Comments that leave you shaking your head

[StillStunned]

Lately I think I've only had positive comments. But I just got this one:

OK premise.
But really very little sexual interaction between them.
Four stars.

The story in question is A Quiet Woman, tagline: "My neighbours don't have curtains." Category: Exhibitionist & Voyeur.

"Little sexual interaction" is pretty much inherent in the genre. And even then, the tagline tells you it's about watching from a distance. I'm all for recognising failures in my writing, but I think this is an instance where the reader should have known what to expect.

 

[Publius68]

There have been some other entries in this genre of comments that make you shake your head lately, but this one made me laugh as I shook my head. It is the latest to appear on the finale of my Provocation series. The chapter depicts a gonzo backyard swing that turns into a full-on hot tub orgy.
Here’s the comment:

What I don‘t get, maybe I missed something, all the male members of the organization had to kill a child to become a member, and because of this all members need to die, did I get the correct? And at the end the plan is now to take over the organization, and use the male members to handle the Owls? What am I missing?

 

[redgarters]

Here's one, on A Melody of Surrender, a D/s themed slow burn lesbian sex story. All 52 thousand words of it.
By Anonymous, of course. Had to read it three times to make some sense of all the fancy words. I wonder if it might not have been easier to simply write "This was too fucking 'woke' for me!"

A story where aristocrats are true, spiritual aristocrats, better than the rest of us (please, overlords, turn your eyes towards us!). The wild play of power exchange turned from transgression into a more effective sales pitch for luxury goods. The danger of queerness turned into a comforting Spectacle, a cozy blanket for frustrated suburbanites and upwardly mobile YA-addled yuppies. The hatred in the eyes of those whose fortunes were born covered in blood and dirt veiled by the final union of two hearts into one property portfolio. You are a writer truly in tune with our times.

My head-shake here is: If power exchange is 'a transgression' and queerness is 'a danger', why the fuck did you read a 52k words queer sex story clearly labeled for lesbian sex and power exchange?

People are weird.

 

[filthytrancendence]

Here's one, on A Melody of Surrender, a D/s themed slow burn lesbian sex story. All 52 thousand words of it.
By Anonymous, of course. Had to read it three times to make some sense of all the fancy words. I wonder if it might not have been easier to simply write "This was too fucking 'woke' for me!"

My head-shake here is: If power exchange is 'a transgression' and queerness is 'a danger', why the fuck did you read a 52k words queer sex story clearly labeled for lesbian sex and power exchange?

People are weird.

They're saying the opposite, I think. I can kinda translate head-ass leftist, though, being one myself. Every sentence is dripping with immense sarcasm.

They hate aristocrats, and don't like that you made the aristocrats actually superior to commoners. They don't like that you turned the transgression of power exchange into a consumptive sales-pitch. They don't like that you made queerness comfy and easily digested by the petite bourgeoisie. The second to last sentence is pretty hard to translate into regular English, and I'd need more story context to know 100% of what they're saying. But it boils down to disdain for your MCs and the reduction of intimate relationship to commercial partnership. And the last sentence is saying 'you encapsulate what I think is wrong with the world right now.'

Of course, I can't speak to whether any of that makes any sense without reading the story. But I believe that's what they were getting at, for what that's worth (probably not much).

 

[TheLobster]

I think @filthytrancendence is right. This commenter isn’t deriding the story, he’s using the annoying affectation straight from New Yorker, except dialed up to eleven, to convey his appreciation for how it’s an allegory for current times and class relations.

What is not clear, at least to me, is whether he’s expressing his disdain for the contemporary culture from what @redgarters a “woke” or “anti-woke” point of view. His highfalutin verbiage circles over the red line of sarcasm more often than a dog chasing its own tail, and I can’t tell which side he ultimately lands on.

Either way, it’s pretty clear the comment was more of an exercise in pompous, pretentious phrasing and not meant as actual feedback.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

Here's one, on A Melody of Surrender, a D/s themed slow burn lesbian sex story. All 52 thousand words of it.
By Anonymous, of course. Had to read it three times to make some sense of all the fancy words. I wonder if it might not have been easier to simply write "This was too fucking 'woke' for me!"

