for flagging

For those of you who like to flag reviews, looks like there's a bunch of non-reviews here (mixed in with some actual reviews): http://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=uniquebooks

Not sure if the price listings actually warrant further action.

They did another round of non-reviews throughout the beginning of November...

That's systematic spamming. Do we flag the profile?

I'm dropping a note for Lorannen since it seems they are an organizational account.

New member posted excerpts of other peoples reviews of his books:

https://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=edbrodow

I'm going to put a comment on the account, though it appears to be more promoter/publicist based on the way the account is writtebn.

>8 karenb: No longer displayed. Member is suspended.

Author posted another reader's review:

http://www.librarything.com/work/19835531/reviews/143316090

>10 2wonderY: Her author page is interesting.
https://www.librarything.com/author/cunninghamsc
note the picture caption and short biography.

>11 Taphophile13: Because I was feeling extra adventurous, I edited the link section (most of which no longer worked), and then switched primary photos to one without the biography. I almost have pity for her, whoever she is.

>11 Taphophile13: I took out the 'biography'.

Last night, I left comments regarding the captions (not just the long promotional one, but the ones with Amazon links). If they're not gone soon, I'll flag the photos.

https://www.librarything.com/work/8687501

She has made a recommendation on her own book. (Which doesn't show on the other book, so might not quite count as being against the letter of the rules, but shows that she doesn't care about the spirit.)

>12 Lyndatrue: No pity. Red flagged reviews start in 2010. She has had a long time to learn the rules.

If she continues even after >14 lilithcat: left comments, it would be time to flag the profile, I think.
But until someone tells me she has, I'll hold off.

I messaged Kristie. The recommendation is particularly blatant.

She entered the children's books yesterday.

Look, I know we hate it when authors review their own books. But it is not only not against the TOS, it is explicitly allowed: While you can review your own book, be aware that the review will be marked as the author's. http://www.librarything.com/about/authors

Flag as a TOS violation her use of other people's reviews, but it abuse of that flag is itself a TOS violation.

I have now flagged all the photos containing promotional material and links to her website & Amazon.

Sadly, flagged images are not disappearing these days. (That's been reported in Bug Collectors.)

>18 lilithcat: ALL of the reviews posted from her account appear to be author people's reviews. That's why they've been flagged. I'm not seeing that she's ever reviewed her own books where reviews are supposed to be posted.

The 2010 review of one of the children's books seems to be her own.

>20 aspirit:

No, there is one that is her own, Ginormous Joe's Broken Bark. For all the reviews by others, she has indicated where they're from.

>17 MarthaJeanne: Thanks for the note. It looks like her most recent TOS violation was from 2017 (where she posted a reader's review), is that correct? The first direct contact she received about her activity actually being against LibraryThing's TOS was made yesterday. I'll try messaging her privately, as well, with more detail. If she makes any further action against our TOS please let me know, and I can step in.

There are messages on her profile about inappropriate author pictures from 2013.

"Not a picture of the author." is not a very clear indication to someone that they're actually in violation of Terms, or in need of learning how to use the site. I'm going to give them a little leeway here.

Author just doesn’t get it. This is the 30th review she’s copied and needs flagged:

http://www.librarything.com/work/28257245