I DIDN'T HAVE TIME--A RANT

PHOTO BY ME

I am told the Russians have a saying:  "It is not convenient." It is usually used in place of the ubiquitous North American saying: "I didn't have time." The Russians are being more honest.  Their version is another way of saying: "What you are asking me is way down on my priority list (as you are  too)."


The Rant:  In the past few weeks, I have asked, in a most kindly fashion, a number of people to review my books on Kindle--give it a star rating and write 20 words.  Some of these people I have begged in person as well as in phone calls or in follow-up e mails. These people are my friends or close associates. I have hand delivered the books to them free of charge (a print version costs me almost 20 bucks.) I supplied a link in the e-mail so they could go directly to the review page.  I timed how long it took me to complete the process of going to the link and writing a 20-word review.  It took me 1 minute and 12 seconds.  And I type slowly.


I specified to my readers that I was not expecting a good review.  I specified I was not asking for a lengthy or erudite review or a school book report. And almost no one bothered to take the 1 minute and 12 seconds from their "busy" lives to extend me the courtesy of helping me out.  Why?  I am sure their answer would be "I didn't have time." If they had said it in Russian, I would  have believed it.