Amazon is deleting negative reviews that do not break the rules to cater to certain groups. In this latest incident, there is proof they are deleting any negative reviews of L Ron Hubbard books. Article: http://glosslip.com/2008/04/18/more-scientology-censoring-amazoncom-review-guidelines-disallow-critics-of-authors-or-their-intentions/ They are protecting a dangerous book. Let me explain: Look at any L Ron Hubbard book on Amazon and check the reviews. 99% of them are glowing and positive. 30-40 used to be negative for Dianetics alone. Amazon removed the negative reviews and claimed after months and months they somehow violated the rules. The reviews were checked and they did not violate any rule. We complain and they ignore us. This is the same book (Dianetics) that says "gays are perverts" and that Africans belong in a madhouse. This book claims to be science, but no studies were ever published, no sample sizes released and everything Hubbard claims is taken at face value. It also says that 70% of all illnesses are psychosomatic. This is dangerous if someone reads it and tries auditing instead of actual medical assistance for their illness. CONTACT AMAZON ABOUT THIS IMMEDIATELY. People should be able to see both sides of this book and decide for themselves. http://www.amazon.com/rsvp-n?c=ybbufqwd3248496578&q=hcm2&nc2c=1 Number: 1-866-216-1072 Email: https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/contact-us/general-questions.html?ie=UTF8&nodeId=518316&type=&token=#csTop
The book claims to be science. There needs to be both sides of the coin in the reviews. Amazon should not allow only positive reviews to "make a few bucks". Not when the source material is potential hazardous to sick people.
Jeez - that's a really difficult one. I'd guess - although I haven't checked - that the disproportionate amount of positive reviews is something you'd find across the board with all Amazon's titles - after all, Amazon's in the business of selling books, and isn't likely to feature more than a very few negative reviews of ANY product (in fact the whole idea of trying to find balanced reviews on Amazon doesn't make a lot of sense). Nevertheless, that doesn't much help you. I imagine that the only recourse anyone would have with such books is not in trying to change the reviews policy, but actually going further and somehow attempting to persuade Amazon that it WAS defamatory and in breach of their non-discriminative policies (policies which they must state, somewhere). But it's always incredibly difficult to persuade with that kind of claim - especially if it's one of their big sellers, which I suspect is actually the case. Perhaps the only thing you can do is to lobby, as you're trying to do here. But what's the policy elsewhere? Do other large bookstore chains stock this?
That is an AWESOME idea! Thank you! I'll get on it. (I can check around for other chian stores, but Amazon is the only one actively removing negative reviews. I understand that they are trying to sell books, that makes sense. BUT... they leave negative reviews up of other best sellers, while Dianetics mysteriously gets a glowing pass from these. It's, to say the least, strange.
Amazon is doing all sorts of strongarm tactics these days, from deleting reviews to cater to certain publishers to mandating that small presses use their (Amazon's) printing press. However, because they are so big they seem to be able to get away with almost anything. Thanks for getting the word out.