I feel the need to have a space where these two hashtags can be explained in as an accessible way as possible. I'm not perfect and my explanation of them may not be everyone's explanation of them, but I ask you to please take a moment to read my subjective interpretation. If you've anything to add, please do so in the comments and I will be happy to include them in this post. I'd love for this to be a community explanation.
#HaleNo is a hashtag that represents blogger's taking a stance against the recent insanity to do with Kathleen Hale stalking a blogger to her home, and now also has to do with Richard Brittain, an author who stalked a reviewer and committed physical harm against her. It is a peaceful protest against that sort of behavior in the community. Also, this needs to be made clear: We also do not support the recent doxxing of Kathleen Hale and many bloggers reported that incident. I just wanted that to be heard.
#Bloggerblackout is a movement that has been ignited due to the recent events. In short, it's a movement where bloggers are choosing not to review until October 27th (although I have heard that some are prolonging their blackout) in order to get back in touch with their roots. The truth is, blogging is for the bloggers and the reviews are for the readers. I think it's great when bloggers and authors and publishers form beautiful relationships. I really think that's a wonderful aspect of blogging, but I don't think it's ever been intended to be the main aspect. Please respect that bloggers are trying to remember why they began blogging in the first place and to rekindle their love for it.
The reason why I didn't participate in the #Bloggerblackout is because I do not do ARC reviews in general. At least, not yet. I've been reviewing much older books. However, I do 100% support the #Bloggerblackout for however long the bloggers want to maintain it.
I hope this explains a few things.
When I heard yesterday about Richard Brittain I almost have a heart attack. How in all hells you attack a person with a wine bottle or just attack a person in general? The poor girl had to get stitches... It's just insane!
ReplyDeleteAbout #Bloggerblackout I think it's a good idea to think about what is going on because all this is quite problematic and just out of control. I know not authors do that (thank goodness!) but just having a few cases is enough to reconsider some stuff
I know, there is something severely wrong with that situation. Did you read her review, too? It was really thought out. I just can't believe that happened. What's next? Authors murdering reviewers?
DeleteYeah, both of these instances makes it fairly scary to be a book-blogger. What I have the most trouble with is that most of us bloggers are just book-lovers, and our blog is our hobby that extends from ourselves to a community of other book-lovers.
ReplyDeleteThe blackout has been seen as nefarious, and I really don't agree with that. If for a week, a blogger only posts reviews concerning books where the author is dead, for example, I think that would be really interesting!
Great post :)
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
The fact that the blackout has been seen as nefarious at all is very telling of how publishers view book bloggers - as machines to pump out more recognition for their books. It's very disappointing because we don't exist for those publishers, or even for the authors. We exist for ourselves.
DeleteI have read a little bit of this story here and there, but I don't know the entire details of what went on. I haven't heard of this #bloggerblackout yet, but I am gonna do a little research and see what the whole deal is. I also do not review ARCs all that often, so the blackout is probably not going to happen with Elysian Fields, but I am interested to know the details of what is going on! Thank you for this post, and raising the awareness of bloggers out there (:
ReplyDeleteMorrighan @ Elysian Fields
( http://ufbooks.blogspot.com )
Thanks, Morrighan. =)
ReplyDeleteIt's unfortunate what's been happening and I do encourage you to check out more about #bloggerblackout. I 100% support it, but the fact that some are seeing it as an attack just goes to show how bloggers are being used by publishers and it's quite depressing.
I don't watch Booktube because I prefer classic reviews. I didn't even think there was such a big community of Booktubers, lol. But I think that if you're being paid to review a book, you need to mention it. It's just common courtesy. As you said, whenever someone receive an ARC or a copy from Netgally they always mention it. So the minimum if you're getting money is to mention it.
ReplyDeleteBesides, it does become a job if you earn money. Therefore, you ought to make an in depth review and not some flowery summary.