We’d like to thank a site visitor who gave us a tip on something that happened to author, Eve Thomas. Apparently, Eve was trying to raise money and awareness for a couple charities but ended up going the wrong way about it which violated GR TOS. Then the bullies jumped in and labeled her a BBA and a spammer. So what did Eve do? She did what she thought was right and issued an apology, explaining her position:
And did they forgive her? Gee, can you guess?
Here’s what they left on her book (you will recognize some names here):
This author did what she thought was right and apologized for making a mistake. Now, when someone apologizes and is sincere about it, you’d think that would be enough for the bullies, but no, it never is. This is why we call them bullies. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this either. What happened to this author is exactly the same thing that happened to Kiera Cass last year in the whole kerfuffle with Wendy Darling. Except in Kiera’s case, the bully attack was much worse and Kiera wasn’t the one at fault. It was her agent (post on this to come soon.) For this reason, there are a lot of authors out there who would rather eat horse manure than apologize to these people. And we completely understand that sentiment. So, if you’re an author who thinks they may have made a mistake and want to apologize, we say that’s entirely up to you to decide. Just keep in mind that it’s more than likely your apology will not be accepted.
I have just been pointed to this site and I want to say a really, really big thank you. I’ve been so upset about my whole Goodreads experience and honestly thought it was the right place to go to try to raise awareness to the work I am trying to do. I am a very sincere person and have even devoted a blog post on my website to apologise further but it seems even that is not good enough. I am trying to not only raise awareness but change the law to protect victims if DV and I’m so relieved that the group of women I labelled as conducting a witch hunt are named and shamed here. I have now shyed away from Goodreads, I’m honestly too afraid to post. I spent twenty years as a victim and this has made me feel as if I’m back in an an abusive relationship. It saddens me to think that this group of bullies can get away with this. Why doesn’t Goodreads intervene?
Why doesn’t GR do anything? We’ve been asking ourselves this question ever since we started this blog. We’re really sorry you were targeted by these people but Anon is right. It’s best to stay far away from them. They are women who behave like girls and go on “witch hunts” (good choice of words btw) just so they can pick a fight.
Hi Eve.
The reason you “feel as though you are back in an abusive relationship” when you attempt to dialogue with the GR Bullies is because that exact same, sick energy is the fuel for the GR Bullies’ behavior. Turn your back on it and walk politely away. It’s not you, it’s them. You can’t fix stupid.
More generally, I want to comment upon this blog post. I see nothing wrong with an author (or anybody) expressing apology or regret for any offense or perceived offense for which s/he feels responsible. The lack of class in the GR Bullies becomes all the more apparent in these situations. Their refusal to acknowledge appropriate behavior is just another symptom of their own social maladjustment and a sign they should not be taken any more seriously than any other dysfunctional group.
Well said, Gyruleine.
These people will twist and turn your words and then gang up on you. There is a whole group of these vipers all over the online book world who live for confrontation like this. Then they tweet and blog about it the entire day. Cackling among themselves. Ironically, they are mostly women behaving like jr. high girls. I stay far away from them, and I’d advise anyone else to do the same.
In my experience, these fools are easily shut down. You just have to know the right things to tell them. Unfortunately, sinking to that level is a huge energy drain for most sensible people, and thus not worth the trouble.
As usual, they’re not stopping.
Now they’re posting angry, self-pitying comments on both Angela Horn’s and Coaxial’s review of Eve’s book.
Here is Stefani, Empress of Narcissism:
“Really, a fabulous defense of DV victims…supporting a site that has harassed women, condemned women for having an opinion (notice how all their bullies just so happen to be female), have had at least one woman stalked in real life, posted address and phone numbers of women online, supports someone who recently spent 4 months engaged in sexual roleplaying with minors, and has harassed minors on their site.
Yes, I can tell just how much of a damn you give about domestic violence by the people you choose to associate with. ”
Wow, did she just equate being exposed as a bully with being the victim of domestic violence? Yes she did!
