Michael’s Comments (group member since Nov 18, 2010)

Michael’s comments from the The Extra Cool Group! (of people Michael is experimenting on) group.

I felt like that till I found a 2nd hand store that sells books by the bag load for $10

Wow, where? No, don't tell me. My wife will beat me if I buy bags full of books when my shelves are already full, and they're very, very full. That sounds like quite a find, though.

Yeah, being able to browse through the many reviews people on here have posted seems to me to add accountability that's missing (or at least lessened) over on Amazon. Does that seem right to you people who actually use Amazon? (If this question has already been answered, my bad. I'm trying to keep up with all the threads, but it ain't happening.)

Wait- you mean the book doesn't talk about me??

Well, it didn't talk about you until I started doodling in the margins. (Brian + Michael = 4evr, etc.)

Usually, positive reviews of books I didn't like don't do much to change my opinions of the book. For instance, I've read some glowing reviews of Boneshaker by Cherie Priest, but I just assume these readers don't expect as much from characters as I do.

But, negative reviews of books I liked can sometimes make me see things I didn't see before...like Keely's version of The Road. I guess Keely is a pretty big downer, eh? But, even in this case, this didn't change my actual rating, because I still thoroughly enjoyed the book, and I thought it was successful in most of the ways he thought it failed.

So, umm, just a little bit, especially when people are harder on books than I was.

OKay, it sounds better than nothing. Kool. Thanks, Karis.

Thank you kindly, Caris. Does that mean I can take Credit for your reviews now?*



*I just noticed that, because I was thinking of the capital C at the beginning of your name, I capitalized the word Credit. Hahahahahah, so funny!

I feel the same way..the hardest books to rate for me always seem to be the 5-star ones.

I started with myself, and a theoretical internet-roaming book reader, as my audience. So, for the most part, I've always had the sense that someone else MIGHT be reading. As time has gone on, though, I see a much more specific audience.

Because of votes and comments, I have a vague sort of idea of what kinds of reviews many people in my audience like. That said, I think my reviewing style has evolved more based on my knowledge of what people on this site can do with their reviews than on the wish to necessarily please my audience. Now I shall name drop and vote whore. Manny's reviews, especially his reviews for some science fiction, first put the idea in my head that I could do creative-writing-as-review reviews (i.e. meta-reviews).

I suppose this discovery also influences how I see my audience, though: with meta-reviewers reading, and with other reviewers who deal with Important Issues, and other deeply reflective, personal reviewers reading, I want to be better than ALL of them at ALL of these reviewing methods. While simultaneously being so funny my readers die from lack of oxygen due to uncontrollable laughter.

I'm not any of these things, but that's the goal.

Or, I shall burrow my way to safety from comparisons I find to be intrusive and pokey.

How many quills do you have left? How many will you need to write up your thesis?

I must admit that, when I'm compared to an animal, I have a tendency to get prickly.

I admire animal comparisons when they're especially sharp, though.

But, to get to the POINT, the answer to your question is: I have no quills left, and every time you bring it up, my soul feels the stings of a dozen pointy projectiles.

What's your official area of study?

I'm working on a masters degree, but I'm going to roll straight into the PHD program--I expect to, anyway. The field is English, with a focus in rhetoric. Nope, Jasmine, I'm not involved in libraries at all...I want to teach and research rhetoric. Studying at Arizona State University, which has an awesome rhetoric program.

Hmm, as an adult, the last time I bit someone. Out of modesty I won't say where, but I will say it was last week, and I rarely bite out of anger.

I have to write an IRB over the break for online surveys. If I hit anything that might help you I'll let you know in as boring a manner as possible. but a lot of it is institution specific.

That would be awesome, Jasmine, thanks. And the boringer the better. It'll make me feel like I'm learning something.

Is that including the cost of the beer you are buying us?

Ah, shit. Make that $3,095.00. I'm going with PBR, so the beer shouldn't add too much to the budget.

How do IRB protocols apply to this project?

I will need to follow those and submit information about my processes, questions, etc., but I'm too new to this to know exactly what I need to do with those as far as the public forums in this group.

I'm doing some private interviews, and that's a lot easier to figure out the ethical specifics on. For the data compiled here, I'll start doing most of my analysis early next semester, and I'll be talking with a couple teachers about what I need to do for IRB protocols regarding the discussions in this group. Unfortunately, that's the only answer I have right now...

And the clouds parted, and the powers that be spake unto the lesser mortals....

Either way. I think the list of people who have started one already will be small enough that we could talk about both here. I like the idea of a "Hall of Shame," although I personally am not mean enough to make one.

he's not kidding I asked him a question and the answer was totally boring.

but I think he might have been getting back at me for asking a super boring question.

Thanks, Jasmine! Glad you got so much out of my response. Yes, your question was so dull I actually needed to go get a coffee after reading it.

How much are they paying you?

Haha, the first question is easy! I like it. Zero. I get paid zero...not even any payment via votes. In fact, you could say I'm paying roughly $3,000 to carry out this research project, if you want to be cynical.

This is such a common experience, it must mean something.

I agree. I wrote this review of a book Brian mailed me that I haven't even read yet, and somehow this review--that doesn't mention the book, and basically just talks about Brian--has 11 or 12 votes.

But, most of my very favorite reviews have gotten an acceptable number of votes...I guess my reviews of Twilight, Dead Until Dark, and the Harry Potter books must've SUCKED.

I've gotten some messages asking for more specifics about the project I'm doing, and I figured some of you other folks might have questions as well. So, this is a thread where the TABLES ARE TURNED, and you can ask ME questions about what the hell I'm doing! But, it's a graduate project, so some of my answers might be boring, depending on how boring your question is.

The Counting Crows did a song "Rain King" inspired by Saul Bellow's Henderson the Rain King.

Depends on whether I'm wearing my assless chaps. Usually I go with one or the other... pants with assless chaps is a huge fashion faux pas.

In a pinch I have been known to don a tutu, but only when reviewing non-fiction. The tightness helps push blood up into my head--thus, deeper thoughts.