Blogflog - Don’t Feed the Trolls

[blogfloggery.livejournal.com]

Link: Don’t Feed the Trolls
Disclaimer: This blog entry is verbatim, as originally posted on LKH's blog. Copyright belongs to Ma Petite Enterprises.

I’ve been getting two new questions online, the last few days – One how did people get my brand new Anita Blake novelette, Dancing, early? Two why are they giving it one and two star reviews, and is the novelette worth the money if it’s getting such bad reviews? To answer the first question, none of the people leaving those reviews have read it yet, they can’t have, but yet they’ve “reviewed” it. This happens a lot with books, movies, music, any kind of art. People decide they hate it, before they’ve read, seen, or listened to it, which means their opinion is uninformed, at best. Most of these people will actually buy my novelette, and they will then hate on it with more detail, but remember they have decided to hate it, which makes them trolls. All haters are trolls on the internet, please ignore the trolls. Whatever you do, don’t feed them.

Yes, I know that even writing this blog feeds the trolls, because they seem to thrive off of any attention be it negative, or positive, but I felt that the people that are asking me how these haters got the novelette early, needed to know that the haters don’t have it early. They don’t have it. They don’t get it, the “it” not being the novelette, but more what I do, what all artists do. We create, haters just try to destroy. The world is divided into two main camps, one tries to build things and build people up, the other side tries to tear things and people down. At the end of the day, I am happy to be in the camp that creates, builds, and tries to make the world a better, more positive place. Those that can only hate and try to cause harm, I’ve never understood them, its too alien to who I am.

So, for all you readers out there asking if you should pay attention to the low star reviews out already for Dancing, the answer is, no. Now you may hate the novelette, you may think it’s not worth the money, that I can’t control that. If you hate it, I’m sorry, but I enjoyed writing it, and thought it was very fun to finally get to share Zerbrowski and his family with all of you. I loved watching Nathaniel, Micah, and Anita interact with other police officers and their families. It was fun as hell to have Anita and the men have little Matthew in tow, and Anita have to do the family thing at the cookout. Now, if none of that interests you, by all means skip this one. But I’ll say that you will miss a deepening of their relationship, and revelations about Zerbrowski and his family that will play a part in at least one more novelette, and maybe a novel. I was really trying to keep the Zerbrowski clan out of a novel length piece, because such bad things can happen in my novels, but I’ve written the beginning of the story, so we’ll see.

So, to sum up, no one has Dancing early, the low star reviews are trolls, please ignore the trolls. On the question will you think the novelette is worth the money, I have no idea, I don’t know your criteria for that, but if I didn’t think the story was interesting and added to my character development and world building, I wouldn’t have written it. Maybe you’ll get it and hate it, I hope not, but regardless of how you feel about my story, or anyone else’s art, try not to feed the trolls. I think if you let the trolls drag you down to their level you risk becoming one of them, and no one likes a troll, not even the trolls. Try it sometime if you think you’re friends with a troll, try disagreeing with them about anything and see how fast they turn on you. Haters are gonna hate, its what they do.

Comments

[dwg.livejournal.com]

Considering we just had massive wank about ratings -- where the moral of the story was basically people can rate/shelve books however the hell the want, even before a book is released according to their interest/disinterst in reading said book or not at all -- this isn't just feeding the trolls, this is also serving to inflame an already touchy audience. The terms "troll" and "bully" are starting to lose their meaning because people are throwing them around for every perceived slight.

Also way to be pre-emptively dismissive of any bad reviews that do happen after the release -- if you don't like it, clearly you're a hater. Haters are trolls and don't "get it" because this is ~~art and ~~the author put some effort into it/means well/is nice/what the fuck ever. Never mind if there's legit criticism or well-thought out reasons, or people just don't plain like it. Passive-aggressive guilt-trips are the worst.

[ex-naomi-ja.livejournal.com]

Loving the idea that, no matter how crappy something is, if the author ~worked so hard~ on it, you're not allowed to say anything mean. It's the thought that counts, you trolling bully trolls! Not the finished product!

[dwg.livejournal.com]

I HAVE LEGIT SEEN THAT DEFENSE BROUGHT UP. "This book is the author's baby, they put a lot of hard work into it, you have to take that into consideration!" And it's honestly disheartening to know that some people have been upping reviews/ratings just to avoid author/minion backlash.

Fuck this Cult of Nice bullshit.