And here is Coaxial deciding to block Eve’s comments:
“I’m blocking her, guys. I feel like apologizing. I thought I was strong enough to take this shit, and I’m a string believer in free speech even when someone’s showing their arse for all the world to see. Hell, I normally find that kind of dipshitism hilarious.
But I. Literally on the verge I tears. No sure why this bitch is treading me out so much, but she is – and she’s not worth it. I’m just nipping this in the bud before it gets worse for me. Ding, ding, the witch is dead – at least on this shelf/review.”
Poor, poor Coaxial. Funny how perfectly reasonable comments on her review have her on the edge of tears, but when she chooses to do one of her infamous readalongs where she ridicules someone’s book for days and days the author should just grow a thicker skin.
Wow! Stefani’s lies are really getting to be over the top. I think it’s time to post some Bully Lies posts to show everyone how these people lie all the time.
Hi
I’m being very sincere when I say I am petrified of leaving this comment for fear of further comebacks.
I was directed to this site by a kind member, one of 87 so contacted me yesterday alone to basically advise me on what was happening with my novels.
Now I’ve been labelled as a child abuser because I have quoted this post and associated myself with this site. I just don’t know who to believe anymore and this has left me really upset. I was awake until almost 4am, delving deep to try and get to the bottom of this. Yes, you said they resort to name calling and bullying but they are saying that you are a site that has already put a family in danger and have revealed personal details about others putting them in danger also.
I just don’t know who to believe anymore but what I can say is that I really am a very sincere woman, a survivor who only wants to try to make a difference for other women. Forget the books, it’s my campaign to change the laws I’m worried about, laws that need changing so other women don’t have to suffer as I did.
I never meant to offend anyone and coaxial really did twist in the knife last night, I would Never, ever hurt anyone and especially a fellow survivor!
Eve x
Okay, this just pisses me off. The fact that you are so afraid to leave a comment or speak out is just wrong. They shouldn’t be doing this to you. They’ve done this kind of intimidation to so many people. It needs to stop.
Eve, pretty much everyone who comments on our site can tell you that these people are liars. If you want to see the kinds of things these people do, go here:
http://www.stopthegrbullies.com/category/bully-crime/
If anyone has put people in danger, it’s them. Not us. If you want to check their statements, just look at our site. Read it. Are we revealing anyone’s private information? Are we putting people in danger?
The answer is no.
They srpead lies about this blog, because they want it to go away. Before STGRB site, nobody confronted these people, ever. Believe me, I know the fear of their attacks, but I also know that the behavior they exhibit is not normal and many of these people have anger issues. It is also really creepy. STGRB blog isn’t the enemy. They are.
The lies that they write about STGRB are infuriating! They are a vile lot.
Eve, please read our Learn More pages:
http://www.stopthegrbullies.com/learn-more/
The best way to deal with these people is to do what Sharon Desruisseaux did and completely ignore them. If you try to step in and talk it out with them, it will never work. There is no negotiating with them. That’s like trying to negotiate with terrorists. Because that’s essentially what they are. Terrorists. Anon2 is right. Many of them have extreme anger issues and are only looking to harm others online.
What infuriates me is the ‘child abuse’ label because of a certain person who claims to be 13 years-old being labeled as a bully because of her behavior and joining the pack mentality of the other well-established bullies when they go on the attack. She follows the crowd around to their latest victims, and then expects not to be labeled the same as the other bullies? Even if she is 13, which could very well be true, since when does age have anything to do with being a bully?
This 13 year-old went in public and acted like a bully. Now she’s crying foul because others are now calling her a bully? Somehow this equates child abuse? Are we supposed to close our eyes or hide them behind our hands just because she pulls the age-card?
