Do you respond to comments?

[YDB95]

I occasionally do. One of my stories, "When we Get to San Francisco," is about an abortion, so that has attracted a lot of anti-choice propaganda that I routinely delete, and have responded directly to a couple of times just to set the record straight. Most of the others, I won't reply to unless it's a question where the commenter is obviously expecting an answer. Most comments, of course, don't really lend themselves to a reply, except for "thanks" if it's positive and "why the heck do you read my stories anyway when you always hate them?" if it's negative.

 

[Athalia]

Not as a rule, although I remember a comment about how sexually active a woman can possibly be. (That story is "The Dorm Mother.") I had to explain how many condoms she went through, and how I arrived at that figure. Other than that, I can't recall any other responses to comments offhand.

 

[tenyari]

What used to drive me nuts from all the comments I would get back on ASSTR and here - was that the ones that would ask some specific question that really called for answer almost always came from 'anonymous'...

When I get to posting my upcoming work, I'm debating turning off anonymous comments just so I can reply to people.

 

[other2other1]

I don't look at comments every day on my stories, but I tend to have a laugh about once a week on what people post. Being a LW author I tend to get some really nasty comments, so in general, I don't tend to reply.

That said, if I note that someone has asked a clever question or has something interesting to say, I'll sometimes post a reply or direct message the person.

There are some really great users here, that are insightful and can get really good feedback to authors, seek out and reply to those people and ignore the trolls

 

[Agrippa54]

I wasn't inclined to respond when I started submitting, but left the comment section open. Most of the comments were less than helpful shall we say. I started deleting them, and then finally just closed the comments section altogether.

 

[Paligirl]

I don't get many comments on my stories yet, and I value the ones I get. Sometimes I am tempted to respond (only in a positive way). But I don't see many authors responding to comments, and perhaps it is bad form. I also got one direct message from a reader once, and I of course was happy to respond to that, but comments feel different.

Do you respond to comments? Or no?

I have to the criticisms. I look first to see if they've contributed here creatively. And they haven't. Lol! I didnt think to respond to the positives...because its a direct response v. their public comment and it seemed to me...intrusive?

 

[EarlyMorningLight]

Just published my third story and for the first time I’m getting some very ornery comments, about the ending. I’ve had a good time laughing at them but I don’t feel the need to respond. Interestingly, one commenter took it upon himself to clap back at them, which was hilarious.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

I had a perfect example yesterday where I felt a reply was justified, so I did so.

A reader had read the first multi-chapter part from one of my stories and then commented, "Another incomplete story".

I didn't want others to read the comment and assume that the story wasn't complete, so I added a comment of my own clarifying that there were ten additional parts of the story already posted and that it had been complete for over three years.

Clarifying incorrect statements made in comments is about the only time I will respond.

 

[NoTalentHack]

Very rarely. That way lies arguing with commenters, and that’s absolute madness in LW, where I primarily write. But I will almost always respond to emailed feedback; the additional effort seems to weed out most of the kneejerkers. That said, it’s hard to resist occasionally; my will has held out so far.

 

[oggbashan]

I try to say 'Thank You' for every comment, good or bad. I can't respond to anon, or to people who have feedback turned off. But for everyone else I try just to say thank you for the effort in making a comnent.

But sometimes I miss a few. Apologies.

 

[elizaloo]

I always respond to emailed comments - if a reader takes the time to contact me (and includes their email for a response), they're worth my time.

Comments on my stories - eh, they stand as is unless they are particularly annoying - then I delete them.

 

[bumpercars]

I guess I'm one of the oddballs - I reply to every comment (unless the person is being an asshole, in which case I delete it). I want to answer people's questions, and I want them to know that I appreciate their feedback.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I don't get many comments on my stories yet, and I value the ones I get. Sometimes I am tempted to respond (only in a positive way). But I don't see many authors responding to comments, and perhaps it is bad form. I also got one direct message from a reader once, and I of course was happy to respond to that, but comments feel different.

Do you respond to comments? Or no?

I try to respond to every one of them, negative or positive. I figure if they took the time to write…

The only exception is abuse from trolls, that just gets deleted.