My head-shake here is: If power exchange is 'a transgression' and queerness is 'a danger', why the fuck did you read a 52k words queer sex story clearly labeled for lesbian sex and power exchange?

People are weird.

This is a good comment. Very valuable. It means that whether the reader liked it or not, he was definitely picking up what you were putting down. Unless of course you were writing a simple sex romp, in which case you made it too sociopolitical. Either way, very very valuable.

 

[onehitwanda]

There have been some other entries in this genre of comments that make you shake your head lately, but this one made me laugh as I shook my head. It is the latest to appear on the finale of my Provocation series. The chapter depicts a gonzo backyard swing that turns into a full-on hot tub orgy.
Here’s the comment:

/r/lostredditor

 

[Actingup]

My Nude Day story has, admittedly, lots and lots of music references. It is, after all, about an international choir festival. Naively, I thought that my mitigation strategies would help:

- 2 non-singing beta readers to help me keep it real
- clearly dedicating the story to music lovers so that the signalling was right up front and in the face
- making it 25K words long, so that it would take some commitment to read
- including a really long m/f sex scene, a f/f & voyeur scene, several nude sauna scenes, a mass stripping-in-a-church scene narrated from two different viewpoints and a stripping rehearsal scene leading up to that, a shared masturbation scene and another, short m/f sex scene. I honestly thought that was enough sex for literotica.

But finally I've been found wanting. I'll have to try harder next time.

TwistedPair456
Drudgery. If I wanted a music appreciation lesson I wouldn't have come here.

(I bet he's the guy that drives his truck right around the 'road closed' signs and into the flood waters too!)

 

[TheLobster]

But finally I've been found wanting. I'll have to try harder next time.

Did you have long stretches where not much was happening sex-wise that could be slapped with the "drudgery" label?

When readers bounce off of a story hard enough to leave a comment like this, it's not after taking a careful stock of the ratio between the "yawn, story" and "yay, good stuff". It's because they didn't feel like what they'd call slogging through unexciting exposition.

If I were to guess, it's probably the prelude, since you otherwise start dropping juicy hints at future action pretty quickly in act one.

 

[redgarters]

They're saying the opposite, I think. I can kinda translate head-ass leftist, though, being one myself. Every sentence is dripping with immense sarcasm.

and

I think @filthytrancendence is right. This commenter isn’t deriding the story, he’s using the annoying affectation straight from New Yorker, except dialed up to eleven, to convey his appreciation for how it’s an allegory for current times and class relations.

Thanks for that. I did wonder about that, but even though my English is pretty good for a second language this felt like a flourished version of the arrogant right wing assery I see so much of these days. If you are right (and that's very possible), the writer still comes out as a condescending asshat to me.

This is a good comment. Very valuable. It means that whether the reader liked it or not, he was definitely picking up what you were putting down. Unless of course you were writing a simple sex romp, in which case you made it too sociopolitical. Either way, very very valuable.

Looks like they read it, yes. Understood the contents, not so much either way.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

While not ripped from the pages of the New Yorker, this one made me shake my head:

by Anonymous user on 07/10/2025
Why would a girl like Gwen be dating a guy like Curt in the first place? Seems out of character.

Because, fortunately here in the real world, women never find themselves wondering why they dated that asshole in the first place.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

Looks like they read it, yes. Understood the contents, not so much either way.

Not just read it, picked up on the social class aspects that you dropped. It means that that got across. So, if you wanted to make that statement, then that means success. If you didn't want those aspects to overshadow the sex, then perhaps you overdid it. So either way, it's very good feedback.

It's not whether or not they liked the story or not, or whether they agreed with your themes/statements, or even how biased they may be. Who cares about that stuff? This is the reader telling you how the story came across. This is the reader telling you what came off the page at his end. This is the most valuable info that you can get from reader feedback. This is exactly the kind of stuff that I ask my beta readers.

 

[Actingup]

Did you have long stretches where not much was happening sex-wise that could be slapped with the "drudgery" label?

When readers bounce off of a story hard enough to leave a comment like this, it's not after taking a careful stock of the ratio between the "yawn, story" and "yay, good stuff". It's because they didn't feel like what they'd call slogging through unexciting exposition.

