FB Author Fan Groups

Currently reading: Finished Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare and about to begin Us Against You by Fredrik Bachman (the source material for Beartown on HBO, FYI).

This book post begins with an apology for missing the last two weeks, even though I had a good reason (walk thru one week, unpacking the next). I have been remiss in this area and I am sorry.

Today I want to talk about FB author fan groups. I follow a Stephen King (SK) fan group that I strongly debate with myself on whether to drop out of it or not and I’ll explain why.

I had started following the group because: A) I’m a huge SK fan; and B) I was hoping it would keep me up to date with news I might not hear about as quickly as fan groups seem to find out. The group requires 10 King related posts before non-King posts are allowed. That was my first issue with them. They deleted one of my posts because it didn’t specifically mention SK’s name in the post (it was post that was SK inspired). The next issue comes in the form of the SAME QUESTIONS being asked over and over again. Now I get that people are trying to get to their ten posts but find something original to ask about (which does happen on occasion). I cannot see one more post about “what do you think is SK’s best book?” or “is (name of SK book here) a good book/should I read (name of SK book here)?” or my truly favorite “I have just got these SK books, which one should I start with?” AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH – is it really so complicated that you need strangers to tell which book to start with? Just pick one and start reading!!!!

I realize that may sound harsh, but I was hoping for more interesting banter than that. When you ask a group any one of those questions, you’re going to get hundreds of different responses and I just don’t see how that helps. If you do, please enlighten me.

The straw that almost broke this camel’s back was the back and forth I had with a group member, that I felt was unnecessary and condescending – which of course I told him. It started with a gentleman’s post asking about a signature on a book he was hoping to purchase. He posted pictures and I commented that it looked different from my signed books but that was just my opinion and if he could find a way to check it out further (i.e. get information on provenance, etc.), he should. I also mentioned if he was comfortable with the situation and wanted to purchase, that was up to him. Other members weighed in and an expert in SK’s handwriting verified it as authentic. Since I was following the post, I was aware of this response. However, another member took it upon himself to post in ever comment that questioned the authenticity “It’s real” and I was spoiling for a fight that day. While I felt that signature looked different, I never said that it was fake. And if the high and mighty poster of “it’s real” had bothered to read the back and forth, he would have seen that I encouraged the OP to do further research. I thought the need to post “it’s real” all over the place (as if people were incapable of following the thread) was condescending bullshit and seriously considered exiting at that point.

I haven’t yet and I’m still on the fence about it, because every once in a while, an interesting post comes along that I enjoy, but I’m not sure if the one-off posts is worth the aggravation.

Let me end by saying that I did follow SK on FB until he left due to some of their policy’s. I also follow Karen White’s author page and find it more enjoyable than the SK fan page.

So, I would like my readers to weigh in: first, should I stay, or should I go; second, do you like fan pages and if so, what do you like about them? 

Note: for those new to the page, I devote my Wednesday posts to books, reading etc, because books are a form of therapy for me. Feel free to skip Wednesday posts if it’s not your cup of tea, but please consider coming back Mondays and Fridays for my usual misadventures. 😊