Comments on: An agent’s responsibility

By: Julia Pierce

Julia Pierce — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 02:59:00 +0000

First off, I want to applaud you for discussing such a touchy topic openly! I have often wondered, when I see things like this, how a person can wake up one day and think this was a good idea. Much more controversial topics get published all the time (or given media attention, etc.).
It is really refreshing to see someone on the business end of things question it. I think there should definitely be a line. Of course what you think is right and what someone else thinks is right may be entirely different things. But at the end of the day, would you be proud to be involved in that sale? Would you want your child to know you had anything to do with it? If you would be fine with that, you have your answer. If you are less than thrilled by the thought, well…

By: Catherine Whitney

Catherine Whitney — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:06:24 +0000

P.S. The comment above is mine. I didn’t mean to leave it anonymously. My new operating system “forgot” my name.
Catherine

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:01:20 +0000

I was hoping one of you would tackle this question. As a collaborator I’m constantly checking my personal biases at the door, but I operate from the basic principle, “First, do no harm.” Is this book a cynical appeal to skinny-obsessed parents? Is it a morality tale? Is it an opportunity for discussion? Is it garbage? Will it create a new trend in starvation diets for toddlers? I don’t know the answer, but I do suspect that the motivation for publishing it and making a buck off the outcry did not originate in a particularly high-minded place. If I were the editor, agent or author involved in this deal, I’d be ashamed. There has to be a line, right?