|
Post by vaughan on Sept 30, 2009 0:20:11 GMT
They feel (as I do too) that the vitriol aimed at Ally from this board has been - for want of a better word - disgusting. OK, some people don't like her book and they didn't like her marketing tactics, but what I've see here from some people is nothing short of bullying. Well, our opinion differs. I think you're blowing the criticism way out of proportion. What is wrong with someone simply stating: "X author's book is complete and utter rubbish?" Why is that bad? It is simply the opinion of one individual, and is the heart and essence of this and every other forum I have ever been a member of. For instance, I recently commented on a John Saul novel, and frankly I thought it was right bore. Apparently it sold a million copies, but to me it was a waste of time. Surely that's okay, I read it - I didn't like it - and I wrote that I didn't like it. Why is that problematic - even I chose to use juvenile language or glib remarks? This is just a forum, a bunch of people. No-one's ego gets pandered too, and at one time or another we all - probably - have been rebuked (I keep Demonik busy sending me PM's about how the forum software works and how I'm buggering it up --LOL--) That's okay, isn't it? Is the author in question even a member of this forum? I didn't think so. So how is it "bullying" in any way? Isn't that a rather general interpretation of bullying? What harm is being done? A person bought the book, they read it, and they apparently hated it. That's okay, isn't it? And it's okay to state as much on a forum, isn't it? What's the alternative - niceties around tea and scones, patting each other on the back while pulling faces when no-one is looking? And finally - have those over at the BFS forum really acted any better in this regard? I think not. I'm an outsider. I've not read the book, and I've never heard of the author (or book) in question. Should I see the book - after all this - I shall run in the other direction. ;D But really, people seem to have gotten worked out over a very minor thing. If the BFS are going to run awards, then they'll get people who disagree with them. As does everyone who sets themselves up to state a "best" of the year among a diverse and opinionated audience. Nothing that has been said on here changes the competition winners, after all. Debate, rather, is to be encouraged I'd have thought. The BFS forum appears to be an Internet low-light, the attitudes I've read there are extremely poor since they attacked this entire site, not just an opinion. The BFS is fair game, because they've set themselves up as an organization - an official symbol of something. They ought to be big enough to take the rough with the smooth. otherwise they look like rank amateurs. Their board is run from the site of an official organization - and I don't want to come across as simply trying to defend The Vault, because nothing could be further from the truth, and I'm a newbie here anyway - but the only thing I truly see as shameful here is that the administrators on an official board like that haven't simply deleted the terrible things I've read over there. Now - THAT is shameful. Their standards should be higher, they're not an amateur board such as this. Sorry if any of this offends you - it's simply my opinion. I don't have to worry about the BFS, nor the BFS me. No-one listens to me anyway, and I certainly will give their site a wide berth in future. And the author in question - well, clearly there'll be no sale here. But it's all good, I have plenty to read, and I'm sure the lady in question will publish another novel with some cover-blurb mentioning her award. And so on, and so on.....
|
|
|
Post by vaughan on Sept 30, 2009 0:22:29 GMT
Oh - and carolinec. Tull are great aren't they? Favorite album? Got to be the first for me. Lots of good afterwards, of course. Not seen them live since Under Wraps!!!!
|
|
|
Post by weirdmonger on Sept 30, 2009 7:18:51 GMT
Agree with a lot vaughan, caroline and craig say.
VoE is a great board. I always have, and will always be grateful for the space and attention for the 'Small Press Ark'. And the books I exchanged with Dem and Rog etc etc etc
I think if just a member here named 'allthingshorror' (someone I now pleased to know as Johnny Mains) had said what he said on this board, that would have been that. The end of it. Other than me perhaps noticing and commenting.
Right or wrong, maybe, one of the others contenders for that award perceived to be siding with him (reply#2) was the crucial point of ignition?
The BFS board is normally a pleasant quiet board. One I check ever week. Not once a day as I check TLO and RCMB.
|
|
|
Post by justin on Sept 30, 2009 7:42:20 GMT
Dem,
Please disable this thread! Everyone has now had their chance to have a say. And it's getting boring and repetitive.
I'll post something about Confessions books in a moment which may well help to distract people.
The Fanatic
|
|
|
Post by weirdmonger on Sept 30, 2009 7:46:25 GMT
Dem, Please disable this thread! Everyone has now had their chance to have a say. And it's getting boring and repetitive. I agree with that!
|
|
|
Post by horrorwatch on Sept 30, 2009 10:14:19 GMT
Horror Watch thinks it's a crazy Stalinesque world where praise is permitted but criticism is not.
The media hotly debates the Oscar awards each year. It comments on the various campaigns and lobbying, and it then offers opinions about whether those who won the awards were deserving.
Why are people not allowed to discuss the BFS awards in the same way?
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Sept 30, 2009 10:39:10 GMT
With pleasure. forget what i said yesterday that at least our thread about the matter wasn't as fucking embarrassing as the BFS's. special thanks to those of you who entertained the lovely 'horrormaster' and wanted to have his babies. i'm afraid our noble free speech campaigner who won't allow comments on his blog, myspace, etc will have to add Vault to the long list of boards he's been kicked off. if anyone has a problem with that, i suggest they fuck offf with him.
|
|