Anonymous Feedback (comments & PM's)

[Loki Olympo]

There has to be a way to put an end to this, please. I can't tell you the number of cowards who act brave when reviewing and critiquing a story, enjoying the privacy afforded by selecting "Anonymous" when adding comments or sending a personal message to the author.

The times I've left feedback on a story, I sign my name off to show the author I'm a fellow author myself. Nothing irritates me more than someone signing off on the comments "Your writing has errrors" or "The action isn't believable, it's all made up and could never happen" under an Anonymous/USA signature.

I feel if you want to actually comment on a story, sign your name and let others be the judge if your works are up to the standards you set for other authors.

See my goal in posting stories is to share Erotic literature with others like myself, people who like to browse and enjoy some erotic writing in their spare time. It's a hobby for me, not something i do to make a living, and in all the time I have been registered as an author/reader, out of all the stories i posted, I've never submitted anything for any of the contests. This is a hobby, not my profession, and I don't expect my works to be seen as art. My stories you can browse through, maybe get turned on, maybe get a good laugh, and that's what they're there for.

I'm writing for me, and for others who make this a hobby just like me. I can't stand someone pointing out errors in grammar, composition, spelling. I don't care about that. This isn't some "discover the next great sci-fi author of tomorrow, today" type of writing site. This is a site about erotic writing, not award winning writing, at least that's not what I thought it would be when I registered. And I'm very proud to submit my stories to this site, because that's what we're here for, Erotic writing!

My opinion goes like this, in regards to all these Anonymous critics. If you're such a stickler about writing that you need to point out errors and grammar on a site that's all about EROTICA, then there's no reason for you to sign off under ANONYMOUS if you're going to add negative comments for the sake of negativity. If you're such an authority on writing and grammar and the English language, then stop hiding behind anonymity and sign your User Name to the comments you leave behind. Come on, if you're the writing expert, point me to your works and show me what real writing should be like.

Really, can we find some way of removing the anonymous signature on comments left for stories?

You might say, well Loki why don't you disable the comments and avoid the hassle to begin with? That's a good question.

I could just as easily disable public comments, and I've already disabled anonymous feedback, but I like reading comments and getting feedback from someone who really enjoyed my writing. Again for me it's a hobby, so I like trading a PM or two about this great hobby of ours. I'm not an expert on writing, but I know a good read when I find one, and if someone gets a kick out of my writing, then I feel that's a job well done.

What pisses me off is the cowards that sent me anonymous PM's promising to grade every last one of my stories with a 0 just because my featured character happens to be Latino. What pisses me off is someone adding a comment like "your story has no plot, no believable characters, you should stop writing stories" and rather than signing off with their name, it just reads Anonymous, USA

Again i don't want to go to the extreme of disabling comments and disabling all feedback. I've contacted authors about stories that i really loved, and I've enjoyed reading emails from readers who loved some of my works.

So please, moderators, whoever, disable the anonymous feature when it comes to leaving comments, and make these reviewers own up to their "high standards" by forcing them to sign off with their real User-Name.

I know I can't be the only author being harassed in comments/anonymous PM's. And I read in another thread where an author disabled the functions just to avoid the hassle. But that seems to punish the author, not the offender. The forum lets authors correspond with the readers, no doubt about that. Not every author can stop by the forum to chat though, which is why I enjoy receiving PM's that aren't anonymous. I imagine other authors who don't have the time for the forums but might have enough spare time to correspond through e-mail would like to get the chance to get feedback from fans.

See the problem with anonymous comments/anonymous PM's is that the offender is actually rewarded because they get to hide behind their anonymity making authors hesitate about posting more stories, which inhibits stories from getting posted that so many could read and enjoy.

In short, please abort the option of leaving anonymous feedback or anonymous comments. If someone is bold enough to post a scathing review, they should own up and sign off with their registered User Name. If that person is a coward leaving hateful comments and sending hateful PM's then they shouldn't be rewarded with anonymity.

 

[Joeehartley]

Anon feedback

I agree with you. I write as a hobby, although I am interested in improving my writing. The anon feedback serves no function other that to show their hate.

