Accumulated Scars

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EmilyMiller

Perv of the Impverse
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Aug 13, 2022
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That’s a phrase I used in a story recently. It’s obviously not my invention, but it seemed appropriate.

“Attention whore,” is one of the nicer things I have been called in the alt PMs and anonymous mails via the feedback form that I used to get (and which I feel are likely to start again now). Maybe that’s true.

Conventional wisdom is that when you are in the middle of a shit-storm, shut the fuck up and wait for it to blow over. I guess I’m not that conventional.

I’m trying to stay away from this place. But it’s been a big part of my life for a while now. I also have an obsessive / addictive personality. But I’m trying. I left open email notifications as I wanted my dwindling band of friends here to be able to reach me. The majority of these are women, odd given my reputation, right? But that just keeps dragging me back to ground zero.

But anyway, I’m going to turn off email notifications after posting this. I’d also ask @AH_Mod to lock this thread. I don’t need messages of support. Thats too little too late. I certainly have had enough of snide bitchiness as well. Either way, my aim is to never look at this thread again. Knock yourselves out if you want to continue the public sport of discussing me as if I was Taylor Swift.

I have always viewed threads like these with a raised eyebrow. They are often cries for attention (see “attention whore” above). They are often designed to elicit “please don’t go” responses.

In this case, it’s best for me to go. My therapist thinks so, my boyfriend thinks so. People who actually care about my well-being.

I may keep writing, I don’t know. Not sure I feel much like it right now, but that could change. But I’m done with the social aspects of Literotica. It’s not a community. Communities self-police. Communities look after their members. I’m sure there is a significant number of people who will be delighted to hear this. I’m glad I made your day.

I just wanted to say a few things before I go.

None of this train-wreck is about a review. I asked for a review. I was keen to read it. I wanted to learn and improve. I’ve had feedback from many people in beta reading and via PMs. I like it. I welcome it. I act on it.

The review itself was not the issue. But it had massive problems nevertheless. It basically wasn’t a review.

The first half was pettifogging Grammar Nazi stuff. Some of which was plain wrong. And where it was right, it was irrelevant minutiae. I believe it was just tacked on to provide a fig-leaf for the actual substance of the review, the second half.

This was simply a tirade of performative, political polemic. I was made a whipping boy for (and I hate to use this phase as a queer liberal) virtue signaling.

The whole text was full of snide pokes. Nothing to do with the actual work. The “Emily writes like a man,” jab was particular below the belt, given how much I have suffered from the conspiracy theories about my gender.

But anyway. It was what it was. I acknowledged the review in public. I then PMed the reviewers in private saying pretty much what I just said above.

As far as I understand the rules, you are not meant to refer to private conversations in public. But given my reviewers have already ripped that BandAid off, the thing I am totally beside myself about is their PM response. That’s the issue, not the rather amateurish and puerile “review.”

Disclosure: I asked for their comment referencing PMs to be redacted. In the same report, I said that the thread had descended into being a non-consensual BDSM dungeon. But… neither of my appeals were acted on. You can see the allegations against me still there. The thread was locked because of the later arguments with a person I don’t even know. The contents of which I haven’t even seen as they were redacted. I’m nevertheless resigned to it all being my fault. Thats how things go here.

As to my interactions with the reviewers and their associates? Well verbs are irregular:

I am robust, blunt and unflinching
You can come across as aggressive
She is a psychopath

Anyway, back to the PM response….

This was, and I paraphrase, any good thing that anyone has ever said about my writing was because they had objectified me and that someone should have told me this long ago.

Now I’m more than used to the “woman writers get treated better” crap. It’s not been my experience at all, the opposite if anything. But this feedback from supposed champions of women writers?

The scales fell from my eyes and I understood why they had sought to humiliate me in public. I didn’t need to work it out, they told me.

The review should be seen thorough the lens that the reviewers admitted in private.

Anyway. This post may well be redacted. And I may well be banned. In the circumstances, that might not be a bad outcome for me.

I’m tired of being a public punch bag.

Emily
 
I can completely support someone leaving an environment that has become toxic for them.
I would add that there are tons of great writers on this site who never come anywhere near the AH.
Keep writing, keep sharing stories, don't let the crabs take that away from you.
 
I hope you take whatever steps, or time, you need. If you decide that complete disengagement from the forum is necessary for your well-being, then I wish you well, but I will be sorry to see you go. I think most people here have enjoyed your participation in the forum as well as your stories.
 
I feel like I poured gasoline on the fire with my topic thread last night.

