ellen_datlow

I've been spluttering about it ever since I heard the news earlier today. I'm not eager to find out how this affects me as a reviewer.

It's very silly.

One thing he clearly doesn't understand is the point of hypertext links. I actually feel bad when I blog about something that I know I could provide a link for, but either because of time or being lazy, I don't.

Now I don't do Amazon Affiliates, but I understand those who do. Blogging and providing hypertext links is both writing and programming -- and it takes time. And it costs to be online, too. So I understand why some would want to use Amazon Affiliates.

I wonder if this person has ever blogged in his life. Or used blogs.

Dr. Phil

I did do amazon affiliates on my website but took the links down because one of my publishers told me they were "asked" by BN.com to push their writers to use links to other stores. (another great internet/publishing brouaha of a week or so ago).

I'm now having my webmaster put links up to borders, amazon, and bn.com--they all have affiliate programs now and gee, I can make a little money off of them, maybe.

And yes, if I ran my own website, and had the time to program it all, I'd link to every book I've ever reviews in YBFH over the years (the summaries that are on my site anyway). And that's not even blogging.

What amazes me is that Cleland gets on the phone and answers questions as if his off-the-cuff babbling has any authority whatsoever; they are making this up as they go along and attempting to ratify it as it occurs to them. This isn't even a policy. It's like a prank phone conversation.

Wow, doublespeak much?

"Looking at individual bloggers is not going to be an effective enforcement model.”

so, um... what's the point in making the regulations? "To educate" is pretty thin.

Ellen, it is very silly, and seems remarkably ignorant of how a lot of this works. Does he really expect reviewers to foot the cost (or labor) of sending the book back to the publisher when they are done? If it was hard getting a book reviewed before, now see what happens.

I've been a book reviewer for years, and I get paid for it. I claim the money, but now I have to claim the books? Well, guess what FTC, I donate the books and give them as gifts, so how do I count that? As if life isn't confusing and complex enough.

I think it's making the FTC a laughing stock around the blogosphere. Let's up it isn't implemented.

Well, at least we can all feel confident that our government is run by intelligent people with strong ties to sanity.

As always ;-)

Might the FTC have been thinking of that blogger a few years ago who gave glowing reviews of Sony movies, and then it turned out he *worked* for Sony? That's the impression I got when I first heard of this -- that the FTC was trying to stop that type of misleading promotion.

Well, hell yes, on Da List, on occasion we
write about the titles of friends, or even people we don't know, though with all the artists, filmmakers, musicians and performers we know, this isn't limited to books. We tell the subscribers why we like this work. It's only courtesy to link to the creator's webpage, or amazon or whatever.

Our annual roundup of Ned's and Constance's 10 works read this year that we liked best is Da List's most popular feature. Also all the subscribers also get to post 2 - 3 titles they liked best -- it's a very important distinction that these are the books we liked reading the most, and it doesn't matter when they were published -- it's not a best of the current year's crop of titles.

So, then, what the hell are WE supposed to do?

I have another blog elsewhere which is mostly dedicated to what Vaquero is doing and promoting what he is doing, but I also shamelessly and with enthusiasm write about the works of my friends, with all the links I can round up. I am not a professional reviewer and make no claims to be, but I have a dedicated following who do go and buy anything I bring to their notice.

I never fail to say that these are friends. I'm damned proud they are my friends. They do damned good work.

So what the hell am I supposed to do?

Love, C.

Complain to the source? I haven't checked if there's a contact posted anyplace--maybe on the FTC website.

In fact, here's the contact info
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/10/endortest.shtm

This appears to already be policy. Does anyone know for sure?

I don't know.

Politicians and Wall Street Miscreants just got done raping the traditional economy, so now it's time to get to work on the internet economy.

Update here:
http://tinyurl.com/yk659xf

makes a lot more sense...