There was a pretty unfortunate scene at a book blog recently after a reviewer wrote an unfavorable review of a self-published author’s book. The author responded with unseemly umbrage and profanity.
And then the Internet got involved.
Literally hundreds and hundreds of commenters piled on the author with snide remarks and scorn. Then the virtual mob took to Amazon, where they trashed her book, wrote faux five star reviews, and are continuing to have a great time at her expense (96 reviews and counting).
They may not have been wielding actual pitchforks and torches, but there are burnt embers all around the Internet.
Now, I want to clearly acknowledge that the author in question behaved extremely unprofessionally. No author, with the singular exception of Emily St. John Mandel, has ever responded to a bad review and come away looking good. Let alone with rudeness and profanity. It was an extremely unprofessional and unfortunate scene.
But did she really deserve this?
The heart of the mob
What are the motives of the people trashing this author? Does anyone really think that a virtual mob scene is going to prevent authors from behaving unprofessionally in the future? Authors have been lashing out over bad reviews for several millenia, methinks an Internet freakout will not bring peace in our time.
In truth, the actions of a mob say a lot more about the people participating in them than the person being scorned. And I think in the dark heart of a mob you’ll find a quiet sense of relief. People are secretly and ardently glad that they’re not the ones being targeted.
You can feel the relief and sense of superiority in numbers behind the mocking: Well, at least I’m not that bad off. And a hundred strangers agree with me.
But really that’s a false sense of security. As the old quote goes, “A mob has many heads but no brains.”
To “deserve” is divine?
The other justification you’ll hear is that the person in question deserved it. She brought it on herself by failing to edit her book or behaving unprofessionally or using profanity or etc. etc. And sure, there are consequences for bad behavior.
But what she deserved is compassion.
We’ve all made mistakes in our worst moments. We’ve all taken criticism too hard. We’ve all lashed out when we should have kept quiet. We’ve all said things we shouldn’t have.
Now imagine that the mistake we made was met not with sympathy and fair consequences but with a mob trying to tear down everything we’ve ever tried to build.
This is a person who just wanted to have their book out there and has the same hopes and dreams as any other writer. Some rude Internet behavior negates all of that? People will ridicule her and scorch the Earth and trash what this author has built in the name of teaching a lesson?
Let’s not kid ourselves that a lesson was taught, other than to remind us, yet again, that the Internet is a terrifying place to make a mistake.
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Sarah Hina says
I felt the same way when I came across this last week, but you've said it better than I ever could.
Sheila Lamb says
Well said. This has taken on a life of its own, adding to the unprofessionalism all around.
RobynBradley says
I 110 percent agree with you, Nathan. While appalled by her response to the review, I was more appalled by the group dumping that took place on Amazon right after. I think Big Al was great and honorable and he pretty much has said the same as you. Compassion is key. The woman has not posted to her blog since March 25 (right after the event happened), which could be cause for concern.
Renee Pinner says
Awesome. Thank you.
Suzanne Santillan says
Beautifully put… When I saw the post initially I was horrified by her response and a little embarrassed for her as well. Thanks for putting it in perspective, and reminding us all to use a little compassion.
Jayme Stryker says
As the old quote goes, "A mob has many heads but no brains."
This made me laugh…and think of Cerberus, but I think that the pooch had brain(s).
There is no high road when tunneling.
Rebecca says
Very well said, Nathan!
I have to say, the only one who came out of this looking good was the reviewer. He was polite and professional throughout, and his initial review was one of the more thoughtful negative reviews I've seen.
Bohemienne says
I had a long post about fundamental attribution bias and our own fears of having our babies (novels) exposed as less than imperfect, but Blogger ate it, but suffice to say: bad choices and bad people are two separate things, and a lot of bad choices were made by what I hope are otherwise decent folks.
Anonymous says
When I first noticed this story brewing I couldn't believe how unprofessional this author was but as it developed I just grew more and more sorry for her. She clearly had no idea what she had let herself in for and people were just piling on the hate because she was silly and annoying and an easy target. It all seems a bit petty and pathetic really.
Erin says
Well-put. I suppose it's the soapbox phenomenon: If a person has a platform, the temptation is to use it to draw attention. I fear that was both the reviewer's and the author's motive. As for the author, I sympathize. Honest, I do. It's got to be tough reading reviews where you're work is condemned to the trash heap. It's not just a pride thing; it's their livelihood. But yes, all the more reason to preserve what little dignity they still have after a bad review.
Jenn Marie says
And I didn't fail to note that many of the commenters lambasting her poor use of the English language had misspellings and grammatical errors in their own posts. Glass houses people.