If I were to guess, it's probably the prelude, since you otherwise start dropping juicy hints at future action pretty quickly in act one.

The prelude is a choral strip show, so maybe between that and the first sauna scene? Possibly. But I figure that if they read the prelude, they know where it's heading and should be settling in for the ride. Anyway, the following comment (just in - thank you @Paiger123) has redeemed the readership, so all is well:

I loved it! So playful and thoroughly written characters. (I appreciated the music appreciation lesson- it lends credibility to the author’s knowledge of the subject matter.) 5****

 

[filthytrancendence]

Thanks for that. I did wonder about that, but even though my English is pretty good for a second language this felt like a flourished version of the arrogant right wing assery I see so much of these days. If you are right (and that's very possible), the writer still comes out as a condescending asshat to me.

Definitely a condescending asshat, no doubt. There's a specific kind of thrill in encoding your barbs such that only someone extremely well versed in your particular kind of asshattery can even properly decrypt it. But pursuing that thrill does make one an asshat. Especially if it's done anonymously.

 

[Lydra]

Here’s one that still has me scratching my head. First, for context, this was posted on the 7th (and final) part of a 141.7k word BDSM series, where each part was tagged with the kinks it hit on. Quite a long series, and from the details they mention, I’m pretty confident they read the full thing.

Sorry not for me with Sadism and Orgasm denial. I felt that Vivian's story was far better because it shows about bad so called masters out for their own pleasure, and making her feel like punishment was necessary for being a dirty slut (I hate that word, and Cute and Quaint!!) But her molding of her artist into a master was sweet, apart from she felt Anal was better than Vaginal, maybe because her bad masters only used this way, conditioning her?!! Considering the Orgasm Gap hasn't narrowed, men still have more Orgasm's than women especially in the "Vanilla" world and yet to deny something that is healthy and needed in a woman's life, for a man to Own all your Orgasm's, your body is akin to slavery. And your whole sex life is getting a man to become a full sadist, in mind, body and sex!! Well also not for me. Has the Author read The Marquis de Sade books? Where we get the words Sadism and Sadistic and Sadist from? Or just The Story of O, a story of Sadism and ownership? (Sir Stephen is the embodiment of this?) I have read better BDSM stories where edging leads to Orgasm (after all Devyn (someone with dyslexia trying to spell Devon, or trying to be exotic?) own thoughts that it's Very Rare She is Allowed to Orgasm?!!) All the comments below are gushing in praise of this story, so where are the more critical ones? Removed? Balance is necessary for Every story!! And my American isn't spot on, but there were so many typos, especially in this last Chapter, that it brought you out of the story!! Also it was interesting that the Hetro couples, the women have IUD's but Condoms are not used, and health checks?! But you can still become pregnant with an ordinary IUD, you need one coated with progesterone to fully protect. In the increasingly unfortunate situation that Women in America are finding themselves in, and increasing further in the future....that a Woman's place is in the home, bringing up children and family is everything (no matter how dysfunctional or Abusive it might be) So Sexual objects for Men, Breeder's, child rearers and God fearing!!. Get used to it As You Voted it in!! (Feel for the one's who didn't, or who are gay or don't believe in God!!) And watch out Lit, you could be banned under general ban on porn coming soon!! So the future is Not Bright on All things. Good luck America, you are going to need it!! *Anony-mouse* (Signing off!!)

I’m not confused by some of the issues they brought up. What they say about bad proofreading and typos is, inarguably, spot on (hopefully I’ve improved at that in the years since finishing that series). No, what confuses me is how someone can so clearly not be into sadism and tease/denial play, but still read a novel-length story where exploring those kinks is a pretty central theme. Don't you, at some point along the way, figure out this story isn't for you, and go find something more up your ally?

Other issues they bring up, though, do leave me scratching my head. Like, how did you get THAT from this story? Then, getting to the bit at the end… just like… wtf?

 

[Actingup]

Here’s one that still has me scratching my head. First, for context, this was posted on the 7th (and final) part of a 141.7k word BDSM series, where each part was tagged with the kinks it hit on. Quite a long series, and from the details they mention, I’m pretty confident they read the full thing.



