DonRocks Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 This story by Christina Ng on ABC News says it all. The author should do prison time for this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPW Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 There was a great article in the Aug 26 NY Times on a guy who had a business selling online reviews. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwertyy Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 This story by Christina Ng on ABC News says it all. The author should do prison time for this. On what grounds? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted September 4, 2012 Author Share Posted September 4, 2012 On what grounds? Writing deliberately false, injurious statements about another person's work is libel, no? I mean, I'm not a lawyer, but if I were this guy, I'd be consulting with one. (I suppose his argument could be "the statements aren't false - I read the books and gave my honest opinions" which we know is BS but it might be good enough. However, I think that signing a fake name makes the statements, in this case, de facto false to some degree because it looks like they're coming from Joe Blow Consumer, but I guess this is why attorneys make a lot of money.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwertyy Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Writing deliberately false, injurious statements about another person's work is libel, no? I mean, I'm not a lawyer, but if I were this guy, I'd be consulting with one. (I suppose his argument could be "the statements aren't false - I read the books and gave my honest opinions" which we know is BS but it might be good enough. However, I think that signing a fake name makes the statements, in this case, de facto false to some degree because it looks like they're coming from Joe Blow Consumer, but I guess this is why attorneys make a lot of money.) Then about half the commenters on Yelp are about to be hauled into court. It's stupid. It's annoying. It's misleading. For him I'm sure it's mortifying. Anything more? Nah. But then I think I'm more of a fan of technology and social media than you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.A.R. Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 On what grounds? Writing deliberately false, injurious statements about another person's work is libel, no? I mean, I'm not a lawyer,..... I believe the correct legal term is douchebaggery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayandstacey Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 The only things I find odd about this are: - that the author thinks a few reviews will have much sway for a book that sells a million copies anyway (maybe they do?) - that the author didn't just have someone else to do this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted September 5, 2012 Author Share Posted September 5, 2012 Then about half the commenters on Yelp are about to be hauled into court. And, as soon as the laws change (which they will), about half the drivers in the world are going to be considered "driving recklessly," as well they should be. I know everybody thinks this about themselves, but in *my* case it happens to be true: I'm alert, coordinated, and skillful enough to drive while texting. I've driven down an interstate while eating, and at the same time, changed my clothes coming from a tennis match driving at 60 mph, steering only with my knees. Yes, I'm good enough to drive while texting, but I'm NOT good enough to defend myself against all the other drivers who aren't. You know that "dottering old lady" weaving in and out of her lane at 45 mph in a 65 mph zone, clutching her steering wheel, head forward and eyes squinting, completely oblivious to everything around her? Well, now half the cars on the road are that "dottering old lady." I can't use my cell phone while driving because I need to be alert enough to defend myself against everyone else who's using theirs. It's a combination of Escape From New York and The Daytona 500 every time I get into my car these days - it's like playing a video game with real-life consequences. Driving while texting is ten times more dangerous than driving after several drinks - there is absolutely no comparison in terms of danger. Did I just get off on a tangent? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porcupine Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 ^Bullshit. ...the first half of the paragraph, that is. The second half you're absolutely right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted September 7, 2012 Author Share Posted September 7, 2012 Then about half the commenters on Yelp are about to be hauled into court. Oops! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwertyy Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Oops! Wow! That's just... Wow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveO Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 I basically optimize business websites for local businesses. Web Reviews are a fact of life. They make me terribly uncomfortable. If the restaurant operators here are to speak to this issue it will unveil all the incredible impactful elements of reviews. Of interest here is a story where a judge upheld a $150,000 penalty for falsified reviews. http://blumenthals.com/blog/2012/05/24/appeals-court-upholds-150k-in-punitive-damages-for-3-fake-reviews/ Currently google is filtering reviews on some algo driven basis. Some go up, some don't. Auto dealers have possibly lost in the aggregate millions of reviews (probably all positive) ha haha. The industry is fighting it. We'll see how it plays out. Yelp....oooof....what more can I say. Yet I'll go here to review restaurants, and I'll read yelp reviews and those of other sources. I'm pretty sure our little businesses have been hit by 4 malicious attack reviews done or paid for by competitors. I've spent endless time going back and forth with the carriers of those reviews. 1 of the 4 were removed. I can't prove it though, unlike the examples above. Wish I could!!! I don't like writing bad reviews but if I get beastly service I love writing scathing reviews...then I want the business to see them. hell I'll take them down if the business rights the wrong. Web Reviews....ugh....its a complex issue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted September 16, 2012 Author Share Posted September 16, 2012 And, as soon as the laws change (which they will), about half the drivers in the world are going to be considered "driving recklessly," as well they should be. I know everybody thinks this about themselves, but in *my* case it happens to be true: I'm alert, coordinated, and skillful enough to drive while texting. I've driven down an interstate while eating, and at the same time, changed my clothes coming from a tennis match driving at 60 mph, steering only with my knees. Yes, I'm good enough to drive while texting, but I'm NOT good enough to defend myself against all the other drivers who aren't. You know that "dottering old lady" weaving in and out of her lane at 45 mph in a 65 mph zone, clutching her steering wheel, head forward and eyes squinting, completely oblivious to everything around her? Well, now half the cars on the road are that "dottering old lady." I can't use my cell phone while driving because I need to be alert enough to defend myself against everyone else who's using theirs. It's a combination of Escape From New York and The Daytona 500 every time I get into my car these days - it's like playing a video game with real-life consequences. Driving while texting is ten times more dangerous than driving after several drinks - there is absolutely no comparison in terms of danger. Did I just get off on a tangent? ^Bullshit. ...the first half of the paragraph, that is. The second half you're absolutely right. Well, you'll be pleased to know that on Friday evening, I promised my son that I would never again text while driving. He's taking driver's ed now, and the obvious "do as I say, not as I do," parental hypocrisy, leadership by example, etc., issues all apply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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