Posting feedback rights and wrongs.

[julesteve]

Hi,
While we welcome feedback with both positive comments on ways to improve story telling and negative comments from people who just don't like the story or the way it was written we have been getting abusive personal comments from someone who chooses to remain anonymous.
This person is not commenting on the story but rather the nature of the events that lead to its telling and making judgement on our behaviour.
What we can't understand is, if someone is so offended by the lifestyle depicted in the stories then why on earth would they read them in the first place. Literotica is full of stories about people who have a healthy varied sex life and to continually be abusive about it smacks of jealousy.
We would love to reply to the comments but the coward has left all the comments anonymously.
What we were wondering is, has anyone else come under attack like this.

 

[_Lynn_]

I'm guessing you posted in Loving Wives?

It happens to many. Authors have the ability to delete public comments. Or turn them off so readers cannot leave them. The reasons 'anonymous' posts negative comments do not matter, really. Ignore them and continue to write. Giving them attention is what they seem to want.

 

[sr71plt]

Join the club. If you think it's unfair just erase it. The Web site gives you that power.

 

[elfin_odalisque]

Hi,
While we welcome feedback with both positive comments on ways to improve story telling and negative comments from people who just don't like the story or the way it was written we have been getting abusive personal comments from someone who chooses to remain anonymous.
This person is not commenting on the story but rather the nature of the events that lead to its telling and making judgement on our behaviour.
What we can't understand is, if someone is so offended by the lifestyle depicted in the stories then why on earth would they read them in the first place. Literotica is full of stories about people who have a healthy varied sex life and to continually be abusive about it smacks of jealousy.
We would love to reply to the comments but the coward has left all the comments anonymously.
What we were wondering is, has anyone else come under attack like this.

lynn and sr are completely right, but I feel they don't tell the whole story.

Loving Wives afficionados, I assume that's where you posted, tend to regard any fictional story posted as life in the raw and tend to comment as if it was real.

There is a clear divide between cuckolding stories and enraged husband/unfaithful wife scenarios.

You might do better posting in Group Sex where the erotic matters.

 

[bwallard]

If we're going to go public with our writing then we must be prepared for the criticism the public gives.

Some criticism will be useless to our purpose in writing, and some will be useful.

If I write a story exploring the excitements of adultery I must expect some negative reaction from some of those who have been hurt by adultery and are seeking an outlet for that hurt.

By providing that outlet I have done some social good, perhaps. Psychologists dispute the therapeutic worth of venting, but as a writer that is not my concern. As I writer I discriminate between comments that are to the point and those that are to some other point.

If we can't do that then we should not publish.

Who am I? I am one who dare not publish because I am not ready for the comments I will respect. I have no fear of the comments that are obviously about some agony or hope that I can do nothing for.

Comments by my friends have driven me back to my story and back again because I agree with their comments. My characters are one- or two-dimensional, my story has no early-enough shape. I value that honesty.

I come here to see how other writers are struggling with these same issues and I make honest comments from my view of that struggle.

I applaud the courage you writers have to publish, but I am not sympathetic with your complaints about commentary that is obviously irrelevant to your purpose.

Keep writing, keep on publishing, and to bloody hell with the peanut gallery.

 

[PacoFear]

Keep writing, keep on publishing, and to bloody hell with the peanut gallery.

Anybody else want to see that printed on a t-shirt? I'd wear that shit to the grocery store!

 

[julesteve]

Thanks everyone

Thank you to all those who replied it’s nice to know we aren’t the only ones.
As I said we don’t mind feedback but attacks on a personal level are not what Literotica is about.
Most of the stories were posted in the Exhibitionist section, not Loving Wives but we will take the advice and perhaps post in group sex.
We have taken all your points onboard but if anyone is upset by our stories because their partner has been unfaithful then why on earth are they reading material that brings up such negative feelings
However the stories we tell are not cuckolding stories as the critic seems to think nor are they enraged husband/unfaithful wife scenarios.
Both of us are involved in most of the adventures and if not we certainly share what has happened with one another.
The only reason there are more stories about me than Steve at the moment is simply because we have been telling Exhibitionist type stories, Woman get away with a little nudity in public where as a man will get arrested for exposing himself! LoL.
It’s not as if we don’t both enjoy a varied and wild sex life…its just that it seems more erotic when told from the woman’s point of view.
Thanks again for everyone’s advice.


