Tough day

[lovecraft68]

I don't pay them any mind and personally I never delete a comment and my rationale on that is if they come back and see it gone, they think they got to me. Leaving it there shows the truth, that I give zero fucks.

As for valid critique, those tend not to be posted harshly and I'll think about it, but if the tone is pissy I pay no heed, most of the time, if its a longer comment the second I see its trolling I don't even finish it.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

I took the time to read the comment.

I view it as someone who read the original story that yours is based on and then formed perceptions of the characters and opinions on the plot that created expectations for them not met by what you have created. Having not read the original work to judge how true your story is to it, I can't say whether the comment holds any validity or if this is just another reader challenged with comprehending what they read.

Stay true to your vision for your story. If someone doesn't like it, they are free to write their own version.

 

[firmbutgentle]

I'm sorry you got treated like that.

It is true, and all too easy, that reader comments, especially anonymous comments, shouldn't get to you. Nevertheless they do. It is rude, and unnecessary, and seems to just reject the entire direction of the story in which case why say anything? Just don't read more. (I don't like T his commenter.)

Is there anything we can do other than rate the story? Do more comments help dilute that crap? Does it help for multiple people to report the comment?

More generally, and asking the group, what can be done about this? Will LE remove comments that are nasty if they don't violate their ToS? Do they handle anonymous comments differently than comments by members?

Again, I'm sorry this person talked like that to you. Your work is good and I hope this doesn't discourage you from writing more.

 

[SimonDoom]

I don't pay them any mind and personally I never delete a comment and my rationale on that is if they come back and see it gone, they think they got to me. Leaving it there shows the truth, that I give zero fucks.

As for valid critique, those tend not to be posted harshly and I'll think about it, but if the tone is pissy I pay no heed, most of the time, if its a longer comment the second I see its trolling I don't even finish it.

In six years I've deleted one comment. I'm pretty sure it was an incel-type comment.

I also think one should not respond to the really stupid, hostile comments. No point is served.

I must say that most negative comments I've received, both non-anonymous and anonymous, contain at least a kernel of truth and value. They rightly pointed out that I did something screwy with the plot, or I misspelled something, or I didn't handle a character in quit the right way, or I made a continuity error.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Is there anything we can do other than rate the story? Do more comments help dilute that crap? Does it help for multiple people to report the comment?

Reporting such comments will do nothing. As presented here, the comment is not offensive nor hate speech. The site would have no reason to intervene.

The author could delete the comment, the site gives them that ability. Better to have quietly done that, perhaps, than to bring it here. This just adds fuel to the fire.

 

[lovecraft68]

In six years I've deleted one comment. I'm pretty sure it was an incel-type comment.

I also think one should not respond to the really stupid, hostile comments. No point is served.

I must say that most negative comments I've received, both non-anonymous and anonymous, contain at least a kernel of truth and value. They rightly pointed out that I did something screwy with the plot, or I misspelled something, or I didn't handle a character in quit the right way, or I made a continuity error.

There's a difference between negative and trolling which is what I was trying to convey. If someone says "you used there instead of there" did I? Probably, spell check doesn't catch everything. "You need a proof reader" yeah, maybe or a plot inconsistency that is or isn't there, sure.

But when it starts attacking the characters, usually the female, starts ranting about morals or just starts spewing that's another story. Negative is their right, they didn't like it, they didn't like it. Just being a d-bag is trolling.

 

[SimonDoom]

There's a difference between negative and trolling which is what I was trying to convey. If someone says "you used there instead of there" did I? Probably, spell check doesn't catch everything. "You need a proof reader" yeah, maybe or a plot inconsistency that is or isn't there, sure.

But when it starts attacking the characters, usually the female, starts ranting about morals or just starts spewing that's another story. Negative is their right, they didn't like it, they didn't like it. Just being a d-bag is trolling.

Those kinds of criticisms are useless. If I write a story about a hot wife, and somebody responds that they hate hot wife stories and that she should die of an STD (and there are plenty of those), my response (unstated, I keep it to myself) is that the reader is an intolerant idiot who wasted time reading a story on a subject he didn't like.

But there are useful comments, sometimes, when the reader feels I've set the character up one way, and then they did something out of character. Those are legitimate criticisms, and in most cases, with my stories, they've had at least a kernel of truth to them. Those are the kinds of criticisms I try to keep in mind the next time I write a story.

 

[firmbutgentle]

Reporting such comments will do nothing. As presented here, the comment is not offensive nor hate speech. The site would have no reason to intervene.

The author could delete the comment, the site gives them that ability. Better to have quietly done that, perhaps, than to bring it here. This just adds fuel to the fire.

Thanks for explaining. I had not realized you can delete comments -- I assumed the lack of controls for that in the comments section meant it wasn't possible, but I reread the FAQ and saw that you can do it from the control panel.

 

[Emilymcplugger]

I took the time to read the comment.

I view it as someone who read the original story that yours is based on and then formed perceptions of the characters and opinions on the plot that created expectations for them not met by what you have created. Having not read the original work to judge how true your story is to it, I can't say whether the comment holds any validity or if this is just another reader challenged with comprehending what they read.

Stay true to your vision for your story. If someone doesn't like it, they are free to write their own version.

The irony is that the point they made about both the main character and main female character as criticism comes good in the first few paragraphs of the next chapter.

The main characters rage at Jesse comes to fruition in Part 5.

As for the rooms, they were one of the parts of the story I really liked. The Newlywed room, the trapeze room, the eyes-wide-shut room, the sensory deprivation room, all interesting flavours, all enjoyable to create.

