Annon's & My Viewpoint

[SSobotkaJr]

Will try not to get ranty here, but figured to get this off my chest.


Since I started posting here on Lit, I've always loved to get feedback on my stories. It gives me more incentive to write and also lets me know just how my work is being received by the readers on site.

However, it irks me when someone posts a comment/feedback as "Anonymous". I feel the poster is just being lazy, or at the most they don't want to get an answer back from me. Especially if they left me something like "Oh you totally SUCK! Stop writing! BLEH!". Which is why I state if anyone wants to leave a comment, have some courtesy and don't do it anonymously.

This morning, I got a new feedback post -- from another Anonymous -- who said this:

"if you don't like anonymous comments put your money where your big mouth is and buy us all computers and pay the internet bills. not everyone has a personal computer some of us use public ones or ones at work and would be banned or fired for joining sites like this. accept all comments graciously or stop writing."

Okay, just two points here: One, if you're THAT worried about getting banned from reading an erotica website from your work computer, then why are you even posting FROM your work computer in the first place? For that matter, if it's that big of a deal, why depend on me to buy you a computer? Seriously?

And Two, I don't have to accept ANY comment if I don't find it constructive (to where I might improve my writing/storytelling skills, etc.) or I find it inflammatory or just downright rude (in short, they're criticizing me, the writer, not my work).

I'll say it again, I welcome ALL feedback on my work, but I prefer that posters do so with a means for me to RESPOND to any negative feedback. That way, if it's clear they missed something about the story they read, I can clarify it and also address them directly rather than do another general post like this one.

Okay, back to work for me, I have a few chapters that I have to finish on some of the stories people have been asking for.


-- S.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

yeah yeah. occupational hazard in lit.

some of the most entertaining feedback is from anon.

 

[autoplot]

It's typical of Internet assholes that they want the world to be grateful and humble before their assholery. A few Literotica readers also tend to have a huge sense of entitlement.

 

[3113]

A pseudonym is less anonymous?

if you're THAT worried about getting banned from reading an erotica website from your work computer, then why are you even posting FROM your work computer in the first place?

You got that answer in the feedback, but seemed to miss it. The person doesn't have the money to have their own computer. The computer at work is the only one they've got which they can use to read fiction on the web. Whether it's erotic fiction or not should not be anyone's business--but it is, unfortunately, the business' business because it's their computer. The writer is between a rock and a hard place. They want to read your stuff, but they can't at work, but there's no other option for them. So they must post comments anonymously. Would you rather such people didn't read your stuff? I, personally, take it as a compliment that they're risking their job to read my stuff. Means my stuff must be compelling at least in the sex scenes to make them take such a chance.

And there are other reasons why people post anonymous comments: cyberbullying exists and even if what's posted is constructive criticism an author could take offense and start to hound the poster with e-mail. If they post under their real name, it might get really ugly. Why should anyone chance that just to post a comment?

I certainly agree that you, in turn, have the right to erase any comments you don't like. Take down every comment that isn't glowing and shiny if you like. That is your right. And tough on anyone who doesn't like you doing that. But you did open your story to comments, and anonymous comments are allowed and part of that. You knew the job was dangerous when you took it. I find complaining about anonymous comments as absurd as anonymous folk complaining about you taking down their comments. After all 9-times-out-of-10 the comments with names are pseudonyms. They are as effectively anonymous to you as those who didn't sign any name. So what's the problem? And by that I mean not just "what's their problem?" with signing a fake name, but also, "what's your problem?" with anonymous given that a pseudonym is no more revealing?

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Insult isn't feedback. You're asking for comments on your work, not on you personally, so just ignore all the ad hominem bullshit.

On the other hand, there's some very good reasons for someone to make an anonymous comment on a piece of work, the main one being that they probably don't want you writing them back and telling them how wrong they are and why your story's actually so great, and then getting sucked into a big argument. Or sometimes (most of the time), people just want to give you a thumbs up or down and move on.

It's like this: if you have to defend your story or explain it, then you're fucked up as an author. If you have anything you want to say about the story beforehand-- that it's unusually bloody, say, or that there's no sex, or that it's likely to offend -- post a little preface in italics saying so. But you're not allowed to explain after the fact.

And know that if you post in the Loving Wives Category, you're going to get a LOT of negative feedback. That's just the way they are over there.

 

[sr71plt]

Okay, just two points here:

There's a third point. The comment didn't have anything to do with your story. Just push the erase button on the comment (the website gives you that power) and forget about it as fast as you can. Because you're letting it control you short of that.