I'm not writing for money, but I am writing for the feedback. I want to know what works in my writing and what doesn't.

Tell me what you like and don't, but allow me to talk back to you with question or explanations, don't be such a coward.

-Joe-

 

[Loki Olympo]

Thank you Joeehartley

You perfectly put in a few sentences what I was trying to convey in that rant.

That is it exactly, like Joe put it. I'm doing this as a hobby, not a profession. If all you want to do is be negative for negatives sake, go somewhere else.

 

[sr71plt]

Unfortunately, if it bothers you that much, you have five choices. Stop posting stories here, zap the comments you think are inappropriate, turn off the comments and/or voting on your stories here, write compensating love comments to yourself on your stories (in combination with zapping what you don't like), or put up your own Web site and play around with the voting until it pleases you. That's pretty much what can be done about it--which is a bit more than can be done about it on most story sites.

Bitching to the choir doesn't help anyone much--and the site administrators have been quite resilient in ignoring bitching.

 

[Samuel667]

If getting rid of the anonymous comment feature meant that I would also go without the anonymous constructive or positive feedback, I would choose to keep the feature. I get more positive and constructive anonymous feedback than negative anyway.

 

[Loki Olympo]

Unfortunately, if it bothers you that much, you have five choices. Stop posting stories here, zap the comments you think are inappropriate, turn off the comments and/or voting on your stories here, write compensating love comments to yourself on your stories (in combination with zapping what you don't like), or put up your own Web site and play around with the voting until it pleases you. That's pretty much what can be done about it--which is a bit more than can be done about it on most story sites.

Bitching to the choir doesn't help anyone much--and the site administrators have been quite resilient in ignoring bitching.

Who's bitching? I've not heard of anybody starting a thread like this, only reading snippets in other threads about this same behavior. Figuring it'd be best to localize and centralize one thread where people could share their experiences is a far cry from bitching. And if enough writers or administrators come across this and something gets done, then who's really bitching? The guy getting shit fixed or the guy that runs away and opens his own site?

1-Why would I stop posting stories here when I enjoy the writing of so many wonderful authors (and never have a problem voting and commenting for those same authors). The cowards win, and I don't run away from a fight.

2-Already done. Kudos that we're like minded in that area.

3-Turning off comments & voting... You know, if i go that way, I may as well stop writing. I may as well convince the writers we should all stop, because these cowards are trying to rain on our fun but according to you we ought to stop and run. It's not in my nature to run away though. Turning off all comments and voting is equivalent to walking away with my tail tucked between my legs so the saying goes. Not happening.

4-I already expressed that I enjoy corresponding with readers and writers. Writing flattering comments to myself about my own stories isn't the solution. Taking away these cowards cover is

5-See number one. Going elsewhere lets the cowards keep fucking with the authors left behind. Eventually no authors would be here to keep Literotica going if everyone abandoned the site over a banage of cowardly punks with nothing better to do than write negative comments while they hide behind anonymity.

And again, how much of an ego do you assume I have? Why would I tinker with votes to drive up my story ratings? Why would I write flattering comments to myself?

Skimming the threads and reading about the pains & stresses put on some of the authors by these cowardly maggots hiding behind anonymity is a problem that should be looked into.

 

[sr71plt]

I've not heard of anybody starting a thread like this, only reading snippets in other threads about this same behavior.

Right, it sometimes goes three days before this thread is posted again.


You can certainly spit into the wind if you like, though.

 

[Loki Olympo]

If getting rid of the anonymous comment feature meant that I would also go without the anonymous constructive or positive feedback, I would choose to keep the feature. I get more positive and constructive anonymous feedback than negative anyway.

In all honesty, why should someone be anonymous when posting a comment or sending a PM? If comments and feedback can be sent anonymously, then writers ought to post their stories anonymously to avoid the negative votes of cowards who have a hate on going for specific writers.

I'll give you an example from my experience. I received a warm touching letter from a reader to a story I'd written. How what I wrote had a deep and touching message that went hand in hand with the erotic writing of the story. They were very moved and told me a bit about their personal life, some struggles and such, and expressed how my personal experiences gave them hope in their life.

