On a brighter note, today is on Einstein's birthday, and Stephen Tremp, Laura Eno, and LG Smith are hosting the National Wormhole Day Blogfest. They want us to answer a simple question:
What would you do or where would you go if you could traverse a wormhole through space or time just once? Tell us in as little as 100 words what you would do with your round-trip wormhole ticket. Or use your entire post. It’s up to you!If I could go through a wormhole, I wouldn't just go through one. I shall be an Amazon Troll-hunting superhero, traveling through space and time to find the obnoxious folks who write 1-star Amazon reviews and the ones who pay to get them written.
Writers being carpet-bombed shall send out a distress signal the moment they spot an incoming troll review, and I shall fly at supersonic speeds to catch the cash-strapped, morally bankrupt, hapless troll; the evil, unfortunate, review mill owner; and the scheming little rat who paid for it all, and expose each of them in turn for who they are.
Sound good? If I indeed get said superpowers some day, I'll need a cool-sounding name, a latex uniform, and a lot of back-story as to how I got said powers. I need suggestions in the comments!
(I see a few incredulous folks in the comments about the existence of fake reviews. Read this, please.)
Now that's my kind of superhero! Off the top of my head, I'd call you The Flying D. But maybe after I've had some coffee I'll think of something more betterer. (Not a typo.)
ReplyDeletehehe Flying D, hmmm, will keep that on my notepad as an option!
DeleteThat would be cool. And a cape - you definitely need a cape!
ReplyDeleteAwww. Must I? I keep getting tangled up in long dresses, so i hope I don't embarrass myself in a cape ;)
DeleteSorry! My brain has stuck on that latex uniform idea. What I wouldn't give for one of those! And now I'm going to go and have a look at your work space. Bet it's not as untidy as mine!
ReplyDeleteYeah I better get in shape if I ever have to wear a latex uniform :)
DeleteSounds like a new book title...Revenge of the Amazon Book Worms:)
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a sequel, I think we have to go with rise of The Book worms or something like that :)
DeleteBut what if the one-star review was deserved? Just asking...Now, if you plan on getting rid of all the fake reviews regardless of stars, I'm with you!
ReplyDeleteIt is easy to see when a 1-star review is deserved. I agree that all fake reviews must go, and it is sad that Amazon needs a superhero to weed those out. It should be easier, right?
DeleteI like Troll Hunter D or maybe the Icelandic word for Troll Hunter (which I don't know, not being Icelandic, but I hear they have 'real' trolls there, so maybe...) Great super power to have, you should be commended. the 1 star review isn't the problem if it's genuine, the problem is the reviews that are paid for. UGH. GO FORTH AND FIGHT, TROLL HUNTER D!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely agree that it is not 1-star that's a problem, but fake, paid reviews. Shame on Amazon for not being able to weed those out.
DeleteThat is awesome!!! I will cheer you on!
ReplyDeleteJemi, thanks...I'll need the cheering. From the looks of Amazon right now, I'll be a very harried super-hero.
DeleteLOL. What a great use for a wormhole. And I can see your superhero outfit: Blue Spandex with FIVE gold stars blazing on the front. You go, Amazonian Wonder Woman. :))
ReplyDeleteYep, we need those gold stars! :)
DeleteSounds good to me! We can always use a troll-hunter in the ether. I like LG's idea for your superhero outfit.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad that we need one, but need one we do! I wish online investigators would start looking into this kind of scam as part of their portfolio.
DeleteYou'd be my super hero!
ReplyDeleteReally? *swoons*
DeleteAgreed- this is a fabulous use of a wormhole! Many would cheer for your superheroics! :)
ReplyDeleteYep, all I have to do is ask Stephen for a Permanent Wormhole Pass!
DeleteAwesome idea! Even if you don't go through that wormhole, you could still use the latex uniform and a cool name!
ReplyDeleteAnd you'll also need a day to day cover story and identity, just like the other heros!
Now, off you go, protecting the Land Of Amazon and all the authors from all those bad reviws!
Adriana, that's what my fellow writers are for, to provide the backstory. I'll try scrape together some latex. If Spiderman managed to have a uniform, so can I.
DeleteLoved it! I hope you can take care of Amazon!! Enjoyed the writing!!
