New author stories

[Voboy]

Such advice isn't always given respectfully, and this wasn't the only thread where this particular issue was discussed.

Trolls get treated like trolls. That's true on every forum of which I've been a part, not just this one.

A disrespectful newb is always going to invite ridicule. That's a cliche. It happens in real life, as well: any established social structure is going to have an easier time integrating those who want to be integrated, while rejecting (sometimes "bluntly," as you put it) those who want to act like assholes.

I see nothing surprising in what has happened here. The raccoon guy wanted to make this about him, and has succeeded.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Such advice isn't always given respectfully, and this wasn't the only thread where this particular issue was discussed.

I told you what my perception was back when I started frequenting this place. People are all nice and kind when you are bubbly and positive and excited about writing, but can often become snide when you criticize something. And on top of all, authors are so sensitive about their writing. It's so easy to get offended or triggered.

This place takes quite some getting used to, and that's not the fault of new people. Some veteran members are very blunt and protective of Lit and Laurel, often not caring about whether these new people understand the dynamics of this place.

There are certainly people who respond disrespectfully, but that's not the board as a whole. Our perspectives differ, and I can appreciate that. But my impression is that I see as much crap thrown at people who are sincerely trying to be helpful as I see veteran authors disrespecting newcomers.

 

[IWroteThis]

Swing and a miss!

Perhaps your issue is that you lack a sufficient grasp of the English language?

I was talking about the vibe you were giving off, not claiming you actually were EmilyMiller. Just to be clear, I'm also not claiming that you're not EmilyMiller. Your identity (or identities) are outside the scope of my comment.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

Trolls get treated like trolls. That's true on every forum of which I've been a part, not just this one.

I wish that were so. What I see instead, here and in most other forums, is that some trolls are cherished while some are treated the way they should be. There's a very clear example of what happened two and a half years ago. You might remember what topic I'm talking about. For the record, I very much appreciated your reaction then. I still do.
There are also other, more mundane examples of the same behavior.

A disrespectful newb is always going to invite ridicule.

Disrespectful towards whom? If they're being disrespectful towards some well-intentioned AHer, then sure, ridicule away. But if they disrespect the site, why would you care?

Keep in mind that these people often come to the AH for the first time when they are triggered by the rejection of their story. It's often a knee-jerk reaction for them. I think they should be allowed to vent without us automatically coming to Lit's rescue and throwing snide comments at them. Most of those people are quite reasonable when they cool off.

That's a cliche. It happens in real life, as well: any established social structure is going to have an easier time integrating those who want to be integrated, while rejecting (sometimes "bluntly," as you put it) those who want to act like assholes.

I think this is a bit too simplified. The reality is way more complex.

I see nothing surprising in what has happened here. The raccoon guy wanted to make this about him, and has succeeded.

For what it's worth, I agree that he's going the wrong way about all of this. He obviously still holds a grudge over a different thread when his (absolutely wrongful) rejection was being discussed.

Now, I can say that because I know who's who here, and what they actually mean to say in these posts. He doesn't. He isn't entirely wrong about some things he said, but he should definitely cool off and take a breather before treating most posters here as being the same.

 

[Voboy]

I wish that were so. What I see instead, here and in most other forums, is that some trolls are cherished while some are treated the way they should be. There's a very clear example of what happened two and a half years ago. You might remember what topic I'm talking about. For the record, I very much appreciated your reaction then. I still do.
There are also other, more mundane examples of the same behavior.


Disrespectful towards whom? If they're being disrespectful towards some well-intentioned AHer, then sure, ridicule away. But if they disrespect the site, why would you care?

Keep in mind that these people often come to the AH for the first time when they are triggered by the rejection of their story. It's often a knee-jerk reaction for them. I think they should be allowed to vent without us automatically coming to Lit's rescue and throwing snide comments at them. Most of those people are quite reasonable when they cool off.


I think this is a bit too simplified. The reality is way more complex.


For what it's worth, I agree that he's going the wrong way about all of this. He obviously still holds a grudge over a different thread when his (absolutely wrongful) rejection was being discussed.

