Comments on: New booksharing widget from BookGlutton http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:55:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Christine http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/comment-page-1/#comment-1049546 Christine Sun, 03 May 2009 03:57:51 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/05/01/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/#comment-1049546 I do appreciate that you think my site is good and you want to tell people. My problem is that we have authors doing the real work: writing novels, and giving them away for free; then we have me spending my time creating a list to help spread the word, and giving it away for free; then along comes you thinking the blog and the books are good so you want to sell the url! To me, it's just not right. I didn't think you would add the link to your website. Really really didn't. Since you have, I find my opinion is different. You are now giving the link away for free, people don't need to buy it to get it. They can buy it if they choose to. If you leave the link on your website, I don't suppose I have a problem with it being in your book too. Thanks for respecting my wishes. I have respect for those who respect others. I do appreciate that you think my site is good and you want to tell people.

My problem is that we have authors doing the real work: writing novels, and giving them away for free; then we have me spending my time creating a list to help spread the word, and giving it away for free; then along comes you thinking the blog and the books are good so you want to sell the url! To me, it’s just not right.

I didn’t think you would add the link to your website. Really really didn’t. Since you have, I find my opinion is different. You are now giving the link away for free, people don’t need to buy it to get it. They can buy it if they choose to. If you leave the link on your website, I don’t suppose I have a problem with it being in your book too.

Thanks for respecting my wishes. I have respect for those who respect others.

]]> By: Michael Pastore http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/comment-page-1/#comment-1049282 Michael Pastore Sat, 02 May 2009 21:30:23 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/05/01/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/#comment-1049282 I will honor your request to be removed from the book. The alternative isn't practical: I can't give away my paperback books for free: it costs not-a-little money to print these books. To take you out of the book is a good deal of work. If you've ever done any book production work, you would realize that this means that I will have to change the source file, then re-make the PDF file, then test the PDF to make sure that the fonts have embedded, and then re-send the book to the printing company. And also I will need to change the ePub version, then re-make the ePub after the change, and then make sure that the ePub is valid. ... But I will do all this for you, since it sounds as if this is very important to you. I do like your blog a lot. Free ebooks are great, and you have lots of free ebooks there. And the site is well organized. And although most Blogger blogs are bland, your blog design is great. (And the design makes it easy to find things.) I will add a link to your blog from my site. (By the time you read this, it's likely that your link will already have been added.) OK, Christine? ... I realize that you think I did the wrong thing -- but I had no clue in the world that this would upset you. And after discussing the issue with you, I tried to do something that would improve the situation. I do respectfully ask you to think about this situation, and re-consider your position on this issue. It's not as if I put you on a spam mailing list, where you would want to "opt out" ! For that "free ebooks" chapter in my book, I looked carefully at hundreds of free ebook websites, and then I selected two dozen of the very best ones, and your site was selected as one of these very best. That's an honor, and most bloggers would be thankful -- not angry at me. The benefits to you -- the free publicity -- are far greater than the benefits to me. I could cut out all the URLs and links, and still have a great book made up of my original articles and essays about the world of epublishing. I chose to include the links because I wanted to tell readers how much excellent work is being done in the ebook community, by people like you, who generously volunteer their time to spread knowledge and enthusiasm about ebooks. Website links from one site to another are common -- it happens all the time. But the fact that your site is mentioned in a paperback book is something that is a especially noteworthy. I am completely surprised that you don't want to be included, but I'm willing to abide by your choice. Best wishes, Michael I will honor your request to be removed from the book.

The alternative isn’t practical: I can’t give away my paperback books for free: it costs not-a-little money to print these books.

To take you out of the book is a good deal of work. If you’ve ever done any book production work, you would realize that this means that I will have to change the source file, then re-make the PDF file, then test the PDF to make sure that the fonts have embedded, and then re-send the book to the printing company. And also I will need to change the ePub version, then re-make the ePub after the change, and then make sure that the ePub is valid. … But I will do all this for you, since it sounds as if this is very important to you.

I do like your blog a lot. Free ebooks are great, and you have lots of free ebooks there. And the site is well organized. And although most Blogger blogs are bland, your blog design is great. (And the design makes it easy to find things.)

I will add a link to your blog from my site. (By the time you read this, it’s likely that your link will already have been added.)

OK, Christine? … I realize that you think I did the wrong thing — but I had no clue in the world that this would upset you. And after discussing the issue with you, I tried to do something that would improve the situation.

