I'd like to know which of my comments are offensive

[Alan]

I believe Carol is one of the most active people one here. She has been a help to me a couple of times. I would be one of the first to defend her.

[Píaras]

Alan wrote: "I believe Carol is one of the most active people one here. She has been a help to me a couple of times. I would be one of the first to defend her."I'll second that.

[Carole]

Thanks, I really appreciate all the support.

[X.]

Still no word from them?

[Carole]

Nada.

[Carole]

Okay- Here's Goodreads response- Do you understand what they are saying'cause I don't.

Hi Carole,

Thank you for your response, though we're sorry for the confusion. As we mentioned in our last email, incentivized reviews of any kind are prohibited on the site and this includes artificially boosting reviewer rankings.

We hope this clarifies our previous email.

Sincerely,
The Goodreads Team
On another note, Amazon just removed all of my reviews I've done of people's books. I bought every book! No one asked me to review!

[Marie Silk]

I think they call that a non-response. Just terrible :(.

[Dale]

Carole wrote: "Okay- Here's Goodreads response- Do you understand what they are saying'cause I don't.

Hi Carole,

Thank you for your response, though we're sorry for the confusion. As we mentioned in our last e..."

Sure, I understand it. They're saying, "We didn't read your question. Here's our answer."

;-)

[Dale]

If you bother replying to that, put it something like this:

"I am not aware of ever having posted incentivized reviews or of taking any other action to artificially boost reviewer rankings. If you think I have done so, please show me specifically where and explain why you think I violated your terms of service. Thank you."

I had to delete several other sentences which would not have been at all helpful. ;-)

"Diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions." -- Winston Churchill

[Theodore]

Carole wrote: "Okay- Here's Goodreads response- Do you understand what they are saying'cause I don't.

Hi Carole,

Thank you for your response, though we're sorry for the confusion. As we mentioned in our last e..."

"... incentivized reviews of any kind are prohibited on the site ..."

So, let me get this straight...Amazon Goodreads, which runs Giveaways for the purpose (ostensibly) of encouraging winners to post reviews of the books they win, is basically against winners posting reviews of books won on giveaways because being incentivized to write such reviews in the first place is a violation of Amazon Goodreads' Terms of Service.

Okay, I think I have it now. If you win a giveaway, under no circumstances are you to post a review of the book. And authors: if you are found to be entering your books in Goodreads' Giveaways with the intent to incentivizing winners to post reviews of your books, you may be banned not only from future Giveaway participation, but also, the site. (;>)

Now, it finally makes sense to me. That's what I got from their response. These corporate types are masters at communications, which is why I have such high hopes for today's college graduates.

[Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger)]

My head is about to explode at the injustice of all this ssssssstuff happening to you, Carole! This is absolutely outrageous! If there is anything I can do for you, please let me know. Hugs

[Carole]

Thanks, Sam. I am currently taking off any stars I put on my own books, here- I don't want to be accused of pumping up its ratings. I had assumed it was okay for us to comment on our own books, but now I'm not sure.

[Eldon]

Carole wrote: "Thanks, Sue. I am currently taking off any stars I put on my own books, here- I don't want to be accused of pumping up its ratings. I had assumed it was okay for us to comment on our own books, but..."

It doesn't seem like they've provided any information to you at all. That response is 100 percent canned. Why should you be presumed guilty without a chance to face your accuser? The whole thing stinks :(

[Judy]

Carole wrote: "Okay- Here's Goodreads response- Do you understand what they are saying'cause I don't.

Hi Carole,

Thank you for your response, though we're sorry for the confusion. As we mentioned in our last e..."
maybe you could inquire who is artificially boosting, because it isn't you.. maybe they could investigate?

[Judy]

Dale wrote: "If you bother replying to that, put it something like this:

"I am not aware of ever having posted incentivized reviews or of taking any other action to artificially boost reviewer rankings. If you..."

ha , ha I love that quote!