This is ridiculous. Children can be some of the most horrifying bullies out there. They may have not yet developed a full social conscious that will guide them into adulthood and help them decide what is acceptable public behavior and what is not. Some people never develop it, as witnessed by the other adult bullies who are now raising children of their own. There’s a reason some kids in school commit suicide when a group of bullies their same age descend on their heads (if adults don’t catch it happening and stop it. Oh, and tell them that bully behavior is unacceptable and apply discipline and counseling to help them in the long term. At most, the adults of this site have done is highlight that this 13 year-old has been acting like a bully against others, nothing more.).
Her personal identifying information (PII) was never revealed on this site or by its members, and as far as I know, by no one who has read this site. The only thing that has been pointed to is her PUBLIC profile and her PUBLIC postings. That is not stalking, that is not child abuse, that is not illegal. It is open and public information scattered all across Goodreads and blogs.
Get over yourself, 13-year-old, and grow up. Oh, and that old biblical reference about “Bad association spoils useful habits?” It’s true. You need to find some new friends who treat others with respect and let their good habits rub off on you, and hopefully erase some of the ones currently there. Being a bully is not acceptable, whether 8, 13 years old, 25, 50, or even 90 years old.
If you don’t want to be labeled a bully, then stop acting like one.
As a note, I’ve worked as a volunteer at a women and children’s shelter and seen abuse. All levels, from verbal abuse (like what the bullies inflict), physical abuse, sexual abuse, and children and women afraid for their very lives. People we’ve had to literally help hide or move them to another town to help protect them until the legal machinery can even start to help them (that’s another matter altogether and is often heartbreaking in how much they cannot be protected. Pray you are never in this situation). I’ve also been the victim of bullies in school. I will tell you that they are different, even if the same energy may be present in both.
Calling out a child bully DOES NOT equal child abuse. If done right, it’s called helping to raise a child so they can become a working functioning part of adult society.
(I won’t go into the bullies telling a 14 year-old a while back to go f@@k themselves with gifs to illustrate suggestions on doing it. Nope, not going there. The hypocrisy continues…)
Well said, Booklover!
As for the bullies telling a 14 year-old to go F$%^ herself, if you won’t go there, I will. It was Adam Archer Pring and Blythe Harris who harassed that girl. The post we pubbed on that is here:
http://www.stopthegrbullies.com/2013/01/30/bully-reviews/
Scroll down and you will see the screenshot.
I would also question the ethics of adults who allow 13 year olds to join in these attacks. I think they have a responsibility to keep kids out of it.
Hi Eve, I am so sorry that these bullies have targeted you. They have pushed you so far that you are now petrified. How can GR allow anyone to be bullied like this? Its a total disgrace!!! I have read all of the bullies comments on GR, the things those bullies have said to you are horrendous and they are STILL leaving toxic comments on your blog today. I can’t believe how nasty these people are.
Eve it is so awful to think that that you managed to survive domestic abuse only to be abused by these bullies. In one breath the bullies accuse the STGRB blog of being abusive to women and in the next breath they accuse Eve of looking for sympathy because of the abuse she suffered, they say Eve is acting woe-is-me! Are these people for real???
I read the things the bullies accused STGRB of doing. So I decided to go through STGRB with a fine-tooth comb to find evidence of their accusations. But I found NO evidence whatsoever. What I did find out is that the people who are bad naming STGRB are the very same people who have been exposed as bullies by this site. STGRB showed screen shots to prove that these people are bullies. So now I understand why the bullies lie about STGRB, its because STGRB rightly named and shamed them.
And now the bullies are bullying Eve into not having anything to do with STGRB! They are demanding she takes down all links to the blog. They don’t want Eve or anyone else reading this blog because they don’t want people finding out about all the other authors they have bullied in the past! Too late bullies we all know who you are!!!
The evidence is very clear to me. I have seen with my own eyes the very same bullies tear authors apart on GR. They are the ones in the wrong. Until someone can show me something dodgy about STGRB (as in evidence ie. screen shots ect. not just twisted lies) then my support is firmly with STGRB. Anyone brave enough to take on the GR bullies gets a big thumbs up from me!
“Anyone brave enough to take on the GR bullies gets a big thumbs up from me!”
Seconded.