Do you ever delete comments?

[Guest]

I need some advice from other writers who post here.

I've never deleted a public comment on my work. I didn't even delete a comment that said I had mixed up the names of my characters. I wrote the guy. I made him go through the story paragraph by paragraph; I had not mixed up any names. He apologized in a private email. But, I still left his comment on the board.

The comment I am thinking of sending to the garbage now is different. It's by a 20-something guy. He said that my story is "too intense" and that I should consider using some humor...I can't believe that I am so unbelievably pissed and annoyed. But, I am. I have received dozens of feedback from people who love this story BECAUSE of its humor.

I can understand if he is just too young and inexperienced with life to "get it." But, I want to know, in your opinion, if I should or should not delete?

If you're curious, you can click on my stories; and the story in question is called "Baby Steps." I don't care if you read the story or not. I really just want to know what you would do if it were your story.

 

[Aurora Black]

I need some advice from other writers who post here.

I've never deleted a public comment on my work. I didn't even delete a comment that said I had mixed up the names of my characters. I wrote the guy. I made him go through the story paragraph by paragraph; I had not mixed up any names. He apologized in a private email. But, I still left his comment on the board.

The comment I am thinking of sending to the garbage now is different. It's by a 20-something guy. He said that my story is "too intense" and that I should consider using some humor...I can't believe that I am so unbelievably pissed and annoyed. But, I am. I have received dozens of feedback from people who love this story BECAUSE of its humor.

I can understand if he is just too young and inexperienced with life to "get it." But, I want to know, in your opinion, if I should or should not delete?

I was in a similar position a month or so ago, and I have to say that if the comment doesn't lend anything useful to help in your quest to become a better writer, toss it. Malicious troll messages, unfair criticism (non-constructive) and even comments from people who don't "get it" should go into the trash. Keep the praise, though.

 

[Guest]

I was in a similar position a month or so ago, and I have to say that if the comment doesn't lend anything useful to help in your quest to become a better writer, toss it. Malicious troll messages, unfair criticism (non-constructive) and even comments from people who don't "get it" should go into the trash. Keep the praise, though.

Thanks, Aurora! I really want to delete it; but I thought maybe I was being too "sensitive."

 

[Aurora Black]

Thanks, Aurora! I really want to delete it; but I thought maybe I was being too "sensitive."

No, it's fine. If you feel uncomfortable, you don't have to grin and bear it. It's your right to delete it if you want.

 

[rgraham666]

Seconded. It's your story and you don't have to accept any comments on them. Especially if they are malicious and/or irrelevant.

Only had to do it twice so far. A couple of the irrelevant ones are just so weird I had to leave them up. In hopes that I or someone else will one day see the relevancy of them.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

A couple of the irrelevant ones are just so weird I had to leave them up. In hopes that I or someone else will one day see the relevancy of them.

I do that, too... or those submissions that seem to inspire commentors to DEBATE each other at the end of your piece!? They're answering each other and going back and forth... kind of makes me laugh, so I leave them... if they amuse me, I leave them, that's my general rule...

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Well, here's my 2 cents worth of advice...if the comment bugs you, delete it.

I havent yet deleted a comment, even the pissy ones, and there arent many of those. I feel everyone is entitled to leave their opinion at the end of my work.

Now, if the comment was a personal attack on me, I would probably delete it.

There you go, 2 cents worth of non-committal advice...

 

[Guest]

I'll give it a couple of hours and see if it amuses me then.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

I've never deleted any of my comments, even the ones that say my poetry is "crap" or that my stories are "disguised gay sleaze". I'm just past the point of giving a fuck. I cherish the good comments and ignore the rest. I think the only reason I'd delete a comment now is if it said something racist or hateful. Personally, I'd never delete a comment because it was critical or the person commenting didn't "get" what I was trying to say. It's just an opinion and you know what they say about those.

One of my favorite Lit authors left up some crazy vicious comments he got on something and when asked about it, he just shrugged it off and said they were battle scars.

 

[Guest]

Well, here's my 2 cents worth of advice...if the comment bugs you, delete it.

I havent yet deleted a comment, even the pissy ones, and there arent many of those. I feel everyone is entitled to leave their opinion at the end of my work.

Now, if the comment was a personal attack on me, I would probably delete it.

There you go, 2 cents worth of non-committal advice...

Well, I've only posted a few stories...seven, I think?...and this is the only "negative" comment I've ever gotten. So, yeah, I'm being a big baby. I admit it.

 

[rgraham666]

One of the comments I deleted wasn't even directed at me. It was directed at the person who helped me with the story.

It was so nasty, had I been able to get my hands on the son of a bitch, I would have deleted him.

Two years and I'm still pissed about it.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Well, I've only posted a few stories...seven, I think?...and this is the only "negative" comment I've ever gotten. So, yeah, I'm being a big baby. I admit it.

Nope, you're not being a big baby. Your work is part of you, and sometimes it's tough.

 

[Liar]

All honest, relevant comments stay. If somebody think my stuff sucks and says it, or think that I personally suck and says it, that's their opinion, and if they have no manners, it only reflects poorly on them.

I only delete double posts, external links, and incomprehensible babble.

 

[zeb1094]

I have deleted many a comment due to their irrelevance! Mainly, social critizisms on the theme of the story with snide remarks towards me, the author!

