Comments on: If it’s free, exactly how much would that be worth? http://www.seagullfountain.com/2008/05/16/if-its-free-exactly-how-much-would-that-be-worth/ online mother Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:57:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jane http://www.seagullfountain.com/2008/05/16/if-its-free-exactly-how-much-would-that-be-worth/comment-page-1/#comment-5401 Jane Mon, 19 May 2008 20:41:17 +0000 http://www.seagullfountain.com/?p=960#comment-5401 I thought about responding to these comments enough that I actually thought I had. But apparently not. And, if you had been inclined to check back, you've probably given up by now. Sorry. Marie -- I hear you, and appreciate the good advice. The only thing is that I have never had any desire to make lotion, so I can't see getting too worked up about it. Writing + Ideas about Motherhood push a whole bunch of my buttons, = mixed feelings. Oh, and I totally agree on the . . . I want to say "journalistic integrity" requiring an honest review. Tara -- thanks. I don't know what I'd do without friends who happen to be bloggers. Marianne -- "Free is a two-way street, baby" -- yet another great idea for a blog title/tagline. Will be sending you part of the first big bundle of review chocolate/caffeine I get. Michelle -- Thanks for commenting. I know you don't know me from Eve. Why do I always feel like things are aimed at me (when I was already feeling culpable, that is). Dad -- Thanks for commenting. You telling me that you love my writing is better than a Pulitzer. Almost. I thought about responding to these comments enough that I actually thought I had. But apparently not. And, if you had been inclined to check back, you’ve probably given up by now. Sorry.

Marie — I hear you, and appreciate the good advice. The only thing is that I have never had any desire to make lotion, so I can’t see getting too worked up about it. Writing + Ideas about Motherhood push a whole bunch of my buttons, = mixed feelings. Oh, and I totally agree on the . . . I want to say “journalistic integrity” requiring an honest review.

Tara — thanks. I don’t know what I’d do without friends who happen to be bloggers.

Marianne — “Free is a two-way street, baby” — yet another great idea for a blog title/tagline. Will be sending you part of the first big bundle of review chocolate/caffeine I get.

Michelle — Thanks for commenting. I know you don’t know me from Eve. Why do I always feel like things are aimed at me (when I was already feeling culpable, that is).

Dad — Thanks for commenting. You telling me that you love my writing is better than a Pulitzer. Almost.

]]> By: okay. I’m back. I think. « Pragmatic Compendium http://www.seagullfountain.com/2008/05/16/if-its-free-exactly-how-much-would-that-be-worth/comment-page-1/#comment-5385 okay. I’m back. I think. « Pragmatic Compendium Mon, 19 May 2008 03:29:29 +0000 http://www.seagullfountain.com/?p=960#comment-5385 [...] giving me a heads up on the next book I want: “Sleep is for the Weak.” And now Jane at What about Mom? has given yet another nudge to read “Atlas Shrugged” boost since I read that Shannon at [...] [...] giving me a heads up on the next book I want: “Sleep is for the Weak.” And now Jane at What about Mom? has given yet another nudge to read “Atlas Shrugged” boost since I read that Shannon at [...]

]]> By: dad hyatt http://www.seagullfountain.com/2008/05/16/if-its-free-exactly-how-much-would-that-be-worth/comment-page-1/#comment-5378 dad hyatt Sat, 17 May 2008 16:28:55 +0000 http://www.seagullfountain.com/?p=960#comment-5378 Shannon, I can so relate. Many times I have wished to recall an irretrievable communication. One rule that I don't follow often enough is to write it out, but don't send it for 1-7 days. The delay varies by the passion with which it was originally written. Passion is good, but need to be controlled, right? I agree, however, with the above comments. Love your writing! Love, Dad Shannon, I can so relate. Many times I have wished to recall an irretrievable communication. One rule that I don’t follow often enough is to write it out, but don’t send it for 1-7 days. The delay varies by the passion with which it was originally written. Passion is good, but need to be controlled, right?

I agree, however, with the above comments.

Love your writing!

Love, Dad

]]> By: Michelle at Scribbit http://www.seagullfountain.com/2008/05/16/if-its-free-exactly-how-much-would-that-be-worth/comment-page-1/#comment-5374 Michelle at Scribbit Sat, 17 May 2008 07:39:57 +0000 http://www.seagullfountain.com/?p=960#comment-5374 Well I have been known to do scathing reviews, though not very often and they're so much fun to write and so entertaining for me that I feel guilty afterwards, as if I almost was glad it was bad just to get me some material :) It's a hard job being a critic. Michelle at Scribbits last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Scribbit/~3/291502416/what-do-you-do-when-your-child-lies.html" rel="nofollow">What Do You Do When Your Child Lies?</a> Well I have been known to do scathing reviews, though not very often and they’re so much fun to write and so entertaining for me that I feel guilty afterwards, as if I almost was glad it was bad just to get me some material :) It’s a hard job being a critic.