Keep writing, keep on publishing, and to bloody hell with the peanut gallery.
What a line…well worth a T-shirt!

 

[geronimo_appleby]

the LW crowd can be pretty vitriolic - so i sometimes drop a story in just to give 'em a tweak. i'll go to hell for it, but it's just too much fun not to do it.

i noticed you said you're putting 'true' stories out there. sometimes the feedback comes in that assumes i act as i write - which can be a pretty disturbing thought!

these days i just take the constructive feedback and try to use it to improve - it's a slow, labourious process in my case - the improving.

some of the freaky feedback can be hilarious, some disturbing, just take it for what it is.

good luck.

 

[bronzeage]

Hi,
While we welcome feedback with both positive comments on ways to improve story telling and negative comments from people who just don't like the story or the way it was written we have been getting abusive personal comments from someone who chooses to remain anonymous.
This person is not commenting on the story but rather the nature of the events that lead to its telling and making judgement on our behaviour.
What we can't understand is, if someone is so offended by the lifestyle depicted in the stories then why on earth would they read them in the first place. Literotica is full of stories about people who have a healthy varied sex life and to continually be abusive about it smacks of jealousy.
We would love to reply to the comments but the coward has left all the comments anonymously.
What we were wondering is, has anyone else come under attack like this.

What if they had left their name, address and phone number? What difference would it make? There is no response which might make them change their mind.

When a reader makes personal comments about the author, it's safe to assume they have a personal problem, and the story comments are just an easy forum. An anonymous comment protects them from specific retaliation or other consequences, but none of that is needed. The kind of person who takes the time to use story feedback for personal attacks, already has enough hostile people in their face to face life. Nothing you could do or say could come close to what they endure from their neighbors, family and coworkers.

 

[sr71plt]

attacks on a personal level are not what Literotica is about.

You haven't been around Literotica much, have you?

 

[michchick98]

Hi,
While we welcome feedback with both positive comments on ways to improve story telling and negative comments from people who just don't like the story or the way it was written we have been getting abusive personal comments from someone who chooses to remain anonymous.
This person is not commenting on the story but rather the nature of the events that lead to its telling and making judgement on our behaviour.
What we can't understand is, if someone is so offended by the lifestyle depicted in the stories then why on earth would they read them in the first place. Literotica is full of stories about people who have a healthy varied sex life and to continually be abusive about it smacks of jealousy.
We would love to reply to the comments but the coward has left all the comments anonymously.
What we were wondering is, has anyone else come under attack like this.

I didn't see it mentioned, but then again, I'm tired and might have missed someone else telling you, but you can turn off anonymous comments through your member page.

This will stop people who haven't signed out a Literotica ID from commenting or sending you email. However, it will stop both good and bad anonymous comments, so there is a downside. I say it's a downside because I know I get quite a few positive comments from anonymous users and I often wonder how many less comments I'd get if people didn't have that ability.

And as Bronzeage said, even if they did leave a nasty comment with their name, what would you do about it? They can keep commenting, regardless of how you feel about it and giving them attention will only cause them to comment more because they know it bothers you.

Delete the comment and move on. We all get them, although authors here who write in the Loving Wives category seem to get more than most, or at least that's how I see it.

 

[Takashi]

In the words of a wiser man than myself, "Haters gonna hate."

So forget 'em and carry on. Someone has to.

 

[Mrtouf]

If someone were to post spam comments telling you that you can get your meds for cheaper, not that there seem to be much of that, you'd be annoyed but you'd delete the comment and move on, I think.

Unless someone comes across hostile and rational, they aren't doing anything more for you than Sir George Graham of Geneva or Mr Fredrick Mogan of Texas.