I’m not confused by some of the issues they brought up. What they say about bad proofreading and typos is, inarguably, spot on (hopefully I’ve improved at that in the years since finishing that series). No, what confuses me is how someone can so clearly not be into sadism and tease/denial play, but still read a novel-length story where exploring those kinks is a pretty central theme. Don't you, at some point along the way, figure out this story isn't for you, and go find something more up your ally?

Other issues they bring up, though, do leave me scratching my head. Like, how did you get THAT from this story? Then, getting to the bit at the end… just like… wtf?

For what it's worth, what I get from their comment is that they were absolutely into your series, and were looking to that episode to fuel their personal world. They decided to tell you that, and slipped into explaining their world view and it how projected onto their enjoyment of your story and how you and the world let them down.

I would recommend that you don't agree to meet them to discuss world affairs or their personal life.

 

[Actingup]

Here’s one that still has me scratching my head. First, for context, this was posted on the 7th (and final) part of a 141.7k word BDSM series, where each part was tagged with the kinks it hit on. Quite a long series, and from the details they mention, I’m pretty confident they read the full thing.



I’m not confused by some of the issues they brought up. What they say about bad proofreading and typos is, inarguably, spot on (hopefully I’ve improved at that in the years since finishing that series). No, what confuses me is how someone can so clearly not be into sadism and tease/denial play, but still read a novel-length story where exploring those kinks is a pretty central theme. Don't you, at some point along the way, figure out this story isn't for you, and go find something more up your ally?

Other issues they bring up, though, do leave me scratching my head. Like, how did you get THAT from this story? Then, getting to the bit at the end… just like… wtf?

@Lydra just as an add on - I had a comment on my 'Map of Tasmania' a few months ago. The story has references to Tasmania's convict heritage (as well as female pubes, obviously). The comment is supportive and is historically and gramatically correct. It's just that, well, erotic stories clearly stir feelings....

------

Well worth the read. Interesting data concerning convict transportaion, Galleries and Port Arthur. Convect transportation wasn't the first item inflicted on The Great Southern Land. James Cook, whilst still a Navy Lieutenant and following the transit of venus and circumnavigating the offshore islands (N.Z.) made landfall at Cape Howe then sailed up the east coast. Before running aground on a coral reef, he turned loose some pigs to provide some extra food for the local populous. Thus the start of the feral pig problem. With the prison hulks being so overcrowded, they had to find a way to dispose of the problem. The USA had now revolted and would no longer accept the problem. Hence the commencement of transportation. Read 'For The Term Of His Natural Life'. After the First Fleet arrived and John Batman should have stayed in Georgetown, Tasmania. Some so-called English Gentlemen imported a dozen pairs of breeding rabbits for Gentlemen's Sport. As the Bunnies had no natural predators, thus the start of the Rabbit Plague. Then they imported foxes to try and curb the rabbits. Thus another feral problem. Which brings us to the 20th Century, Operation Buffalo and Maralinga Atomic Testing. Also the testing at the Monte Bello Islands. They couldn't or wouldn't conduct atomic testing in the 'Mother Country'. No, inflict it on the indigenous population and the silly colonials. OK. I'll get off the soapbox for now.

 

[Trionyx]

Comment on my story Climax of the Goddess

————

by Anonymous user on 07/08/2025

“I know it’s a fantasy, but…

Artist here. First of all, I just don’t have shows once every 2 to 3 months. We’re lucky if we could shows once a year to two. No matter how prolific he is.

Next… you might find an art gallery in New York City that would have the model as well as the painting, but I got the impression that this was not exactly a large town. So no, they’re not likely to have a live nude model, even with the restrictions on children.

It’s interesting though that you don’t focus on the professor until the end. Being an artist, once again, I can assure you most artists are not asexual creatures.”

—————

Well, if you knew it was fantasy, why nitpick these arcane and insignificant details? Who cares how often an artist has a show? And there was nothing in the story to confirm the size of the city. And I never said most artists were asexual, I merely had this one artist being asexual.

I normally appreciate comments but one like this only reflect on the commenter.