I was surprised to see a request for an article about a fictional customer singing the praises of a website and having her give "quotes" on the great help this site gave her.
Does anyone else wonder if this is OK? I did leave a link to an article that I wrote that was simliar (without the fictional customer), that I'm sure won't get picked, because clearly the customer is absent, but still ....
So, is it ok to make stuff up?
Moderators: Celeste Stewart, Ed
-
mattsterrr
- Posts: 106
- Joined: Mon May 16, 2005 2:44 am
Depends what you mean by ok?
That depends what you mean by ok really. One of my first jobs was writing testimonials for a ring of websites and for all the ethical questions it paid very well, so it was ok in my book.
That's why many websites are steering away from using simple testimonial lines on websites now, and they are opting for more involved type testimonials. Using direct links from forums is a good example, but then I've also had jobs posting on forums as well.
In fact, one job I had involved using 8 different user accounts and holding conversations with myself (much like real life for me, ahhhh
). Hmm, I think Freud would have had something to say about that.
Something involving my mother, penis envy and a packet of salt and vinegar crisps probably.
That's why many websites are steering away from using simple testimonial lines on websites now, and they are opting for more involved type testimonials. Using direct links from forums is a good example, but then I've also had jobs posting on forums as well.
In fact, one job I had involved using 8 different user accounts and holding conversations with myself (much like real life for me, ahhhh
). Hmm, I think Freud would have had something to say about that. Something involving my mother, penis envy and a packet of salt and vinegar crisps probably.
-
K.M. Forsyth
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2005 3:02 pm
-
mattsterrr
- Posts: 106
- Joined: Mon May 16, 2005 2:44 am
-
K.M. Forsyth
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2005 3:02 pm
-
southernrose
- Posts: 84
- Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2005 4:34 am
- Location: Virginia
LOL mattsterrr, I think any writer can relate to that. When I talk to people about writing my book, they look at me as if I were crazy when I mention how I can't get my characters to do or say the right things sometimes. But it's true, they seem to have minds of their owns and you can't force them to do just anything...
As for the original question, I think that is something everyone must deal with personally. Some writers would be fine with it, others would find it to be unethical, but in the end it's like any other writing job in that you have to decide whether it's the right job for you.
As for the original question, I think that is something everyone must deal with personally. Some writers would be fine with it, others would find it to be unethical, but in the end it's like any other writing job in that you have to decide whether it's the right job for you.
Last edited by southernrose on Thu Nov 17, 2005 5:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
K.M. Forsyth
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2005 3:02 pm
You are right about characters running the show sometimes Elizabeth... I have had whole stories hijacked by a secondary character!
About the orig. question, I guess the reason why I ask is because people are always telling me about how misleading things on the web can be. I guess I'm a little sensitive to that.
About the orig. question, I guess the reason why I ask is because people are always telling me about how misleading things on the web can be. I guess I'm a little sensitive to that.
-
Dorothy Edison
- Posts: 97
- Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2005 12:40 pm
-
mattsterrr
- Posts: 106
- Joined: Mon May 16, 2005 2:44 am
It's true, but it's also true that sites wouldn't get off the ground without a little extended truth here and there.
Even the sites that have true testimonials are lying i na way. You never see the comments from unhappy customers do you? Now that would be a breath of fresh air.
'x delivered a poorly presented product three weeks after the deadline failing to make communication every step of the way. The work was not of the quality I had been told to expect, in fact quite frankly it was s...
Yours,
Disgruntled of HardHorn (Germany)
I would love to see a site that uses a testimonial like that. You never know, it might work.
Chris? Can I write you a fake bad testimonial for you to put up on site, so we can test the theory?
Even the sites that have true testimonials are lying i na way. You never see the comments from unhappy customers do you? Now that would be a breath of fresh air.
'x delivered a poorly presented product three weeks after the deadline failing to make communication every step of the way. The work was not of the quality I had been told to expect, in fact quite frankly it was s...
Yours,
Disgruntled of HardHorn (Germany)
I would love to see a site that uses a testimonial like that. You never know, it might work.