Now, I can say that because I know who's who here, and what they actually mean to say in these posts. He doesn't. He isn't entirely wrong about some things he said, but he should definitely cool off and take a breather before treating most posters here as being the same.

I'm mostly just amused that he said he really, REALLY, REALLY wants to leave the site, but then... hasn't.

He seems to care about all this to a degree that makes me think there might be more here than meets the eye.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Such advice isn't always given respectfully, and this wasn't the only thread where this particular issue was discussed.

I told you what my perception was back when I started frequenting this place. People are all nice and kind when you are bubbly and positive and excited about writing, but can often become snide when you criticize something. And on top of all, authors are so sensitive about their writing. It's so easy to get offended or triggered.

This place takes quite some getting used to, and that's not the fault of new people. Some veteran members are very blunt and protective of Lit and Laurel, often not caring about whether these new people understand the dynamics of this place.

Concerns or issues about the rules of Lit always illicit strong reactions. There are helpful people, then we have the morality police who think any question about the rules is someone trying to circumvent them.
As adults it's up to us to separate the wheat from the chaff.
One of my stories got reported and removed, when I mentioned it on the AH a number of people (who admitted they hadn't read the story and even insisted that they didn't need to to know) accused me of breaking the rules, or trying to circumvent them and basically were a bunch of twats. A larger number of people were helpful, made suggestions and were generally nice about the situation.
Again, it's up to me to note the difference and not scream "everyone on the AH is....."

 

[AwkwardMD]

For what it's worth, I agree that he's going the wrong way about all of this. He obviously still holds a grudge over a different thread when his (absolutely wrongful) rejection was being discussed.

Now, I can say that because I know who's who here, and what they actually mean to say in these posts. He doesn't. He isn't entirely wrong about some things he said, but he should definitely cool off and take a breather before treating most posters here as being the same.

He had a grudge long before that thread. I wasn’t arguing with him then either, merely telling him how to get his story through the approval process, and it was the same thing.

 

[YmaOHyd]

Disrespectful towards whom?

I'm not looking for credibility. I have plenty of that from a writing career irl that stretches much farther back than 2014. ...

Keep your luck and I'll go polish my writing awards. Deal?

I think that's absolutely disrespectful to Rob Royale, for one, and to voboy. But it's also an argument based on clout, and he hasn't got any.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

Concerns or issues about the rules of Lit always illicit strong reactions. There are helpful people, then we have the morality police who think any question about the rules is someone trying to circumvent them.
As adults it's up to us to separate the wheat from the chaff.
One of my stories got reported and removed, when I mentioned it on the AH a number of people (who admitted they hadn't read the story and even insisted that they didn't need to to know) accused me of breaking the rules, or trying to circumvent them and basically were a bunch of twats. A larger number of people were helpful, made suggestions and were generally nice about the situation.
Again, it's up to me to note the difference and not scream "everyone on the AH is....."

I agree. But you're not new. You know who's who. That's an important distinction, and we should always keep it in mind.

 

[AwkwardMD]

I agree. But you're not new. You know who's who. That's an important distinction, and we should always keep it in mind.

Now I'm gonna have an argument. Why are you so infuriatingly unwilling to say names?

 

[Voboy]

I think that's absolutely disrespectful to Rob Royale, for one, and to voboy. But it's also an argument based on clout, and he hasn't got any.

I didn't see that as disrespectful, just irrelevant.

In a thread that purports to be about how to get a story published on Literotica, there's no other "writing award" that matters all that much if the person who won the award can't help the OP get a story published on Literotica. I really do wish this dude luck in his writing, and I hope he gets all the awards his writing can earn. If Lit's not the right place for him, then he should certainly leave.

Which is why I'm curious that he's choosing to stay.

 

[YmaOHyd]

Which is why I'm curious that he's choosing to stay.

I'm sympathetic to him a little bit in that authors should have the ironclad right to delete their work at will from a site like this. Having to wait for that to be processed stinks out loud.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

I think that's absolutely disrespectful to Rob Royale, for one, and to voboy. But it's also an argument based on clout, and he hasn't got any.

Who do you see here as the one who started the snideness? The personal snideness, I mean.