[ex-naomi-ja.livejournal.com]

It's pretty pathetic. If I gave you a sandwich full of dog shit and told you not to complain because I spent a really long time finding that dog shit, at the end of the day...I still gave you a dog shit sandwich.

[dwg.livejournal.com]

Even if you thought you were working really hard to pick up nuggets of gold, doesn't mean I have to grin and ask for another.

[lliira (from livejournal.com)]

If LKH works hard on her books, I am a kumquat.

[raven7601.livejournal.com]

She does. Just ask her...


"According to various editors & publishers I do more research for my fiction than most people do for their nonfiction".- LKH

https://twitter.com/LKHamilton/status/377218784819707904

[lliira (from livejournal.com)]

She's just a bald-faced liar, isn't she? Though I guess she counts trips to Vegas and sex as her husband as "research".

[bloodredroses1.livejournal.com]

What the bloody f*ck?!? I just MIGHT believe that in the very begining she did some actual research but these days it's way too much nature calendars, books with pretty pictures (w/o reading the accompanying text) & sitting around shooting the breeze w/ her friends talking about what they used to do before they were sucked into her orbit.

And we know that she gets the vast majority of her sex 'advice' from dodgy internet porn written by 13yo girls who haven't had their first boyfriend much less their first kiss. And as for the BDSM part of her writing, she occasionally gets a few things correct but I think that most of the people she talked to (or should that be 'talked' to?) wouldn't know Safe, Sane & Consensual if it bit them on the ass. What's so appalling is we are supposed to believe that Anita is the poster-child for SS&C. Even if she had the least inkling of what 'consent' means (it doesn't mean what she thinks it does) she is only rarely 'safe' & as for 'sane' well that packed its bags & fled the disaster ages ago.

Lord but I'm bitchy today! I think this post (which is simply a preemptive strike in her usual passive/aggressive style against her new e-book being a flop) & the money-grubbing in the last one just hit me soooo wrong today. More & more these days I want to put her on a 72hr physc hold, test her to hell & gone to find out exactly how her brain chemistry is screwed and if it's treatable put her in a secure facility for 6 months to a year where she can get the meds & therapy she needs. Hey I said I was feeling bitchy. Bitchy enough that I'm not sure I should leave a separate comment of my own so I'll pack away my soapbox & high horse and leave y'all in peace for now.

[deadsong.livejournal.com]

The consent thing in the AB:VH books really pisses me off. I have no problem with people who have a fetish for rape scenarios; there are entire subgenres of romance dedicated to appealing to that audience. I just wish she'd admit that that's what it is; it's a non-consent fantasy, and while some in the BDSM scene can and will incorporate that if both partners are willing and can discuss the best way to safely gratify that desire, that is not at all what she's portraying at all. She's not even doing a good job of portraying a non-consent fantasy; it's more a Catholic guilt/shame thing to try to preserve her heroine's righteousness as someone of upright near-virginal purity. She doesn't want it, so she's not really a bad slutty girl. (Heaven forbid she be sex-positive about the freedoms she enjoys.) These other people she coerces don't really want it, but Anita knows what's best for them and is doing her duty, so they should just bow to her will because it's for their own good. That's not gratifying a non-consent fantasy. That's just fucked up personal issues with sex and Catholic guilt masquerading as a bad portrayal of BDSM.

[lliira (from livejournal.com)]

I think it goes farther than trying to preserve Anita's supposed righteousness, and farther than Catholic guilt. I think Anita does not enjoy sex when there is consent. She doesn't want to consent and she doesn't want her men to consent either. She has to either rape or be raped, or she doesn't see a point. And of course she doesn't call it rape (usually), because she enjoys trying to justify it in the most perfect rape apologism ever.

[plastraa.livejournal.com]

" I think this post (which is simply a preemptive strike in her usual passive/aggressive style against her new e-book being a flop"

And of course a call to her 'true' fans so they make sure to purchase. It does look like a bid to try to scrape as many dollars out of the fan base as possible. Nothing like an outside enemy to rally the troops.

[rebootfromstart.livejournal.com]

The last paragraph of this comment makes me really uncomfortable, as someone with "screwed brain chemistry". You can't - and nor should you - put someone on a psych hold for narcissism and as someone who's had to consider the possibility of temporary institutionalisation because of my condition, joking about inpatienting someone who isn't an obvious danger to themselves or the people around them really rubs me up the wrong way.

[bloodredroses1.livejournal.com]

I've been away from LJ so sorry for the late reply & I feel that I should reply to this.