I do respectfully ask you to think about this situation, and re-consider your position on this issue. It’s not as if I put you on a spam mailing list, where you would want to “opt out” !

For that “free ebooks” chapter in my book, I looked carefully at hundreds of free ebook websites, and then I selected two dozen of the very best ones, and your site was selected as one of these very best.

That’s an honor, and most bloggers would be thankful — not angry at me.

The benefits to you — the free publicity — are far greater than the benefits to me. I could cut out all the URLs and links, and still have a great book made up of my original articles and essays about the world of epublishing. I chose to include the links because I wanted to tell readers how much excellent work is being done in the ebook community, by people like you, who generously volunteer their time to spread knowledge and enthusiasm about ebooks.

Website links from one site to another are common — it happens all the time. But the fact that your site is mentioned in a paperback book is something that is a especially noteworthy. I am completely surprised that you don’t want to be included, but I’m willing to abide by your choice.

Best wishes,

Michael

]]> By: Christine http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/comment-page-1/#comment-1049209 Christine Sat, 02 May 2009 20:11:38 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/05/01/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/#comment-1049209 Here's what you don't seem to get: you would have known had you asked. I don't think you did anything malicious. (And by the way- just because everyone else is doing something, that doesn't make it the right thing to do. Dare to do what's right even when others don't.) I do think you still have no intention of notifying the others and asking if they mind being in your book. I do think you're talking nonsense when you say you just want to give your readers the best resources and you're not trying to make money off selling urls. You can prove me wrong very simply by putting a link to my site on yours. But no, you want to SELL that link. And if I don't want you to sell it, you don't mind if your readers never learn of it. I don't care if you link to my site on yours or not. I'm just saying you're proving your real intentions by your choices. You are welcome to link to my site on yours. You are welcome to keep my site in your book IF you give it away for free. However, I must admit I do not like the idea of you selling a link to my website and would appreciate if you would stop. Thanks. I do appreciate that you like my blog. Here’s what you don’t seem to get: you would have known had you asked.

I don’t think you did anything malicious.

(And by the way- just because everyone else is doing something, that doesn’t make it the right thing to do. Dare to do what’s right even when others don’t.)

I do think you still have no intention of notifying the others and asking if they mind being in your book.

I do think you’re talking nonsense when you say you just want to give your readers the best resources and you’re not trying to make money off selling urls. You can prove me wrong very simply by putting a link to my site on yours. But no, you want to SELL that link. And if I don’t want you to sell it, you don’t mind if your readers never learn of it.

I don’t care if you link to my site on yours or not. I’m just saying you’re proving your real intentions by your choices.

You are welcome to link to my site on yours. You are welcome to keep my site in your book IF you give it away for free. However, I must admit I do not like the idea of you selling a link to my website and would appreciate if you would stop. Thanks.

I do appreciate that you like my blog.

]]> By: Michael Pastore http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/comment-page-1/#comment-1049048 Michael Pastore Sat, 02 May 2009 19:22:17 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/05/01/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/#comment-1049048 Christine, had I known that you would be upset about being included in my book, I would have never included your site in the first place. Really. It's not a common practice for publishers to ask if they can include a URL. You are upset with me for doing what every publisher does all the time. It would be a completely different story if I were quoting a passage from your site, or if I wanted to use material from your site. In that case, I would have certainly contacted you in advance, and asked permission from you. Now maybe publishers *should* ask bloggers if they want their sites included; but it just didn't occur to me to ask. You don't want your site to be in the book -- you think that I am exploitng you for profit -- so I am taking you out. And I have apologized to you here; and if you like, I will apologize on my blog. Can you see that this was an honest misunderstanding? ... And that I am doing my best to resolve this problem? Michael Pastore 50 Benefits of Ebooks Christine, had I known that you would be upset about being included in my book, I would have never included your site in the first place. Really.

It’s not a common practice for publishers to ask if they can include a URL. You are upset with me for doing what every publisher does all the time.

It would be a completely different story if I were quoting a passage from your site, or if I wanted to use material from your site. In that case, I would have certainly contacted you in advance, and asked permission from you.

Now maybe publishers *should* ask bloggers if they want their sites included; but it just didn’t occur to me to ask.

You don’t want your site to be in the book — you think that I am exploitng you for profit — so I am taking you out. And I have apologized to you here; and if you like, I will apologize on my blog.

Can you see that this was an honest misunderstanding? … And that I am doing my best to resolve this problem?

