#amazonfail

Originally posted at On The Nightstand.

Online bookseller Amazon.com is in deep doo-doo. You see, in a move tagged with #amazonfail on Twitter, the company has started deranking “adult” titles, which removes them from search queries.

Sounds okay, right? Wrong.

The problem lies in what they are classifying as “adult”: literature with GLBT content or leanings. Even books that don’t have any graphic content, such as non-fiction books, have been labled “adult” and thus deranked.

You can imagine my fury when I saw that Stephen Fry’s memoir and (the hardcover edition of) John Barrowman’s autobiography had both been deranked and removed from search engine result. The same goes for Heather Has Two Mommies, a children’s book. There is a list of affected books over on Meta_Writer.

So what can you do? Let Amazon know that they have done wrong, of course. Tweet about it using the #amazonfail tag. Blog about it. Sign the petition. Get the word out.

Other Links On #Amazonfail

Looking for an Amazon alternative? Try The Book Depository - same prices, with FREE worldwide shipping.

Posted 13 April 2009 in Internet, Ranting, tagged with and with 3 comments.

Twilight Fandom, We Need To Talk

What I am about to say may sound harsh - that’s because it is. It is not directed to all of you1, but at least a good-sized chunk of the fanbase.

You are by far one of the worst fandoms I have ever had the misfortune to come across2 The batshit crazy portion of you can be rude, obnoxious, horrifyingly stupid at times and, if reports are to be believed3, you can also be prone to fits of violence.

Most people understand the concept of opinions, and that people are allowed to have them. Just because someone doesn’t like [insert fandom of mine here] does not mean that they are a horrible person, or that they are stupid. I am not simply better just because I like [insert book/movie/musical artist here] and they don’t. It is their right to not like something, just as it is your right to like it.

Everyone has the right to an opinion, whether it’s a positive one or a negative one. Opinions are a two way street, people.

It is TweenTeacher’s right to be of the opinion that “the books are poorly written” and that “the message of the books is icky” without being bombarded with horrible comments.

You really have no idea of what the books are really about. let meguess you never fallen inlove with some one or even had the experience. You read this books with your eyes closed and with a closed mind as well.

My first impression of your review is that you’re probably a failed writer who is taking it out on Steph Meyer. Five bucks says this is true. If you have never written, I *will* send you the five bucks. Just email me. Then I will ask you what the hell you’re doing teaching if you’ve never written.

LEELAwhereareyou is allowed to have her (incredibly eloquent, especially for a twelve year old) opinion that the books suck without being told she’s ugly, that she “needs to get the fuck over it” or worse things I do not want to repeat on my blog.

Entertainment Weekly is allowed to publish a negative review of Breaking Dawn without the author and the magazine being sent chess pieces in an attempt to change the review. Actually, that goes for any review of Twilight and its sequels, be it from a large site like Smart Bitches, Trashy Books or a random person’s personal blog.

It doesn’t matter - they all have the right to an opinion. Which leads me to…

Stephen King, writer of many, many novels is allowed to say that Stephenie Meyer “can’t write worth a darn”. He knows a thing or two about writing, and guess what: he is allowed to have an opinion. He is not “insecure”, “jealous of Stephenie Meyer’s success” (or of Edward’s good looks!) or “upset that a woman is so successful”. The appropriate response is not to flame him, make nasty comments, suggestions to send him hate mail or promise to throw something at him.

And I am allowed to write a short story poking fun at one of my favourite genres - the very genre I have written a novel for4 without receiving a comment about how it is offensive (thanks for saying it’s good though).

wow. as a twilight fan i find this funny yet slightly offensive. i mean its a good story but come on do you really think that writing this story is going to get people to stop talking about Twilight?

Just remember die-hard fans: people have the right to not like Twilight, just as you have the right to like it. They have the right to say they don’t like it, just as you have the right to say you do. Them not liking Twilight is not an attack on you - it is not an appropriate response to attack them back. And if they do start a fight… finish it in a calm, mature and responsible way. Don’t swing right back.

In short: Grow up. Act like the adults some of you are. You’re giving vampire fans - and fandom in general - a bad name.

  1. Those of you who are sane Twilight fans, I applaud you. This blog entry is for the really obsessive, over-reactionary fans. [↩]
  2. The dubious honour of being the worst goes to the K-Pop band Super Junior’s fanclub E.L.F. And they only win because there are no confirmed Twilight deaths. [↩]
  3. The “Twihard Attack Directory”. Some of these reports do sound fake/exaggerated, but some do not. I speak from personal experience when I say teenage girls can be batshit insane at times, and can do unspeakable things. [↩]
  4. Blood Bound is currently in the first round of editing. You can read more about it, and my other works, at the projects page of my writing blog, Working Title. [↩]
Posted 8 February 2009 in Fandom, Internet, Ranting and with 16 comments.

Fanfiction.net Fun

I was reading Fanficrants on Livejournal (which I haven’t done in ages) when I came across this rant. In it the author said:

Extra Note: When you go to search on FF.net and set the category to Harry Potter, you can type in almost any girl’s name and you will find a Mary Sue with that name! Try it! It’s sad, I know.

It’s been a while since I have done it, so let’s give it a go. Out of 39 English fics here are some examples of what I found:

  • 2 daughters of Snape
  • 2 transfer students (one of whom is a daughter of Snape)
  • 2 characters who are tools to get canons together (Remus/Hermione and Remus/Sirius)
  • 2 Snape romances
  • 1 Black
  • 1 Malfoy
  • 1 Harry twin
  • 2 interviewing the characters
  • 1 CSI crossover
  • And 1 Hagrid romance (yeah, I know)

There’s more if you use the Katherine variant of the spelling.

And just for the lulz, I decided to go with a name that might be less than common. After dealing with all the mentions of aisle I finally found some stories about a character named Aisling. Here’s my favourite. :)

Better known than Harry Better in school than Hermione, Funnier than the Twins Better blood than Draco Better looking then Fleur Prophecy says Aisling will take over the magical world and become a greater evil Voldemort look out Aisling will do it better!

So tell me: have you been Sue’d yet? :P

Posted 15 January 2009 in Fandom, Internet and with 12 comments.

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