It finally happened...

I have had so many positive anonymous comments. And some very useful criticisms. I don't want to throw out the baby with the bathwater. Of course, I write fairly non-controversial stories in pretty boring categories, so it's easier for me.

Someone (Simon?) pointed out that creating a login on a site like this is a significant bridge to cross. Being anonymous is likely not for a nefarious reason. It's either laziness/procrastination or avoiding leaving more easily found links to a site many will find embarrassing to be associated with.
 
That’s a good instinct, I think.

However, prevalence is also a major dynamic when it comes to problematic ideas and speech: the more people see it, the more they feel it’s within the bounds of reasonableness. If people never see unreasonable comments then they are much, much less likely to indulge in them themselves.

Humans are tribal basically.

Psychologists will tell you that if you want people to stop doing a particular thing then you don’t put out a message that says ‘too many people are…’. Instead, you should always say ‘most people don’t…’.

While a troll may get a momentary feeling of satisfaction that their comment was acted upon if it’s been deleted, they’ll also be starved of the thing they want: attention and fuss.
The thing is if you suppress problematic speech, then there are no examples of it to use when explaining problematic speech.

When I hear someone use a slur, be it racial, about gender, or anything else, I find it ignorant, but I'm fine with hearing it because that person told me a lot about themselves including they're not someone I need to associate with.

To be clear, that's if its a general comment. When I have heard someone say something ignorant directly to someone I will say something to them. Opinion is theirs and I can't change it and wouldn't waste time trying, but bullying is a bit different.

These comments are left by anon, about a fictional story written by an anon person. To take it that personally no matter what it is means you're not long for this game, because even if you delete it, you read it and it will stick with you if you let it.
 
I finally got my first hate comment. I was at work, perusing/watching my story stats. Oh look, a comment. Imagine my surprise when it was not praise. Nor was it a critique or even general dislike. I could understand disinterest or the like.

The story is part of a series about a boy who turns into a girl thru alien interference. It has Trans ideas and concepts but it isn't that.

I thought I was writing a cute story. Turns out anything with gender changing will upset some people.

I debated leaving/removing it all day. Finally decided to report it. It shouldn't be on my mind, and soon it won't be anymore.

ALSO, they did it anonymously.
Yeah, my second lowest rated story is one where a married couple changes genders. It was the third part of a four-parter. It has zero comments on it. Gender bender stories do not do well. Hmm, I wonder what would happen if I did a Loving Wives gender bender story..? The first 0 rated story on Lit!
 
I finally got my first hate comment. I was at work, perusing/watching my story stats. Oh look, a comment. Imagine my surprise when it was not praise. Nor was it a critique or even general dislike. I could understand disinterest or the like.

The story is part of a series about a boy who turns into a girl thru alien interference. It has Trans ideas and concepts but it isn't that.

I thought I was writing a cute story. Turns out anything with gender changing will upset some people.

I debated leaving/removing it all day. Finally decided to report it. It shouldn't be on my mind, and soon it won't be anymore.

ALSO, they did it anonymously.
Right, forget it.
 
I finally got my first hate comment. I was at work, perusing/watching my story stats. Oh look, a comment. Imagine my surprise when it was not praise. Nor was it a critique or even general dislike. I could understand disinterest or the like.

The story is part of a series about a boy who turns into a girl thru alien interference. It has Trans ideas and concepts but it isn't that.

I thought I was writing a cute story. Turns out anything with gender changing will upset some people.

I debated leaving/removing it all day. Finally decided to report it. It shouldn't be on my mind, and soon it won't be anymore.

ALSO, they did it anonymously.
I'm sorry, maybe I missed something in all this. Did you delete the comment or did the site do it?
 
I finally got my first hate comment. I was at work, perusing/watching my story stats. Oh look, a comment. Imagine my surprise when it was not praise. Nor was it a critique or even general dislike. I could understand disinterest or the like.

The story is part of a series about a boy who turns into a girl thru alien interference. It has Trans ideas and concepts but it isn't that.

I thought I was writing a cute story. Turns out anything with gender changing will upset some people.

I debated leaving/removing it all day. Finally decided to report it. It shouldn't be on my mind, and soon it won't be anymore.

ALSO, they did it anonymously.
some dude, not anonymous. an old member of this site, just blatantly told me to kms after i posted my last story. i reported the comment (those are supposed to go through moderation before being posted) it's still there.
 
some dude, not anonymous. an old member of this site, just blatantly told me to kms after i posted my last story. i reported the comment (those are supposed to go through moderation before being posted) it's still there.
Comment moderation currently only looks for spam links, and it only ever did that because there was a rash of bots putting links everywhere.. It's not a perfect system

That being said, I'm sorry. You didn’t deserve that. How long has it been?
 
some dude, not anonymous. an old member of this site, just blatantly told me to kms after i posted my last story. i reported the comment (those are supposed to go through moderation before being posted) it's still there.
I found it. It's possible that this is in a queue for review, and that site events like Summer Lovin' have slowed down moderation.

I would report it again and PM Laurel directly. Don't delete it, because Laurel can't do anything with deleted comments.

That being said, I wouldn't wish comments like that on anyone. It can be hard to have something like that represent (to date) 33% of the response to your hard work, so I'd encourage you to stick around and participate in the forum a little more. Peer community is a healthy counterbalance to trolls
 
Comment moderation currently only looks for spam links, and it only ever did that because there was a rash of bots putting links everywhere.. It's not a perfect system

That being said, I'm sorry. You didn’t deserve that. How long has it been?
a week. that person has commented mean stuff before. i'm not deleting that. i want people to see how shitty he is but i expect admins to ban him. this is unacceptable.
 
a week. that person has commented mean stuff before. i'm not deleting that. i want people to see how shitty he is but i expect admins to ban him. this is unacceptable.
It takes more than one occurance to establish a pattern of behavior. Just keep reporting them, and politely PM the site admin Laurel.
 
oh if you look them up you'll see their comments and it's not very pretty
I believe you. I already saw the one you mentioned, and it’s not pretty.

Like I said, though. Pm Laurel politely, continue to report them as they appear, and lean on us whenever they get to you. We've all gotten comments like that.
 
a week. that person has commented mean stuff before. i'm not deleting that. i want people to see how shitty he is but i expect admins to ban him. this is unacceptable.
What you're asking for is more than reasonable, but I wouldn't hold my breath. 🫤
 
some dude, not anonymous. an old member of this site, just blatantly told me to kms after i posted my last story. i reported the comment (those are supposed to go through moderation before being posted) it's still there.
Thats despicable, it made me feel like vomiting. I reported it too. Some people are truly vile. I’m sorry you suffered that.
 
Last edited:
some dude, not anonymous. an old member of this site, just blatantly told me to kms after i posted my last story. i reported the comment (those are supposed to go through moderation before being posted) it's still there.
You can delete the comment. Absolutely report them, but delete that trash and just move on.
 
Back
Top