Posted on 08/14/2014 6:01:35 PM PDT by truthfinder9
Hmm, what's this? We noticed that overnight eight 5-star reviews for Stephen Meyer's book Darwin's Doubt were mysteriously erased. Just vanished. Since these were positive reviews, it is unlikely they were "abusive" which is the normal criterion that Amazon has for removing reviews. Interesting.
These kinds of shenanigans always seem to happen when our critics are feeling maximally pressed because they can't answer our arguments on the merits. They thus see the need to resort to schemes and tricks. It's an admission of intellectual defeat.
We've also heard claims about people trying to reshelf Meyer's book in the religion section at the bookstore or get it officially reclassified as a Christian title instead science, and so on. University of Chicago biologist and evolution defender Jerry Coyne applauds such efforts. Anything to avoid a real debate.
No words could be more appropriate than those of Coyne's University of Chicago colleague, mathematician Leo Kadanoff, in thanking William Dembski for his presentation there yesterday:
"I think the ball is in the court of people who believe in evolution. They have to deal with these questions. ...Bill [Dembski] has made his case and we should all go home and think."
So...that was yesterday, and hours later someone is trying to sweep the positive reviews off the Amazon page for Darwin's Doubt. No doubt a coincidence.
Dr. Kadanoff, whose own views on intelligent design we don't know, thinks Darwinists should man up and address the evidence for ID rather than dodging, as per their usual custom. That would be most welcome.
Yes. Whining about creationism or intelligent design.
Like geologists whining about hollow Earth theory.
It’s like shut up and sing. Shut up and do science, if indeed they claim to be scientists as opposed to culture warriors.
I go to Amazon just to read the reviews. I usually don’t bother with the actual book.
In general, I find the reviews there quite informative, but understand reviews get hacked.
Thank you, you are right....the fact that Amazon makes as much as it does on something it never put a moment of talent into is ludicrous.
I stand with the 900 authors who are drawing attention to this, as Amazon has been cheating authors for years without anyone knowing anything about it until Hatchette Publishers stood up to them.
Yes, this is a new world of give me, give me, and I don’t want to pay anything for it.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/aug/08/authors-ad-new-york-times-petition-amazon
Actually read the article....it is enlightening...this isn’t the first time Amazon started trying to control pricing by trying to destroy certain publishers or authors.
I stand with the 900 who aren’t scared Amazon will cut them off, as some have already lost sales, it isn’t about the money anymore....it’s the principle of the thing. Those who want someone else’s work without paying properly for it deserve neither the book nor the wisdom in it.
While I feel your pain, you needn’t market through them.
I have zero income,have been tossed aside.
I’ll have to find another pipeline...
Amazon reviews have helped us a lot. We were looking at a Consumer Reports top rated washing machine, but a bunch of one star reviews revealed the pump was attached to the bin with plastic brackets that would often break after 18-months or so. The water would then not shut off for 30 minutes with resulting water damage. Can’t fault CR for missing that, but CR/Amazon combo is VERY reliable.
http://dearauthor.com/ebooks/has-everyone-conceded-the-us-ebook-market-to-amazon/
Times are tough, You have other talents.
In general I find Amazons reviews to be very dependable.
Just do the math,
500 give it 5 stars
200 give it 4 stars
10 give it 3 stars
5 give it 2 stars
and 1 guy gives it 1 star
So it’s really just your feelings about the matter, not some scientific measure. For all we know, the vast majority of biologists ignore the ID crowd.
You missed the whole point....This is not about Hatchette, but about the swallowing up of a market, and mistreating those who make it happen. Hatchette was an easy target for Amazon.....the issue isn’t the Publisher but the intent.
http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/index.php/archives/2014/08/10/amazonhachette-war/
Amazon may be a great retailer, but I think they do not deserve the book and e book market. Their actions are no different that Obama and the democrats, it’s a dictatorship of pricing and profits that Amazon wants. I concede nothing nor do those 900 authors in the petition.
Yes, I have many talents and I use them all.
Is that not what the article I linked was about?
Amazon swallowing the market?
“you needn’t market through them.” I am not sure what you mean by that statement.
I am sorry you lost your income, and I pray you find what you want and need as a career....I think you meant you lost your job?
I don’t need a job, yet I do things now as a hobby. To use my talents....as everyone should.
Oh I am so sorry, that comment was for ‘chaosagent’, not you...lol That wasn’t meant for you...you had it right.
http://dearauthor.com/ebooks/has-everyone-conceded-the-us-ebook-market-to-amazon/
The whole Amazon/Hatchette fiasco is more about ‘control of the Market and Author royalties’ than it is about the cost of e books, it’s Amazon wanting the be the monopoly and control the prices....Some of us have had enough of that nonsense.
Can’t remember the last time I downloaded a FREE book.
Are you aware that last year, Apple, Hachette, and other big publishers were found guilty by a Federal judge of collusion to set ebook prices artificially high in a price-fixing scheme?
And it was not ‘Amazon’s’ petition. It was done by a group of Amazon authors, like Hugh Howey, Russell Blake, JA Konrath, and others, who have sold MILLIONS of books on Amazon. Just as the Hachette petition was done by their authors.
I have a close friend who is a New York Times Best Selling author who sells on Amazon. He sells his ebooks for $3.99 and has sold multi-hundreds of thousands of copies, and now a Hollywood production company has shown interest in one of his books.
So much for ‘crap’.
BTW Amazon is positioning itself to swallow the Cable and Dish markets.
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/breakout/amazon-bet-1-billion-cut-cord-why-121935793.html
http://www.amazon.com/Fire-TV-streaming-media-player/dp/B00CX5P8FC
Hachette is one of the entities that are trying to "price-fix" e-books.
There is no righteous side in this current spat.
One author does not an industry make....I do not want a monopoly controlling the publishing and sales pricing of e books, period.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.