ReplyDeletesandysanderellasmusings
Sandy, it is sad Amazon can't take care of its own business and needs a superhero to step in. But I'm game.
DeleteI hope my link worked! I saw an error......so will just type it out! Sorry
ReplyDeletewww.sandysanderellasmusings.blogspot.com
hahaha. I hope you do get those superpowers :)
ReplyDeleteSo do I. I'm already reviewing swatches for my uniform!
DeleteLOL! Go super-review-checker woman!
ReplyDeleteI need a spiffier name than that ;)
DeleteHA! Sounds amazing! Don't forget about Goodreads reviewers as well! Hey, if you come across someone wanting to make this happen, let me know... I'll be a partner.
ReplyDeleteIf I had a few good online investigative skills, I'd step into this for real. Some good money in it too, if I can smell the nasty little rats.
DeleteThere are people who pay others to write 1-star reviews???? Or are you just going after those who give 1 stars and the others who pay for 5-stars? Either way, they're despicable. Good choice!
ReplyDeleteFolks write 1-star reviews to bring down other writers-- they do it though middlemen, and the final guy just goes and copy-pastes on Amazon, for a princely sum of 5 US dollars. My editor caught one, and this troll confessed!
DeleteHa! We think we want to sign up for *your* wormhole! Thanks for the LOL suggestion (and maybe you have a potential story worth developing -- if nothing else, it would be very cathartic!)
ReplyDeleteYes, it would be cathartic indeed!
DeleteThat would be an awesome power. You should have a whip and a wand. :D
ReplyDeleteA whip and a wand! Now, why didn't I think of those? ;D
DeleteI'm with "mshatch" - go after ALL paid or fake reviews. (For that, of course, one of your powers would have to be the ability to "see" which ones are fake.) Fun post!
ReplyDeleteSince I'll be wormholing away, i should know it all, past and future!
DeleteThat is a fantastic idea!
ReplyDeleteI thought it up all by meself ;)
DeleteId pay good money to see this come to pass. And I like Marys idea of a whip hahaha.
ReplyDeleteI imagine I'd make a lot of money if I were a corrupted superhero.
DeleteI love this idea! Totally has m giggling and wishing it were true :) Im voting for a wand--everything is a little more fun with magic!
ReplyDeleteYep, especially if said wands would really turn trolls into squirmy little rats!
DeletePerhaps the backstory could be a great novelist with an evil rival who has ruined her career with one-star reviews. One day, she reads a book that gives her great powers and she becomes Review Redeemer, boldly clearing Amazonia of evil.
ReplyDeleteI like the premise. May I steal it ? lol
DeleteI love that you would right writers reviews. Fly on!
ReplyDeleteI would. Writers need a defender against these slimy trolls!
DeleteI think every writer would cheer you on!
ReplyDeleteHeck I'll even lead the cheer leading squad, complete with latex designer outfits, pom-poms, a crazy dance routine and awesome war cries!
You're the first person I shall call the minute I have the super wormhole power.
DeleteNow that's a great idea! Go get them!!!
ReplyDeleteI will. Let them make no mistake. I will.
DeleteI never knew some authors paid for their reviews? That really isn't fair.
ReplyDeleteGoogle "fake reviews". You'll have your answer.
DeleteWriters' superhero, no doubt!
ReplyDeleteWoo HOO! You'd be a super hero!!! With a scarlet A on her chest... for "Awesome", of course... surrounded by five glorious gold stars. Real gold. Oh yeah, go get 'em!
ReplyDeleteHi Damyanti! So lovely to have you on my blog for WWW:) Crazy how some people would pay for fake reviews.
ReplyDeleteNutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
Sounds like an Exterminator on the mission!
ReplyDeleteEvalina, This and that...
Scamazon Slayer? (I'm not at my best.) A worthy use of superpowers though.
ReplyDeleteThat is so funny! I liked this post very much.
ReplyDeletewww.modernworld4.blogspot.com
Yeah, the nasty reviewers made me oh, so, mad.
ReplyDeleteHopping over to Nutshell's.
Hahah! Fantastic answer! When I'm published, I may seek out your services :)
ReplyDeletePeople PAY the trolls to do that?? I'm most definitely going to read "this" Go get 'em Troll Slayer!
ReplyDelete