'Lets beat up some sharecroppers, it's fun...'

[davefreer]

Humans are strange, complex creatures. Writers moreso. Some are human too. I haven't evolved that far, for which I am very grateful. Humans do things which are noble and wonderful and altruistic. They can construct art that moves the soul. They can give their own lives to try and save strangers. They're capable of acts of great inventiveness,

Comments

[onyxhawke]

Well said.

[unixronin]

I recall, long long ago, reading a couple of reviews in Rolling Stone (I think) of Kansas and Norwegian band a-ha. Few other things I've read have so thoroughly brought home the saying that those who can, do, while those who can't, either teach or criticize and tell everyone how much better they would be doing it if they were doing it.

The question that always pops into my mind is, "Well, if you're such a brilliant writer/songwriter/vocalist/artist/whatever yourself, why the fuck aren't you world-famous for that, instead of stuck writing hatchet-job reviews for what amounts to a trade rag?"

[davefreer]

(chuckle) I often suspect the really nasty reviews (and I have actually had very few - which may be a comment on my unimportance, rather people liking what I write) are by failed writers acting out of envy, or a misplace desire for revenge.

[reverancepavane]

You've been reading your Amazon reviews again, haven't you?
Stop it or you'll go blind!
(from clawing your own eyes out in disgust)

[davefreer]

Um. No. This was brought about by attacks on various other authors, by a self-appointed bunch of 'righteous citizens' or people whose agenda so dominates their lives as to make everything interpretable as a slight or neglect-to-mench in every sentence as pretending it didn't happen. They decided that various writers hadn't stuck closely enough to their world view, and proceeded to attack them. Having finished one lot of targets (I missed that) they just started on the next, LMB and Wrede. If you've missed it, good.

[reverancepavane]

I had missed it, I'm afraid, but now you've made me somewhat curious. Anyway, I do so hope Lois and Patricia hand them their heads.
Although I don't agree with the "those who can't do, critique" comments. Good criticism is an art form that must be developed and cultured just as much as the ability to actually produce what is being critiqued in the first place. It's often an invaluable tool to hone one's art, if used properly. It makes one think about unrealised possibilities. After all, the book the author writes and the book the reader reads are very different things.
However when one starts criticising a viewpoint, one is no longer indulging in criticism, but rather, expressing an opinion. This is an important distinction which is lost on most people.
Oh well. Back to finding out where Xi Virginis has disappeared to...

[horace_hamster]

Dave, I can't agree with you on this. Sure, if a book isn't your cuppa, don't buy it. Same for any other form of entertainment. But we as humans also have an ethical obligation to speak up when we see racism or any other form of hatred and oppression.

"Not buying" the video game sold on Amazon in which the object of the game is to rape as many schoolgirls as possible just wasn't enough. "Not buying" a book written by an author who said "there won't be any Native Americans to have already done a certain amount of prepping land for human occupation" isn't enough, either.

Rape is wrong. Claiming that Native Americans weren't human (but European colonists were) is wrong. Not speaking out is also wrong.

Authors aren't poor sharecroppers or small weak victims. They are professionals who have chosen their career and chosen to put their work up for public scrutiny.

[davefreer]

lets start at the tail

[davefreer]

4)I _didn't_ suggest that you don't buy a book. That's pointless. Read and absorb: "If you don't like an aspect of someone's fiction - there is a really, really easy answer. Buy the work of someone you _DO_ like. Get your friends to buy it too. Get together and go to the cons they attend, and get them to sign. Trust me, publishers, and retail and, as a result, the poor sharecroppers will hasten to follow that line

[onyxhawke]

Horace,

You are wrong. Get over it.