And for that I will be forever regretful. My intentions were good. Not to argue. Or accuse. Only to start a conversation.

But Emily had asked me to let it go. And I didn't. And I can only hope she can eventually forgive me for that.

Emily, you probably won't read this. But just know I'm truly sorry. I never meant to hurt you.

To everyone else, my apologies as well. My goal has always ever been to try and bridge the gaps between us, to see all sides of a problem.


Instead I feel like I've caused an even greater division.
 
Em, you have many friends here. You made AH a better place. We will be here if you change your mind, but understand if you don't.

Take care of yourself, above all.
 
Stepping away from us in the cesspit of depravity and words might be a good idea.

We will certainly miss you!
 
As I already told you, this place requires a thicker skin and not taking things seriously. It is probably the only way to function without losing too much nerves. Ignoring the people you dislike and limiting your communication to people you are okay with is the only right approach because as you said yourself, this place isn't really a community.
There are some truly lovely people here but there are also those who aren't. I've always felt that the latter are somewhat louder. There are also people with some agendas. All in all, a regular internet forum, based on my own experience, but again, not a community. That has been my opinion for a while, completely unrelated to this particular case. We could do better, of course, but I am not sure if we ever will.
 
I don't know you well, but I've enjoyed our limited interactions. And anecdotally - given my occasional perusals through the forum - you seem to be very well-liked around here. If your well-being is better served by avoiding this place then you'll be missed, but you gotta do what you gotta do. I hope you keep writing, at least.
 
I have not been following this particular exchange, and have no irons in this fire. However, the longer I've been here, the more I think the idea of "reviewing" erotic stories is totally counter-productive. We'd all like to think that people we respect will surely appreciate the hard work we've put in to doing something that we think is great (while, of course, also offering some tips and critique that will allow us to get even better). But look how it works out for even professional writers, directors, and musicians. Even the best thing they ever create will get some barbed reviews, and some of the the things they've been laboring over for months or years will get broadly slagged.

Now, when it comes to erotica, you're adding in the vastly complicating factor of trying to find a good, smart, insightful reviewer in all other respects, who can ALSO appreciate your kinks. I feel the impulse, but unless you already know the reviewer likes 'your thing' I think it's a very dubious proposition. It's just too many boxes to try to check.
 
Let me say from personal experience, it's hard to stay away from the AH. When I took my stories down a year ago, I assumed that I'd take a very long break (two years?) from writing porn and from the AH. But I love to write porn. It's very satisfying to me sexually, emotionally, and intellectually. I started writing again a few months after taking all my stories down. I created a circle of readers from the people who sent me PM's. That was fine for a while but in the end wasn't satisfying.

If you are writing porn, there's nothing like the AH that I know of. It's the only place where issues of interest to a porn writer are discussed. I got sucked back. I eventually resumed publishing on Literotica and started reposting the stories I took down. Now, I contribute to the AH about as much as I did before I took all my stories down.

That being said, I now have a much different attitude towards the people on the AH. I assume none of them are my friends. We can get along. We can have pleasant discussions. But their opinions don't matter to me beyond the intellectual level. I assume they might at any time post something hateful about me or jump on any mistake that I make. What matters emotionally to me now is how Literotica readers like my stories.
 
That being said, I now have a much different attitude towards the people on the AH. I assume none of them are my friends. We can get along. We can have pleasant discussions. But their opinions don't matter to me beyond the intellectual level.
To me it's about individuals. My default position toward new people is as you describe. But then over the course of various interactions I began to consider certain individuals friends or at least more than just names on a website.
 
I'll miss you Emily - but of course, since this place is causing you grief, distancing yourself from it is the correct choice.

My offer from our PMs still stands; You can email me if you need someone to talk to. You'll be okay. I believe in you. 💙
 
I’ve been under the weather lately and dealing with writing and work over social media matters here. But of course I too share Emily’s anger and frustration. I hope she will keep writing on Lit if not posting on the boards and I wish her luck.
 
This isn't a critique site, so those offering review services here are self-proclaiming and it's writer beware in asking them for assessments. There are folks here who have hung out shingles as reviewers who are too highly opinionated and too little trained in the disciple to be doing so. So, sure, ask for reviews if you wish, but don't take them too seriously. If you see critique you believe is helpful, good. As for the rest, let it roll off your back and carry on. Most self-proclaimed reviewers here, like "editors" here, don't really know any more about writing fiction than the ones they are critiquing.
 