Michael Pastore
50 Benefits of Ebooks

]]> By: Christine http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/comment-page-1/#comment-1048925 Christine Sat, 02 May 2009 18:29:47 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/05/01/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/#comment-1048925 Generally if someone likes another website and wants to give their readers the best resources, they add a link to their website; they don't try to sell the information. People trying to sell information are trying to make money. It's good to know you're such a big fan that you'd prefer to remove my site from your book than link to it on your website. You have other free ebook sites linked on your website. Clearly I need a widget. I would love to make a general statement about when people include others in their books, they let them know beforehand, but I wouldn't know about that. I do think it'd be the decent thing to do though. Do you really think everyone who is in your book is going to 1. read this post's comments so they can know you've made the offer, and 2. have bought your book so they even know they're in it in the first place? Maybe that's what you're hoping people will do? That's not a real effort to give them an opportunity to opt out, now is it? Generally if someone likes another website and wants to give their readers the best resources, they add a link to their website; they don’t try to sell the information. People trying to sell information are trying to make money.

It’s good to know you’re such a big fan that you’d prefer to remove my site from your book than link to it on your website. You have other free ebook sites linked on your website. Clearly I need a widget.

I would love to make a general statement about when people include others in their books, they let them know beforehand, but I wouldn’t know about that. I do think it’d be the decent thing to do though.

Do you really think everyone who is in your book is going to 1. read this post’s comments so they can know you’ve made the offer, and 2. have bought your book so they even know they’re in it in the first place? Maybe that’s what you’re hoping people will do? That’s not a real effort to give them an opportunity to opt out, now is it?

]]> By: Michael Pastore http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/comment-page-1/#comment-1048897 Michael Pastore Sat, 02 May 2009 17:42:32 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/05/01/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/#comment-1048897 Christine, please read my last message again. Then tell me the answer to this question: "How is Michael making money from Christine's site?" ... I can't imagine how. I listed your site in my book, which promotes your site and does you good. You just need more people like me, to mention your site with high praise, and then you would start making money from your site. I believe that this is called "Networking." Important note: I had been planning a slight "upgrade" to my book this weekend, and I will remove your site URL from my book immediately. I will expunge your site URL from all editions: paperback and ebooks. I apologize for upsetting you. I assure you that my intention was only this: to give my readers the best resources; and to help the sites that deserve more attention to get more visitors. And I never asked any favor in return, such as: you must mention my book or my site, if I mention yours. There is a saying (and a bumper sticker) in this little town of Ithaca: "No good deed goes unpunished." If there are any other site owners who would like to be removed from my chapter about "Best Internet Resources about Ebooks and Epublishing", please do contact me. Also, please check my book's companion blog (EpublishersWeekly.net) if you would like to be removed from my Blogroll of important epublishing links. Michael Pastore 50 Benefits of Ebooks Christine, please read my last message again. Then tell me the answer to this question: “How is Michael making money from Christine’s site?” … I can’t imagine how.

I listed your site in my book, which promotes your site and does you good. You just need more people like me, to mention your site with high praise, and then you would start making money from your site. I believe that this is called “Networking.”

Important note:
I had been planning a slight “upgrade” to my book this weekend, and I will remove your site URL from my book immediately. I will expunge your site URL from all editions: paperback and ebooks.

I apologize for upsetting you. I assure you that my intention was only this: to give my readers the best resources; and to help the sites that deserve more attention to get more visitors. And I never asked any favor in return, such as: you must mention my book or my site, if I mention yours.

There is a saying (and a bumper sticker) in this little town of Ithaca: “No good deed goes unpunished.”

If there are any other site owners who would like to be removed from my chapter about “Best Internet Resources about Ebooks and Epublishing”, please do contact me. Also, please check my book’s companion blog (EpublishersWeekly.net) if you would like to be removed from my Blogroll of important epublishing links.

Michael Pastore
50 Benefits of Ebooks

]]> By: Christine http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/comment-page-1/#comment-1048881 Christine Sat, 02 May 2009 17:07:23 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/05/01/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/#comment-1048881 Oh, so you're making money off my site but I'm not? That's interesting. And without my prior knowledge or permission. I'm just liking you better and better. Do I get a percentage of sales? Or a flat fee? Can you whip up a widget for your blog that when people click it my blog takes over? Or maybe just add a link. And send a donation. Oh, so you’re making money off my site but I’m not? That’s interesting. And without my prior knowledge or permission. I’m just liking you better and better. Do I get a percentage of sales? Or a flat fee?