I really like Rob, and I think he's a nice guy, but here he was being unnecessarily snide towards a new author who hadn't targeted him in any way. The poster targeted the website instead. This is the exact defensive, snide reaction that some AHers have at new people with a grudge. Let the new people vent for fucks sake.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

Now I'm gonna have an argument. Why are you so infuriatingly unwilling to say names?

I didn't have anyone in particular on my mind? I truly meant to say that it takes time to get to know AHers, as many are quite different than what they seem at first glance. My first interaction with you, for example, was horrible, and it was entirely your fault. But I got to know you, and I see you in a very, very different light now.

 

[Voboy]

View attachment 2586432

Who do you see here as the one who started the snideness? The personal snideness, I mean.

I really like Rob, and I think he's a nice guy, but here he was being unnecessarily snide towards a new author who hadn't targeted him in any way. The poster targeted the website instead. This is the exact defensive, snide reaction that some AHers have at new people with a grudge. Let the new people vent for fucks sake.

I don't necessarily disagree, but there's a difference between sarcasm from a longtime poster with a lengthy history of being genuinely helpful, and sarcasm from an unheralded newb with a noted penchant for picking fights.

 

[AwkwardMD]

I didn't have anyone in particular on my mind? I truly meant to say that it takes time to get to know AHers, as many are quite different than what they seem at first glance. My first interaction with you, for example, was horrible, and it was entirely your fault. But I got to know you, and I see you in a very, very different light now.

It probably was.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

I don't necessarily disagree, but there's a difference between sarcasm from a longtime poster with a lengthy history of being genuinely helpful, and sarcasm from an unheralded newb with a noted penchant for picking fights.

Agreed. But again, there IS a difference to us, veterans, who know who's who. But the new people see only the posts and not the people, because they don't know them yet.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

I agree. But you're not new. You know who's who. That's an important distinction, and we should always keep it in mind.

But stuff like that is how you find out who's who. That's kind of the point.

The AH is like any other group.

Assholes? Yup, there are plenty.
Helpful people? Got them too...
And on any given day or issue some people move between groups.

If you interact with an asshole and decide the whole place is nothing but assholes, well that's a you problem.

 

[YmaOHyd]

View attachment 2586432

Who do you see here as the one who started the snideness? The personal snideness, I mean.

I really like Rob, and I think he's a nice guy, but here he was being unnecessarily snide towards a new author who hadn't targeted him in any way. The poster targeted the website instead. This is the exact defensive, snide reaction that some AHers have at new people with a grudge. Let the new people vent for fucks sake.

Fine, fair enough. And if the OP wants to get some digs in in response, more power to 'em.

 

[old_prof]

I agree. But you're not new. You know who's who. That's an important distinction, and we should always keep it in mind.

All of us, almost to the person, should start by assuming people a) are well intentioned, and b) know what they are talking about. In other words treat people with respect until they demonstrate they are not being a) or b) (or both). I think Racoonteur has demonstrated in other recent threads that he is neither.

 

[Voboy]

If you interact with an asshole and decide the whole place is nothing but assholes, well that's a you problem.

One of my old bosses used to say something like this, and I've heard it a bunch of other places too:

"If someone you meet acts like an asshole, then you've probably met an asshole. But if everyone you meet acts like an asshole, then you're probably the asshole."

I feel like the racoonster is a person who meets a LOT of folks who act like assholes. I could be wrong, and again, I wish him well. But.

 

[TheWritingGroup]

There are certainly people who respond disrespectfully, but that's not the board as a whole. Our perspectives differ, and I can appreciate that. But my impression is that I see as much crap thrown at people who are sincerely trying to be helpful as I see veteran authors disrespecting newcomers.

I can only say that my experience as a newbie was that everyone in general (with literally one exception) and @ElectricBlue in particular were very helpful.

--Annie

 

[StillStunned]

everyone in general (with literally one exception)

I can't be the only one here who's searching their conscience.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

I can't be the only one here who's searching their conscience.

I suspect it was Simon in the conservatory, with the lead pipe.

 

[AwkwardMD]

I can't be the only one here who's searching their conscience.