What's up with the moralizing commenters?

[Joan_R_Hastings]

I've just started posting on literotica and received my first negative comment today. Honestly, I kind of enjoy it - they really didn't approve of my main character's conduct! My story has a lot of questionable moral elements so I'm glad it struck a chord, even for bad.

 

[GD6720]

This morning I went to review comments written by people on a story that was published recently. It's been withdrawn I had previously commented on this story. What saddened me was the vitriol and hatred aimed at this writer.
I would like to thank everyone that writes. Its because of you that people like myself receive enjoyment and pleasure from reading, and being able to comment constructively or negatively on what is written.
This inturn helps you to develop and evolve your writing skills.
Every day is a school day, we can all learn something new but only by being encouraged to do so.
Thank you for writing

 

[yowser]

This morning I went to review comments written by people on a story that was published recently. It's been withdrawn I had previously commented on this story. What saddened me was the vitriol and hatred aimed at this writer.
I would like to thank everyone that writes. Its because of you that people like myself receive enjoyment and pleasure from reading, and being able to comment constructively or negatively on what is written.
This inturn helps you to develop and evolve your writing skills.
Every day is a school day, we can all learn something new but only by being encouraged to do so.
Thank you for writing

Thank you for a sweet note.

As an author here, so often it feels as if one is tossing one's creations out into a capricious and turbulent wind, and yet writers need readers the same way readers need writers. I'm grateful that you enjoy our work and have noticed the sometimes hostile reaction it receives here. I agree, it's a shame.

A kind word, from the right person, can often work wonders.

thanks
yowser

 

[GD6720]

Thank you for a sweet note.

As an author here, so often it feels as if one is tossing one's creations out into a capricious and turbulent wind, and yet writers need readers the same way readers need writers. I'm grateful that you enjoy our work and have noticed the sometimes hostile reaction it receives here. I agree, it's a shame.

A kind word, from the right person, can often work wonders.

thanks
yowser

You are most welcome. There is a great line in one of my favourite James Bond movies " spectre" where Bond catches up with Mr White in a swiss chalet.
They are sat opposite each other, Mr White has Bonds gun. Mr White say's to Bond " Mr Bond you are just a kite, dancing in a Hurricane" I can imagine that's how writer's feel echoing your words above.
But people and there are alot of us do care and I for one Will always give Negative or Constructive comments to the writers of the story's I read, enhancing there writer's journey and my enjoyment
Thank you for your reply

 

[ElectricBlue]

But people and there are alot of us do care and I for one Will always give Negative or Constructive comments to the writers of the story's I read, enhancing there writer's journey and my enjoyment

Keep in mind that not all writers want unsolicited critique. There have been many cases where critique, which might have been well meant but unintentionally hostile, has completely discouraged new writers, who stopped writing completely. That's not right, I'm sure you'll agree.

As an aside, I hope you don't critique grammar and spelling, because you've got half a dozen errors in your post up above.

 

[GD6720]

Keep in mind that not all writers want unsolicited critique. There have been many cases where critique, which might have been well meant but unintentionally hostile, has completely discouraged new writers, who stopped writing completely. That's not right, I'm sure you'll agree.

As an aside, I hope you don't critique grammar and spelling, because you've got half a dozen errors in your post up above.

No I don't, but thank you for the observations. Constructive comments always welcome in any part of the world. But hatred, vile comments can lead to more evil things in some people's minds sadly.
Didn't realise by being polite I left my self open to criticism.
If I had wanted a proof read I would have asked for one. Did not realise that being kind and polite and writing something that hopefully would encourage writers to ignore the written hatred would be seen as a negative by yourself

Best wishes

 

[NightSoulvane]

I try not to be moralizing in my comments on people's works as I fully understand that it takes effort to put themselves out there with these stories. If anything I try to be Homer Simpson food critique and find things I like about a story I read as feedback. I won't deny though I've probably come across as moralizing from time to time usually due to when a character suddenly changes personality wise.. Like you write a character a certain way for the majority of the story and then out of left field change them jarringly.