L.G.Smith says
I simply love this post.
Bri Clark says
I watched this from the beginning. The first thought in my mind is I would get a completely honest review from the reviewer. I then looked at his policies and he doesn't like my genre.
However, then I checked out the comments. All I could do was feel for the author. I decided that among all the chaos surrounding her the only thing I could offer was a silent prayer and the decision not to circulate it.
Nate, as ever always a pleasure to read.
Stephanie {Luxe Boulevard} says
I really dislike it when people post mean comments on peoples blogs and other sites. As writers we learn to anticipate negative reviews. But no one handles crude. I'm not saying she was right to get profane. That was very immature. You are right that she deserved some compassion. As a self-publisher myself I think it is harder and more gutsy to self-publish than go the "professional" route. People need to take that into consideration. I'm hald tempted to buy her book and leave a positive review simply to shove it in all those mean peoples faces. I find it a little sad a not-known self-publisher can receive that much criticism from one remark, yet someone like Charlie Sheen can behave as outlandish as he does yet sell out "comedy" tours because of his behavior. Is there some kind of heirarchy as to who can act like a jerk and get away with it and who can't?
Deb says
Oh boy, what you say Nathan. My whole body went numb as I read what is now happening. It is damn scary what we can become on the internet. No. She does not deserve this-shouldn't have done what she did. But, man there now appears to be a real perverse pleasure in taking her down. That is scary. _Thank you_ for sharing your thoughts and shining a light on what happens when we tread down that path—
Anonymous says
Posts like this are one of the many reasons I read your blog!
BooksAndPals says
I agree, Nathan. Thanks for this post.
Kathryn Packer Roberts says
Wow. How very sad. It just goes to show that when we aren't with someone we are more apt to say what's on our mind and not in a good way. People are way too lax on the internet. I think this is a good lesson for people, maybe (I can only hope) they will realize how bad things can get and avoid the pitfals in the future. It just isn't worth all the broken heads to voice our oppinions. Even if they are taken the wrong way and we are justified in what we say. I know I have made mistakes online and though they weren't anywhere near the magnitude of this incident, I will NEVER make the mistake of repeated said offenses.
See Elle Oh says
I agree about compassion being key. Especially in a world where so many are unhinged and the Internet is the kind of vast, cruel and uncaring place that can push such people over the edge. But, it takes a lot more sense to walk away than it does to fall in line and spout a little snark.
Beth @ To the Fullest says
I applaud this post. Thanks for not jumping on the bashing bandwagon. It is shocking how cruel human beings can become when they get swept up in a mob . . . even an internet mob.
Laura Manivong says
Yes, public lynchings show the worst side of humanity. I made an appeal for reason early on and was met with resistance…ick. Thanks, Nathan.
https://lauramanivong.wordpress.com/2011/03/28/i-gave-5-stars-to-a-book-i-never-read/
Loree Huebner says
Great post, Nathan.
I like your thoughts about the heart of the mob…so true.
T.J. says
Awesome post, Nathan!
My thought as I read the post and comments of that blog was more "Don't people realize that she will more than likely never agree with them while they attack her?" I couldn't figure out their point. Why would they keep attacking her? What good was it going to do them? I really want to ask all of them if they feel better about themselves for responding in the mob mentality.
My guess is that most of them would respond the exact same way that author responded to her criticism. Which, in turn, makes them no better than her in my opinion.
Again, great post.
Gretchen says
It's not the internet that is such a scary place – it's the dark corners of the human heart. We have capacity for great compassion, but also great evil. As someone else noted, it's our choices that distinguish who we really are. Thank you, Nathan, for highlighting that we all make mistakes and that we can all choose to be compassionate.
And parents question me about why I still teach Lord of the Flies. Uh huh.
C.E. Hart says
What a compassionate heart you have shown. Thank you for this poignant post.
Alice says
The relief is the same thing I feel when I watch daytime talk telly, and I feel the same guilt for that relief.
I feel the same way about that poor girl Rebecca Black and "Friday". Did Stephen Colbert REALLY need to make fun of a 14-year-old on prime-time television? A 14-year-old girl who has confessed to journalists how confused and upset she is about the way she's been relentlessly humiliated by everyone around her and how much her life has been destroyed?
Shame on you, everyone.
Cara Bristol says
Witch hunt…what a great way to describe what happened.