 

[kara24]

I have posted a few stories under BDSM heading and am always amazed that people leave comments about how BDSM is abuse and even suggesting that BDSM is a trap whereby men are at risk of being arrested when their wives have had enough! I can never understand why those people bother to read my stories at all! However, the delete button is an amazing thing and those comments are like water off a ducks back !

 

[julesteve]

Thanks again

The point I was making about the anon feedback was that I would like the chance to answer the person and perhaps resolve some of the issues that they felt were wrong in the story.
Any feedback about a story is welcome but when some prat is moralising about peoples lives there should be the opportunity to answer back and as I have said it would be nice to know why anyone would read storys that upset them so much.
Is this sad person getting off on our stories then perhaps feeling guilty when he has shot his wad? I would love to know.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

The point I was making about the anon feedback was that I would like the chance to answer the person and perhaps resolve some of the issues that they felt were wrong in the story.
Any feedback about a story is welcome but when some prat is moralising about peoples lives there should be the opportunity to answer back and as I have said it would be nice to know why anyone would read storys that upset them so much.
Is this sad person getting off on our stories then perhaps feeling guilty when he has shot his wad? I would love to know.

that's a Pandora's box you're opening!

 

[Debbie]

No matter how hard you try and improve your writing you will never please everyone. There will always be someone sending you feedback criticising the scenario, your characters, the category it's in etc.

I personally think anonymous feedback has it's place. Remember not everyone is as open as yourselves when it comes to sexuality, lifestyle etc.

There are all sorts of people reading the stories here. Christians, people who have been cheated on, people who are not ready to accept they are gay, bisexual, have fantasies they think are sick. Or are married and don't want anyone to know they are on a porn site etc. So, they aren't open or feel comfortable enough to leave feedback that isn't anonymous. There are also people who don't want to hurt people's feelings but really didn't enjoy the story. And then of course you do get the people who are just giving you a 1 because they suck. lol. It's petty but it happens.

I like having feedback. Good or bad. Some have had some rather interesting things to say over the years. Food for thought. I certainly wouldn't turn feedback off or want people to not be able to post anonymously.

 

[Domwoolf]

feedback or my readers drive me crazy

Readers and comments.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my readers. They are half the reason I write. I also love to receive their comments (yes even the snide depreciating sneers of the anonymous), that a story I have written affects a reader to such a degree that he or she takes their valuable time to write and post a comment means the world to me.

Here it comes. Get ready for it.

But.

They drive me crazy. I have been bitched at because my characters do things that in the real world would have consequences (STD’s, scars, etc). I have been accused of being a horrible husband/father/person, or hating women/women bosses/gays/kids and for all I know puppies and kittens

Some examples:

{“Continue writing for your own pleasure, because reading the comments, you don't seem to give much pleasure to anyone else.”}

This was a story about an encounter in an adult movie house and a group orgy scene. Not many public comments but the most e-mail I have ever gotten on a story, mostly from women saying they had done something like that or that they wished they (and their husbands / boyfriends) had the guts to do it.


{“ To Dom I read your bio and unless that is a work of fiction you do like this sort of thing. As I said each to their own. Personally I would not write about this sort of thing mainly because I don't beleive in doing things like this, even as a fiction based fantasy. On last point the common wisdom about writing is that we all put something of ourselves in the stories we write. I know I do as people who know me can verify. I would say that you Dom put a part of you in your stories.”}

Of course I do. Much of my writing is based on 35+ years in the bdsm community. However while I occasionally inject where appropriate, comments on safe sane and consensual bondage this is the world of fantasy where the actors never get STD’s or pregnant or have to use rubbers or get arrested doing things that simply couldn’t happen outside a TV show or a work of fiction.


