[FrankFields]

Quite a few people these days seem to be under the impression that no matter how limited their knowledge of a topic, their opinion is hugely valuable and must be shared with the world. Amazon reviewers seem to be among the worst offenders.

http://www.amazon.com/review/R2NBQYAMMJPCS4/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B0095QZ91K&linkCode=&nodeID=&tag=#wasThisHelpful

I laughed at the comments, at least. Particularly this gem:

"I don't understand what makes you think that if I'd read it my opinion would change?"

 

[Guest]

Well, since you started this thread, why don't you tell us why we should care about your opinion.

 

[intoanna]

I've not read your post but I have skimmed through it......It looks like you might have a point so I'll give you a non commital 3 star review so my name comes up on the board and I feel important.

 

[Caddy]

I'd answer, but I'm not that important.

 

[Ell]

Why does the English language capitalize "I" in the middle of a sentence? Maybe because "I" am more important than "you" )

 

[FrankFields]

Why does the English language capitalize "I" in the middle of a sentence? Maybe because "I" am more important than "you" )

 

[60865]

Good for you that you can laugh about it, I get angered by that type of behavior.

 

[Joe_Nobody]

I've had those types of reviews before. It's frustrating, no doubt.

At least it was three stars. She could have given 1 star and then admitted she didn't read it.

 

[Incognita]

I'm just smiling at the "chalked full" part. Took me at least two or three seconds to figure out what she was trying to say. (Guess the caffeine hasn't kicked in yet...)

 

[Jan Strnad]

I'm just smiling at the "chalked full" part. Took me at least two or three seconds to figure out what she was trying to say. (Guess the caffeine hasn't kicked in yet...)

She was using the phrase in the sense of "After the massacre, the sidewalk was chalked full of body outlines."

People are very narcissistic. They often believe that their off-the-cuff evaluation of something (book, music, world event) is somehow equal to the well-studied opinion of those who study the thing in depth. Experts may not agree with one another, but at least they earn their opinions.

 

[WyattM et al.]

Because that's what they're taught in the government schools from early on.

 

[L.M. Pfalz]

Her review is indeed vague, but reading her comments seems to clear things up about why she gave it 3 stars. I'm not sure what the issue is here. Many readers offer opinions on books without finishing them (or because they can't finish them), and usually with a 1 or 2 star rating. A reader's opinion is valuable, no matter what they have to say. It's up to us as authors to decide whether we want to read them or ignore them.

 

[QuantumIguana]

Having an opinion - even if it is a ill-informed opinion - is a whole lot less narcissistic than thinking only certain people are entitled to opinions. That latter screams narcissism.

 

[L.T. Ryan]

I've had those types of reviews before. It's frustrating, no doubt.

At least it was three stars. She could have given 1 star and then admitted she didn't read it.

I got one of those today! A one star that says, "Did Not Read. Sorry, decided not to read it." They did the same to three or four other books, deciding that those did-not-reads were worth three stars.

 

[Quiss]

If people didn't think their opinion was valuable, there wouldn't be so many blogs out there by people who have no idea what they're talking about, but need to comment, anyway.
Human nature.

Amazon prodding people who would otherwise just walk away into leaving reviews doesn't help matters.

Would be nice to be able to leave a public comment on a book without also having to assign a star rating.

 

[WyattM et al.]

Having an opinion - even if it is a ill-informed opinion - is a whole lot less narcissistic than thinking only certain people are entitled to opinions. That latter screams narcissism.

Yes, indeed, everyone is entitled to his opinions. But not all opinions are valuable.

 

[Jena H]

I believe this says it all:

"Everyone has the right to my opinion."      

 

[L.M. Pfalz]

Would be nice to be able to leave a public comment on a book without also having to assign a star rating.

In theory this can be done in the item's forum but very few people seem to use those, maybe because it's easily overlooked at the bottom of the page.

 

[Saul Tanpepper]

You're doing pretty well if this is the first time you've encountered this sort of behavior. Yes, I'm repeatedly surprised whenever I see it happen, but for all the times it's been pointed out, thrown back in the offender's face, it's never changed a thing. Anyone who creates and then puts their creations out there for the public to scrutinize, analyze, adulate and piss on will be better off learning how to filter this sort of guff out.

On a side note, it reminds me of that saying: "Opinions are like a**h***s, everyone's got one."

 

[Terrence OBrien]

You're doing pretty well if this is the first time you've encountered this sort of behavior. Yes, I'm repeatedly surprised whenever I see it happen, but for all the times it's been pointed out, thrown back in the offender's face, it's never changed a thing. Anyone who creates and then puts their creations out there for the public to scrutinize, analyze, adulate and p*ss on will be better off learning how to filter this sort of guff out.

It's reasonable that others who read such exchanges might be influenced to refrain from posting comments on a book they didn't read.