Michelle at Scribbits last blog post..What Do You Do When Your Child Lies?

]]> By: Marianne http://www.seagullfountain.com/2008/05/16/if-its-free-exactly-how-much-would-that-be-worth/comment-page-1/#comment-5371 Marianne Sat, 17 May 2008 02:59:38 +0000 http://www.seagullfountain.com/?p=960#comment-5371 You do have to be honest about your opinion; it is, after all, your opinion. One you have to be able to sleep with at night. As for blasting the book, flip the coin and consider the source and the purpose. A PR dude/dudette contacted you to review the book on your blog because they wanted to get free buzz. That they didn't get what they wanted -- for free, I might add, other than the cost of the copy of the book -- is too bad, so sad. If they wanted fabulous, gushing, raving reviews, they could've ponied up some $$ to a blogger who would have been happy to give them all the joyful free press they wanted. Free is a two-way street, baby! And if you do get offered to review any chocolate or caffeinated bevs, do be sure to send them my link, too! Always happy to help! You do have to be honest about your opinion; it is, after all, your opinion. One you have to be able to sleep with at night.

As for blasting the book, flip the coin and consider the source and the purpose. A PR dude/dudette contacted you to review the book on your blog because they wanted to get free buzz. That they didn’t get what they wanted — for free, I might add, other than the cost of the copy of the book — is too bad, so sad.

If they wanted fabulous, gushing, raving reviews, they could’ve ponied up some $$ to a blogger who would have been happy to give them all the joyful free press they wanted.

Free is a two-way street, baby!

And if you do get offered to review any chocolate or caffeinated bevs, do be sure to send them my link, too! Always happy to help!

]]> By: tarable http://www.seagullfountain.com/2008/05/16/if-its-free-exactly-how-much-would-that-be-worth/comment-page-1/#comment-5361 tarable Fri, 16 May 2008 19:33:00 +0000 http://www.seagullfountain.com/?p=960#comment-5361 I think you always give your honest opinion, and anyone who reads your blog couldn't expect anything less. You should certainly be allowed to not like something and give your criticisms. Although I thought the post that contained your first review was a brilliant piece of writing, I was glad to read your second review. I thought your examples were good and I agree with you about the maddening message the author seemed to give. Everyone's entitled to their own opion, right? Especially on their own blog. tarables last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TaraThinks/~3/280100911/my-martha-stewart-living.html" rel="nofollow">My Martha Stewart Living</a> I think you always give your honest opinion, and anyone who reads your blog couldn’t expect anything less. You should certainly be allowed to not like something and give your criticisms. Although I thought the post that contained your first review was a brilliant piece of writing, I was glad to read your second review. I thought your examples were good and I agree with you about the maddening message the author seemed to give. Everyone’s entitled to their own opion, right? Especially on their own blog.

tarables last blog post..My Martha Stewart Living

]]> By: Memarie Lane http://www.seagullfountain.com/2008/05/16/if-its-free-exactly-how-much-would-that-be-worth/comment-page-1/#comment-5360 Memarie Lane Fri, 16 May 2008 19:27:52 +0000 http://www.seagullfountain.com/?p=960#comment-5360 When you said Gail had worked on your shoulder, at first I thought you were talking about a shoulder angel. In my experience reviewing products, you're expected to be honest, both by the PR people and your readers. I posted a negative review of some lotion that was just terrible, and the PR company simply sent me a different kind to try. By sending it back or withholding your opinion, I'd think you were being dishonest. In fact I'm really suspicious of something when I only ever see gushing reviews for it. Memarie Lanes last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MemarieLane/~3/291331293/tell-me-truth-now.html" rel="nofollow">Tell me the truth now.</a> When you said Gail had worked on your shoulder, at first I thought you were talking about a shoulder angel.

In my experience reviewing products, you’re expected to be honest, both by the PR people and your readers. I posted a negative review of some lotion that was just terrible, and the PR company simply sent me a different kind to try. By sending it back or withholding your opinion, I’d think you were being dishonest. In fact I’m really suspicious of something when I only ever see gushing reviews for it.

Memarie Lanes last blog post..Tell me the truth now.

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