The Internet is already awash in negativity, and for the most part, I refuse to add to the pile. Maybe I’m a little old fashioned, but I believe in the old adage “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”

I turn down the majority of review requests because I feel that I can’t say anything positive about the product, even after delving deeply into it. You wouldn’t believe some of the crazy requests I get (um, alien technology, anyone?) But I’d rather go without the money than having to say something superficial or untrue in the review.

I stand by all of Neatorama’s sponsored reviews - they reflect what I genuinely feel about the product. True, I could have said something bad and still charge for a review, but I wouldn’t feel right about it.

Advertising is an integral part of the web - many websites and blogs wouldn’t exist (for free anyhow) if it weren’t for ad income. I believe that there is still a place for honest, disclosed, and ethical review posts on this and other blogs.

@Andie - spelling errors are part of Neatorama’s charm. Consider it part fun read, part typo hunting expedition. If you tell me which words are misspelled, I’ll fix teh typso immediately.

@jonathan - angst is a big part of any teenager’s life. The book is not about misery and whining - quite the opposite actually, as the excerpts from the book will show you. I’m guessing from your comment that you didn’t look closely at the stories.

@Retrokatze - the very first sentence of the post will tell you that I had a pretty high expectation of the book after I reviewed the website, and I wasn’t not disappointed. The book is very cool - definitely worth checking out (even if you browse through it at the library or the bookstore).

Arrow…..perhaps?