Amazon.com lifts book review restrictions for "Unfit for Command"

[gatorboy]

http://news.com.com/Kerry+book+rattles+online+merchants/2100-1028_3-5323938.html?tag=nefd.top

<snip>
"We've decided to suspend our normal customer review policies and rules for this title," according to the notice. "For example, we usually prohibit ad hominem attacks. That policy in particular seems to be incompatible with presidential election year politics. Therefore, short of obscenities, reviews on this book are now a free-for-all. We take no responsibility for the following discussion. Aren't presidential election years great? Have fun!"

The result has been more than 1,000 customer reviews, almost all five-star hosannas or one-star flames. "Heidi Fleiss meets Gomer Pyle," begins a typical basher.

Amazon spokeswoman Patty Smith said she couldn't recall another incident of Amazon lifting its usual customer review policing for a particular product, but "Unfit" was a special case.

"We have guidelines concerning customer reviews, and one of those things is that the review should be about the book, not the author," Smith said. "In this case, because of all the publicity and the news coverage, people feel very strongly about the book, and you just can't separate the views."
<snip>

Sooooo will this lapse of rules apply when F-9/11 is released on DVD come October? Or towards books that are negative towards Bush? I'm curious about the favortism here...

[stopbush]

1. Maybe they consider it a fiction book? n/t

[ochazuke]

2. My 2¢

I gave it 5 stars because this book shows clearly how depraved the Republicans truly are.

I thought I'd suck in the idiots with the 5-star, then stick it to 'em.

Feels gooooooood.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

3. EXCELLENT

.

[fknobbit]

4. A little background

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=653554

Looks like more than one of us complained... it has been reviewed 1008 times an went from 5* to 3* ( Gotta give it one * to do a review). Went from 27 bucks to 16 overnight almost.. We are even with freepers reviews on a freeper product. I'd call that a pretty fair response, Pilgrim.

[Keirsey]

5. I want equal time!!

Amazon, I want to be able to write ad hominem reviews for (not in any particular order:)

Fortunate Son

The Lies of George W. Bush: Mastering the Politics of Deception

The Buying of the President

Worse Than Watergate: The Secret Presidency of George W. Bush

Weapons of Mass Deception: The Uses of Propaganda in Bush's War on Iraq

Bushwacked

The Five Biggest Lies Bush Told Us About Iraq

etc.

[gatorboy]

6. Have at'em!

I took more into account the critical views towards Kerry that didn't necessarily have anything to do with an actual book review.

But since it really is a free for all and could still hurt the book, go get'em! :D

[stavka]

7. I sort of pity the On-line sellers staff in these situations

No matter where you fall - these reviews and polling numbers from the general public are bound to be worthless to the Aliens of Lepton 6, the reviews reflect attitude, not quality of product.

Same goes for movies on ImdB - "Passion" went through the roof, yet the reviews were mixed - and by all practical accounts it was a rather mediocre, yet an odd enough movie for film fiends (like me) to want to see....

I doubt it is going to "infect" me.