Haines His Way

Panni, if someone chose to assasinate my character in a forum such as Amazon book reviews section, I'd have the right to decide to sue him/her (and Amazon, I suppose...though I wouldn't win that, I expect) for slander or libel or whatever it would be.

But you know what, I get trashed worse than this on certain screenplay sites all the time.  I merely consider the source, as do the other readers.

Amazon cannot possibly ride herd on the unwieldy mess  of millions of daily reviews.  And, if people did start suing them over opinion pieces (which is what these are), it would merely shut down the whole section so that they need not deal with it at all and open themselves up to such time-wasting crap and expectations.  

Personally, if I'm trying to sell books, I wouldn't open a review section up anyway...Why allow people to slam the product you're trying to sell?  I'd do like every movie and Broadway show producer does...just slug the book's page with positive review excerpts or blurbs.

But, quite frankly, it's no easy thing to prove either libel or slander, I doubt BK could win a case given what is posted there.  I doubt he'd want to wast money trying.
 
If Bruce spoke to someone at Amazon as the author, requesting the review be removed, I don't know whether that would carry any weight or not.  But I think he is responding in exactly the way he should.  If an ant gets in your way, either ignore it or step on it. But don't wring your hands over it.  Besides, he apparently has enough people on this site to seethe with umbrage over this nothing person for him. All you who get outraged play into her hands and give the attention she wants...which is what this is really about.  So why should BK lose sleep over something and someone so utterly inconsequential?  How many people do you think actually visit an individual book page like this?  It's not like it's a review in the New York Times book section.  

I've never, never decided to buy a book because of the reviews I've read on Amazon.  That's what I want to do...take the opinion of an anonymous amateur reviewer I know nothing about.  That's making an informed decision.

I don't think any reasonable, book-buying, literate person thinks because these go out under the banner of Amazon or Barnes and Noble, they have any real legitimacy as a serious review.  How could they? Some sound like they would have been written in crayon, if they weren't posting on the internet.

You can't protect people from stupidity, ignorance, or verbal vehemence.  And I'm tired of this nanny state where everyone wants to play victim and claim that someone else should be protecting them, looking out for them, and overseeing that nothing offends them.  What a bunch of cry-babies we've become.  Read the front page of the newspaper; there's real stuff to get outraged over.

If someone has crossed the line into slander or libel,  there are recourses for such thing.  Other than that, it's sorry little loser trying to get somebody to notice them and any intelligent person will realize that and give it the weight its due.  

DR elmore, your story about your piano skills diminishing certainly hit a chord with me. (no pun intended)

 I was at one time a pretty fair pianist. Played just about every night for entertainment and to learn new pieces. Then, the personal computer came into my life, and almost overnight, I stopped playing. Now, I can pick out notes in a score of a show I'm rehearsing, but as for actually sitting down and playing entire pieces, I'm afraid those days are over now.

DR CP - your points are well taken, but you are coming dangerously close to hurting the feelings of we illiterate, inconsequential, yahoos who actually do spend some time working on our reviews posted on Amazon and other internet sites.

And although you are also correct in that what the referenced review wanted to accomplish - namely a discussion here - was something that we gave in to - as a writer of a review of the same book, I thought I should comment on it.  NOT AT AMAZON, no....but here the home of the author of the book.

No one who writes, acts, or places his name in a public forum should expect praise all the time.  But if someone kicks my friend's dog - even if the kicker is dumb - I can still tell my friend I'm sorry it happened.

We should all go to the amazon site and vote no that the review was not helpful

Done-I was the 10th person.

Re:  negativity.  I got some disturbing word today that I have evidently been stolen from.  Quite blatantly, by someone I trusted.  I am very sad and am wondering about various recourses.  I suppose it's best to let this kind of thing go.  You know the old adage:  harboring a grudge/wanting revenge is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die.

DRJMK, this is bad news, whether it's financial or a form of plagiarism, and I wish you much luck in dealing with the person you trusted.  No matter what decision you make, I do believe the thief, if you and this person have to continue some sort of social commerce, owes you one huge apology.  My rule has always been that if you kick me once, I'll forgive you.  Do it twice and rot in hell.

Hello

If anyone has time can you go over to

http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/PersonDetail/personid-14058/

I have been working on updating BK's bio page there. I need a second eye to tell me if I everything is spelled correctly and I haven't made any mistakes.

Thanks

But, quite frankly, it's no easy thing to prove either libel or slander, I doubt BK could win a case given what is posted there.  I doubt he'd want to wast money trying.
 
If Bruce spoke to someone at Amazon as the author, requesting the review be removed, I don't know whether that would carry any weight or not.  But I think he is responding in exactly the way he should.  If an ant gets in your way, either ignore it or step on it. But don't wring your hands over it.  Besides, he apparently has enough people on this site to seethe with umbrage over this nothing person for him. All you who get outraged play into her hands and give the attention she wants...which is what this is really about.  So why should BK lose sleep over something and someone so utterly inconsequential?  How many people do you think actually visit an individual book page like this?  It's not like it's a review in the New York Times book section.  