[Carole]

I suggested that. I removed all the comments from my own books, just in case it's against the rules. IDK what the problem is.

[Justin]

I have a thought: You said you added your own rating and made a review of your book...a troll may have reported you. These are people who seek out people and try to ruin the Goodreads experience for others. You did nothing wrong but to a troll on GR you violated terms of service. I'm not saying this is the reason but it is worth considering. I've dealt with my share of Goodreads trolls.

[Matt]

Carole, we all know you're a sneaky dastardly person who is trying to con the benevolent company that is Goodreads.

/s

[Carole]

Justin wrote: "I have a thought: You said you added your own rating and made a review of your book...a troll may have reported you. These are people who seek out people and try to ruin the Goodreads experience fo..."
Thanks, Justin. I didn't explain it properly. I rated my books but I didn't write a review. I wrote things about the book- like why I wrote it or who helped me. I had asked Goodreads about that years ago and I want to say it was okay- because I was identified as the author. They were clear I couldn't write a review for either one of my or my son's book.
I never wrote a review for one of my books- that would just be stupid- but I had noticed several authors had put interesting backstories in about their books in the author's review. I thought it was a neat idea to give interesting information about the book.
I don't think it was that- I think someone took what I said about paying it forward and reviewing an indie- out of context. I never said to swap reviews, but I think they have twisted something else I said and I don't want to repeat it- for them to twist it in a knot again.

Matt- you've found me out!

[Anna]

I can't believe this. I have seen several people rate and review their own books, usually new authors or new-to-Goodreads authors. As it is possible to do that, they may think it is OK and why not? Others do it, it must be the way to go about things.

Yet this is only a side issue and not one you're currently guilty of - in fact, are you guilty of anything? We're all confidently saying no.

I'd get in touch with them about their answer. It looks very strange and I don't think a retail company would get away with that.

Very strange that one of the 'good guys' like you is getting bashed. Very strange...

[Carole]

It is strange. I have been both Amazon's and Goodreads biggest promoters. I have written only good things about them. I was an unpaid spokesperson for KDP and let them film me for a day while I had lunch with another author. All I showed was support because I believe in doing that. I think this is not a good reflection on them. Indies are going to have to learn that they were used and now they have to figure out a way to survive without becoming Soylent Green. (Look it up and if you can't figure it out- ask me.lol)

[Anna]

Just looked it up. Hmm...

[Amy]

(Ah Soylent Green. I watched that the other week.)

[Carole]

Reconstituted humans that were devoured to feed the next generation.

[Amy]

Humans-basically what is wrong with planet Earth. Sorry-having a moment!

[Carole]

We are sharing the moment, Amy. lol

[William]

Carole wrote: "It is strange. I have been both Amazon's and Goodreads biggest promoters. I have written only good things about them. I was an unpaid spokesperson for KDP and let them film me for a day while I had..."

Amazon is constantly reducing the number my reviews and they will not tell me why and of course no one can figure out their logarithm. I don't pay for any reviews but I do ask my readers to post an honest review. (I have never received less than 4 stars). Very frustrating.

[Brock]

Carole wrote: "I did- they haven't gotten back to me."

An author friend of mine, Karl Drinkwater, received a similar email regarding violating Amazon TOS. It turns out the email was sent to the wrong person or something to that effect.

[Alexis]

Carole wrote: “Hi Carole,

We're reaching out because several of your recent comments were flagged by Goodreads members. "

By Goodreads members eh?

https://image.ibb.co/gVbuum/78_D0_FB5...

[Carole]

lol. I missed you!!!!!!

[Carole]

Brock wrote: "Carole wrote: "I did- they haven't gotten back to me."

An author friend of mine, Karl Drinkwater, received a similar email regarding violating Amazon TOS. It turns out the email was sent to the wr..."

Yes, I know- but they haven't restored my reviews. Walmart and Barns and Noble, here I come!!