A question of manners

[GingerV]

I love responding to feedback. I feel like it's the least I can do for the folks that take the time to help me fix problems or boost my ego. So generally, I have no problem with the idea that one responds in like kind. Emails get email responses, posts get posted responses.

But what do public comments get?

Mind you, it took me the best part of 20 minutes to figure out how to SEE the public comment (NOT a computer genius here). And it was really lovely. Now how on earth do I say thank you? Pop open my own story and leave a response there? PM the person who left it? What's the protocol here?

Where's "Miss Manners' Guide to Smut Sites" when I need it?

G

 

[cloudy]

I love responding to feedback. I feel like it's the least I can do for the folks that take the time to help me fix problems or boost my ego. So generally, I have no problem with the idea that one responds in like kind. Emails get email responses, posts get posted responses.

But what do public comments get?

Mind you, it took me the best part of 20 minutes to figure out how to SEE the public comment (NOT a computer genius here). And it was really lovely. Now how on earth do I say thank you? Pop open my own story and leave a response there? PM the person who left it? What's the protocol here?

Where's "Miss Manners' Guide to Smut Sites" when I need it?

G

When you look at your PC's, you can click on the name of the person who left it. This will take you to their member page. From there, click again on their name (I think it says "send feedback" underneath it) - this will open a page where you can send them a comment or thank them for theirs, through their email.

 

[flawed_ethics]

I look at Public Comments as general banter. Kinda like asking a freind if they've seen a movie, and if so, what they thought of it. Feedback then is the equivalent of a handwritten letter to the movie studio. Addressing those involved directly.

Of course, I would respond to any strong negative sentiments that would pop up in a story's Public Comments. However, if they liked it to that degree only, then I'm content to know they enjoyed reading the story.

Am I in the minority as far as this train of thought goes? I'm not asking a serious question here, btw. Just curious.

 

[vargas111]

I respond to every publid comment. If it is a brief "liked it" or "Hated it" I reply with a "Thank you." or "sorry." I am very upset when I get an anonymus public comment. I wish there were a way to stop them! I want to reply to all!

 

[Lady Illusion]

I have a story pending. When do you get comments?

 

[cloudy]

I have a story pending. When do you get comments?

Not until after it's posted. Readers are able to either send you feedback (through an email), or leave a public comment that everyone can see - they're given those options at the end of the last page of your story.

 

[Caroline Covington]

I received my first public comment yesterday. The comment was along the lines of, "Good story until you used the phrase 'dirty sex'. At that point your whole story became dirty." I didn't mind the comment so much as the score of zero. Zero for something that he himself admitted was good?

I would have liked to publically engage him (I guess that's why I'm posting here) and tell him that I consider it both odd and amusing that someone would come to an erotic lit site and publically declare their offence at the phrase "dirty sex." I could have emailed him, but I have no desire of one-on-one contact with someone whose sensibilities are so fragile.

So I deleted the comment. I'm not happy about that course of action, but as it was the only comment, I didn't want it to dissuade anyone from reading my story.

Thanks for letting me vent.

 

[vargas111]

Caroline,

I know the frustration. Commenttors getting moralistic about content or specific acts.

Just keep writing and try not to let it bother you. And pay no attention to votes, only to signed comments.

 

[Boxlicker101]

I received my first public comment yesterday. The comment was along the lines of, "Good story until you used the phrase 'dirty sex'. At that point your whole story became dirty." I didn't mind the comment so much as the score of zero. Zero for something that he himself admitted was good?

I would have liked to publically engage him (I guess that's why I'm posting here) and tell him that I consider it both odd and amusing that someone would come to an erotic lit site and publically declare their offence at the phrase "dirty sex." I could have emailed him, but I have no desire of one-on-one contact with someone whose sensibilities are so fragile.

So I deleted the comment. I'm not happy about that course of action, but as it was the only comment, I didn't want it to dissuade anyone from reading my story.

Thanks for letting me vent.

I have to agree with you. I can't understand how somebody can trash a story that they otherwise like because of one minor thing like that. I have read PC complaining about use of condoms or non-use of condoms or other personal preferences but I have never seen one that was one-bombed because of it.

Sometimes I will get a PC along the lines of "Great story!! Best I've ever read. You are a very good writer." But the vote is a "3". Actually, "3" is the default vote on a PC, but sometimes I get a four or two. I always wonder, if this is such a great story, why not a five?

I'm not really all that concerned. I write smut because I like to write smut but I also like compliments as much as the next guy and I like it when people think I am doing something well.

 

[Caroline Covington]

Thanks for your support, both vargas & boxlicker.

Indeed, I write for my own gratification. When I make my writing public, I always hope that a few deluded souls will appreciate it and give me praise. I seem to be able to "turn the crank" for a number of readers, and for this I'm happy.

I guess my frustration was at my inability to address the aforementioned comment and having to resort to deletion, a form of censorship. That makes me unhappy.

 

[MagicFingers]

Votes vs. HotMeter

I have to agree with you. I can't understand how somebody can trash a story that they otherwise like because of one minor thing like that. I have read PC complaining about use of condoms or non-use of condoms or other personal preferences but I have never seen one that was one-bombed because of it.

Sometimes I will get a PC along the lines of "Great story!! Best I've ever read. You are a very good writer." But the vote is a "3". Actually, "3" is the default vote on a PC, but sometimes I get a four or two. I always wonder, if this is such a great story, why not a five?

I'm not really all that concerned. I write smut because I like to write smut but I also like compliments as much as the next guy and I like it when people think I am doing something well.

Actually, a talented old writer like you probably knows that:
Votes and the "Hot Meter" as I call it have nothing to do with each other!
The "Votes" you mention here are not votes, but merely how the reader wants the Hot Meter to show in his/her PC comment. Yes, 50% is the default on that meter. One guy we know NEVER changes that default setting, whether his comments are positive or negative! (YDD) It doesn't mean a thing except that it shows if a reader is very happy or dissatisfied with the story. He could leave the Hot Meter at 3 and give you a "1" or a "5" vote, as I have gotten.
It's the voting that really matters, IMHO, although more people might see the Hot Meter. Hmm...

And, I got a "1" vote recently because the reader was turned off by a comment in the last line about practicing safe sex. It was a story where I was having sex with the neighbor's girlfriend and he was having sex with other girls.
Caroline, I wonder if it was the same guy who flamed you about "Dirty sex"?

We have to write whatever we feel is right and not worry too much about these type comments. I think I have written ONE PC in retaliation, or explanation, to another PC. I haven't deleted any , so far.