Do you comment back on comments?

[BuckyDuckman]

I like the interactive aspect of this site. I enjoy reading the comments I receive, including the fucked-up ones. And I been motivated to post replies to some of the comments made. I'm not interested in started a flame war within the comment section of my stories, but why not comment back if there's something to say? Maybe it's bad form? IDK, what about you? Do you comment on comments?

 

[geronimo_appleby]

no, i don't.

 

[Darkniciad]

It can be the only way to answer an anonymous question. The original anonymous may never see it, but perhaps someone else has the same question, and you can answer it.

Never hurts to admit when you're wrong or even sort-of wrong and readers catch you out on it, either.

The one place you have to be careful is when someone makes a comment that you believe is inappropriate or just plain stupid. Resist the urge to fight fire with fire. If you're irritated by a comment, and that's your reason for wanting to respond, it's probably a good idea to think twice.

 

[PennLady]

I don't think it's a bad idea. I rarely do it, but that's just me. If I feel it necessary I will. Mostly I will send a message back via a person's profile to thank them or to answer a question.

 

[DG Hear]

I usually answer some feedback but not comments. Every once in a while if I noticed someone reading a number of my stories and leaving comments, I may drop them a 'Thank You" note.

 

[KatieTay]

I used to try but Literotica has a really awkward interface.

 

[sr71plt]

I do when there has been a misunderstanding or a major "your correction is wrong" or (in appreciation) when a major inconsistency was pointed out.

My most recent answers back have been on a name change for a character and, yesterday, when someone screamed that one of my stories here had been ripped off from another site where it was posted under another name. I pointed out that I have two different posting names on separate sites for the same material (because Literotica wouldn't give me my established name when I registered here) and that my profile here connects the two names.

While I appreciate a reader recognizing a story from elsewhere, it would be nice if they'd check the profile here to see that these aren't two different people posting--and of course I needed to establish right at the point of contention that I hadn't stolen the story from anyone else.

 

[estragon]

I have done, because it was quicker, but as a general rule not. Better to send a PM. I don't know that the world wants to, much less needs to, read what, after all, is a private correspondence.

 

[nakdsub]

I do it all the time

I will sometimes post below my story but I also will send e-mails to a lot of people. Anyone who sends me an e-mail definitely gets a return.

 

[beygaze1]

Not Directly

Given the sheer number of views stories get, there are few comments. My stories have combined for just over 100,000 views and only have gotten 14 comments. To be fair, I have not left many comments, either. I have only answered one comment with another comment, but make it a point to send anyone who makes a comment (or favs a story or me as a writer) a message. I make it a point to acknowledge every comment or feedback, but usually not with another comment.

 

[BuckyDuckman]

Given the sheer number of views stories get, there are few comments. My stories have combined for just over 100,000 views and only have gotten 14 comments. To be fair, I have not left many comments, either. I have only answered one comment with another comment, but make it a point to send anyone who makes a comment (or favs a story or me as a writer) a message. I make it a point to acknowledge every comment or feedback, but usually not with another comment.

I haven't thought of thanking those people who "fav" a story. Guess I'm an insensitive prick. But you're right, most people don't leave a comment and I imagine most of them don't vote, either. My general policy is this to vote up, but never down, but that's because I'm an author and I respect the work someone put into making a post in the first place. If I liked it, it's an automatic 5 unless it has some real issues - then it's a 4. Lowest score I've given to date is a 3 for a story that was riddled with grammatical errors but had an intriguing enough concept to keep me reading to the end.

Oh, and I try to leave feedback on any 4 or 5 story. Honest feedback, but always focusing on the positive parts of the story or writing. If I feel the need to say something less than glowing, I'll do that privately.

 

[sr71plt]

Most people come to this site just to read. I don't think that's going to change. And the website makes no hint of requiring them to do anything.

If you post for the comments, I suggest looking for a site that emphasizes critiquing. This isn't one of them.

 

[lovecraft68]

It can be the only way to answer an anonymous question. The original anonymous may never see it, but perhaps someone else has the same question, and you can answer it.

Never hurts to admit when you're wrong or even sort-of wrong and readers catch you out on it, either.

The one place you have to be careful is when someone makes a comment that you believe is inappropriate or just plain stupid. Resist the urge to fight fire with fire. If you're irritated by a comment, and that's your reason for wanting to respond, it's probably a good idea to think twice.

I agree with this. I have commented to reply to an anonymous poster if it was a very good post or if I felt they misunderstood something.

However I am careful not to reply to something blatantly argumentative as at that point they may come back and next thing you have a bunch of comments that are not about the story but just BS.

I also don't do it often. I find that when I see stories with a ton of comments then find out half are the author commenting in comments I wonder if they are deliberately skewing their total.

I recently replied to a person who for the third time in the last several chapters referred to me as racist and is upset that I deleted his first comment. I answered him this a time around and explained the reason I deleted his first remark was that he accused Lit themselves of being racist because they let me use the "N-word".

The guy replied to me privately(still anon.) but thanked me for explaining why I removed his remark. Then called me racist again.

As it goes with many of the topics here, it's at your discretion and many people's opinions vary.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

I have answered comments in the past, and have answered feedback sent via email, but I haven't lately and don't know that I will once I start resubmitting my work.

It's definitely a matter of personal choice. Some comments can lead to answering questions and some can lead to disrespect.

