The other day we watched the Seinfeld Even Steven eposide, where George is up, Elaine is down and Jerry is Even Steven. This is what came to mind today as I read through the RWA/Jane/Dear Author debacle .
I'm Even Steven. When I don't have a dog in the fight, I find myself seeing both sides. I'm always amazed by the inability of people not to see there are two sides to an issue and inevitably there is a balance that falls somewhere in the middle, sometimes right smack in the middle and sometimes somewhere closer to one perspective than another.
My take...
I have to think RWA is over-reacting, but I'm not surprisied given the romfail situation. Romfail makes me very uncomfortable. After seeing all the attention it was garnishing, I checked it out and read a large chunk of the "romfail" from 3 days ago. I don't live by the "if you have nothing good to say...", but there is a point where snark turns to humiliation, and I have to think romfail hits that point.
Having said that, Jane does more to support the romance genre than most bloggers in Romanceland... Reviews, First Sales, Interviews, Link Round Ups, Publishing News, If You Like..., Recommended Reads, and for me the mind numbing ebook information. Apparantly there isn't enough here to warrant her support of romance authors. I'm not sure what else she could actually do?
It's not the last time RWA will be short sighted and I'm sure Jane will continue with romfail. If you don't like romfail don't follow or participate, but RWA can't claim "...that indicate you do not support RWA or romance authors."
And that's one Even Steven's take. Have a great day and happy reading.
5 comments:
but there is a point where snark turns to humiliation, and I have to think romfail hits that point.
Yes! THIS! Exactly this!
I certainly would never tow the line of "if you have nothing nice to say" because I think my long-standing support of critical reviews speaks for itself. That being said, it's the "piling on" aspect of romfail that bothers me, and I suspect that's why I don't "like" it.
All this being said, I simply don't follow it. Novel idea that. You don't like something? Don't read it or follow it on the 'Net.
But then I'm just all sorts of radical like that.
Wendy, it's nice that great minds think a like :)
I also don't follow romfail - I had at first but didn't really get the concept. I'm all for snark and good fun but like you said, there is a line and for some it's much farther than for others. I found my line ;)
I don't know how many books or authors have been 'featured' on romfail but I would imagine they are also members of RWA. I always thought the idea of RWA was to support authors and those not yet published in their quest. I think if you look at the group as a supportive group that looks to uplift it's members then romfail would so not fit.
It could also be numbers. If you have 20 members who have been 'hurt' by one member then maybe majority rules. I have no pony in the race either but that whole cake and eating it is a saying for a reason.
Also, and this is my opinion only, it feels romfail is there no matter what. That is, a book is going to get torn a new one that week. Meanwhile, I as a reader, don't go out of my way to read a bad book (romance or otherwise). If I read a book that was horrid I do write it on my blog because honesty is great for other readers. But again, I don't go out of my way to 'pick on' a book.
Sorry, just a few of my coins ;)
CindyS
Of course I'm adding to the chorus of agreement here, but I would add this. I didn't even read Jane's post word for word.
This is one of those things where her work and site speak for themselves. I don't see where her loss of membership affects her AT ALL. So for me it's a colossal "who cares". Jane's already stated she wasn't going to renew so other than to poke the dog with a stick I don't get the point of it all.
Cindy--no,romfail doesn't seemto fit the support criteria for RWA, but I do think there's a difference between being honest in a review and riping apart a book for the sake of snark.
Rosie--So for me it's a colossal "who cares". Jane's already stated she wasn't going to renew so other than to poke the dog with a stick I don't get the point of it all. This was something I didn't understand, why post the letter unless you want to push buttons at RWA?
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