tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661117100748148070.post8017572080849133141..comments2024-02-20T15:12:28.660-08:00Comments on A Time-Travelling Apocalypse: Anonymous ReviewsGraham Clementshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06430135062211828206noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661117100748148070.post-34853767441118841752013-12-16T21:52:14.577-08:002013-12-16T21:52:14.577-08:00Interesting that a paper would start up at all giv...Interesting that a paper would start up at all given the state of newspapers generally, especially given their current waning memberships and the proliferation of review sites. <br /><br />I agree with you, I think to hold a certain amount of power coupled with anonymity gives rise for some jealous hack, or failed writer to inject their personal opinions into the review. Everyone should be held accountable and if the reviewer doesn't have the guts to write a honest review, whether they know the writer or not, then they are not much a reviewer at all. Give it to someone with some balls.Anthony J. Langfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02027216695415849158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661117100748148070.post-7059552497252284102013-12-16T13:51:44.887-08:002013-12-16T13:51:44.887-08:00I always put my name to reviews I put on Goodreads...I always put my name to reviews I put on Goodreads and Amazon. If I think a book I've read is bad, I usually don't review it, unless the author is a huge name and I reckon they can take the heat eg Ben Bova. I did not realise the reviews on Goodreads were that bad, but the ones I read are usually written by writers I have connected with. <br /><br />Everyone must have heard how concentrated our media is. The Guardian started an Aussie online version last year. The Daily Mail (I think) is about to start a tabloid online version in Australia, and now Saturday, a real paper paper. Murdoch will have to get onto Tony to ban the starting of new newspapers. Graham Clementshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06430135062211828206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661117100748148070.post-22961203265629455742013-12-16T02:50:52.827-08:002013-12-16T02:50:52.827-08:00When I write reviews, I always put my name to them...When I write reviews, I always put my name to them. In fact, it's a policy of mine to write under my full name whenever I produce commentary. (The one exception is on Twitter, where I use the name @graywave, because it's short and my real name is only a click away.) If you don't put your name to your opinions, how can anybody judge what they're worth? And how can anybody who disagrees engage you in discussion? Anonymous reviews on Amazon are a good example of how low the standard can get - anonymous reviews on Goodreads are a better example. (Why is Goodreads so feral?) <br /><br />Yes, I agree, some people are under various kinds of social pressure to remain silent and anonymity allows these people to speak out. Anonymity has great value in allowing oppressed people to be heard. Cloaking cowardice, ignorance, cupidity and spite in anonymity abuses this valuable tool and tars all anonymous commentary with the same brush.<br /><br />Actually, I can't believe someone is launching a dead tree newspaper. The triumph of hope over the Internet?graywavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11609426782409481706noreply@blogger.com