Em

 

[oggbashan]

How should I respond to this?

Anonymous3 days ago
Having nearly 500 stories and less than 1500 followers doesn't speak very well for you. And sadly neither does this story. I hope when your time comes you go peacefully in your sleep. Best of luck.

Not that I can because it is anon.

 

[drobert44]

How should I respond to this?

Anonymous3 days ago
Having nearly 500 stories and less than 1500 followers doesn't speak very well for you. And sadly neither does this story. I hope when your time comes you go peacefully in your sleep. Best of luck.

Not that I can because it is anon.

Ignore it.

 

[theWollstonecraftWoman]

Sometimes I respond to emailed fan comments. With comments on my stories, I responded to all the nice comments on one story, thanking them, with one text for all of kind words to that point. I'm lacking on comments on most of my work.

 

[ofbuttons]

Positive comments: I let these stand without response. I had started trying to reply with thanks, but the time delay makes it kind of pointless and the lack of threading awkward.

Pure complaining: No response to these. They know what they're doing. I will delete them if they insult me personally. I get a few of these because some people make it a hobby of hate-reading anything with Loving Wives flavoured femdom, regardless of category.

Negative criticism that is thoughtful: These, I will reply to half the time. If it sounds like they should simply write their own story, I might not bother, but if they have clear investment and an interesting perspective, I might engage. And if I do, I will give a thank you aside for positive feedback while I am there.

Questions: Theoretically, sure.

 

[Duleigh]

Do you respond to comments? Or no?

I try to respond to every comment left on my stories. I only respond to anonymous comments there on in the comments if they warrant a response. The rest, the folks with a username, I'll click on their contact tab and send them a comment off line. I've had some great experiences with those conversations.

 

[SomaSlave]

If an anonymous commenter asks a question of general interest, I'll reply in a comment. If they left a name, I'll try to reply in DM. I've met some very interesting people that way. I'm particularly fond of other authors taking the time to write a comment. I've discovered some really good writers that way.

 

[Rob_Royale]

If they send feedback to my email and if the ask a question, I definitely do.

 

[yukonnights]

I had a perfect example yesterday where I felt a reply was justified, so I did so.

A reader had read the first multi-chapter part from one of my stories and then commented, "Another incomplete story".

I didn't want others to read the comment and assume that the story wasn't complete, so I added a comment of my own clarifying that there were ten additional parts of the story already posted and that it had been complete for over three years.

Clarifying incorrect statements made in comments is about the only time I will respond.

This kind of misleading comment is primarily the reason I will respond to a comment. Quite often the negative comment will be a head scratcher and when it seems necessary, I'll correct the person by pointing their error. I've also thanked some readers for their input. But generally, it's doubtful that any of the commenters ever see that — still, it seems to me that the next commenter will see the exchange and the overall tone of the comments might have some influence on their own comment.

As others have said; I always respond to those comments that come to my email.

 

[Voboy]

I didn't want others to read the comment and assume that the story wasn't complete

If that's the concern, I'd probably just delete the comment if it had nothing else useful.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

If that's the concern, I'd probably just delete the comment if it had nothing else useful.

I avoid censoring comments. Even nasty ones have value to other readers, many of whom will take issue with the poster and support the story and/or me.

 

[SabrinaGLangton]

I have over fifty stories and when someone leaves me comments I thank them and answer them individually. I even answer the negative ones and the ones that don't make sense. I am always quick to answer back and always positive. I feel a little more involved, I feel like this crazy place called Literotica is more like a club I visit every once in a while and not a website in the cyberspace. Wow, I haven't written that word in years... cyberspace I mean.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I avoid censoring comments. Even nasty ones have value to other readers, many of whom will take issue with the poster and support the story and/or me.

Comments are a form of advertising for your story, so it becomes your call as to how you advertise.

I take the view that stupid or inane comments serve no purpose - they're like dog turds on your front lawn or bad graffiti on your fence. Some folk clean it up, some folk leave it there - it tells you a lot about your neighbourhood, I reckon, what you see. Some graffiti is good, but most is just some dopey kid with a spray-can, and a turd is always a turd.