Overcritical does it again.

[oggbashan]

Overcritical, despite having NO stories published with that user name, lives up to the name. His comment on my latest, Myfanwy:

Our hero pursued a girl who didn't really appreciate him as a man. He had to do something heroic to earn her "love". Perhaps these are simple folk and that's the way it works in their world, but she was obviously far too superficial for my taste. he got what he wanted, but maybe he should have looked higher. 2*

My Response:

"Thank you for your comment on my story Myfanwy.

You certainly live up to your username. You have NO stories published as Overcritical but you seem to have a campaign to deter any author from posting on Literotica.

Your comment will be deleted shortly. Any further comments from you will be deleted as soon as seen so don't waste your effort."

There is no a useful addition on the members' panel - Delete all comments from this user. I have.

 

[lovecraft68]

As I may have said in your other thread about this poster, I don't know why he gets to you. You've been here forever and I'm sure have been trolled worse than that, at least his comment is coherent and not full of profanity, slurs, and insults.

Its also-and probably repeating myself here too, gives him a massive win to be under your skin to the point this is you take the time to reply to him, tell him how much he's under your skin by removing any upcoming comments and this is your second thread about him so if he happens to be someone who ghosts forums, he's grinning ear to ear.

We all handle our business differently here, and this is my opinion, but I leave everything on my stories because trolls have egos and they come running back to see if you responded or deleted. By leaving my 'fan club' be they see their comment still there with no response, which tells them I treat them like every other comment. And as many here know, often times another reader will come along and call out their BS which I find amusing.

Now onto this guy himself. Obviously another member of incel nation and victim of overpowering cold male insecurity who believes the only female characters that are acceptable are virgins who become dutiful wives. Granted, he's more literate and composed than the usual incel that comes here to froth about women's 'bad behavior."...on an erotica site, but still one of the 'real men' who are anything but.

 

[oggbashan]

I can deal with Overcritical. What I am worried about is the effect of his comments on new authors. He could deter them from posting any more works.

As for the frothing at the mouth men who hate strong women? I just delete them.

 

[lovecraft68]

I can deal with Overcritical. What I am worried about is the effect of his comments on new authors. He could deter them from posting any more works.

As for the frothing at the mouth men who hate strong women? I just delete them.

I understand what you're trying to do, and maybe its me because I tend to fall under the adage of "If its too hot get out of the kitchen" but if a new author is going to be deterred by a negative comment then they're not going to last more than one or two stories here, and again, OC's comments are negative, but not the hate filled vitriolic spew common in LW or occasionally in other categories. If someone here can't handle a negative comment, then they need to move on from writing, or at least publishing it publicly.

Trolls and shitty comments are pat of things, especially here where anonymous is allowed. BTW, that's one more point I'd give OC, at least he does it under a name.

Your stories, your call though.

As for the really nasty woman haters, I leave those too, but I admit their the ones I catch myself beginning to reply to, but always manage to stop myself. They do on occasions get to me, but I've yet to ever let them see it. Instead I'll just write another story I know will get to them. Immature? Yup, but I've never claimed to have grown up.

 

[davion2308]

I remember posting my first story on here years and years ago. I had a few good comments, I had some good votes, and I got one message that told me I shouldn't post again and I was terrible at writing erotica.

It was aggressive and I'm glad I overcame it because I have a decent number of stories published. But, others who are just trying might come across their first attacks and be dissuaded from posting again (especially if they stumble into LW on accident).

I'm not suggesting we protect or shield the other authors but there's certainly a sense of the new authors getting a break. I have no idea on suggesting how to police it but maybe if those of us who are engaged can put more positive comments on stories? I'll try that.

 

[lovecraft68]

I remember posting my first story on here years and years ago. I had a few good comments, I had some good votes, and I got one message that told me I shouldn't post again and I was terrible at writing erotica.

It was aggressive and I'm glad I overcame it because I have a decent number of stories published. But, others who are just trying might come across their first attacks and be dissuaded from posting again (especially if they stumble into LW on accident).

I'm not suggesting we protect or shield the other authors but there's certainly a sense of the new authors getting a break. I have no idea on suggesting how to police it but maybe if those of us who are engaged can put more positive comments on stories? I'll try that.

There really is no way to police it. I joke about how some authors would like a feature to only allow glowing positive feedback and nothing else, but that can't be done and we shouldn't want it to be. My argument has always been to drop anonymous, make them sign up with a username. Not like Overly critical is that guys real name, but it amazes me how many people are afraid to even do that.

But there is this thing called adversity, and unfortunately we live in a time where that's considered evil, and people whine constantly that they should never have to hear anything negative or even be told no about anything. This creates a future where people are not equipped to deal with life's problems. In perspective, a crappy comment from an anon loser on a sex site is a tiny thing compared to real life issues. If you can't handle "Your writing sucks" from someone you don't know, then what can you handle?

Also, what I try to push here, and most will agree, most comments here are positive, most stories here have scores over 4(out of five) so reality is this site is fairly soft and positive(unless writing in loving wives) so again, if all you want is praise....well, there's nowhere in life you're going to get that. Options here is to shut off comments, delete and forget ones you don't like, or learn to take the small percentage of bad with the majority of good. Or...let them win and not write anymore.

 

[SimonDoom]

I remember posting my first story on here years and years ago. I had a few good comments, I had some good votes, and I got one message that told me I shouldn't post again and I was terrible at writing erotica.

It was aggressive and I'm glad I overcame it because I have a decent number of stories published. But, others who are just trying might come across their first attacks and be dissuaded from posting again (especially if they stumble into LW on accident).