Linda Gray says
Thanks for posting on this topic. I hope all your readers tweet it to their readers to spread an awareness of the need for compassion and a little maturity in the face of our less laudable impulses. Emily St. John Mandel's article was fantastic. Thanks for that link.
abc says
You are awesome, Mr. Bransford. I'm getting a little choked up. What we need in this world is more empathy and less judgment and scorn. The world is ugly enough.
robinC says
I’m not usually one to quote Disney/Pixar films but reading this reminded me of Ratatouille…in the end the food critic Ego, humbled by a dish created by Remy says this in his review “The work of a critic is easy. We risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgement”
I know I’m comparing apples to bananas but that line has stuck with me because it’s so darn true. Who knows how many weeks, months, years said author put into her novel – why wouldn’t she want to defend it?
I think it’s something we rarely think about when we write. You sit at your desk and create your world and when you release it…your control is gone. I do browse reader reviews if I’m interested in a book and I’m always a little taken back by the ones that read like critical essays or the ones that basically say “meh, this s*cked.” I’m constantly shocked by what people will say on the internet but there’s safety in anonymity.
I would not want to think the months and or years I put into writing something would boil down to one word, which really is more like a distasteful non-word…meh. That would drive me all kinds of crazy and while I’d probably like to address it…I wouldn’t. Once your work is out of your hands…it’s outta your hands. But I could see why one would want to…and to be further chastised for it…not good.
She definitely has my compassion.
Great post, Nathan!
Melody says
Good post, Nathan!
Delia says
Well said. Thank you, Nathan.
M.P. McDonald says
What I really didn't like was the 70+ one star reviews her books suddenly acquired. I doubt any of those people had even read the book. If someone reads the book, and wants to review it–even giving it a one star, fine, but don't review something just to jump on a bandwagon if you haven't actually read the book.
I just want to say that Al never had a hand in all the trash talk and handled himself very well.
Mr. D says
The funny thing was it really wasn't a bad review! The reviewer complimented her story by saying it was compelling. Then he simply said there were some grammar issues and awkward sentencing. And that's when she went ballistic! Reminded me of my first girlfriend.
Rick says
I have to say that I disagree somewhat, Nathan. While the backlash against the author in question seems to have grown exponentially (both in number and severity) since I last saw this – and I freely admit that a number of people have gone too far – I don't feel particularly sympathetic for the author, and I do understand where the rest of the writers attacking her are coming from.
The actions of the author in question do not, however much we might like to believe, just reflect on her. Writers are a community, and a close-knit one, and a sometimes-invisible one. When we do gain visibility, we are ambassadors. In this context, particularly, ambassadors for independent publishing.
The notion of self-publishing e-books in the way that we're able to today is revolutionary. A lot of authors have had great success with it. Some authors are still going hungry even after trying new and different things. The point is that it's still an option in flux in an industry that is greatly in flux, and it's also a medium which is struggling for legitimacy in the eyes of readers, writers and the general public.
One author behaving badly – this badly, this visibly – has an impact on many other authors who DO take themselves seriously, who ARE professionals, and who are struggling to define themselves and deconstruct stereotypes on a newborn industry – and their livelihoods rely upon being able to deconstruct those stereotypes.
Jacqueline Howett's behavior has made it that much more difficult for these other authors to do that, and so I understand their anger – and their reactions.
Ishta Mercurio says
Well said, Nathan! The internet is a terrifying place, indeed.
I commented on another writers' blog (a psychologist in her day job) that in reference to the author, I think people often forget that just because the people we're addressing aren't there in the room, that doesn't make them – or what we say to them – any less real. Who hasn't found themselves typing something then deleting it, thinking, "Wait a minute, I would NEVER say that to someone's face!" It's possible that this detachment is what happened to this author, and that the next day when some of the dust had cleared, she woke up and regretted what she had done.
However, I think the same phenomenon applies to the commenters, in this case. Those first few people who stated politely to the author that they thought she should stop and rethink her behavior probably left the best comments in the thread. They were offering well-meant advice in a polite manner. But the Amazon reviews, and the stream of Tweets, and the pages and pages of comments slamming the author? These people fell victim to the same electronic detachment syndrome that the author probably did. And we shouldn't. We are adults, we are sentient beings, and we should really know better.
I think it's important to look for teachable moments. But there's no need to mention names in these moments. There is no need to be hurtful to others. In my opinion, those who posted one-star reviews and dragged her name through the mud are just a guilty of unprofessional behavior as she is.
Libby says
Her behavior was unprofessional absolutely. I went to see her material on Amazon to see if there were sample pages and read the reviews. At the end, I just felt bad for her…
Kristi Helvig says
I felt sorry for the author, although I agree that she acted unprofessionally. It would be difficult not to become defensive with hundreds of people giving you negative feedback. I made a comment on another blog that people often have that "whew, glad it's not me" take on situations like that, but we shouldn't give it so much attention. Great post!
