don't judge a book by its blurb

[Ron Gatrelle]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Doug Yanega" <dyanega at pop.ucr.edu>
To: <LEPS-L at lists.yale.edu>
Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2001 12:38 PM
Subject: Re: don't judge a book by its blurb


> Thanks to Felix for finally interjecting a little reality into this
thread.
> I was biting my tongue, as I know the authors well, and even produced a
> field guide through the INHS myself (the one preceding this butterfly
guide
> in the series, in fact, on Cerambycids). I was wondering how long it
would
> take until someone would trouble themselves to get a copy of the book
> before criticizing it.

Before criticizing IT?  I (Ron) have been biting my tongue as neither I nor
Leroy have said one word about the book itself, its content, worth,
scientific accuracy, you name it. I even, in a spirit of levity, said as an
adict I would buy it.  For the record - I want it. The very title of this
string "don't judge a book" is a fairy tale. It is a one sided argument
against something that never occurred.

For apparently different reasons Leroy reacted, and I overreacted, to the
"law enforcement" reference in the brochure. I have already stated where my
paranoia on that phrase comes from. Unreasonable to others, reasonable to
me.  The "issue"
the "puzzlement" the "controversy" had nothing to do with the "book" but
what on earth was the connection with butterflies and law enforcement.
Anyone can point a finger at me for jumping to conclusions, overaction,
being an air head over the use of the phrase "law enforcement". Fine. One
could even point a finger at me for in some way questioning the authors -
guilt by association. But don't go putting words into my mouth or intents
into my heart about judging the BOOK.

>I rather suspect someone in the business office was
> responsible for the advertisement, trying to encourage USFWS personnel to
> buy copies (the INHS makes very little from book sales, so every copy
sold
> helps).

I am very glad someone has read the book and that it not only has no
mention of Law Enforcement but even promotes collecting. (Now the
anti-collecting faction can speak against the "book" or be alarmist and
wonder why "evil collecting" would even be mentioned in a modern butterfly
book in this day of lepidopteran enlightenment.) Just a little good natured
sarcasm.

>I doubt they realize how well butterfly books sell compared to
> other field guides.

I am going to start a new string about how wrong headed/spirited Doug was
to attack the wonderful advertising people at the publisher's office for
not having enough brains to "realize" the market to which they were
appealing. Why not?  Of course not.  I am still curious though about how
and why "law enforcement" was mentioned in the brochure. But by the next
hour I will have deleted this post, along with all the others on this
subject I deleted yesterday, and will have forgotten about it in my head
too.
Ron
>
>
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