Wednesday, May 31, 2006
BBC Bias
The latest advert for Wanderingscribe appeared on the BBC site today and, after reading it, appears to have been written by one of Anya's fans.
Or someone in the employ of her agent.
One would expect a certain standard from the BBC and yet, sentences such as;
"Even if the book becomes a top 10 chart topper, for a hardback that can mean only selling five hundred copies a week - while the Wandering Scribe blog has averaged 11,000 readers per week since March." do not make grammatical sense.
In fact, the whole article sings the praises of "the nations favourite" with no mention at all of the growing number of detractors. (hardly balanced reporting there then).
New visitors to her blog (and the BBC article kindly provided a link) will get the sugary sweet version of events via her comments as all the doubters posts have been wiped clean.
The (unverified) visitor figures also add to the hype that is taking place to promote the author and her blog. You can't buy publicity like that. Unless you have;
1. An angle.
2. An agent.
Yup, she's got them alright.
I think a place to live, a job etc. were well down the checklist.
Seems like that internet self promotion blog was a good idea after all.
Using the internet to promote artists surruptiously has been going on for years with an article in The Guardian detailing the latest scam to be uncovered concerning Sandi Thom.
I say the latest because, as of yet, nobody (who can bring the story to a wider audience) has made the link between Anya's blog and her ruthless desire to get a book deal no matter what.
Perhaps Anya will even be getting angry at herself.
Why? I hear you ask (I have excellent hearing).
Here's a snippet from her entry of 9th Feb.
I thought about the Observer article I had read about DM, and his being a poster boy for some kind of media-created movement. And the more I thought, the more it seemed likely that this person, whose number one dream in life had probably not always been to be a writer, and who was also not technically homeless as such, might actually be getting a book deal out of this, the more angry I became.
Uhuh .... we know how you feel Anya........
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10 comments:
At last a place where we are able to be cynical without comments being deleted. Part of my annoyance about her is because it pisses me off when I've gone through very tough times and nobody gives a flying f**k. And, I think she got completely different treatment being a woman. Had it been a guy, do you think the sympathy would have been so forthcoming? I doubt it.
Calls of "Get up off your ass" would have been forthcoming instead, and if she claims to live in a equal society she should have done the same.But no, "pity poor frail woman" was played upon. How many folks live in shop doorways each night, at risk of being beaten up at closing time at the local pubs and don't get book deals out of all this?
Their only mistake is that they don't think of clever schemes like Blogging about it (although, I understand there was one guy who actually wrote well about his experiences once, and didn't just whine). My concern began when her Blog went onto "Comments will be moderated by the author". That is not the sign of a Blogger who is open to all views on what is written for us all to read.
It is the sign of a one way conversation, only seeking praise and gushing adoration. I think this woman was for real in her situation, but all the "Oh, I can't sign on because it's too demeaning and means giving in" really pissed me right off.
How dare she come up with things like that which insult others and insult the system which cares for homeless people. Was she too damn high and mighty to walk in to such places?
Signing on would have meant the death of her blog and an end to the possibility of Paypal donations and possible book deals, that is why.
For god's sake, go to the local employment agencies like I do when work is zero. She could have got work (however awful most of that work admittedly is) within moments, starting the next day in most cases.
But no, she spent her days whining on the internet,accepting donations and getting more and more publicity. Then the "Lying in a scented warm bath with a glass of bubbly and beethoven playing the background". Jesus Christ.
After hearing she got a bloody book deal out of this, I couldn't believe it. Not surprising, but typical!!
She never answered these valid questions such as - "If you're so hard up, how come you seem to have money to pay your mobile phone, car tax, insurance, and petrol?". When those questions came, suddenly it was "Comments are moderated". After all this, I still don't think she as an "intentional" con merchant. She just was too damn proud to sign on or get off her ass and get some work, and somehow managed to gain a naive worldwide fanclub for all her woes.