It is not of interest or worth my time to do anything about that "review".  It is, as I said, written by a bitter negative person, and it doesn't bother me in the least.  By mentioning the two names she mentioned it narrowed down the number of people it could be to about three, maybe two.  So, maybe she wanted me to know it was her.   It's sad, but there's nothing you can do about such things.  I did enjoy the part about "excoriating" (a nice ten-dollar word) readers of this here site to post rave reviews at amazon.  I defy anyone to search through the archives of these notes and posts and show me one instance of "excoriating" (a nice ten-dollar word) anyone to write a rave review, or even a good review.  I did ask people to review it, sure, just as I ask anyone who reads my books to do, whether here on the site, or at a signing.  I always say, if you read the book, write a review on amazon.  I have no idea what it's going to be, and I'd like to presume that if someone didn't like the book they'd say so, or not write anything.

So, I do appreciate everyone's posts about this "person", but really, there's no need to give this one more thought.  People who do this sort of thing get what they deserve, in the long run.

I must now excoriate (a nice ten-dollar word) some people to do some things.

Michael, what is blogs?

JRand54, I do think I said some people do write nice reviews.  But the simple thing is they're still anonymous, they're still amateur, I don't know anything (usually) about their qualifications.  I'm unlikely to judge a book by those reviews.

I wonder does Amazon have a disclaimer somewhere about the opinions expressed on the review sites?  That would protect them from liability, I expect.  

I think by submitting an opinion there, you release Amazon from any liability.  I haven't read the disclaimer in awhile.

The "reviews" that are the real corkers are at the imdb.  Ninety percent of those are written by the stupidest people who ever lived - illiterate in a completely mind-numbing way.  I'll say one thing for Cora, she writes decently, but then, she always did.

I don't believe I have read the reviews at imdb, or that was the source of the truly stupid reviews I have read.  I tend to google & don't always know the source.

Goodnight.

Hello

If anyone has time can you go over to

http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/PersonDetail/personid-14058/

I have been working on updating BK's bio page there. I need a second eye to tell me if I everything is spelled correctly and I haven't made any mistakes.

Thanks

YOU ASKED FOR IT:

Biography:
Bruce Kimmel has had a long and varied career. He wrote, directed and starred in the cult movie hit, The First Nudie Musical. He performed those same duties on his second film The Creature Wasn't Nice (a.k.a. Naked Space), with Leslie Nielsen, Cindy Williams and Patrick Macnee. He also co-created the story for the hit film, The Faculty, directed by Robert Rodriguez.

COMMENT: In the second sentence you set off “The First Nudie Musical” with a comma;  in the thirs sentence, you do not set off  “The Creature Wasn’t Nice” with a comma. I would prefer a comma before “the Creature….”.

…
He has also produced many off-Broadway and Broadway cast albums, including the hit revival of The King and I, starring Lou Diamond Philips and Donna Murphy, The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas starring Ann-Margret and Bells Are Ringing starring Faith Prince.

COMMENT:

Suggest”…King and I, (not .)….in Texas,…Are Ringing,…

NOTES:

•  Bruce has his own website that he blogs every day. www.haineshisway.com Also the Bruce Kimmel tribute site www.brucekimmel.com

COMMENT:
“Blog is not a verb.  After day there should be a comma, not a period. Need a period after .com (end of sentence). Might try: “Bruce has his own website, www.haineshisway.com, on which he keeps a daily blog and maintains a dialog with his cyber friends. There is also a Bruce Kimmel tribute site, www.brucekinnel.com.”  

NEWS
Bruce has just finished his fourth novel Writer's Block. A murder mystery takes place during the new musical Bus and Truck.

COMMENT:

I would prefer: Bruce has just finished his fourth novel, Writer's Block;  a murder mystery whose plot unfolds during the development of a new musical, Bus and Truck.

CREW CREDITS
Penn and Tellers' Bullshit - Associate Producer

COMMENT: s/b Penn and Teller’s

The First Nudie Misical – Writer

COMMENT: Musical, not Misical

“More Info” is a rehash of data already presented.

Acting Appearances:

M*A*S*H - Pt. Gilbert - Cease-Fire (1973)

COMMENT: Private is abbreviated PVT, or Pvt.

Penn and Tellers' Bullshit – Doctor

COMMENT: Again, Teller’s

Co Starring Roles
Tabitha - Adam - Tabitha (1976)
Never Say Never - Paul Walter - Pilot
Tabitha - Adam
COMMENT:
Tabitha listed twice.

der "no, I am NOT Cora" Brucer

NOTE:  If I were like "some people", I would correct my idiosyncratic spelling of "third" and publicly protest my innocence - but I'm a slow learner.

DR MS

The middle credit is spelled as "Najed Space"

"Liekly Stories" is spelled that way once.

And under "DIRECTOR" it is listed as Nudie Misical

Pretty good.  Only three things I could find!

Well, you missed a few, but caught two I didn't - BITCH!!!

And to add my coins worth, I do read the reviews at Amazon, and Epinions, and other places...quite frequently...when I need help in deciding whether to purchase a particular CD or DVD or car or camera or such.

I value other opinions, even if they are from "amateurs," and often times find them quite helpful to me.