I haven't often agreed with KeithD, but this is certainly one of the times I do. As I wrote to you, Emily, do what you have to, but don't cut off people you like and who like you because of the barbs of trolls. I'm always interested in seeing what you start here and what it generates from our fellows. If you go, I will miss you. And if you stay, you little attention whore, we'll give you all the (friendly) attention you deserve.
 
Forums are like mirrors. Sometimes they expose us, sometimes they expose who's looking at us.

Leonard Cohen wrote:

"There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in."

Best wishes, Emily, and thanks for the smile.

EB
 
I shall certainly miss Emily's sunny presence here...it has always brightened the AH. Very sad to see that this talented author has been chased away by trolls (I'm not across the complexities of what has gone on here), and that many here at the AH will be the poorer for Emily's absence. I've always thought that if trolls on the web in general were a low species, then the ones on an erotic fiction site must be, well, yeah...
 
That’s a phrase I used in a story recently. It’s obviously not my invention, but it seemed appropriate.

“Attention whore,” is one of the nicer things I have been called in the alt PMs and anonymous mails via the feedback form that I used to get (and which I feel are likely to start again now). Maybe that’s true.

Conventional wisdom is that when you are in the middle of a shit-storm, shut the fuck up and wait for it to blow over. I guess I’m not that conventional.

I’m trying to stay away from this place. But it’s been a big part of my life for a while now. I also have an obsessive / addictive personality. But I’m trying. I left open email notifications as I wanted my dwindling band of friends here to be able to reach me. The majority of these are women, odd given my reputation, right? But that just keeps dragging me back to ground zero.

But anyway, I’m going to turn off email notifications after posting this. I’d also ask @AH_Mod to lock this thread. I don’t need messages of support. Thats too little too late. I certainly have had enough of snide bitchiness as well. Either way, my aim is to never look at this thread again. Knock yourselves out if you want to continue the public sport of discussing me as if I was Taylor Swift.

I have always viewed threads like these with a raised eyebrow. They are often cries for attention (see “attention whore” above). They are often designed to elicit “please don’t go” responses.

In this case, it’s best for me to go. My therapist thinks so, my boyfriend thinks so. People who actually care about my well-being.

I may keep writing, I don’t know. Not sure I feel much like it right now, but that could change. But I’m done with the social aspects of Literotica. It’s not a community. Communities self-police. Communities look after their members. I’m sure there is a significant number of people who will be delighted to hear this. I’m glad I made your day.

I just wanted to say a few things before I go.

None of this train-wreck is about a review. I asked for a review. I was keen to read it. I wanted to learn and improve. I’ve had feedback from many people in beta reading and via PMs. I like it. I welcome it. I act on it.

The review itself was not the issue. But it had massive problems nevertheless. It basically wasn’t a review.

The first half was pettifogging Grammar Nazi stuff. Some of which was plain wrong. And where it was right, it was irrelevant minutiae. I believe it was just tacked on to provide a fig-leaf for the actual substance of the review, the second half.

This was simply a tirade of performative, political polemic. I was made a whipping boy for (and I hate to use this phase as a queer liberal) virtue signaling.

The whole text was full of snide pokes. Nothing to do with the actual work. The “Emily writes like a man,” jab was particular below the belt, given how much I have suffered from the conspiracy theories about my gender.

But anyway. It was what it was. I acknowledged the review in public. I then PMed the reviewers in private saying pretty much what I just said above.

As far as I understand the rules, you are not meant to refer to private conversations in public. But given my reviewers have already ripped that BandAid off, the thing I am totally beside myself about is their PM response. That’s the issue, not the rather amateurish and puerile “review.”

Disclosure: I asked for their comment referencing PMs to be redacted. In the same report, I said that the thread had descended into being a non-consensual BDSM dungeon. But… neither of my appeals were acted on. You can see the allegations against me still there. The thread was locked because of the later arguments with a person I don’t even know. The contents of which I haven’t even seen as they were redacted. I’m nevertheless resigned to it all being my fault. Thats how things go here.

As to my interactions with the reviewers and their associates? Well verbs are irregular:

I am robust, blunt and unflinching
You can come across as aggressive
She is a psychopath

Anyway, back to the PM response….

This was, and I paraphrase, any good thing that anyone has ever said about my writing was because they had objectified me and that someone should have told me this long ago.

Now I’m more than used to the “woman writers get treated better” crap. It’s not been my experience at all, the opposite if anything. But this feedback from supposed champions of women writers?

The scales fell from my eyes and I understood why they had sought to humiliate me in public. I didn’t need to work it out, they told me.