Chris? Can I write you a fake bad testimonial for you to put up on site, so we can test the theory?
I wrote something for the ad and included the fictional person. I did think it over first, especially when I told my husband what I was doing and he said "oh, so you lied" My rationalization is that I went to the website he provided and I found it to be really wonderful. In fact, I bookmarked it so I didn't feel bad making up a name to go with what I might imagine someone saying. If it weren't an established site or the stuff sucked, I wouldn't have written it.
There. Do I sound like I've convinced myself yet?
My rationalization is that I went to the website he provided and I found it to be really wonderful. In fact, I bookmarked it so I didn't feel bad making up a name to go with what I might imagine someone saying. If it weren't an established site or the stuff sucked, I wouldn't have written it.There. Do I sound like I've convinced myself yet?
-
Dorothy Edison
- Posts: 97
- Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2005 12:40 pm
Lisa,
You shouldn't worry. It's a piece of fiction. Fiction writers aren't liars; they're in control of a powerful tool--imagination.
Another tip--take it or leave it if you want--but when it's your own writing, you know what's best. Don't ever let anyone second guess you and make you doubt yourself.
Writing is about making judicial decisions. If you were saying something like, "www.getlobotomized.com is the best site ever!" there might be some ethical problems with that. But you aren't. It's simply a sales pitch (it's marketing, if you want to look at it like that), and it makes both the customer and you the money you need to feed yourselves.
Now get some sleep!
DE
You shouldn't worry. It's a piece of fiction. Fiction writers aren't liars; they're in control of a powerful tool--imagination.
Another tip--take it or leave it if you want--but when it's your own writing, you know what's best. Don't ever let anyone second guess you and make you doubt yourself.
Writing is about making judicial decisions. If you were saying something like, "www.getlobotomized.com is the best site ever!" there might be some ethical problems with that. But you aren't. It's simply a sales pitch (it's marketing, if you want to look at it like that), and it makes both the customer and you the money you need to feed yourselves.
Now get some sleep!
DE
-
mattsterrr
- Posts: 106
- Joined: Mon May 16, 2005 2:44 am
The simple fact is, you're a writer and you write what the customer wants. If they choose to use that for anything but ethical purposes that's their choice.
Think of it like being a soldier in the army and having to kill people, although that may be slightly more unethical. It's not your problem, at the very worst it's diminished responsibility.
I, personally, will write on absolutely anything as long it's either fun to write or puts money in the pocket (more accurately, the landlord's pocket).
Freedom of speech and information, that's what I say.
Think of it like being a soldier in the army and having to kill people, although that may be slightly more unethical. It's not your problem, at the very worst it's diminished responsibility.
I, personally, will write on absolutely anything as long it's either fun to write or puts money in the pocket (more accurately, the landlord's pocket).
Freedom of speech and information, that's what I say.
-
Dorothy Edison
- Posts: 97
- Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2005 12:40 pm
Sorry, I cannot make the connection between writing fiction and murder.
Lizaj, please disregard that last analogy. Writing is nothing like that--that is, if you choose integrity over greed. What you write IS your responsibility, and frankly I am appalled that others think that with customer requests comes diminished responsibility.
Keep writing Lisaj--and don't stress so much.
DE
Lizaj, please disregard that last analogy. Writing is nothing like that--that is, if you choose integrity over greed. What you write IS your responsibility, and frankly I am appalled that others think that with customer requests comes diminished responsibility.
Keep writing Lisaj--and don't stress so much.
DE
Thanks Dorothy and Mattsterrr for your responses.
All is well here. I just have an allergic reaction to guilt so I avoid it like the plague.
It was a personal decision on my part. I told my husband that someone sold a similar story for $70 and then said "but what's a clear conscience worth?" He said "$85."
All is well here. I just have an allergic reaction to guilt so I avoid it like the plague.
It was a personal decision on my part. I told my husband that someone sold a similar story for $70 and then said "but what's a clear conscience worth?" He said "$85."