{“Get a divorce and seek medical help. Exposing someone to the possibility of STD's should be a criminal act. After all the men have no clue just what type of tramp your wife is. God and her doctor only know what she is carrying. Aside from that this was "really erotic" NOT!!!! “}

This one my REAL world wife responded too:
This is Domwoolf's wife. He keeps telling you that this is a work of FICTION and obviously you are not listening. <snap> <crack> All his work that he is writing is "FICTION", I love this man very much and he would never do anything like that to me for the most part. He loves to tie me up and use the whip on me (mmmmm I love that part), he also uses canes, but he never puts cigs out on me or hang me upside down, no bugs or spiders. Nothing that would harm me or if I don't want it. Always safe, sane & consensual. I only have him, no one else, and the same for him. He keeps me safe and loves me. Rest assured we are truly happy after 25 years of being together. Ladylion23

{“I'm not quite sure what I expected but this wasn't it. I get that Carol is your pet, I get that you want her to do these things. What I don't get is that she loves you for it, apparently. But then I don't really understand BDSM so if you both enjoy this sort of thing then have at it.”}

Again Carol and Rick and Donna and Heather and the rest of my cast of characters exist only in the electronic media of the written word.


3 Comments
{“sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick what kind of person would do that !??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”}

{“I thought I'd seen the worst in abuse after the donkey show in Havana in l955, and the two dog shows I witnessed in Asia. BUT, you, my sick friend, are the first human to make me sick to my stomach! My only wish would be to have you at my disposal for a couple of months, so as to be able to introduce you to JUST the pain you describe, inflicting. You should be ashamed to call yourself a human being, I know I'm ashamed of you!”}


{“I can tell you are a cruel man. I cannot tell you if I would read another installment of this story or not.”}


Granted that some of my stories get warning labels even on the supposedly hard core sex and sadism sites, I still get amazed at the visceral responses I get.


I suppose I shall have to include a disclaimer on my works from now on.

Disclaimer:
What I write is fiction/fantasy/fairy tales for adults. None of my characters are real, no one was injured during the production of my stories and just like on T.V., they all get up when the scene is over, have a beer, remove the makeup and go home, ready to return in the next chapter, all the boo boos healed.


Finally some comments in the (Some folks just don’t get it department).

{“When you switched from the vampire to the victim, it gave a bit of a mental whiplash, as you didn't bother to tell us you were changing point of reference.”}

Which was the point I was trying and I guess failing to make that vamp and victim share a lot of the same thoughts and world views.


(Spelling?
06/24/08 By: Anonymous in USA
It's spelled I-N-T-E-R-L-U-D-E. )


Some folks will never get it.
lewd
adjective
1. showing, or intended to excite, lust or sexual desire, esp. in an offensive way; lascivious.

inter•lude
noun
1. a short, humorous play formerly presented between the parts of a miracle play or morality play
a. anything that fills time between two events
b. intervening time or, rarely, space.

Interlewd
A play on words intended to combine both definitions.

Dom Woolf
"sigh"

 

[KillerMuffin]

My favorite piece of feedback came via email through one of my most innocuous, erotically, story on the site. It was in erotic couplings, actually. It's a huge diatribe on how we porno writers are leading people to hell and how I should join up with this guy's freakjob church. It's not even a mainstream, real church, either. It's a fringe group with serious issues. I call it a group, but I have to wonder how large a group it actually is.

 

[sr71plt]

My favorite piece of feedback came via email through one of my most innocuous, erotically, story on the site. It was in erotic couplings, actually. It's a huge diatribe on how we porno writers are leading people to hell and how I should join up with this guy's freakjob church. It's not even a mainstream, real church, either. It's a fringe group with serious issues. I call it a group, but I have to wonder how large a group it actually is.

I get barrages of that message on my mainstream e-mail account. My real authorname (except for the middle initial) is the same as an (agnostic) professor of religion who also writes mainstream books. Somehow the Fundies have gotten the two of us mixed up, and I receive a bucket load of his hate mail. And, of course, they invariable are so stupid that they can't be convinced they have the wrong author.

 

[KillerMuffin]

I get barrages of that message on my mainstream e-mail account. My real authorname (except for the middle initial) is the same as an (agnostic) professor of religion who also writes mainstream books. Somehow the Fundies have gotten the two of us mixed up, and I receive a bucket load of his hate mail. And, of course, they invariable are so stupid that they can't be convinced they have the wrong author.

That's got to be a lot of fun. One track minds take such pains to keep their upset apple carts all shiny and polished, don't they?