Yes she is right, lady luck came her way and it pisses me right off (sigh). I think I might start a Blog up saying I'm living in a hedge somewhere with three puppies in the oh so horrible place called Britain. Pity poor me.
All fair points.
Numerous offers of assistance were made (both by people willing to give first hand help as well as providing information on where to go to get help).
Sadly Anya felt too proud to take people up on those offers.
Until someone offered a book deal.
KERCHING !!!!!
I wonder if those offers will also be quietly deleted by the blog administrator,.
After all, it does kind of detract from the heartwarming tale of one womans battle against the entire world.
All alone and frightened with no way out and nobody to turn to.
In the world.
I feel a tear welling up ..............
Anya certainly is one proud lady!
She is now in the process of refunding all PayPal donations made. To her, doing that means regaining self esteem!
Isn't it amazing the emotions and attitudes various people have and how they can make or break peoples life?!
She is now in the process of refunding all PayPal donations made. To her, doing that means regaining self esteem!
Where is your proof of that? Oh, of course, I'm sorry, you people never needed proof of anything, did you?
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo K.
Gawd bless her for holding out for the one thing that would restore her self esteem.
A Job.
Whoops.
A place to live.
Nope that's not it.
A fresh start in a refuge designed for people in that exact situation.
Naaahhh. what was I thinking.
Coming clean to her family and friends to accept a helping hand from those who care about her.
Silly me. THE WORLD was against her (I've had a sneak preview of the book)
Now what was the one thing that she was holding out for?
Oh yes.. A Book Deal.
I love a scam story with a happy ending.
Hugsss.....
I actually lived in a tent in Lincoln's Inn Fields about ten years ago along with a whole gang of drunken dossers and mentally deranged no-hopers. Every hour or so do-gooders would turn up with offerings of food and often shelter. We always refused the shelter but gobbled up the food. We lived high on the hog, (whatever that means)and life in a tent in that little park in Holborn wasn't so awful. At night time when I was trying to get some sleep I often would have to shout at do-gooders and Christians to leave me alone. The constant offers of food and clothing and prayers became a pain in the arse after a while. We knew when the regular handouts were due and would be up and ready for them and really overall I think we were a pampered lot.
First thing in the morning I would take a leisurely stroll down to the Temple Tube station where breakfast was laid on for a few hundred of us, fresh coffee, bread rolls or croissants and bananas. As much as we could eat. All for free. Snacks at 11am in the park provided by some other Christian outfit or sometimes a Hindu crowd. Lunch at one consisting of soup, sandwiches, stew and "past it's sell by date" goodies. If we fancied vegetarian we could mosey over to where the Hari Krishnas were doing there thing. Everyday at one o'clock beside the Centrepoint Tower and at various other spots around town.
At night the gifts just kept on coming. Salvation Army, Bondway, Crisis, vets to check our dogs, chiropodists to clip our nails,( I kid you not!) The food and cakes donated by the Ritz was always popular.It was never ending and around Christmas time it was bedlam with all the different charities competing with each other to be first to feed us.
Don't ever tell me that life is hard on the streets of London. Living in a tent with a good sleeping bag and a foam mattress was very comfortable, thankyou.
Now my only regret is not keeping a diary and trying to find an agent!!
If Wayne bloody Rooney can get a book deal, anyone with the right publicity can.
It's just another kick in the teeth for those of us genuinely trying to get our work so much as looked at by an agent or publisher, much less accepted. Get a teeny bit famous, and they'll lap you up. Remain totally unheard of but with actual hard graft writing at your back, and you'll be lucky if they even acknowledge receipt of your work.
Bah. Humbug.
I totally will buy your book once published, former bum. Your story sounds so much more interesting and heart-warming than WS's.
Bless you.
But I am under no such illusions.
I live in the real world where peole do honest work for a living, not sit on their arses whining until someone takes pity.
I find I sleep better at night, too.
This site is one of the best I have ever seen, wish I had one like this.
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