The review should be seen thorough the lens that the reviewers admitted in private.

Anyway. This post may well be redacted. And I may well be banned. In the circumstances, that might not be a bad outcome for me.

I’m tired of being a public punch bag.

Emily
I only just met you. I enjoy your work. I enjoy communicating with you here. But that pales if this is a toxic place for you. Go where you are healthy.

Do good work. Be well. Come back if you can. But be healthy.

Edit: As for being an "attention whore?" We write. We are what we are, and fuck 'em if they can't take the joke.
 
As I already told you, this place requires a thicker skin and not taking things seriously. It is probably the only way to function without losing too much nerves. Ignoring the people you dislike and limiting your communication to people you are okay with is the only right approach because as you said yourself, this place isn't really a community.
There are some truly lovely people here but there are also those who aren't. I've always felt that the latter are somewhat louder. There are also people with some agendas. All in all, a regular internet forum, based on my own experience, but again, not a community. That has been my opinion for a while, completely unrelated to this particular case. We could do better, of course, but I am not sure if we ever will.
Sometimes the thick skin can wear like limestone in rushing water. People have their limits and times of mental vulnerability they might not know that point was reached until some chucklefuck decides to open their proverbial cocksucker and say some snide, or off the wall shit.

I can roll with the punches, or be not bothered, but I ain't granite. I used to deal with a lot of shit on a local board called 502StreetScene. I'd pay some comments dust, or slap back at them. But then I hadn't been on there in a day or two, because there was a lull where no new topics were being posted, and found a whole thread about me. Maybe it was slightly my fault for what I was aspiring with my Jax Rhapsody user name, but it yielded a cruel 32 page @ 40PPP thread, that honestly, I don't think the Politics and GB sesspools have shit on. I did my best to ignore it and not comment. The admin didn't issue any warnings until the second or last page. After that, I'd have mods, or a certain mod edit some of my post in relation to what they found, here and there. So I get why she would want a break, or leave.
 
I shall certainly miss Emily's sunny presence here...it has always brightened the AH. Very sad to see that this talented author has been chased away by trolls (I'm not across the complexities of what has gone on here), and that many here at the AH will be the poorer for Emily's absence. I've always thought that if trolls on the web in general were a low species, then the ones on an erotic fiction site must be, well, yeah...
Okay I’m saying more now that I’ve caught up on this thread.

Erotic fiction web trolls are a low species? Lower than low? Yeah, that’s pretty much my assessment too. I’ve had my dealings with such trolls. From shaming one of my friends in my Gargoyles fanfic days because of her well thought out and written mother-son incest positive Demona stories, to shaming me for writing about Erika Christensen as a rebel Scientologist slut (the stories weren’t about promoting Scientology, it was parody and Erika was depicted as a Freezoner!), to more recent bullying on this site’s Loving Wives and other sections… it’s not fun dealing with trolls. It’s probably worse to deal with them being a woman on a site like this when they have been known to send you unsolicited dirty pictures and emails. I met my ex wife online and she told me plenty of horror stories about being eroticized negatively when she visited adult websites. I hesitated to tell her I had written for such sites and tried to do so with respect for both male and female characters in my stories. Of course I brought it up to her eventually- had to be honest and ask her opinion of my stories- she read them out of curiosity and well, it was a turn on for her once she saw the truth in my writing as I said I was. It helped us get together. I pleaded with her to read my stories and gave full permission to dump me without question if she hated my guts. I ended up with her telling me my on again off again hobby was fine and she was glad to be with such a writer as me. I count this as one of my life’s great miracles today. Didn’t work out between us long term, we broke up and divorced over the several years itch in 2017 and I haven’t dated since. Emotional trauma related to the divorce, the pandemic, and the new state of online dating plus just plain not meeting anyone interested is a sad state of affairs. I like to think I’m over it, but until I meet someone as into me and vice versa as she was… the misery continues when I let it. [sigh] Believe this story or don’t- I swear to you that it is true.

Emily, I hope the misery brought to you by this site’s trolls recently is not permanent. To those who suffer from it still… chin up and keep writing quality work. I will praise you for it when I have enjoyed reading it. Good luck and God bless.
 
Very sorry to hear of this @EmilyMiller

We don't know each other but I've always enjoyed reading your threads on here.

Wishing you all strength and that you soon get back to a happier place. I'm sure you'll be greatly missed on here so hope this isn't the last we'll see of you.

Best wishes,
Bobby
 
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