Vehement Feedback

[Joatster]

I recently posted a couple of stories I threw together some time ago. I had a fair amount of nice feedback. I actually got some very good constructive criticism about making the writing stronger. I also got some notes from people who wanted to say they enjoyed what I wrote. I even got some from others that didn't like it but who were kind enough to share why they didn't like it. I appreciated all of the feedback.

However, I was surprised that my fairly benign little fantasies seem to have really touched off a good bit of rage. I would say 20% of the responses ranged from semi coherent rants to threats to my mortal soul. None of the really hateful stuff was about the quality of writing, much of it didn't even touch on the subject matter - it was just anger spewing into the mailbox.

I kind of expected a few people to be harsh, but the depth of the anger there was a surprise to me. Is it my stories in particular? Do other authors here get a lot of fire-and-brimstone aids-is-coming-to-kill-all-of-you spite in their responses? (Please don't tell me I'm the only one getting it! - Agggghhh)

I'm tempted to not post any more. Some of my other stuff is a little stronger and I can imagine it would really send some of those angry people into orbit. Any suggestions? Should I write off the hateful stuff and drive on with thicker skin? Was my subject matter or presentation something that draws the hot heads?

 

[Guest]

Hi, Joatster. Your dilemma is common; been lots of threads about it, most recently a gal had a feedback describing in detail how the sicko non-critic would cut her up.

I presume Lit. attracts those types, angered righteous pisspots who find a motherlode of 'sinners' to harangue.

Is the majority of the crap from 'anonymous'? That's the norm. On my options screen I chose to not accept feedback from anon. It helps. Otherwise, ignore them, I'm not polite enough to acknowledge shit.

You're not alone. Best, Perdita

 

[SexySoBeChick]

I haven't received any sermonizing hate mail. If you look at this thread and this thread you'll see the kind of feedback I'm getting. There was probably a right-wing/conservative/bible-lovers/family-values convention in town or something and they decided to pick on you. I wouldn't worry about it and certainly wouldn't stop posting because of it. Screw 'em.

SSBC

 

[curious2c]

Heh...I have been threatened with all kinds of bodily harm, called a stupid ass, and many other things. I read the feedback carefully and soon figure out that they are mad about the characters not me personally. The anger is something that a character did or had happen that they handled in such a way that it pissed off the reader for whatever reason.

Heh...I just write stories...don't shoot the messenger.

 

[Wantonica]

Excuse me for feeling as if I ride the short bus, but why would people who object to things (especially on religious values) read and comment on porn writing? *stumped yet again* If I received that type of feedback, I'd ask just that. In my mind, which is based on the study of human beings' relations with one another, I'd assume that you touched a nerve. My writing is too mild to do that, but I'm thinking about tweaking some balls myself, just for fun.

Happy evening,
Wantonica

 

[Dirty Slut]

most recently a gal had a feedback describing in detail how the sicko non-critic woul

That would be me. And they didn't send it annonymously either. Since then I've had over a hundred feedback e-mails varying from a down right proposal of marriage to get the hell out of town with varying offers in between, including threesomes, rape, slavery, theirs, and mine, and all over a couple of stories. However for the most part they seem to like my stories.

DS

 

[Joatster]

Wantonica asks a question that I have been wondering about. If these people are so upset by the subject matter, what are they doing reading it? You gotta deliberately look for it to find it, then you have to read it. It is not like a billboard for kinky practices that grabs everyone driving by.

I really wonder about these people. Are they some kind of masochist? "Hmmm, I think I'll go to literotica and see how offended I can get today..." Maybe they are on a mission - "If I'm really hateful, they will all go away." The image I like the best is where the wife catches hubby reading that nasty stuff - "Honestly dear, I don't know how I ended up here, some kind of popup I guess. This is so filthy - I am going to give them a piece of my mind!" (While saving files off left and right...)

 

[SexySoBeChick]

Joatster,

I think you've touched on it exactly. Some people love to complain—and do, frequently, ad nauseam. And if there isn't a reason to complain, they go looking for one.

I like the image of the spouse getting caught reading dirty stories, though. Or maybe hubby or wifey accidentally found the dirty stories on the computer while their spouse wasn't around and decided to send you a scathing email for leading their dearly beloved into temptation.

My feeling is . . .if it's not constructive criticism, ignore it.