And the last bit about Kate enjoying more sexual fun also comes good with her journey into BDSM which allows her to be used but with her in charge of it.

I guess I’m pissed because it’s a negative comment where much of what they’re whinging about does get resolved.

They were on part 3 of 5. How did they think it would resolve in the middle.

 

[Duleigh]

The worst thing about it was them having a go at the Newlywed Room (a play of course on the Newlywed Game).

This was the scene where I first felt I was onto something and I’d got it going forward. The build-up was slow, the challenges/forfeits sexy, the combination of characters right, and all observed by someone who should have quickly left or interceded but couldn’t look away.

That bit turned me on when writing it and turned me on when editing it.

That’s the one that stung a bit.

That was harsh.

The comment clearly was not a comment on the content of the story, and it was not about the style of writing/grammar/spelling. I think the "person" thought he was being funny and chose you as the target of his "witticism." He was probably drunk because it looks like he was typing with his feet, and I'm betting that he chose you as a target because you're a woman.

Don't let it get you down as a writer, from what I've seen of your work, we need more of you on this site.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I guess I’m pissed because it’s a negative comment where much of what they’re whinging about does get resolved.

They were on part 3 of 5. How did they think it would resolve in the middle

Readers arrive at a view of a story as they go along, and if you post chaptered stories, you can expect progressive responses - they've not read the next chapter yet.

As the author, you can control all this by not posting chapters, but posting a complete work instead. When posting chapters, you've invited progressive commentary, so you shouldn't complain when you get it.

There are upsides and downsides with chaptered stories, you've now discovered one of the downsides. But it's the response of a single reader, so why fret?

 

[KeithD]

They were on part 3 of 5. How did they think it would resolve in the middle.

Yes, this is a Web site with a large proportion of unsophisticated readers. Most of us have probably gotten that premature comment on something pinned down later in subsequent chapters. This is a good opportunity to use that erase button the Web site gives authors. It's not going to change.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

The irony is that the point they made about both the main character and main female character as criticism comes good in the first few paragraphs of the next chapter.

The main characters rage at Jesse comes to fruition in Part 5.

As for the rooms, they were one of the parts of the story I really liked. The Newlywed room, the trapeze room, the eyes-wide-shut room, the sensory deprivation room, all interesting flavours, all enjoyable to create.

And the last bit about Kate enjoying more sexual fun also comes good with her journey into BDSM which allows her to be used but with her in charge of it.

I guess I’m pissed because it’s a negative comment where much of what they’re whinging about does get resolved.

They were on part 3 of 5. How did they think it would resolve in the middle.

I see your point, I honestly do. I have also received comments in the middle of a chapter story that are pointless if the reader had been patient enough to read further. It was one of the factors that convinced me to not publish chapter stories in parts anymore. That stops comments until the entire story is completely read.

 

[Emilymcplugger]

I see your point, I honestly do. I have also received comments in the middle of a chapter story that are pointless if the reader had been patient enough to read further. It was one of the factors that convinced me to not publish chapter stories in parts anymore. That stops comments until the entire story is completely read.

Thing is it’s been in there 6 months already and only a few hours after this comment the final part was “favourited” by someone.

As Raymond said in Brooklyn nine nine

“vindic-ATION!”

 

[Lifestyle66]

Thing is it’s been in there 6 months already and only a few hours after this comment the final part was “favourited” by someone.

As Raymond said in Brooklyn nine nine

“vindic-ATION!”

You are seeing the problem with chapter stories.

I asked another author in the Feedback section to review one of my stories, and she replied with extensive criticism of the MC male and female characters. I replied back listing the other chapters where particular traits were explained. For example, the wife pulling out a red wine stain spray from her purse: "Don't tell me she carries that everywhere." "Well, actually, yes, as explained in chapter 11, she has an obsession with cleaning." That chapter 11 has the fewest views of any of the stories, and yet that chapter best explains the MFC.

So, while you know your characters and where they are headed in the story arc, notice the difference in the number of views of your chapters. Many of your readers are reading just that single chapter, and don't have that history or vision. Many will critique your chapter based on just what they read at that one sitting. Some significant traits must be brought out and explained with each chapter.

 

[Edey]

Very good topic.
I had similar situation today. (I was even called A hole )

It can hit you hard, but to be honest - I prefer mean comments over a 1*bombarding - because you can actually see what the person didn't like and respond to it.
Silent 1*star bombarding on stories that have 99% of 5* - are the most unpleasant for me. Why not leave your opinion at least and let me know what I did wrong? I could do better next time, take some lesson.

It's just sad people don't give an author a chance to improve, by leaving constructive criticism.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

Getting some valid or some bullshit criticism comes with the territory, considering what we do here. Only you can judge which one is it. You need to find a way to ignore the idiots who just want to lash out at you, and appreciate the realistic criticism, as long as that criticism is done politely. I think we all have felt the sting of criticism reflecting on our motivation, and yeah it can be tough to get in the mood to continue writing. It would help so much if the readers understood how much their input means to us, how much even a simple 'I liked your story!' helps us keep our motivation... and if they disliked something, communicating it in the right way is so important. We are all touchy about our writing I suppose.
When you look at it, they are getting these stories for free and in order to keep the writer motivated all they need to do is give some helpful feedback. Seems like a fantastic business transaction, no? Sadly, so few among them do it. To be perfectly honest, I rarely did it when I was just a reader... I suppose being on the other side is what makes all the difference in understanding the process...