 

[atux83]

A few times now I've stumbled on stories where the commenters savagely insult the author because they don't like how in the story, there's adultery, or a big age gap between the partners, or something else.

Y'all do know this is all made up, right?

Like, none of this actually happened.

It feels so weird that in 2022 people still want to control other people's art.

Sure, there's plenty of stories here (and everywhere else) that disgust me.

But I don't read them! Or if I do read something that I really dislike, well, I move on. I don't write a lecture to the author telling them how they're a bad person.

Maybe, maybe, maybe I could see writing something if I was genuinely offended. But there's a difference between me saying "this story really upset me" and then moving on vs me going on a crusade to harass the writer on everything they post from now on.

There's a very complex conversation to be had about whether art influences us. Like, if I write a story about how much it is to run back and forth across the freeway, and some extremely impressionable reader gets killed after reading it, well, I think I would bear a tiny bit of responsibility.

But that's a ludicrous exaggerated scenario.

This is a website for adults only with clear content descriptions. It probably shouldn't be visited by people that can't distinguish between play and real life.

Are these moralizing commenters growing in numbers? They seem to be.

Tell me about it... My first story was published a few days ago and the 1st comment I get is kink-shaming, despite my efforts at tagging, categorization. Perhaps it's some AI bot spamming thing. It's depressing.

 

[NightSoulvane]

@atux83 I had a chance to read your story and you'll see a comment later at some point today. I know you used the tags for your story and it's on the readers to look at them but I have noticed other authors sometimes using a disclaimer sort of statement at the beginning to weed out people that most likely would end up being negative. Sort of if this isn't your thing just move along to another story.

 

[GD6720]

@atux83 I had a chance to read your story and you'll see a comment later at some point today. I know you used the tags for your story and it's on the readers to look at them but I have noticed other authors sometimes using a disclaimer sort of statement at the beginning to weed out people that most likely would end up being negative. Sort of if this isn't your thing just move along to another story.

I think disclaimers are great some are stronger than others, but get the point across beautifully.
Basically if you are going to be upset by what is written. Move on to a different story

 

[RoperTrace]

Keep in mind that not all writers want unsolicited critique. There have been many cases where critique, which might have been well meant but unintentionally hostile, has completely discouraged new writers, who stopped writing completely. That's not right, I'm sure you'll agree.

As an aside, I hope you don't critique grammar and spelling, because you've got half a dozen errors in your post up above.

"Unintentionally hostile" followed by: "I hope you don't critique grammar and spelling, because you've got half a dozen errors in your post up above." LOL

 

[atux83]

@atux83 I had a chance to read your story and you'll see a comment later at some point today. I know you used the tags for your story and it's on the readers to look at them but I have noticed other authors sometimes using a disclaimer sort of statement at the beginning to weed out people that most likely would end up being negative. Sort of if this isn't your thing just move along to another story.

Thank you for your feedback, and your suggestion is on point. I think I'll just add a small text body at the beginning with the theme and kinks covered, if any, just as a safety disclaimer kind of thing. All the best.

 

[RoperTrace]

Thank you for your feedback, and your suggestion is on point. I think I'll just add a small text body at the beginning with the theme and kinks covered, if any, just as a safety disclaimer kind of thing. All the best.

People come to an erotic/porn-stories website and then their sensibilities are offended? GMAFB. Let them wade in with their hip-boots on.

 

[Inkent]

There's something clearly up with the folks who frequent the LW category. If something doesn't interest you, or even offends you, the simple solution is to skip to something else that you do like. But a lot of these folks would rather waste their time review bombing and write nasty comments about aspects of the subject matter that don't appeal to them. I will never post there again, and strongly suggest that others follow suit.

Hi, it saddens me that you won't post in LW again, I understand your rationale in making your decision. Writing in LW makes me think of history, like the Christians being thrown to the lions in Roman times. Yep, LW is that kind of arena.

My first works were published over ten years ago. Buzzed from a real life experience, I decided to share a heavily embellished version as as story. It was reasonably well received, scored average which was, what it actually was. I returned to writing late last year, although I've had fits and starts at being an avid reader in between. There has been a shift in the type of commentary since I've returned, I think it's a reflection on society as a whole.

