… but on a Thursday. Yeah, well, I haven’t done one of these in a while, that’s why. So be warned. You’re about to get hit with a biggie.
Begin rant.
Fact 1. The m/m romance community is a small one. Readers know reviewers. Reviewers know authors. Authors know readers. It’s itsy bitsy.
Fact 2. There are fans. There are friends. There are enemies. There are frenemies. There are acquaintances.
Fact 3. At some stage, a fan or friend is bound to review or rate the work of an author that they’re the fan or friend of. Let’s face it, that’s generally how peeps meet in this small world of ours.
Fact 4. It’s relatively easy to find out about this type of relationship because the fan, friend or the author will hang out at each others’ sites.
Fact 5. You tend to read the reviews where this relationship occurs knowing that (a) the reviewer may be a bit more squeey, (b) the reviewer may be even harder on the work because they are conscious or their association, or (c) the reviewer will do what they do regardless because they are comfortable enough to stick to their guns.
Fact 6. What is less well known – unless the enmity has been well publicised (ie the subject of a major wankfest) – is when someone hates the guts of a particular author or when someone is the fan/friend of the someone who hates the guts of a particular author.
Fact 7. Because this is not as obvious, it is not always clear why a certain review or rating may have been given to a book.
Fact 8. What really shits me is when the hater or fan/friend of the hater deliberately attacks the work of a particular author because the two are supposedly locked in mortal combat.
Fact 9. This has happened recently to two authors that I know and, yes, are friends with. This doesn’t stop it, however, from being completely and utterly bullshit-style fucked, which is what I would also say if the situation was reversed.
Fact 10. To those people who do this…
I know that you think you’re being supportive and all, but, seriously, Karma will get you.
She’s a bitch like that.
End rant.
Kris + Books = Good. *Sometimes*. 
Geesh!! How low can you go!
Matthew: That's the pattern. We're seeing it pop up less than readable timing. Go on over to fictionwise. Look up any m/m book or menage book and you'll see what I mean. We've found that usually the first to third rating is “poor” within minutes sometimes.
Maybe there's a way around the purchase? I don't know. I never buy from Fictionwise since the royalty to the author is less. I like to go directly to the Publishing house.
Holy fuck. This is why I don't want to review books anywhere public. Some people are crazy and I'm scared to death of being involved in shit like this. Too bad, because outside the odd feud the M/M community is a great one.
Mia: “I know an author who is a total rat-bitch and she goes in to poorly rate and slam authors who don't think she's queen of awesome. Petty.”
Snap. Why do I get the feeling that it's the same person.
That Fictionwise thing is complete and utter bullshit. It is appalling that someone would go to such lengths. I'm nasty enough to think that it sounds like an inside job because how would the person/group be able to afford buying a book just to give it a bad rating otherwise. Having said that there are a number of conservative groups out there that have a bucket of money to do just that. Bastages.
MaryM: “Too bad, because outside the odd feud the M/M community is a great one.”
That's it in a nut shell, Mary. This is a great community and such actions/situations really leave a sour taste in the mouth. It's such a shame and really hurtful to those who are the victims of it.
R.I.P Carlito.
Kris: Hmm. So maybe it isn't my imagination that m/m content (particularly with photos) seems to be the key to getting a blogger warning screen?
LOL. Probably not; however, you actually get to choose whether you have the warning screen or not.
In my case, I did it, not for the m/m content, but rather the fact that I'm a rude and crude young lady and thought a warning was probably appropriate. In other words, I didn't want any Mummas telling me off at some later date. *g*
I have no idea what's going on, but understand you can't say anything more specific, so..umm..confuse away š
I will say that this type of thing is…well…not very mature.
Orannia: Ever noticed how anonymity, bullying and lack of maturity seem to go hand in hand?? Yeah.
It never stops, does it? I usually miss these things. I'm not very fluent in wank, and vitriol makes my tummy hurt, so I try avoid them both. Sometimes makes me wonder if there are people out there hating me and my friends and I just don't know about it…. Pfft.
@Kris, not sure we're talking about the same person. The one I'm thinking of has been quiet for a while and not spewing her brand of nasty. I think she's licking her wounds from the last serpentine effort she made that backfired. Besides, she's not a reviewer, she just likes to spout her opinion in the most heartless way possible.
Your find sounds… ack-worthy. š¦
Jaime: I tend to miss these things too. It's just that these particular situations happened to two authors whom I consider friends so they came to my attention, made me shake my head in disbelief and then made me angry. It's just so very pointless.
Mia: Maybe it's not the same person. The one I'm thinking of does reviews on good reads and, yes, it's all very ack-worthy. š¦
Totally over my head and am glad too…
Step back and let Karma have her way my dear…
So sad….
E.H>
EH: Yep. Karma will catch up with them eventually. Hopefully then they will realise how childish they've been.