American History

[Gintaras]

Not having to rely on Amazon reviews is one of the reasons I take several magazines and watch for the comments of critics whose opinions I have learned to find reliable.   If she hates it, I'll love it.  If he likes it, I probably will also.  These reviewers are compensated, yes, but not by their subjects.  (One reason I hate jacket blurbs, too.)  And their writing skills are generally superior to those of Amazon reviewers.

I guess this is a "contemporary history" comment, sorry.

Heh, I write reviews for Amazon 

[deanswaney]

Yet I don't see how any of this is fodder for legal contention - unless there is libel and/or slander involved that can be proven.

Otherwise it is just using one's own sense and knowledge to sort wheat from chaff.

There would seem to have to be something else involved in the Figes story.

[madupont]

Not having to rely on Amazon reviews is one of the reasons I take several magazines and watch for the comments of critics whose opinions I have learned to find reliable.   If she hates it, I'll love it.  If he likes it, I probably will also.  These reviewers are compensated, yes, but not by their subjects.  (One reason I hate jacket blurbs, too.)  And their writing skills are generally superior to those of Amazon reviewers.

I guess this is a "contemporary history" comment, sorry.

Heh, I write reviews for Amazon  

I guess, she just didn't know that you have had an amazing long apprenticeship in "The Review of the Book", numerically superior to the average contender.  

A chosen career practice of this kind is more than outstanding compared to the silly things I've read from people comparing their movie-opinions at imdb "for discussion".Which was enough to make me forget my password.

[madupont]

J don't get this Figes story

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jIjJ3IrieXw4xDKhfiyCbc-M7kIQ

Why isn't one permitted to publish reviews of any quality - and quite anonymously (one has to be semi-daft to use one's real name on the net with spams and scams a penny a million)?

I'm not even getting why they are called 'fake' - if someone writes a review and says a book is lousy, that should certainly be acceptable as an opinion - whether they thought it was lousy or not - or whether they could even justify the opinion.

Wouldn't there have to be some libelous material involved before any case would have legs?

In the above particular situation, this is known in academia as "peer review" but the reviewer would first of all have had to be considered a peer of the academic writer, particularly of history where you would be expected to have had a similar career in writing and submitting papers in that field; and be recognized for having published competitively with those you review.

You hardly ever run into requirements on that par with casual reading or spin-offs that filter down to the public by publicity; unless it is by a literary figure of well-known and lengthy reputation (in fact, I have mentioned in an above post, a couple of writers who are definitely peers and recognized each other as such).

The story at the web-site link that you post would seem to indicate however there was a little grudge work going on with the reviewer competing with his academic peer and attempting to review him (semi-anonymously?) to avoid any heavier dues which apparently caught up with him anyway because he got a little desperate in publicly panning his competitor.  The scheme just didn't work. As schemes so often won't.

[madupont]

Several examples of which, non-academic of course, were post in Meaner, excuse that,Meander, this morning.

[Gintaras]

A chosen career practice of this kind is more than outstanding compared to the silly things I've read from people comparing their movie-opinions at imdb "for discussion".Which was enough to make me forget my password.

My comment was meant in jest, I hope you know, but I've read quite a few silly things written by seasoned reviewers.  I suppose we all have our favorite syndicated book and movie reviewers, which we more or less "trust" or at least use as a reference point.  I've also found quite a few good (and often far more informative) reviews by amazon customer reviewers, or imdb reviewers as the case may be.  

[madupont]

The later is true; so it rather evens out. Some intelligent perceptive reviewers and some not.

But as to the professionals, I don't play faves.

[nytempsperdu]

to ride out there and see whether Clover has re-emerged...I am excited about going... I don't think we will menace anyone. I hope not. It may be interesting to pick up some oral tradition that someone remembered after all the fuss and bother was over. Perhaps hear tell of a story that deserves to be online and archived ...  If I can be so lucky .... I'll tuck a tape recorder in my  purse, and record the folks saying hello to the Internet. Maybe I can invest in a video-cam and figure out how to make a youtube and .. and we both willl add to the wisdom thet comes at each our ages.....

Oh Lord, are you seriously planning to go over there and pester those folks, after you showed such respect in your previous post about how private they are and how patient Skloot had to be? 

[weezo]

to ride out there and see whether Clover has re-emerged...I am excited about going... I don't think we will menace anyone. I hope not. It may be interesting to pick up some oral tradition that someone remembered after all the fuss and bother was over. Perhaps hear tell of a story that deserves to be online and archived ...  If I can be so lucky .... I'll tuck a tape recorder in my  purse, and record the folks saying hello to the Internet. Maybe I can invest in a video-cam and figure out how to make a youtube and .. and we both willl add to the wisdom thet comes at each our ages.....

Oh Lord, are you seriously planning to go over there and pester those folks, after you showed such respect in your previous post about how private they are and how patient Skloot had to be? 

Well, if I take my laptop I can show them the Famous Americans page I did for Henrietta. They shouldn't find out when one of their children comes across the page at school for Famous Americans, Famous African Americans, Famous Virginians and Famous Women ... all linked to http://www.educationalsynthesis.org/famamer/HLacks.html ... Not planning to go to gawk! ... Her story needs to come to the attention of educators ...
 

[Westwood]

Abraham Lincoln document carried by member of the Donner party.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/07/20/california.lincoln.document/index.html?hpt=C2

[madupont]

to ride out there and see whether Clover has re-emerged...I am excited about going... I don't think we will menace anyone. I hope not. It may be interesting to pick up some oral tradition that someone remembered after all the fuss and bother was over. Perhaps hear tell of a story that deserves to be online and archived ...  If I can be so lucky .... I'll tuck a tape recorder in my  purse, and record the folks saying hello to the Internet. Maybe I can invest in a video-cam and figure out how to make a youtube and .. and we both willl add to the wisdom thet comes at each our ages.....

Oh Lord, are you seriously planning to go over there and pester those folks, after you showed such respect in your previous post about how private they are and how patient Skloot had to be? 

She doesn't know any better.  "Miss Ann" can't resist seeking publicity
for her avocation. 

[weezo]

Maddie, it is Miss Anne  not Miss Ann .... Miss Ann is my friend in Buffalo.

I would not be doing fair by my web audience if I did not check out if the family wants to be kept abreast of what is going on.

There is more than one way to "do" history. Yes, read as many books as interest you. Check for further information online. But sometimes you gotta get you boots muddy and tread the ground.

[nytempsperdu]

Her story needs to come to the attention of educators ...

Do you think it has not?

I would not be doing fair by my web audience if I did not check out if the family wants to be kept abreast of what is going on.

Goodness, so many obligations!   Is it "educators" or your web audience or the Lacks family that you feel this need to muddy your boots for?

At any rate, glad you're not going to gawk.  I would hate to think enthusiasm for a very fine work 10 years in the making would lead to such.     

[weezo]

Well, do you wish to discuss the book further? Do you want to discuss the writing of the book or the contents of the book? Do you want to discuss the rural traditions of marrying too close in on the family? I'm not sure if they are uniquely southern. Or we could discuss the problem of black people paying for the treatments they cannot afford by donating their cells to science?

How would you feel if you, as Deborah did, discover later in life who you mother was, and how much would you want to share of the family with the outside?

[Westwood]

Forgotten star of the New York stage.

http://www.midnightpalace.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=285