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

If I think a comment is helpful, even if critical, I keep it. Otherwise, I delete it.

 

[Recidiva]

I've left all my comments up, and some of them are:

"not well-written, not interesting, a waste of time."

and

"Please, please, don't give up your day job. This was terrible. "

and this is on my piece that got an "E"

So...

Leave them there, they are a reminder to yourself and to your readers that you're not everybody's cup of tea.

I think if you want to take the good, you should also take the bad.

I wouldn't blame you if you make them go away, but you're missing a source of humility and perspective

 

[zeb1094]

I've left all my comments up, and some of them are:

"not well-written, not interesting, a waste of time."

and

"Please, please, don't give up your day job. This was terrible. "

and this is on my piece that got an "E"

So...

Leave them there, they are a reminder to yourself and to your readers that you're not everybody's cup of tea.

I think if you want to take the good, you should also take the bad.

I wouldn't blame you if you make them go away, but you're missing a source of humility and perspective

True those comments are a useful source of humor, but when the commentor calls you, the author and sick SOB for even thinking of do those kind of things, well they just have to go! They serve no purpose!

Well they do, kinda of! They are always good for a little humor as I did with one comment in my story about a troll - Oh Crap!.

 

[Recidiva]

True those comments are a useful source of humor, but when the commentor calls you, the author and sick SOB for even thinking of do those kind of things, well they just have to go! They serve no purpose!

Well they do, kinda of! They are always good for a little humor as I did with one comment in my story about a troll - Oh Crap!.

I must just be more used to being called nasty names

I tend to think that if the person took the time to take a few seconds out of their day to tell me how much I suck, I win. Nah nah. Wasted your time. Phhht.

I know, I'm petty.

 

[zeb1094]

I must just be more used to being called nasty names

I tend to think that if the person took the time to take a few seconds out of their day to tell me how much I suck, I win. Nah nah. Wasted your time. Phhht.

I know, I'm petty.

But a social commentary on the story and what a sick person I am to have written it is not constructive! I write what I like and the person did take the time to read it or part of it, they usually don't take the time to read the whole thing, then take the time to make a comment about how sick my story, on a porno site is, is stupid. Yes?

 

[R. Richard]

I feel that relevant comments, good or bad should be left. A comment that is just a personal attack is not relevant. A "positive comment" that indicates that the person has not read/understood the story should be deleted as not relevant.

JMHO.

 

[Recidiva]

But a social commentary on the story and what a sick person I am to have written it is not constructive! I write what I like and the person did take the time to read it or part of it, they usually don't take the time to read the whole thing, then take the time to make a comment about how sick my story, on a porno site is, is stupid. Yes?

By all means, take out what bothers you. There's no real reason to have them there if they really bug you for any reason.

I would say since the writer has the ability to edit them, then do so.

Just giving my reasons why I'd leave mine up.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I need some advice from other writers who post here.

I've never deleted a public comment on my work. I didn't even delete a comment that said I had mixed up the names of my characters. I wrote the guy. I made him go through the story paragraph by paragraph; I had not mixed up any names. He apologized in a private email. But, I still left his comment on the board.

The comment I am thinking of sending to the garbage now is different. It's by a 20-something guy. He said that my story is "too intense" and that I should consider using some humor...I can't believe that I am so unbelievably pissed and annoyed. But, I am. I have received dozens of feedback from people who love this story BECAUSE of its humor.

I can understand if he is just too young and inexperienced with life to "get it." But, I want to know, in your opinion, if I should or should not delete?

If you're curious, you can click on my stories; and the story in question is called "Baby Steps." I don't care if you read the story or not. I really just want to know what you would do if it were your story.

You wrote the story. You put in the work, the blood the sweat and tears. You fidgeted while it was pending and worried about it's reception. He who wrote the PC did none of that. hIs post, amended to your work, is a rider. He has no nherent right to have his comments seen. He didn't do the work.

As authors we allow PCs or don't. If we do, we still exercise prudent authority over what stays up and what dosent. IN general, if a PC is attacking my work, I'll leave it. If it's attacking me as the author, I'll delete it. If it attacks someone unconnected with the work, I'll delete it. My theory is that PC's help reders dcide if they want to read a work. If the PC facilitates this, wither with glowing praise or savage critique, I'm good with it. Discussing my probable sex life or partentage has no benefit to a reader wishing to see if the story is for them.

the bottom line is you control the PC's on your work. You are responsible for them, in that we are expected to police them for TOS violations. If one anoys you, delete it. There is no hard and fast rule. In the end, you wrote the story. What you decide to let ride on it's coattails is strictly your call.

 

[zeb1094]

By all means, take out what bothers you. There's no real reason to have them there if they really bug you for any reason.

I would say since the writer has the ability to edit them, then do so.

Just giving my reasons why I'd leave mine up.

. .

 

[sophia jane]

All honest, relevant comments stay. If somebody think my stuff sucks and says it, or think that I personally suck and says it, that's their opinion, and if they have no manners, it only reflects poorly on them.

I only delete double posts, external links, and incomprehensible babble.

This is true for me, too. I've only deleted one comment (that wasn't a duplicate), and it was on my first story accusing me (wrongly) of plagarism. Comments that my work is too short, too long, not good enough, boring, etc stay. I just shrug them off, and smile at the nice comments.

 

[Guest]

Thanks, everyone! I've left the comment up, for now.