She may not be a *physical* danger to herself or others but she has a hell of a lot more problems than simple narcissism.

Sorry you're offended but it's my opinion, take it or leave it. For years I've thought she could use a serious term of in-patient treatment. She's done (or is doing) out-patient but frankly it doesn't seem to be of much use, so inpatient it is. But that's just my opinion as someone who's brain chemistry is screwed & has done both in & out patient treatment.

[desert-vixen.livejournal.com]

So, for all you readers out there asking if you should pay attention to the low star reviews out already for Dancing, the answer is, no. Now you may hate the novelette, you may think it’s not worth the money, that I can’t control that. If you hate it, I’m sorry, but I enjoyed writing it, and thought it was very fun to finally get to share Zerbrowski and his family with all of you.

So, to sum up, no one has Dancing early, the low star reviews are trolls, please ignore the trolls. On the question will you think the novelette is worth the money, I have no idea, I don’t know your criteria for that, but if I didn’t think the story was interesting and added to my character development and world building, I wouldn’t have written it. Maybe you’ll get it and hate it, I hope not, but regardless of how you feel about my story, or anyone else’s art, try not to feed the trolls. I think if you let the trolls drag you down to their level you risk becoming one of them, and no one likes a troll, not even the trolls. Try it sometime if you think you’re friends with a troll, try disagreeing with them about anything and see how fast they turn on you. Haters are gonna hate, its what they do.

It's been awhile since I was reading Lashouts regularly, but good to see nothing has changed.

[queenmeow.livejournal.com]

What the heck is she talking about? Where are these reviews?
I haven't posted in a while but I read the posts almost every day.

[dwg.livejournal.com]

My guess is she's talking about Facebook, that's where she deigns to interact with people, and it's possible people on Facebook told her about what's happening on GoodReads.

[darkese.livejournal.com]

There is 1 review on Goodreads for Dancing and it's a 5 star.

She's just drumming up interest in herself anyway she can lately. First there was the 500+ shill reviews of Affliction and now this 'don't feed the trolls' blog which got her Affliction discussion forum back on the 'Most Active' list.

[dwg.livejournal.com]

Ugh ugh, this kind of bullshit gets my blood boiling. Especially in the wake of the last round of GoodReads wank with the author claiming to have received rape/death threats from reviewers, when any threats were actually coming from the author's camp. She later then blamed her behaviour on PMS and not understanding how GR works. This is even before you get into the STGRB business.

That I delved into the comments on LKH's blog and facebook just makes me lose what little faith I had in humanity. Because no, people. NO. Do not trot out the 'real fan' business because there's no such thing. It's basically the equivalent of the Fake Geek Girl.

BUT ALSO, if this is the way she can drum up attention for herself...she's...really missed the opportunity with the ABVH 20th anniversary. Like idk, it sorta feels like she's expected everyone to make a fuss about it and is confused when it didn't happen. Nobody's going to care if she doesn't care, and well...clearly she doesn't care.

[suzycat.livejournal.com]

This... is intriguing. Where might I find a breakdown of said GoodReads wank?

[dwg.livejournal.com]

Here is a pretty thorough recap (http://rosepetals1984.wordpress.com/2013/08/24/soapbox-saturday-the-author-who-cried-bully-and-few-heard-the-truth/). The Salon article is pretty woeful and at all costs, avoid STGRB like the plague.

[suzycat.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[shadwing.livejournal.com]

Common Theory is she's talking about 'Good Reads' that is the only site that allows ratings/reviews to be posted before the book is out. It can be a way to generate excitement for an upcoming release.

So no...nobody has it early there are no 'fake' troll reviews ect ect

[lliira (from livejournal.com)]

But there's only one rating for it on GoodReads and it's 5 stars (ugh).

[shadwing.livejournal.com]

That's...even MORE pathetic. There are no reviews on Amazon or BN so far (and won't be allowed to be posted till release!)

[starrysnafu.livejournal.com]

As much as I think it's kind of a dick move to rate books you haven't read, LKH is pretty remarkable at erasing any sympathy for her in record time.

Anyone who doesn't like a book ever is a hater and a troll...wow.

[lliira (from livejournal.com)]

Write "troll" one more time, LKH. I don't think the repetition worked to pound what you think into other people's brains enough yet.

The world is divided into two main camps

Are you five?

At the end of the day, I am happy to be in the camp that creates, builds, and tries to make the world a better, more positive place.

