tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post3071103052152960385..comments2024-03-20T19:40:58.078-05:00Comments on The OF Blog: About that FTC guides update that has some in a tizzyLarry Nolenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-53910417180249580222009-10-07T03:44:50.344-05:002009-10-07T03:44:50.344-05:00Jonathan, that might be true. But with the intervi...Jonathan, that might be true. But with the interviews, talks about books and review copies that relationship is inevitabile built. But I believe that as long as the reviews remain honest and there is no pressure for positive reviews than those relationships should not be a problem.Mihai A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08534691063946241019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-67971641404482138472009-10-06T18:30:44.397-05:002009-10-06T18:30:44.397-05:00Jonathan,
Like hell I'm going to include a di...Jonathan,<br /><br />Like hell I'm going to include a disclaimer at the beginning of each review! I like to think I have a bit more journalistic integrity than the male enhancement commercials! :P<br /><br />The really irritating part about the Cleland interview that Ed Champion didn't discuss (but probably already thought) is that there's a much more tangled web between a review network set up with a newspaper (which has its advertising department sometimes calling the shots on how certain pieces are presented) and its advertisers. I receive what I consider to be little more than "maybe you'll consider <i>this</i> one?" mailings and that's much less of an entanglement than having ad money possibly dictating book coverage/placement in newspaper review pieces, among other matters.<br /><br />That being said, the worst part is remembering that all of this is akin to the damn warnings that now have to appear with McDonald's coffee or even with a pack of toothpicks. CYAing has become a true art form in the US, no? Well that, and the idea that this blog would be governed by the same set of assumptions that apply to ExtenZe.Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-4013727257681487842009-10-06T17:57:27.251-05:002009-10-06T17:57:27.251-05:00What a waste of time and money to worry about blog...What a waste of time and money to worry about bloggers getting freebies from publishers in the hopes that it will create some publicity.<br />Like it was mentioned, it has been done for decades to promote products. There wasn't any doubt that blogs like this or any other do reviews (mine included) may get a free book or three in their lifetime. I just look for honesty in the review. If it's an advertisement for a product just state the fact. Problem solved and I didn't need any congressional oversight to come up with my ruling.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16360866031595951964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-23744309465230079002009-10-06T15:37:45.930-05:002009-10-06T15:37:45.930-05:00OK, now I'm going to panic, Felix. But I gues...OK, now I'm going to panic, Felix. But I guess the FTC might look into that case of interstate transport of heat-packing hamsters as well? ;)<br /><br />Others,<br /><br />Comments after work. Lots to do still, lots more to say, I think.Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-16015320758308817492009-10-06T15:01:53.700-05:002009-10-06T15:01:53.700-05:00Obama promised he wouldn’t let the FTC do this to ...Obama promised he wouldn’t let the FTC do this to us he PROMISED but he LIEDfelixnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-20415308299711561942009-10-06T15:01:24.730-05:002009-10-06T15:01:24.730-05:00a hail of flaming moon-chunks and particles of nuc...a hail of flaming moon-chunks and particles of nuclear sun-debris will fall on the earth scorching bloggers and non-bloggers alike, not even the mainstream media in their concrete bunkers will survivefelixnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-21998037108857113032009-10-06T15:00:36.627-05:002009-10-06T15:00:36.627-05:00new regulations to be adopted by the FTC at 16 CFR...new regulations to be adopted by the FTC at 16 CFR 256 grant the Commission the authority to build a ginormous Kansas-sized cannon to blow the moon right out of the sky and smash up the sun pretty bad too, and the Commission intends to exercise that authority RIGHT NOW, see the Commission’s 10/05/2009 Federal Register notice published at 73 FR 74563felixhttp://www.felixgilman.com/wordpressnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-78998878853115947782009-10-06T14:59:02.636-05:002009-10-06T14:59:02.636-05:00as an expert in trade law i would like to advise y...as an expert in trade law i would like to advise you that the sky is indeed literally fallingfelixhttp://www.felixgilman.com/wordpressnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-57004928541373721282009-10-06T12:12:55.814-05:002009-10-06T12:12:55.814-05:00Of course, in the real world, no book reviewer has...Of course, in the real world, no book reviewer has the funds available to buy every single book that is released, and is thus reliant on review copies, just as film reviewers are not expected to buy tickets to every single film they review. This would be unworkable.<br /><br />Getting review copies for free, whilst positive for generating blogging material, is certainly not a reward in itself and I have not encountered it being treated as such by publishers or reviewers. The feeling of "Hey, free books!" lasts until about the time the third package of vampire romance books shows up, at which point you realise it's just a standardised form of marketing that has been around for many years.Adam Whiteheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11383677312079611311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-4003292507673880272009-10-06T08:52:42.869-05:002009-10-06T08:52:42.869-05:00Mihai : "And what is the point then in making...Mihai : "And what is the point then in making a relationship with publishers, editors and authors?"<br /><br />I would argue that if you're an independent reviewer who speaks his mind then you have no business having that kind of relationship in the first place.Jonathan Mhttp://ruthlessculture.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-40503079942174972462009-10-06T06:54:06.657-05:002009-10-06T06:54:06.657-05:00Well, I am not sure if this regulation applies to ...Well, I am not sure if this regulation applies to me since I live in Romania, but still.<br />This is something of a kind. It is supposed for me to send each book, reviewed or not, back? And what is the point then in making a relationship with publishers, editors and authors? Let's be honest, the wide majority of the book bloggers are not in for the free books, but for the community of the people with the same passion, for interacting with the authors and publishers you love. And what if the books in question are sent as gifts? After all I receive many books as gifts from my wife, my parents and my friends. So why not from the publishers? It is just a gift that I decide to review for my own pleasure. And if I would have liked to open a book store I would certainly need more than just the review copies received.<br />I have an usual post where I feature the books I received with a proper thank you for their senders. Since I will not be able to review all those books I find it to be a proper way to show them that after all the books sent are noticed. I would post a proper statement of the book provenience if necessary, but to put the book bloggers to send back their review copies sounds insane.Mihai A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08534691063946241019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-65636643000082362262009-10-06T02:55:12.045-05:002009-10-06T02:55:12.045-05:00"I'll just state yet once again for the t..."I'll just state yet once again for the thousands reading this blog per week that I receive a lot of books from publishers. Unless I explicitly say otherwise (even though this will be the majority of the times I bother to review a book)"<br /><br />You should say that anyway. It should be the first line of any review you write : "I got this book for free, I get many books for free from this publisher".<br /><br />The whole reason for sending out promotional copies is to create the impression that certain books are being organically talked about. While some people write criticism and some people write reviews, there are a lot of people who don't write enough or in a dispassionate enough way for their references to be journalistic and as such I think that a law demanding that bloggers make it clear when they get stuff for free is a very good idea indeed.<br /><br />The caveat is not aimed at people who regularly read your blog but rather the people who are looking for information about a particular book and who find their way to a blog through google.Jonathan Mhttp://ruthlessculture.comnoreply@blogger.com