean one should ice-pick all 1 or 2 star reviews - readers are entitled to their opinions - only to those reviews that obviously are literary psychopaths. (Or sociopaths. I get confused by the terms.) David Y.B. Kaufmannhttp://www.davidybkaufmann.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-52423424799249171882013-07-01T15:55:04.509-07:002013-07-01T15:55:04.509-07:00Mar, I plan to send Amazon an email saying I'm...Mar, I plan to send Amazon an email saying I'm not asking them to take down the negative review, just not to display it so prominently and unfairly. I think if everyone did that, they'd change that policy, which is blatantly unfair.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-43583304944526098292013-07-01T15:49:57.684-07:002013-07-01T15:49:57.684-07:00Yes! My heart sinks every time I see the 1-star re...Yes! My heart sinks every time I see the 1-star reviews for my books along with all those 4 & 5 star reviews with incisive comments that show that the reviewer actually read the book.<br /><br />Please tell me how to do something about it.Mar Prestonhttp://marpreston.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-26994940302014182512013-07-01T10:31:24.265-07:002013-07-01T10:31:24.265-07:00What I protest is the star averaging. I had a 1 st...What I protest is the star averaging. I had a 1 star review because my book wasn't available for the Kindle (at that time due to contractual obligations with the publisher). I wrote to Amazon, and they DID remove it within 24-48 hours, as it was clearly not a review. I think readers are savvy enough to read the reviews if they're the sort who use them to decide whether or not to purchase. And, if all the reviews are 5 stars, they'll assume your friends and family wrote them, or you coerced people into giving them. A lot of people want to see a smattering of all rankings. I don't mind the chart, because you can see the distribution of rankings, but when the average is pulled down by a few inappropriate low-star reviews, it gives the wrong impression.<br /><br />Terry <br /><a href="http://terryodell.com/terrysplace" rel="nofollow">Terry's Place</a><br />Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-41231141837816617562013-07-01T07:26:07.422-07:002013-07-01T07:26:07.422-07:00That's good to hear, Peg! They're still si...That's good to hear, Peg! They're still side by side on my two books, but if that's the direction Amazon is going, that's awesome! We'll see what happens in the next days and weeks...Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-91256704135751690082013-07-01T07:14:47.753-07:002013-07-01T07:14:47.753-07:00Jodie, have you checked lately? I don't know i...Jodie, have you checked lately? I don't know if it's a gradual change or what, but where both the most helpful positive and negative reviews used to be side by side at the top, that's no longer the case on any of the books I checked this morning.Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-26263494564815713562013-07-01T06:26:12.254-07:002013-07-01T06:26:12.254-07:00As I said, LJ, I don't expect Amazon to remove...As I said, LJ, I don't expect Amazon to remove the negative review, as I know they won't. I just wish they'd stop giving one review so much prominence, especially when it's way out of whack with the overall reviews. 5% is not 50%!Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-68198107382204820182013-07-01T06:13:29.082-07:002013-07-01T06:13:29.082-07:00People post one-star reviews for books they haven&...People post one-star reviews for books they haven't read and books they bought accidentally, and Amazon doesn't take those down. I suspect you won't get anywhere with this cause. But I can see why it bugs you! Congratulations on the great reviews!L.J. Sellershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.com