This was sent anonymously. I never knew who sent it, but I'd have appreciated a chance to contact this person, if not to give counsel and advice then at least to give them encouragement and support. Maybe they didn't want any support, maybe they did. Their letter suggested that they did, but I had no way of replying back, because it was anonymous. Whatever happened to them I don't know, but again if the anonymous function wasn't an option and they went ahead with their actual email address, things might've turned out different. I could have made a new honest friend.

We'll never know, and its my opinion, the anonymous feedback/anonymous commenting is more hurtful than helpful.

 

[Loki Olympo]

Right, it sometimes goes three days before this thread is posted again.


You can certainly spit into the wind if you like, though.

Hmm skimming thru the message board my thread seems to be the only one discussing the frustration at anonymous comment posters. The other thread I saw with any relation to this is mostly about the voting going on, not the comments themselves, and it touches on comments maybe once or twice but isn't the central topic of the thread.

 

[sr71plt]

Hmm skimming thru the message board my thread seems to be the only one discussing the frustration at anonymous comment posters. The other thread I saw with any relation to this is mostly about the voting going on, not the comments themselves, and it touches on comments maybe once or twice but isn't the central topic of the thread.

You haven't been looking too deeply. Regardless, you may also have run across threads indicating that the Web site isn't going to change for you. (I have some of the same concerns/suggestions--and have had for years.)

At some point you'll stop wallowing in it and just get back to either posting stories for what enjoyment you get out of it in existing conditions--or not.

 

[Loki Olympo]

That you tried for years and couldn't get things squared away, I am sorry. As I mentioned, there is no quit in me, and if all the authors just walked away after giving up, then what would Literotica be but a bunch of cowards anonymously chatting on the boards about news and politics as there would be no porn left for them but what they posted

 

[sr71plt]

That you tried for years and couldn't get things squared away, I am sorry. As I mentioned, there is no quit in me, and if all the authors just walked away after giving up, then what would Literotica be but a bunch of cowards anonymously chatting on the boards about news and politics as there would be no porn left for them but what they posted

OK, I tried.

 

[Loki Olympo]

You haven't been looking too deeply. Regardless, you may also have run across threads indicating that the Web site isn't going to change for you. (I have some of the same concerns/suggestions--and have had for years.)

At some point you'll stop wallowing in it and just get back to either posting stories for what enjoyment you get out of it in existing conditions--or not.

Oh so you didn't try?

for years?

 

[BOSTONFICTIONWRITER]

There has to be a way to put an end to this, please. I can't tell you the number of cowards who act brave when reviewing and critiquing a story, enjoying the privacy afforded by selecting "Anonymous" when adding comments or sending a personal message to the author.

The times I've left feedback on a story, I sign my name off to show the author I'm a fellow author myself. Nothing irritates me more than someone signing off on the comments "Your writing has errrors" or "The action isn't believable, it's all made up and could never happen" under an Anonymous/USA signature.

I feel if you want to actually comment on a story, sign your name and let others be the judge if your works are up to the standards you set for other authors.

See my goal in posting stories is to share Erotic literature with others like myself, people who like to browse and enjoy some erotic writing in their spare time. It's a hobby for me, not something i do to make a living, and in all the time I have been registered as an author/reader, out of all the stories i posted, I've never submitted anything for any of the contests. This is a hobby, not my profession, and I don't expect my works to be seen as art. My stories you can browse through, maybe get turned on, maybe get a good laugh, and that's what they're there for.

I'm writing for me, and for others who make this a hobby just like me. I can't stand someone pointing out errors in grammar, composition, spelling. I don't care about that. This isn't some "discover the next great sci-fi author of tomorrow, today" type of writing site. This is a site about erotic writing, not award winning writing, at least that's not what I thought it would be when I registered. And I'm very proud to submit my stories to this site, because that's what we're here for, Erotic writing!

My opinion goes like this, in regards to all these Anonymous critics. If you're such a stickler about writing that you need to point out errors and grammar on a site that's all about EROTICA, then there's no reason for you to sign off under ANONYMOUS if you're going to add negative comments for the sake of negativity. If you're such an authority on writing and grammar and the English language, then stop hiding behind anonymity and sign your User Name to the comments you leave behind. Come on, if you're the writing expert, point me to your works and show me what real writing should be like.