 

[Biker_Type]

i've answered back sometimes, usually i just laugh at them. like to know someone is out there reading but i don't worry much about what they have to say!

 

[MaxSebastian]

I tend to reply to emails, not generally to public comments unless there's a particular question asked.

Ordinarily you might think responding to public comments would allow some kind of dialogue, but I assume anonymous commenters aren't going to be coming back to the story page.

 

[HeyAll]

No, I just put a note in author's profile thanking readers for their votes and comments.

But if it's something like "why did this happen?" or something like that, I post a clarification in the comment.

 

[nakdsub]

Higher percentage.

Given the sheer number of views stories get, there are few comments. My stories have combined for just over 100,000 views and only have gotten 14 comments. To be fair, I have not left many comments, either. I have only answered one comment with another comment, but make it a point to send anyone who makes a comment (or favs a story or me as a writer) a message. I make it a point to acknowledge every comment or feedback, but usually not with another comment.

I never thought of adding up readers and comments but after reading this I thought I would give it try. Certainly, with 408 comments out of a total of 275,400 readers, the quotient between readers and comments is higher than what you have experienced. That may have something to do with the fact that most of my stories are submitted under, "Loving Wives." That category seems to generate a lot of interest, but it could also have something to do with me answering a good number of the people who comment.

I would say, give it a try. Click on the people who comment under their handle and write them a thank you. I sometimes even write to those who's comments are not favorable as long as their criticism is constructive.

 

[roomfor1more]

I will comment on comments because I do find it helps to limit the unnecessary negative feedback left by trolls and it helps to steer the comments. My feeling, it shows to a commenter that you monitor the comments thereby making them aware that you are controlling the discussion, not them thereby taking diffusing the impact of any negative comment. Also, I find by commenting on comments limits the number of comments you get but the comments you do get are more constructive versus being destructive.

 

[Scotsman69]

I always respond to anyone identifiable who comments on my stories, who emails me, or who favourites me or a story.

For me it's just a matter of common courtesy. If a reader takes the trouble to write about my work, they deserve a response. And I've had a few lovely discussions in consequence, and the occasional meeting. One especially: my loving partner.

 

[Feotakahari]

My first story got a lot of comments arguing over whether it was placed in the wrong category, as well as one comment saying that it sucked, but all my other stories have gotten either "this story is good" or "I'd like to see you continue this story." That last is the only one I've really felt the need to reply to, and I've done so in my author's notes at the beginning of subsequent stories (so far, always with "I plan to continue it, but I have a few other things to work on first.")

 

[Cadere]

Well, I don't have my first story up yet, but as soon as it is and it gets enough feedback, I'd certainly respond back to comments. Maybe not specific ones, but the general tone of things.

I don't have a problem replying back to persons. I most always do in forums, even if the comment wasn't aimed directly at me. I always think it's good to contribute helpfully in some way to anything.

 

[MrDeep]

I like feedback

I honestly love the feedback both good and bad. I can learn from honest criticism. However, I realize there are trolls and maybe even other authors who want to commit a little sabatage. So be it.

 

[amofiga]

I have responded to comments to: 1) thank them for taking the time to read my story and send their thoughts. 2) Answer questions about the story that they may have asked like "is it true"

This is a strange but interesting venue for people who enjoy writing, especially exploring their thoughts relative to different sexual "interests". There is essentially no monetary profit so the only reward that anyone gets for generating a story is to know that someone liked it. When I do mine, I try to evoke some emotion or thinking beyond just cranking out a sex scene. I don't want it to be like those "compilation" porno tapes that just run through about fifty 5-minutes scenes of the same-old-same-old. I did one story that I hoped would make the reader emotional and was delighted to get a comment that said that they "teared up" at the end. I had several that asked if it was true, to which I had to explain, "not a shread of it". Still, it made me feel good that someone might have thought so.

I received one negative comment that essentially said that they thought ia story was BS and a waste of time. It was sent anonyously so I had no way to find out if they had any sort of positive suggestions. I figure people that simply complain and are afraid to leave a contact are just not worth the time myself.

 

[Mostera1]

I Appreciate

it when an author responds to a comment, or feedback. I have had many good discussions about characters, plot, and the whys' of the story. BuckyDuckman, OldLockGuy, and SS06 have been very gracious with me. Bucky responded to me when I commented on 'Doing it for You'. It was insightful talking with him, about many different things. This led to a suggestion that he ran with. Feels good! SS06 wrote me regarding comments and questions on 'November'. He didn't need to do it, but he wrote me an in depth background story about 'November'. I was the first to read it. Wow!! OLG, inspired me to pursue writing my first story, he twisted my arm hard after he read the outline. Sagacious21 wrote me when I didn't understand how a characters personality could change so abruptly and do something I thought was totally wrong for her. Though we agree to disagree, it was still good dialogue. When Maddiek responded when I Favorited all four of her story's 'Saving Caitlin', thanks so much for the acknowledgement, very much appreciated. There have been several others who have responded too, thanks to all.
I fully understand that an author can't comment, or write back to everyone. But when an author does; listens to you, sometimes runs with an idea, and has one on one dialogue with you, as I said; it feels good. Hopefully when I get feedback on my story, (if it ever gets published) I am as kind to the readers as these authors have been with me.

As I usually do when I close, Thank you!