Christine Fonseca says
And THIS post is WHY I think you are so amazing!
Jenny Maloney says
Once upon a time I read that writers, of all the artistic groups, were the most encouraging of one another. I think there's evidence of that all around the web. (Exhibit A: Nathan's Blog.)
The reason for this, I think, is there's just no reason to be mean. This stuff is hard enough without adding bullying into the mix. If someone succeeds (self-publishing a book, landing a publishing deal, hell, even finishing a manuscript) then they deserve to be taken out for a celebratory beer.
I hope that this is just a giant blip in the world of writerly-support. As writers and readers we should continue to encourage one another.
Because beer is good.
Reece says
It's nice to hear a voice of reason. I really admire you for taking a stand and saying what needs to be said.
Stephanie Barr says
People frequently talk about how the internet has emphasized rudeness and viciousness. Sometimes, it's done through anonymity – trolling around without remorse because no one knows who you are. Sometimes it's because it's so immediate. You don't take time to think it through – your emotions take over.
No one, myself included, is immune from that. Even though I try to think clearly, try to be reasonable, I've lashed out and something that seemed unjust before without thinking it through.
Putting things in writing, however, also provides and opportunity to reflect before responding that one might not get in person. And it's immortal. Someone, somewhere is likely to see it, remember it, even save, no matter how fast you think you are with the delete key.
Poor judgement on the writer's part, no doubt. But, to respond to her written work for anything other than the work itself, what, you're trying to prove her right?
I've seen the mob mentality in action. It's an ugly thing, something I don't want to be associated with. Mobs aren't about justice anyway.
They're all about punishment and they don't much care about who gets punished or how much.
Matthew MacNish says
THIS, my dear friend, is why I love you. Thank you for dropping some compassion on this sad story.
I wrote about it last week, here, I would love to hear what you think.
Anonymous says
I never saw any amazon reviews, though I never looked for them either. But I did see the blog post and the first few comments. I didn't feel like people were attacking the author so much as defending the blogger. And I did feel someone should defend the blogger, because all he did was review the book and she just tore into him. I felt she implied his thoughts didn't matter b/c other people gave her a better review, or because it wasn't the review she wanted. Blogging book reviews is hard. You can't just say something is good when it's not; you have a reputation to uphold. I felt the review was balanced and didn't deserve the attack.
Michael Offutt says
From the movie "Ratatouille" by Pixar:
In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new. The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations, the "new" needs friends…not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere.
This quote expresses perfectly how I feel about reviews and critiques.
Josin L. McQuein says
I still don't think the woman actually understood what she was doing when she submitted her book for review. She was too confused at the realization that not only the reviewer could comment for me to believe otherwise.
And Amazon should have removed the flames by know. I know they have to have been reported multiple times.
Sara Ohlin says
Very well said, thank you so much for posting this.
lora96 says
Very well said. I would hate to have a wounded-and-angry response of mine eviscerated and used to condemn my entire professional career. When I'm criticized (rightly or not) I get defensive. I try not to lash out, but I'm not always successful. I would hope to be me with understanding, as in "wow, this chick really lost her **** over that. Maybe she a was having a bad day."
Proportion, people!
Kathryn Magendie says
I saw it and quickly left after reading the turn it took.
I'll keep saying it and doing it: I don't go looking for reviews; I don't go to Amazon and check out my reviews/ratings/rankings. If someone wants me to read a review, they know they have to tell me about it or send it to me. Best decision I ever made.
What a mess that was.
Ashley Bigham says
This was a hard situation for me to come to a conclusion on. I was a few days late finding out about it and as I read through all the comments, initially the author's behavior just shocked me. But I do also agree that the almost 400 comments and the unfair reviews on Amazon have gone way too far.
There are a couple things I find really distressing about the situation that maybe others haven't mentioned as much. First, someone runs that blog. I haven't been there before so I don't know who, but someone has control over closing comments. And that didn't happen until way too late. Obviously that person is not to blame for other people's actions, but had comments been closed around the 50-60 mark, do you think the result would have been the same? Would it have gone viral and would that extent of damage been done? I don't think so.
I think it's also very disturbing and a little disheartening that there were comments in that thread that said things such as "this is why I avoid self-pubbed/indie books altogether" or "this just proves all self-pubbed/indie stuff is crap." That's not only unfair and ignorant, it also just shows how quick people are to over generalize.
There was definitely immaturity and unprofessionalism on both sides. I can't honestly say I feel "compassion" for the author. I don't think what has happened was right, but I think she also damaged more than her own reputation. I wish someone had put a stop to the vitriol before it went viral.