You are not and you do not. You accidentally admitted in your last post that your "muse" is your pocketbook. There's nothing wrong with writing solely for money, and people can and do often still create wonderful things when they do that. But not when they lie about it and pretend they're delicate artistic souls. Also, your books are misogynist, racist, everything-ist barrels of despicable tripe that celebrate rape and bullying and other awful stuff to an extent that continually surprises your critics. Stuff it.

And where do critics who are also artists go in your simplistic little world, hm? Hey, you just attempted to tear down everyone who doesn't love your garbage. Guess you're a hater. Which was already obvious from your books.

ETA: I linked my husband this post and he started cracking up. He says LKH has gone all Mojo Jojo. "People who hate it are haters and hating is what they do."

[plastraa.livejournal.com]

"You are not and you do not. You accidentally admitted in your last post that your "muse" is your pocketbook. There's nothing wrong with writing solely for money, and people can and do often still create wonderful things when they do that. But not when they lie about it and pretend they're delicate artistic souls. Also, your books are misogynist, racist, everything-ist barrels of despicable tripe that celebrate rape and bullying and other awful stuff to an extent that continually surprises your critics. Stuff it."

Oh, no, this is only because you don't 'get' it. Her art is just too pure. ;-)

[rodentfanatic.livejournal.com]

All haters are trolls on the internet

She literally just said anyone on the Internet claiming not to like her books is just a troll. Goddamn. She never stops making my jaw drop.

[ex-naomi-ja.livejournal.com]

How much more meaningless can the word "troll" become? Tune into Laurell's next blog to find out!

[mocha-latta.livejournal.com]

Yuck. I hate it when people rate books before they come out.
That being said, she's living in this dome of irrationality that part of me wishes I can have myself. "People only hate my work because they hate my work. They only hate my work because they are haters. They're only haters because they are sad people who only live to hate."

[missingvolume.livejournal.com]

I've called a few people out on GoodRead reviews of stuff that I know haven't even been written and not a single one has ever responded to me about it. Huge pet peeve.

[plastraa.livejournal.com]

"...They don’t get it, the “it” not being the novelette..." Sorry Anne Rice already used the "they just don't GET my precious art" tirade, LKH you are going to have to find another one to use for your detractors.

ALL haters are trolls...no. Sometimes we are just haters. And also there are actually three camps, the people who create, the people who tear down, and the people who get popcorn and watch. I am in the latter group.

[zombiegoat.livejournal.com]

What about those of us who used to be big fans and now are not because of the direction the books have taken? Does the fact that I am now a "troll" and a "hater" (and screw anybody sideways who uses that word regularly instead of mockingly) invalidate the good opinion I used to have of her work? I'd like to post that very legitimate question to her site, but I'm really not in the mood for an avalanche of hate mail containing horrid grammar and spelling from the sycophants. Anybody else feeling froggy enough to do so?

[ravens-shadow.livejournal.com]

"The world is divided into two main camps, one tries to build things and build people up, the other side tries to tear things and people down."

No.

Also, I can not abide people who use logical fallacies to make their point. The world is not an "either/or" dichotomy. There are those who create, those who tear down, those who imitate, those who observe, those who analyze, those who breakdown constructively, and those who MST3K everything (snarky commentary for all!). And, there are those who are all of these, sometimes more than one at the same time.

[a-sporking-rat.livejournal.com]

Also, I can not abide people who use logical fallacies to make their point. The world is not an "either/or" dichotomy
ugh, this! it drives me bonkers too

[uf-addict.livejournal.com]

I'm shaking my head at this latest barrage of words she is throwing out into the world. Yes, she is smug and playing a game of preemptive strike against any negativity. You can see right through it and that actually makes me feel a bit sad with a good dose of pity.

What I am really getting from this blog post is desperation. She is jumping on the band wagon full of reality show celebrities and pop stars that have coined this term "haters" to sum up anyone that loudly protests their work. I kinda get it - it would be very very hard to have such harsh criticism thrown at you all the time. Especially when it gets personal. She wants to do what she wants to do and anyone that doesn't like it needs to go away. But that is a childish reaction and a fight you cannot win. Sometimes you just gotta take it like a man. (Ooh, now there is a statement that she ought to appreciate!)

[rodentfanatic.livejournal.com]

Sometimes you just gotta take it like a man. (Ooh, now there is a statement that she ought to appreciate!)

AHAHAHAHAHHA well-played!