SSBC

 

[Why]

The is nothing more stranger than folk....

I once belonged to a fee paying private critique group. I did crits for others and they for me, usual mark up 1-5 on content, character development etc the usual works. Got on fine cut my writing teeth there, not erotic, though now and then "somewhat strong".

My average was 3 for a long time, then I started getting 4's and 5's for my work from folks I have never even critiqued for, some even published authors. I was over the moon. That was the signal for the "Queen Bee" of the group and her hangers on to start lambasting everything I put up, seems "outsiders" shouldn't get or deserve 4's unless they licked her boots....

Anyway, got so bad I couldn't weed out the "real" critiques from the attacks. So I tended to ignore the lot. Bad move really, but it put my back up so much. Since then I have learned not to get so worked up about critiques and comments and now only work with a few fellow writers I know well, who are not afaid to tell me if a piece is crap and needs work, and I do the same for them.

In the end it is only a work of fiction, even though at times they feel like our beloved offspring.

 

[TheEarl]

I really wonder about these people. Are they some kind of masochist? "Hmmm, I think I'll go to literotica and see how offended I can get today..."

You should really read the letters page of the Daily Mail. I swear that their whole purpose is to get as offended as possible so that they can write a letter to the Mail, apoplectic with righteous fury.

The Earl

 

[Guest]

Wantonica asks a question that I have been wondering about. If these people are so upset by the subject matter, what are they doing reading it? You gotta deliberately look for it to find it, then you have to read it. It is not like a billboard for kinky practices that grabs everyone driving by.

I really wonder about these people. Are they some kind of masochist? "Hmmm, I think I'll go to literotica and see how offended I can get today..." Maybe they are on a mission - "If I'm really hateful, they will all go away." The image I like the best is where the wife catches hubby reading that nasty stuff - "Honestly dear, I don't know how I ended up here, some kind of popup I guess. This is so filthy - I am going to give them a piece of my mind!" (While saving files off left and right...)

________

Why waste another second of your precious time thinking about commentarians like these? They're certainly not critics in any real sense that could provide useful feedback to us as erotic writers, casual and professional, alike. Everyone is entitled to an opinion here on Lit, and that's not going to change any time soon (Laurel's designed this site that way). But each opinion, or comment, carries with it a nutritional value, high or low—the trick for us is to separate this wheat from the chaff to make our bread better the next time.

I certainly wouldn’t have the time nor do I invest any energy in people who seem to take pleasure in dishing out blathering diatribes and lectures to incite emotional reactions. We all know the kind of feedback that is useful to us—send all the other kinds to the computer's bit bucket and move on.

 

[deliciously_naughty]

One way to cut back on the asshole anonymous feedback is to not allow anonymous feedback. If you get really scary feedback, report it to Laurel. Of course people have made up email addys but it probably deters a certain amount of the bs.


alternatively, you can disallow feedback on stories you think are more controversial or post them under a second alias.

 

[pop_54]

Hi

They don't just happen along these abusive critics, they're resident here, almost every new poster of stories has got the standard letter, I think Mr/Ms/Mrs perfect has a collection and varies them according to mood.
The perpetrator of this feedback is probably reading and replying to this thread while chuckling to themself that they've managed to hit a nerve yet again.

Ignore these and just enjoy the good and the informative stuff.

pops.........

 

[SexySoBeChick]

Re: Hi

They don't just happen along these abusive critics, they're resident here, almost every new poster of stories has got the standard letter, I think Mr/Ms/Mrs perfect has a collection and varies them according to mood.
The perpetrator of this feedback is probably reading and replying to this thread while chuckling to themself that they've managed to hit a nerve yet again.

Ignore these and just enjoy the good and the informative stuff.

pops.........

They must've missed me then. Damn, now I'll probably get one--me and my big mouth.

 

[BardsLady]

Hrmmm

They must have missed me as well. hehhe.

I cant say that I have had bad feedback at all. Mostly it's people going MORE MORE!! *sounds like I'm doing a good job, eh?*

However, I agree wholeheartedly with the question:

If these guys are so down on what we write. Why are they reading it in the first place. If they dont like it, they should take their toys and go play somewhere else?

Unless they have that personality that makes them want to come read, then punish themselves for being so bad as to read what we write?

BardsLady