Stop Fighting, Keep Reading

So, Lucy, one of the victims of the STGRB site, has written up a nice post about her side of everything in this going incident.  You can read it here.  She actually received a call at her home with a woman saying "We can find you, bitch" and then hanging up.

This is getting serious.  In my first blog post I admitted that the people showcased on these websites were bullies, but since then I have fully changed my mind.  The ONLY people in this situation who are bullies are the administrators behind the STGRB website, and THEY are the ones that need to be stopped.

In their latest post they show screencaps of what they believe to be "bully reviews".  Yes, they may say something just because of the author (which is apparently what constitutes a bully review to these people), but they continue on in the review to explain why they did not like the book.  One of the books they show multiple reviews of is City of Bones.  The reason a lot of people rate this as a low on goodreads is because Cassandra Clare took a Harry Potter fanfic she wrote and turned it into a best selling novel.  The people who have read the fanfic were disappointed when they discovered they were basically rereading the same thing all over again.  Most did not say that it was a terrible story or that the writing was terrible or that the reason they didn't like the book was because of the author.  It was simply the fact that they were disappointed to read the same story again, and they are allowed to have that opinion, and to voice it on a public forum such as goodreads without getting harassed about it.

So many people get bent out of shape when someone disagrees with their opinion, especially, it seems, when it comes to books.  Its the same way with sport teams, clothes, etc.  Everyone has an opinion and not everyone is going to like what you like, or like your opinion.  But being an adult is accepting others' opinions, even if you do not like them.  Why argue with someone else about their opinion of a book?  Just because you like it doesn't mean they do, and you don't have to harass them and freak out on them about it.  You like the book?  Good, write a review and give it 5 stars if you want to.  That's your opinion.  Don't try to shove it down other peoples' throats.

I just want to say one more thing.  These are books.  Yes, I love books to the end of the world and back and I don't know what I would do without reading.  And I understand that for some authors this is their life work and they are proud that they are published, and they very well should be, as it is an accomplishment to get published.  But they are just books.  There shouldn't be this much arguing over books!  Take a chill pill, relax, and go read!

I think the reading community should start a new campaign.  Forget "Stop the GoodReads Bullies".  How about "Stop Fighting, Keep Reading".  That's what I'm going with.  Everyone just needs to stop fighting about their opinions and enjoy reading!  That's what reading is about.  Being able to relax, and enjoy a good story.  Don't like the book?  That's okay.  Rate the book if you'd like, and move on to the next one.  The whole point is to Keep Reading and not get wrapped up in the petty arguments that go on!

I want to start this campaign.  Click on the "SF♥KR" page and link up!  Leave comments!  I'm going to keep the Link Up widget up for a year.  Let's see how many people we can get to join the campaign and just take part in enjoying reading!

Stop Fighting♥Keep Reading