How should I vote or comment?

[oggbashan]

How should I vote or comment on stories in categories that I don't appreciate?

I do not vote, send feedback, nor leave PCs on poetry because I have a blind spot for modern poetry. Very few poems that do not have traditional forms such as rhyme and metre actually convey their message to me - it's like being tone-deaf and trying to understand music.

I have a similar problem with some Literotica categories. I can recognise the skill and expertise (or lack of both) in the writing but the story doesn't mean a thing to me e.g. Non-Consent or Fanfic.

At the moment I decline to vote or send any response on such stories even if written by people whose work elsewhere I enjoy and/or respect.

Should I try to force myself to rate the story according to the standards of the genre? Or should I continue to refrain from voting because I cannot understand whether the story is good of its kind or not?

How would you tackle this dilemma?

I am sure that many people find some of my stories difficult because the story's bias is not one they share.

Any suggestions?

Og

 

[AppleBiter]

Being no expert myself, it would seem to me that the best thing to do would be to comment on the writing, itself. I.e. "I really felt that the author had a strong voice in this piece" or "This piece had an excellent flow to it from beginning to end," etc. This leaves out any indication as to whether or not the story was good based on it's actual content (as you've said you don't understand some of it), but compliments the actual mechanics of the piece, which you fully understand.

 

[LadyJeanne]

Well, why are you reading the stories in the categories that don't do anything for you?

I'd say there's no reason to vote or comment if you don't want to. If you're reading something that a friend has asked you to read, then it's fair to comment on the writing and tell them that the subject matter isn't your kink, so you don't feel you could make any helpful comments on the eroticism of it.

 

[Recidiva]

I think that we have to realize that we only represent or hear our own viewpoints. I am an actress and I have tried to encompass a lot of viewpoints...but...one experience in particular taught me something. My father once took me and my family and a friend of mine to go see "Children Of a Lesser God" on Broadway and I was blown away. Marlee Matlin was amazing and I thought it was the best thing ever...as an artist I was astounded, touched so deeply.

My father, however, paid for the tickets. On the way out I was internally rhapsodizing about the artistry and he just looked so sad and he said "For sixty bucks, is it too much to ask for a happy ending?"

Some people want what they pay for or what they expect. Now I love Marlee and I love my father, I try to respect both sides. As an artist I could have berated him for his lack of depth, but this was my dad. I kept my mouth shut and comforted him. He paid for my ticket.

The audience knows what it wants. The artist knows what it wants to give.

It helps as an audience to know what you want.

It helps as an artist to know what you want to say.

Particularly since this is a free forum, there's no possible way (or need) to be a 360 degree person with omniscience. Just be yourself. You don't have to be omnipresent. Speak to what speaks to you. Don't talk back to what doesn't. It will be coming from someone and speaking to someone that is not you, and that's just fine. You don't have to be able to hear it, and you don't have to change it to suit you.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

your words mean a lot Oggs. You are highly respected here and I am sure anyone would appreciate your comments. If the story isn't something you find interesting, but you recognize a well written piece, comment on the writing. As to votes, I think that's so entierly subjective your own approach is probably the one best suited to you.

 

[Alex756]

Alot of the people I browbeat into givng me feedback I have to beg and plead to get them to read stuff due to catagory (I swear its easier to find people to read incest than erotic horror) but I get some of the best feedback on writing style from them. because of being outside of the target audience, the perception of poor writing is more keen, and I can learn alot more from those reviews, preferably nice long emails

~Alex

 

[oggbashan]

Well, why are you reading the stories in the categories that don't do anything for you?

I try to read all the entries in the themed competitions. The competition list does not indicate the story category until you select the story. Then I could backclick but if the author is one I respect then I will read the story anyway.

It isn't even as easy as I said in the first post. A good author can make anything worth reading and expand your understanding.

That's one reason why I am sad about my lack of understanding of modern poetry. A good poem can make me see the world in a different way, a way I would never have thought of, and to that extent widens my horizon. So too can a story here but if the particular form of erotica is not erotic to me then I am unlikely to gain the insight I might have done.

Og

 

[gauchecritic]

Ultimately, if you only care to comment on the style or artistry of the story then the story hasn't done its job.

Playing beautiful football and losing 3-0 isn't doing the job.

Remembering only the cinematography as you walk out of the theatre isn't doing the job.

Using drawing pins to hold up wallpaper isn't doing the job.

Disliking the nitty gritty of gay sex but realising how the character couldn't be any other way is doing the job.

Being slightly shocked that you have an erection because of how you've been drawn into a story containing bdsm is doing the job.

Deriving lascivious pleasure by proxy when a loving wife jumps a stranger in the supermarket as her husband watches is doing the job.

It seems to me that good writing, and thereby good reading, can be allowed a couple of typoes, a run on sentence or three or regular use of too for to and in this vein good reading can also encompass a 'different' appetite than your regular fare, without detracting from your enjoyment.

 

[Kassiana]

Don't vote or comment. I don't vote or comment on the stories here that turn me off (and they are numerous, and some of their authors post here) and rightly so.

If they're non-contest stories, vote but don't comment is what I do.

 

[Penelope Street]

With a few exceptions, if it doesn't interest me, I don't read it. Similarly, I would not feel slighted if you read every story other than mine simply because the topic did not appeal to you.

 

[Alex De Kok]

I sometimes find myself in a similar dilemma. If no-one knows I'm there, I may just back out quietly and find something else. Like Og, I try to read all of the entries in a contest, if I'm participating in that contest. If I'm not, and I come across something that doesn't ring my bell, I move on. I don't have an entry in the Hallowe'en contst this year. No time - I was revising for an Open University English Grammar exam and, yes, it was as horrible as it sounds! I haven't actually written any fiction for weeks now. Time I did. The exam was on Wednesday and I think the shock is wearing off now.

I try to vote, and vote honestly, on the stories I read here. I have even been known to comment. Again, I try to comment honestly, but I confess freely that I am not the most prolific feedback provider around these parts. I will vote on all of the entries in a contest, or at least all those I finish, if I'm in the contest. If I'm not, I reserve the right to back-click at any time without giving a reason.

Just my two-pennorth.

Alex

 

[oggbashan]

An example of the unusually good.

This non-erotic story is very well written. It is an example of a good story that should appeal to most:

Dancing with the Bride

Og

 

[impressive]

It seems to me that good writing, and thereby good reading, can be allowed a couple of typoes, a run on sentence or three or regular use of too for to and in this vein good reading can also encompass a 'different' appetite than your regular fare, without detracting from your enjoyment.

 

[Penelope Street]

This non-erotic story is very well written.
Og

ty

 

[Stella_Omega]

I do hope you will read a story that is pending in Clelebs, because- I couldn't think of any other place to put it.
My biggest problem in every single category- is poor and mediocre writing skills. Poor writing makes me not care about the characters.

 

[elsol]

Do not vote.
Do not comment.

Most of the times, you won't be able to escape the inevitable bias of 'Well, this doesn't do anything for me'.

It's like having a fundamental christian vote or comment on a story... how fair do you think they can REALLY be? Or how fair would you accept their comment or vote?

Competitions are different of course.

Sincerely,
elsol