Slashdot reports Amazon.com Pierces Reviewer Anonymity — a goof-up at Amazon revealed that “A reader from Chicago” was, in fact, the author of the book he praises.
I went shopping for some new books this weekend, and was astounded by the trash heap the reviews have turned into: zero-star comments mercilessly trashing a book and five-star gushing praises so over the top that no one could believe them. It’s obviously turned into popularity contest and a mechanism easily exploited. It’s disappointing.