 

[Cruel2BKind]

start posting in gay male.

Middle-aged women are very kind, and they don't often insult you

 

[PennLady]

I have to say . . . get over it. They don't owe you (or me) comments at all, and they certainly don't have to use a name to do it, even a fake one. If you don't like anon feedback, you can delete it, or prevent it; the latter is an option on your profile, I believe.

Besides, even if they left a name, it's not usually worth arguing with someone who disagrees or is insulting. Do you think they'll suddenly be rational with private email? Ignore it.

 

[Handley_Page]

If I post a comment, it's usually "anon", but maybe with 'HP' after the comment.

But it's a big IF.

 

[TE999]

Any comment from 'A. Nonny Mouse' is wack since they're too chickenshit to even sign their name. It's not like you're coming over to their mom's basement and open a can of whup-ass on them.

Delete it and forget it.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

start posting in gay male.

Middle-aged women are very kind, and they don't often insult you

you obviously haven't met my mother-in-law.

 

[3113]

you obviously haven't met my mother-in-law.

She reads gay erotica?

 

[BONNIEBREA]

Second time I've posted this today. In your profile there is an option to disallow anonymous comments. Use it.

You will not get as many comments, but you will not be missing anything. Worthwhile comments (and I'm not using 'worthwhile' as a synonym for 'good'. Critical and negative comments - thoughtful and focused on the specifics of the writing - can be entirely worthwhile) are by far the exception rather than the rule with anonymous comments.

With the first story I posted I started getting all these anonymous comments about the main character in the story. The comments had nothing to do with the story or my writing. It was just boys who'd had some woman do them wrong at some point in their lives. Now they hate women and feel a need to lash out against all women, even (and most pathetically) fictional women. I'm really sorry about their personal tragedies but I really don't have any interest in hearing about them (or having my characters be the misplaced target for their anger).

Anyway, just switch them off. You'll be glad you did.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

She reads gay erotica?

no, she's just a cunt.

 

[lovecraft68]

Will try not to get ranty here, but figured to get this off my chest.


Since I started posting here on Lit, I've always loved to get feedback on my stories. It gives me more incentive to write and also lets me know just how my work is being received by the readers on site.

However, it irks me when someone posts a comment/feedback as "Anonymous". I feel the poster is just being lazy, or at the most they don't want to get an answer back from me. Especially if they left me something like "Oh you totally SUCK! Stop writing! BLEH!". Which is why I state if anyone wants to leave a comment, have some courtesy and don't do it anonymously.

This morning, I got a new feedback post -- from another Anonymous -- who said this:

"if you don't like anonymous comments put your money where your big mouth is and buy us all computers and pay the internet bills. not everyone has a personal computer some of us use public ones or ones at work and would be banned or fired for joining sites like this. accept all comments graciously or stop writing."

Okay, just two points here: One, if you're THAT worried about getting banned from reading an erotica website from your work computer, then why are you even posting FROM your work computer in the first place? For that matter, if it's that big of a deal, why depend on me to buy you a computer? Seriously?

And Two, I don't have to accept ANY comment if I don't find it constructive (to where I might improve my writing/storytelling skills, etc.) or I find it inflammatory or just downright rude (in short, they're criticizing me, the writer, not my work).

I'll say it again, I welcome ALL feedback on my work, but I prefer that posters do so with a means for me to RESPOND to any negative feedback. That way, if it's clear they missed something about the story they read, I can clarify it and also address them directly rather than do another general post like this one.

Okay, back to work for me, I have a few chapters that I have to finish on some of the stories people have been asking for.


-- S.

You know something? I am more sick of hearing about people whining about anonymous posters than I am of getting rude anonymous comments.

Sticks and stones people! If the comment is not constructive in some way then as Doc M said it is just an insult. You ignore it, plain and simple.

As Pilot points out all the time, you have the power to disable the remark so go ahead and do that.

Personally I go along with Geronimo and many others who find them humorous, but then again in R/L I love a could smart remark even if its aimed at me. I have a sense of humor someof you should try to find yours.

The last point I'll make is what upsets me about people whining about these nasty remarks is that I am sure Anymouse is just fine in your book when they are singing your praises to the high heavens.

