It goes beyond that, as you surely are aware. What you will see with many gaslighters is they are passive aggressive. They attempt to attack a person in such a way that the person can feel it, while at the same time keeping an outward appearance to onlookers that they are doing nothing of the sort. They LATER use this to try to make someone question their memory/sanity, though that is not always necessary (and obviously wouldn't work on me because I can see these efforts a mile away). (Think of the difference between being a gaslighter, gaslighting, and being gaslighted.)
Now here we have people claiming to have degrees in psychology, and no one asks them for proof. And yet I was asked for proof of my business success? I offered suitable ways to show this, and the subject was dropped like a hot iron. These are the kind of behaviors that reveal to the *truly* unbiased onlookers that people here are seeking to attack, not seeking to uncover the truth.
Again, all I had asked was that, now that you all have had your go at us and shared your skepticism twice-over, leave us be to prove ourselves. Let the success of our books and the happiness of our future authors be the real proof. That is all we ask. You can say anything you want until you are blue in the face, as can I, but as of right now, the only thing SOLID any of us have to go on is that we have released on book that is a bestseller.
More than that, if one wants to make good use of their research skills (as opposed to making guesses) they can easily confirm me as a top 1% editor on elance, confirm that our copy-editor has a degree in English and editorial experience, and confirm that I am respected by known editors, agents, publishers, and the thousands of authors who DO know me.
Further, I've been here before. Someone didn't believe I'd worked with Sol Stein and Toby Stein. I sent them, and everyone else, the proof. They disappeared for a long time after that, then later returned pretending they'd never seen the proof. So perhaps I will share all my proof with you but will it do me any good?
My history in this thread so far:
1) I say something.
2) Someone says I have to prove it
3) I prove it.
4) Someone says, "well that doesn't count."
Well, if it doesn't count, why ask me to prove me it in the first place? You knew what I would be proving. For example my book. I said we have a bestseller. Someone says prove it. I do. Oh, but now it doesn't count because it was written by a staff member.
But wait? I though I was an aspiring author? So I am a bestseller who aspiring? I suppose you could say that. I will all be aspiring to achieve more. But I doubt that is what the detractor meant. No matter what I prove, it won't count, because several of you here are on a mission. Fresh meat; I get it.
But repeating the same skepticism over and over again makes no progress, which is why it got to the point that I expressed feeling harassed by it and requested it be left alone since everything that can be said has been said. What is the opposition to letting our businesses success (or failure, if that is what you expect) speak for itself? You've already expressed you think it will fail; we've already expressed we think it won't. What more is there to do than wait and see? And what is the point in refusing to allow that? I'm not saying don't share your thoughts. I'm just saying that since you did, really what is the point to yell them louder and louder. everyone heard you. Do you intend to try to destroy new publishing houses seeking to help authors?? That is very different from being wary of them, which is understandable. But when you won't give the publisher a chance, even after you've already expressed your skepticism, that goes beyond "wary".
If you want to help authors, share your thoughts, then trust that they are smart enough to decide for themselves. You do not need to keep beating them over the head with your opinion until you convince them to hate a publisher that has done nothing wrong. And if you feel you DO need to do that, you need to realize that many people WILL see that as an attack and not as mere skepticism.
Once again, let the success of our book titles and the happiness of our authors speak for itself. You've said your peace. If If you're right, you'll still be able to say I told you so, even if you stop beating the dead horse for now.
I'm back to reading a fantastic submission. Look for it on the bestseller list in the near future
If you miss it, I'm sure I'll have a screenshot. I take them often since I know how some people can be. In the meantime, be happy and enjoy life. There's too many wonderful, positive experiences to be had!