Why do readers take things to extremes?

[Selena_Kitt]

I suppose I could turn the comment section off, but Why? I can live with the trolls and idiots but I value the comments of the select few who actually take the time to make intelligent comments. Loving Wives has more than it's share of idiots, but it also has some people who post very cogent comments and they have helped my writing immensly.

I guess my thought is... to take away their platform. So they can't tiff back and forth with each other.

Turning off PUBLIC comments doesn't mean you can't get private feedback. Lots of people will still write to you privately to express their views, and they'll give you what you're looking for in terms of your writing...

I just wonder if LW authors, too, are just as involved in the feedback process as the LW readers... maybe not... *shrug* It was just a thought.

I think it would be an interesting experiment to see an established LW writer submit a story with the "Public Feedback" section turned off. Wonder what kinds of personal feedback would come their way?

Just me, being curious...

 

[LadyCibelle]

I could tell you as one of my most prolific authors did. Unfortunately, the experiment didn't turn out as well as we thought. We thought the trolls wouldn't go to the extreme of sending him email feedback and would go feed and shit on someone else's story.

Nope, no way, the same trolls who were postulating this writer was full of shit and should be shot on sight, used the email feedback to send him the same kind of shit they would have in the public ones......they also went as far as complaining about this author's story on other writer's stories.

Whatever you do, however you do it....if the trolls want to find you, they will.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

I could tell you as one of my most prolific authors did. Unfortunately, the experiment didn't turn out as well as we thought. We thought the trolls wouldn't go to the extreme of sending him email feedback and would go feed and shit on someone else's story.

Nope, no way, the same trolls who were postulating this writer was full of shit and should be shot on sight, used the email feedback to send him the same kind of shit they would have in the public ones......they also went as far as complaining about this author's story on other writer's stories.

Whatever you do, however you do it....if the trolls want to find you, they will.

well so much for that idea

 

[capecodmercury]

I guess my thought is... to take away their platform. So they can't tiff back and forth with each other. )

This might be a way to go if I can make it work. I usually don't delete comments because I think that people are entitled to an opinion. Besides at least some of the negative comments make a valid point.
But, maybe I can post a disclaimer at the beginning of the story that I am looking for constructive feedback and that all non constructive comments will be deleted. This will allow me to take away one of the forums for the trolls and closed minded assholes who disagree with any differening viewpoint but still allow me to keep the feedback from the people who are trying to be objective.
Has anyone tried this?

Oh and while I'm at it, Big hugs and public thanks to FallingtoFly. She took one of the biggest pests on LW to the woodshed today in the comments to my latest story in a way that left me gasping in awe. It was beautiful and very much appreciated.

CCM

 

[SexSweetheart]

But, maybe I can post a disclaimer at the beginning of the story that I am looking for constructive feedback and that all non constructive comments will be deleted. CCM

I agree with you on this disclaimer. I don't like to delete comments because I don't get that many but when I'm getting blasted for stupid things, I delete them.

Someone blasted me because the opening paragraph had "another beautiful day with puff clouds."

I guess everyone wants those kinds of days. And why berate a person for wanting the day to sunny and bright. It is always helpful if you are putting the couple on a beach somewhere.

I believe if you are going to ripe an author apart, DO IT PRIVATELY. Send them a email. I send private emails even with praise, but if I'm going to point out problems with a story, it will be privately.

 

[SexSweetheart]

There's a weird process in that idea I've noticed. I really suspect that some people read stories just to find things about which to bitch. Or they are looking in a catagory for something very specific they want, and just don't have the brains to accept that not every story will suit them.

No, seriously. I've heard it said on this thread and in others how people aren't going to go into a catagory they don't like to read because it doesn't make sense and how can they have their fantasies dissapointed if they are reading in the catagories they like, but that's a generalization. Check out the GLBT forum or BSDM for easy examples -- there are groups of people who like (and ONLY like) very specific activities which get lumped into a larger catagory.

There's also a huge "I have an opinion and you should know it" factor.

Now that I have read your imput it makes more sense to me about the people that blast me for my stories. Or give me very low votes because it was not what they want.

The huge categories that Literotica has, needs to have subgroups. But then again that may be why they started with Story Tags. But the Story Tags are not near the story title when they list the stories to be read.

 

[CharleyH]

I'm stumped.

I can understand a reader not liking one of my stories. I don't like everything I read either. Some of the best correspondence I've had with authors or readers has been the result of disagreements. I honestly don't mind legitimate negative feedback. It just makes me strive to do a better job next time.

I know my stories tend to get a lot of contradictory comments and I consider that a good thing. There are times when the discussion going on in the public comments gets very intense. I write to make people think, not to make them agree with me. At least a person who takes the time to write a comment arguing about what I have written is taking the time to think about it.

I don't even mind the trolls. When I get the illiterate anonymous comments, I just laugh them off as a cost of writing in the Loving Wives category. I don't bother to delete them, I like to leave them up so everyone can see how foolish they really are.

But this time, I just don't understand it. What could possibly motivate a reader not only to one bomb me and write a negative comment, but also to continue their criticism in other public comments that they have written? Why in the hell would anyone take what I write that seriously?

Yesterday I had a story posted, "Let the Punishment Fit the Crime." http://english.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=264586
It's just a story. Some liked it, some didn't. I was happy with it. I was also please that most of the authors that read it also liked it. Some of the feedback got incredibly personal. I can deal with that.

One anonymous comment I found real interesting was one that applauded my writing style while castigating my plots since they didn'ty agree with the commenter's view of the world. To him I became a "wordmeister".

At first I found this amusing. It's the type of closemindedness that is all too prevalent in today's society. But then I read the comments to Charleybear's "She Cheated, Now What" (Which was a very interesting story by the way). I was amazed that "Harryin VA" and my anonymous critic friend decided to take shots at me in those comments as well.

Does anyone have any idea what could motivate something like this? You don't like what I write or my view of the world, fine. Criticize me to my face or in private. I can take it. But why in the hell do you need to do it in the public comments on other pieces.

I'm just frustrated I guess.

Til nest time

Capecodmercury

Excuse me - I am really tired of half assed authours asking this question and I have no apologies. Better to ask yourself why an editor refuses you than why a dumb assed reader did not get off on your story and gave you a suck ass 3 vote. And my love - it does come down to that on Lit. And if you could take it? Well, you would never ask this question in the first place.

Fristrated? Try publishing!

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Two words: Loving Wives

Loving Wives!!! *holds up crucifix*


Begone, you evil monsters! Go back to the cesspool you crawled out from! Gaaaaaaah!!!!