I'm not suggesting we protect or shield the other authors but there's certainly a sense of the new authors getting a break. I have no idea on suggesting how to police it but maybe if those of us who are engaged can put more positive comments on stories? I'll try that.

It's a nice idea. A supportive and positive comment can go a long way toward giving a new author who's received negative comments a boost. My third story, published just a few weeks after my first one, was a Loving Wives cuckold story, and I received savage, foul, obscene comments. Nowadays, I have a much thicker skin, and I wouldn't think twice about those comments. But at the time, it was a bit much to take. It helped to get some positive comments along with the trash.

I think authors just have to grow thick skins. You can't get hurt because you got one bad comment out of 10. Focus on the 9 good comments. Focus on the positive and keep looking forward. I think you have to have this attitude, as an author.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

The needle in every compass, including the compass of literary criticism, needs a butt end.

 

[gunhilltrain]

The needle in every compass, including the compass of literary criticism, needs a butt end.

Usually, these critics get tired and go away if you ignore them and don't reply. As lovecraft68 said above, they are looking to get under your skin. It's rare that any of them will respond to arguments that you make defending your work.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Just so. But the unbridled criticism of some of “the usual suspects” gives a pretty good indication of the merit of the works and writers they so regularly pan.

 

[Smuttyandfun]

OC loves to comment on my stories, although I can't understand why. 90% of the time his comments are negative. My latest story, 'That Little Spark' he said was so trite he couldn't read past page two, and gave me a 2. The story won 3rd place in the Valentine's Day contest, so obviously his opinion was not shared by most readers. He said another of my stories, 'Three Little Words' was as exciting as a wet noodle, and that one was a Readers Choice pick for that month. I don't bother deleting his comments, because I don't like to egg him on. What I will do though, is if I see that he's bashed a new writer, if their writing is any good, I'll tell them I thought their story was great and tell them to keep writing. From what I understand, he's quite an elderly gentleman with loads of time on his hands, and I think he gets his kicks from picking apart other people's work. I would love to see him write something, so we can see just how imaginative and talented he is.

 

[KeithD]

I don't think deleting his comments eggs him on in the longer term. I think he really does want his comments to remain there. Bringing him to the discussion board most certainly eggs him on, I think.

 

[NotWise]

I don't think deleting his comments eggs him on in the longer term. I think he really does want his comments to remain there. Bringing him to the discussion board most certainly eggs him on, I think.

He could be hanging out here all the time. We do have quite a few lurkers.

 

[oggbashan]

He could be hanging out here all the time. We do have quite a few lurkers.

Many of my followers seem to wait for a new story to put their 1 votes on it.

 

[Smuttyandfun]

What I can't understand is why someone would read something they're not enjoying. If I start to read a story and find it's not for me, I just move on. I've never felt compelled to write anything nasty, or even leave a bad score.

 

[Comshaw]

I've yet to run into this particular commentor. I'm sure I will in the future.

As to commentors in general, my observation is there are three kinds.

1) Those who post a glowing (long or short) comment. I've gotten them from registered as well as anonymous commentors. I'm not going to lie and say they don't mean anything to me. I'm as susceptible to an ego stroke as anyone, so yeah, they give me the warm fuzzys. That said, they don't do much else.

2) Those who post nasty, vitriolic, pointless comments meant to demean or flame my story or me personally. Way back at the beginning, when I received the first one like that, it took me by surprise, puzzled me and did kinda hurt. After a bit I came to understand it had nothing to do with my story, but was someone who had, for unknown reasons, a gizzard full of bile and I happen to be a target of opportunity. When I came to that realization, I began to pity the fools who had to go through life spewing such hatefulness just to make themselves feel good. Along with those, I'll classify comments which are actually constructive, but delivered in a manner and with the intent to demean the receiver and make them feel inferior to the commentor. Yeah, like that. Personally, I ain't into trying to salvage nuggets mired in pig shit. It ain't worth it.

3) Those who post well-thought-out, honest critical comments. They do so not with the intent to hurt or demean, but to help. And they do it in a pleasant, constructive manner. I read them, analyze them and if they are factual (which most are) try to fix what they found wrong. These type of comments have helped me improve my stories tremendously. I ain't a gunna lie, even after all this time, I get an ego poke (not too big a one though) from them. I invest a lot of time and effort in writing, so it does hurt a bit, not from what was said, but because it is most times true. I always feel that way when someone points out where I've screwed up. But that doesn't keep me from appreciating someone who takes the time to try to help. And doesn't stop me from trying again.

Comshaw

 

[Smuttyandfun]

I always appreciate well thought comments, especially ones that might help improve my writing. I've actually been happy to take advice from a few readers that said they enjoyed the story but suggested ways to make the next one better. I just don't appreciate being bashed for no good reason. If someone doesn't enjoy what I write, then don't read it. It's as simple as that.

 

[Ada Stuart]

I agree with Simon on this one. Sooner or later you have to develop a thick skin to be a writer. Of course, no one enjoys reading comments about all the flaws in your stories, but without someone pointing out the flaws, there is no way to know what you can improve.

I also post over at Wattpad, and I rarely get any comments at all. And it's the same at all the other sites where I put my published works. I would say that no comments are worse than getting a mixture.

As for our good friend Overcritical, he sometimes adds a useful comment to my stories and other times I just feel insulted. I try to learn from the useful ones and ignore the rest. (although I admit that I have answered him a few times when I really shouldn't have... )