Can you whip up a widget for your blog that when people click it my blog takes over? Or maybe just add a link. And send a donation.

]]> By: Michael Pastore http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/comment-page-1/#comment-1048793 Michael Pastore Sat, 02 May 2009 13:48:55 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/05/01/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/#comment-1048793 No, I have not yet added the BookGlutton widget to my website. I'm not sure if I will add it or not. I might just try the interactive reading feature on the Book Glutton site. By the way, Christine, I am a big fan of your site, also. Your blog == Finding Free Ebooks == is listed in my book, on page 130 of the paperback and the PDF, in the section about the Net's best sources for free ebooks. (In the ePub version, your listing is somewhere, but page numbers don't count.) Michael Pastore 50 Benefits of Ebooks No, I have not yet added the BookGlutton widget to my website. I’m not sure if I will add it or not. I might just try the interactive reading feature on the Book Glutton site.

By the way, Christine, I am a big fan of your site, also. Your blog == Finding Free Ebooks == is listed in my book, on page 130 of the paperback and the PDF, in the section about the Net’s best sources for free ebooks. (In the ePub version, your listing is somewhere, but page numbers don’t count.)

Michael Pastore
50 Benefits of Ebooks

]]> By: Christine http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/comment-page-1/#comment-1048777 Christine Sat, 02 May 2009 13:15:24 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/05/01/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/#comment-1048777 Book Glutton will be glad to know you're such a big fan. Have you added their widget to your website yet? Book Glutton will be glad to know you’re such a big fan. Have you added their widget to your website yet?

]]> By: Michael Pastore http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/comment-page-1/#comment-1048724 Michael Pastore Sat, 02 May 2009 11:51:18 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/05/01/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/#comment-1048724 Book Glutton is not your grandmother's book club. Show me another book club that lets me interact in real time with people from every corner of the world, 24 hours a day, with millions of potential books to discuss, with the text of the book open, with the same book in many languages, with instant searches through the entire book, with works by the same author literally at your fingertips -- and a book club that automatically preserves a permanent record of my conversations. Book Glutton is not your grandmother’s book club.
Show me another book club that lets me interact in real time with people from every corner of the world, 24 hours a day, with millions of potential books to discuss, with the text of the book open, with the same book in many languages, with instant searches through the entire book, with works by the same author literally at your fingertips — and a book club that automatically preserves a permanent record of my conversations.

]]> By: Christine http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/comment-page-1/#comment-1048306 Christine Sat, 02 May 2009 03:32:07 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/05/01/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/#comment-1048306 Unique? Book clubs have been around as long as books have. Unique? Book clubs have been around as long as books have.

]]> By: Michael Pastore http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/comment-page-1/#comment-1048285 Michael Pastore Sat, 02 May 2009 02:58:45 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/05/01/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/#comment-1048285 Marcel Proust defined reading as that "miracle profond d'une communication au sein de la solitude." Pardon my French (translation): "Reading is ... that fertile miracle of communication effected in solitude." I like to read alone, and let my mind travel at its own leisurely pace. For me, reading could never be collaborative -- it would dispel my concentration. But I would love to meet fellow-readers who share a reverence for my favorite books. And I would enjoy discussing these books with these new friends. And for these two purposes, Book Glutton is a unique and valuable service. Michael Pastore 50 Benefits of Ebooks Marcel Proust defined reading as that “miracle profond d’une communication au sein de la solitude.”

Pardon my French (translation):
“Reading is … that fertile miracle of communication effected in solitude.”

I like to read alone, and let my mind travel at its own leisurely pace. For me, reading could never be collaborative — it would dispel my concentration.

But I would love to meet fellow-readers who share a reverence for my favorite books. And I would enjoy discussing these books with these new friends. And for these two purposes, Book Glutton is a unique and valuable service.

Michael Pastore
50 Benefits of Ebooks

]]> By: Christine http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/comment-page-1/#comment-1048243 Christine Sat, 02 May 2009 01:29:24 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/05/01/new-booksharing-widget-from-bookglutton/#comment-1048243 It looks to me like something for people less interested in reading and more interested in socializing. But hey, socializing has made some websites tons of money. Why would I want Book Glutton taking over my blog? Nice for them I suppose. It looks to me like something for people less interested in reading and more interested in socializing. But hey, socializing has made some websites tons of money.

Why would I want Book Glutton taking over my blog? Nice for them I suppose.

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