Really, can we find some way of removing the anonymous signature on comments left for stories?

You might say, well Loki why don't you disable the comments and avoid the hassle to begin with? That's a good question.

I could just as easily disable public comments, and I've already disabled anonymous feedback, but I like reading comments and getting feedback from someone who really enjoyed my writing. Again for me it's a hobby, so I like trading a PM or two about this great hobby of ours. I'm not an expert on writing, but I know a good read when I find one, and if someone gets a kick out of my writing, then I feel that's a job well done.

What pisses me off is the cowards that sent me anonymous PM's promising to grade every last one of my stories with a 0 just because my featured character happens to be Latino. What pisses me off is someone adding a comment like "your story has no plot, no believable characters, you should stop writing stories" and rather than signing off with their name, it just reads Anonymous, USA

Again i don't want to go to the extreme of disabling comments and disabling all feedback. I've contacted authors about stories that i really loved, and I've enjoyed reading emails from readers who loved some of my works.

So please, moderators, whoever, disable the anonymous feature when it comes to leaving comments, and make these reviewers own up to their "high standards" by forcing them to sign off with their real User-Name.

I know I can't be the only author being harassed in comments/anonymous PM's. And I read in another thread where an author disabled the functions just to avoid the hassle. But that seems to punish the author, not the offender. The forum lets authors correspond with the readers, no doubt about that. Not every author can stop by the forum to chat though, which is why I enjoy receiving PM's that aren't anonymous. I imagine other authors who don't have the time for the forums but might have enough spare time to correspond through e-mail would like to get the chance to get feedback from fans.

See the problem with anonymous comments/anonymous PM's is that the offender is actually rewarded because they get to hide behind their anonymity making authors hesitate about posting more stories, which inhibits stories from getting posted that so many could read and enjoy.

In short, please abort the option of leaving anonymous feedback or anonymous comments. If someone is bold enough to post a scathing review, they should own up and sign off with their registered User Name. If that person is a coward leaving hateful comments and sending hateful PM's then they shouldn't be rewarded with anonymity.

I can't agree with you more.

The bashers and the bashing comments are the reason why I no longer post stories to Literotica under Bostonfictionwriter.

Moreover, the more you complain about it, the more they bash your story. It's frustrating to create and write a story and to have it unmercifully bashed. Further, once other readers read the bashes, there's less chance that they'll make a comment for fear of being bashed themselves.

I never understood why you must log in to post a comment on the forum boards but you don't have to log in to destroy someone's story. It makes no sense. It just goes to show what the management of Literotica's thinks of its writers. Without writers, there wouldn't be much of a site.

 

[sr71plt]

Several authors have been suggesting for years that story voters and/or commenters should have to sign in (of course, as BFW and friends can tell you, it's a snap to load up on false accounts here).

And BFW also is right that the more you whine about it, the more you are likely to have your stories zapped in voting and comment. So, if you can take a hint . . .

 

[Loki Olympo]

Bostonfictionwriter-
I'm with you 100% in agreement. It sucks getting bashed just because its your name attached to the story. Even worse is someone who doesn't read the story and just goes and bashes it, over riding the reason why you wrote it in the first place.

They're just a bunch of cowards is what it is. Saw one guy leave a negative comment cause the story wasn't to his liking, right, and he actually signed off with his name. Well look at his profile for that screen name, dude hasn't even posted any stories. What the fuck is that about?

Guy won't man up and put stories on the site, but he'll run around bashing others' stories just for the hell of it. Cowards man, just cowards.

 

[AchtungNight]

Sometimes people just forget to sign in or don't bother because they feel it unnecessary. I don't hold it against them, long as they say things that are good to hear.

 

[Lynabo]

We cannot be all things to all readers, indeed I feel lucky if someone out there is angry enough to put a nasty comment. There is an element of hidden identity on this site and those like like it. Some will choose to expose more than others, it is a personel choice, and there are a multitude of reasons behind these choices. On the whole the balance seems to me about right, nothing is perfect, faults abound everywhere and human nature is full of holes.
But no man is an island, others are our vehicle to joy, passion, heartache, exasperation.
Just imagine an empty world you alone no inter-reaction not even by email, nobody to love, nobody to hate, nobody to complain about no sceen, no computer, sans everything.