If someone doesn't like a story, and not because of the structure, style, even basics such as grammar but because it goes against what they believe is right or wrong, they will attack the author. I'm pretty sure their goal is to stop those from ever writing another word that they will take offense at. If the author never sets foot in LW again, their voices will get louder, believing if they continue to use the commentary section as a means of attack, they will become so loud that they appear to be the only voice, if that's the case, then they must be right with regards their views?

I'll happily continue to write in LW, I try to write looking at a variety of scenarios, challenge the reader to think...what if this was them, how would they deal with the scenario being played out?

I'll gleefully write a BTB, but I like to push it waaay over the top, it is after all, fiction. I'll happily do a RAAC or even leave a story somewhere in-between. I've just published a story in LW that, shock, horror, has actually been well received. There are those that have pointed out they feel it should have been in a different category, but there are still people in LW that do enjoy a good tale.

As for comments, I've been threatened, called a woman hating, pro-rape advocate but elsewhere a feminised cuckold pusher advocating Femdom as the only way. I've aslo been called a bible thumper using Lit to push my views.(yep that one tickled me) The thing is, I'm none of the above. I'm an author looking at writing stories that draw out emotions, I want people to feel they've read something to ignite their own grey matter in their heads.

Your advice to authors is steer clear of LW, my view is different. I won't let them bully me, I'll continue to write in there, even if I'm the last one left. In an imaginary world, lets say that every author abandons LW and the category dies a death. All the various hate fractions will just go looking for the next category that they have issues with, slowly working away until that group disappears, and so on. Of course, that's not going to happen.......

 

[Chixulub]

People come to an erotic/porn-stories website and then their sensibilities are offended? GMAFB. Let them wade in with their hip-boots on.

!,000x This. The problem is that some people, when they don't like something, they think that NOBODY ELSE should be allowed to like it, either. Usually because it's some kind of -ism or the author is an -ist.

 

[TheWritingGroup]

Interesting. The first comment on my "Liz Enslaved 01: Rug Pull" (and I'm pretty sure, a 1 star rating) was viciously critical because my depiction of slavery wasn't absolute or brutal enough.

You can't let it get to you.

-Annie

 

[RoperTrace]

Interesting. The first comment on my "Liz Enslaved 01: Rug Pull" (and I'm pretty sure, a 1 star rating) was viciously critical because my depiction of slavery wasn't absolute or brutal enough.

You can't let it get to you.

-Annie

Did you delete that one? The one showing doesn't sound viciously critical, IMO. From your page one, your writing seems to be very good, just not my preferred subject matter. That goes for prison stories, detention camps, etc., unless it's about how they escaped.

 

[TheWritingGroup]

Did you delete that one? The one showing doesn't sound viciously critical, IMO ...

It's certainly possible I overreacted, because (as I said) the timing says he also rated the story one star. And it was literally the first comment anyone made on any of my stories (other than myself).

 

[Psyclone_Jak]

Morality doesn't have a place in writing stories to masturbate to. Same with realism. These are fantasies to get people turned on and get off to. No one wants to think about the threat of STDs or getting slapped with sexual assault charges while jacking off, and pregnancy is only a consequence if it's part of the turn on and it's not his baby his wife is carrying.

I don't get people who think that writing characters or events in a story to jerk off to is somehow a treatise on how people should behave in real life. These aren't real situations or real people, they are just props to project your lust onto.

 

[GD6720]

Morality doesn't have a place in writing stories to masturbate to. Same with realism. These are fantasies to get people turned on and get off to. No one wants to think about the threat of STDs or getting slapped with sexual assault charges while jacking off, and pregnancy is only a consequence if it's part of the turn on and it's not his baby his wife is carrying.

I don't get people who think that writing characters or events in a story to jerk off to is somehow a treatise on how people should behave in real life. These aren't real situations or real people, they are just props to project your lust onto.

Well written, myself and many others will totally agree with you. Thank you