When you post and allow comments you are taking the good with the bad, but of course no one ever wants to deal with the bad. In fact as a reader when I see a story that has a lot of comments and everyone is gushing, I know that guy removes his negative remarks and it makes me think less of them, like they can't take the heat.

so end of the day just deal with it and stop whining, these people don;t know you, its not personal unless you make it that way.

 

[lovecraft68]

start posting in gay male.

Middle-aged women are very kind, and they don't often insult you

Now why is it that I keep hearing that many Gay Male readers are female? I wonder what the attraction is for them?

 

[3113]

Now why is it that I keep hearing that many Gay Male readers are female? I wonder what the attraction is for them?

Not just many, the majority. And I assume there's a wink after that second question?

 

[lovecraft68]

Not just many, the majority. And I assume there's a wink after that second question?

Well, yes and no. My initial thought is that they enjoy that for the same reason I enjoy a good lesbian story.

However, it might just be the women I know, but the general consensus amongst them when it comes to two guys is at the least "what a waste" but many actually squick from it.

Its the double standard, most consider two women together hot (even women like my wife who are straight enjoy an occasional girl/girl scene) but with guys the general reaction is Ewwww!

Of course this is an erotica site so I would expect more of a positive reaction to it I suppose.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Writer whining about feedback amuses me. Hang an unflattering assessment on an MD or hospital and youre sure to get more than your feelings hurt. But it has to be done when an MD or hospital kills a kid. And its all IRL, and you better be right.

CO-PILOTs the biggest whiner I know of.

 

[lovecraft68]

Writer whining about feedback amuses me. Hang an unflattering assessment on an MD or hospital and youre sure to get more than your feelings hurt. But it has to be done when an MD or hospital kills a kid. And its all IRL, and you better be right.

CO-PILOTs the biggest whiner I know of.

Why don't you try reading the posts? I never complain about negative feedback, nor do I erase them I think the insulting ones are funny, and the ones that are constructive criticism I try to learn from.

Get your face out of your oatmeal and pay attention there Jimmy Boy.

 

[3113]

Well, yes and no. My initial thought is that they enjoy that for the same reason I enjoy a good lesbian story.

However, it might just be the women I know, but the general consensus amongst them when it comes to two guys is at the least "what a waste" but many actually squick from it.

Which is what I'm sure some guys feel about lesbian stories if they're not fantasy oriented enough (i.e. if they get too realistic with butch women and such). I do agree, however, that gay male fiction probably doesn't have the same punch for women "in general" as lesbian stories do for men "in general" because socially, gay male sex has always been put across as "squick" taboo (unmanly) as compared to lesbian taboo which has always been put across as titillating.

But, yes, in many cases it has the same attraction for women as lesbian stories do for men.

There is, however, a wide range to such stories, and in some instances I think the attraction isn't just the idea of two men together, so much as it is the potential for the story to have drama; for example, a first-time story between a guy and a girl in the present, while still fraught with some drama, is not nearly so "dramatic" as it was back when girls were expected to remain virgins till their wedding day--and could find out nothing about what was going to happen till the man introduced her to sex. BUT that same drama can be had with a gay-male story about some guy coming out of the closet to explore his sexuality for the first time, scared, worried and maybe even ignorant of what it's like to bottom.

So I think a lot of what attracts women readers to gay male is not just the man-on-man sex, but also the emotional drama potential--the tension, the wooing, the wondering--which is often as much a turn-on for women as the actual sex scenes.

 

[Stella_Omega]

MM erotica gives women the chance to explore sexuality minus the wide variety of baggage that comes with being female in this society.

 

[3113]

MM erotica gives women the chance to explore sexuality minus the wide variety of baggage that comes with being female in this society.

But given some of said erotica that we've discussed, Stella, it seems to me that many women who write and read M/M do not leave that baggage behind nor want to. They seem to just want to heap it on someone who has a penis. So I'm not sure this is an accurate reason for the appeal of M/M.

 

[Stella_Omega]

But given some of said erotica that we've discussed, Stella, it seems to me that many women who write and read M/M do not leave that baggage behind nor want to. They seem to just want to heap it on someone who has a penis. So I'm not sure this is an accurate reason for the appeal of M/M.

Admittedly, women often bring that baggage right along with them on their explorations... And often ignore the baggage that men have to tote.

But that people often use a tool badly doesn't negate the tool's purpose, yanno what I'm saying?

 

[CarlusMagnus]

Personally I go along with Geronimo and many others who find them humorous

Shit...not a few of them are more entertaining than the stories they're attached to.

Present company's stories excepted, of course.