 

[Joeehartley]

Writers have given up

I am a new writer, but I've noticed that a lot of writers no longer post their stories because of the anon hate comments. I've had someone post a comment to everyone of my stories with a 1 rating from anon within a minute of each other. That person could not have read all of my stories or even one in that time.

I no longer am concerned with the voting as it takes so many 5s to offset that one 1, but I do look at the comments to find out what works in my stories and what doesn't.

-Joe-

 

[sr71plt]

I am a new writer, but I've noticed that a lot of writers no longer post their stories because of the anon hate comments.

Just curious. You know this how? That anonymous hate comments have anything to do with why writers who have stopped posting did so?

 

[BOSTONFICTIONWRITER]

I am a new writer, but I've noticed that a lot of writers no longer post their stories because of the anon hate comments. I've had someone post a comment to everyone of my stories with a 1 rating from anon within a minute of each other. That person could not have read all of my stories or even one in that time.

I no longer am concerned with the voting as it takes so many 5s to offset that one 1, but I do look at the comments to find out what works in my stories and what doesn't.

-Joe-

I'm one of those writers who no longer post stories here because of anonymous bashers. If you think the comments and 1 bombs is bad, they sent me hate e-mails, even death threats, just because I wrote a story.

This site needs to be returned to the writers. If readers want to comment on a story, they should be made to register and log in before commenting. They must do that to post a message on the forum board, it's only fair for them to do the same when posting a comment to a story.

 

[Joeehartley]

Five point rating scale

I feel that the five point rating scales gives far too much power and influence to the haters. One rating of 1 takes three ratings of 5 just to give an overall of 4. To get the coveted rating of 4.5 takes seven 5 ratings to offset one 1.

A three point scale would be much fairer to all concerned.

That's just my two cents.

-Joe-

 

[BOSTONFICTIONWRITER]

Bostonfictionwriter-
I'm with you 100% in agreement. It sucks getting bashed just because its your name attached to the story. Even worse is someone who doesn't read the story and just goes and bashes it, over riding the reason why you wrote it in the first place.

They're just a bunch of cowards is what it is. Saw one guy leave a negative comment cause the story wasn't to his liking, right, and he actually signed off with his name. Well look at his profile for that screen name, dude hasn't even posted any stories. What the fuck is that about?

Guy won't man up and put stories on the site, but he'll run around bashing others' stories just for the hell of it. Cowards man, just cowards.

Too many of my stories received 1 bombs within minutes of them hitting the board. I've had anons erase all my red H's numerous times. I've had anons post the word shit to everyone one of my stories (lol). He must not have a life because I have more than 600 stories. It must have taken him hours.

I say that if someone wants to post a comment to a story, they must register and log in, just as they must do before posting a comment to the forum board.

 

[BOSTONFICTIONWRITER]

Several authors have been suggesting for years that story voters and/or commenters should have to sign in (of course, as BFW and friends can tell you, it's a snap to load up on false accounts here).

And BFW also is right that the more you whine about it, the more you are likely to have your stories zapped in voting and comment. So, if you can take a hint . . .

Yes, I have many friends who enjoy my stories. I don't have false accounts, as do all of your entourage.

By the way, who are you today, the Pilot, the stage actor, the model, the diplomat, the spy or the writer. I can't keep up with all your lies, my quasi cyber friend.

 

[sr71plt]

I feel that the five point rating scales gives far too much power and influence to the haters. One rating of 1 takes three ratings of 5 just to give an overall of 4. To get the coveted rating of 4.5 takes seven 5 ratings to offset one 1.

A three point scale would be much fairer to all concerned.

That's just my two cents.

-Joe-

Why wouldn't it be better, as many have suggested for years, to just record the rating beside each title and let the reader decide where that fits on their scale of what they'll read?

But again, this conversation crops up every three days here--just wheel spinning.