Why I comment on stories

[lc69hunter]

This is one of the many reasons I comment on stories ( I am in the top 30)

I just received the following PM from an anonymous member:

"thank you for your kind words and support on a frequently ripped to shreds category by the critics on Lit. appreciate it.."

Also, based upon some of my comments, I am currently collaborating with two authors on a third chapter on previously published stories. Such fun

 

[Lifestyle66]

My latest poke at the Loving Wives trolls published today, and it's getting the expected clueless responses.

Most readers fail to recognize that my story was originally intended as an open-ended reply to the original, showing the husband's response. Then, almost demonstrating the creative process, I decided to add five different epilogues of consequences I imagined as a way to take it to conclusion. But it's certainly getting attention, with 24 raters/viewer.

Check that story out, if you have time (top of my links below)..

 

[Smuttyandfun]

If I read a good story written by a new author I'll often leave a comment to let them know that I enjoyed it, and that they should keep writing. I think it's a nice boost for someone just starting out to see that their work is appreciated and that they actually have some talent.

I'll also leave comments on anything that's really good, just to let the author know how incredible the story was.

 

[Edey]

I love receiving comments, I try to respond to most of them, even the negative one, as we write for people, not only for ourselves, right? I appreciate every comment!

And I have similar rule as @Smuttyandfun ! I write comments for new authors and under excellent stories!
I never write bad comments, as I want to avoid making people sad, I know well how hard people sometimes work and pour their soul into the story. And this is reading for free, right? So, why hate on people...? A bit of gentle constructive criticism is okay but never overly criticizing. There is always something to praise!

 

[Smuttyandfun]

I love receiving comments, I try to respond to most of them, even the negative one, as we write for people, not only for ourselves, right? I appreciate every comment!

And I have similar rule as @Smuttyandfun ! I write comments for new authors and under excellent stories!
I never write bad comments, as I want to avoid making people sad, I know well how hard people sometimes work and pour their soul into the story. And this is reading for free, right? So, why hate on people...? A bit of gentle constructive criticism is okay but never overly criticizing. There is always something to praise!

I never leave a negative comment. If I'm not enjoying a story, I just move on to something else.

 

[Edey]

I never leave a negative comment. If I'm not enjoying a story, I just move on to something else.

Exactly, I also never leave negative comments, I just don't think it's necessary.

 

[Seadog777]

My latest poke at the Loving Wives trolls published today, and it's getting the expected clueless responses.

Most readers fail to recognize that my story was originally intended as an open-ended reply to the original, showing the husband's response. Then, almost demonstrating the creative process, I decided to add five different epilogues of consequences I imagined as a way to take it to conclusion. But it's certainly getting attention, with 24 raters/viewer.

Check that story out, if you have time (top of my links below)..

I'm working on my ending to "Just Once" as well.
I'm actually reading yours right now.

 

[Djmac1031]

I try and leave a comment on every story I read. Even if it's just "Great job!"

If I hated the story or got bored, I see no reason to tell the author that. I simply move on.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

If I rate i give only 5*. If I don't like the story I simply don't rate it. I tend to give encouraging comments, and if I think the writer has potential I tend to comment what I thought could have been done better, but I try to be very polite and encouraging even then. I don't comment on stories where I found to many things wrong for my taste

 

[MillieDynamite]

I don't often comment if they are writers I'm not familiar with. I read a lot, then usually send a message. But when I comment, it supports the writer and bolsters HER or his self-confidence.

 

[ofbuttons]

I will often comment if I see a story I like being ripped apart in the comment section and I wish to counterbalance the negativity/offer some support, though this thread has made me reflect on the value of commenting just because. I'll bear it in mind. I know I certainly like to receive comments, after all.

 

[Djmac1031]

If I rate i give only 5*. If I don't like the story I simply don't rate it. I tend to give encouraging comments, and if I think the writer has potential I tend to comment what I thought could have been done better, but I try to be very polite and encouraging even then. I don't comment on stories where I found to many things wrong for my taste

I've done that as well, but even the most well meaning, polite criticism can be taken offensively, so I really try not to point out flaws and instead focus on what they did right.

 

[Dr_Strabismus]

I usually suggest better endings, but never when logged in: Authors here have seen some of my comments, and hopefully taken them to heart. After I suggested one author MADE IT SO HIS WIFE SEES THEM AND TAKS ANOTHER DILDO WICH IS EVEN BIGER, I was pleased to see that they pulled their story, and will hopefully upload an amended version of it soon.

 

[Dr_Strabismus]

Great post, keep up the good work.

 

[Lifestyle66]

This is one of the many reasons I comment on stories ( I am in the top 30)

I just received the following PM from an anonymous member:

"thank you for your kind words and support on a frequently ripped to shreds category by the critics on Lit. appreciate it.."

Also, based upon some of my comments, I am currently collaborating with two authors on a third chapter on previously published stories. Such fun

I just saw your comment on my latest story. Thanks.

I can understand why writers and many commenters didn't like the multiple endings (or any of them.) Those were late add-ons to what I originally thought of as the story and his letter as the husband's reaction, leaving it also open-ended giving her a choice and him having his own contingency ready.

The whole theme was "people make their own choices, and there are consequences." Their choices affect others.

Immediately after I posted the story, I read another story which had an epilogue of "one year later", which inspired me to write the multiple endings. Since I already wrote the dungeon into the main story, I had to incorporate that in the endings.

One anonymous commenter said "Got to the point of the choices. Since you did not decide on one, I didn't read any further." I think that reader actually saw where I intended to end the story.

 

[FifthEstate]

If I read a good story written by a new author I'll often leave a comment to let them know that I enjoyed it, and that they should keep writing. I think it's a nice boost for someone just starting out to see that their work is appreciated and that they actually have some talent.

I'll also leave comments on anything that's really good, just to let the author know how incredible the story was.

I do the same.

 

[FifthEstate]

If I rate i give only 5*. If I don't like the story I simply don't rate it. I tend to give encouraging comments, and if I think the writer has potential I tend to comment what I thought could have been done better, but I try to be very polite and encouraging even then. I don't comment on stories where I found to many things wrong for my taste

I rate stories based on what I believe they deserve. I do my homework (look at ratings, comments, body of work) before I read, so it’s likely I’m going to like it beforehand. I look forward to giving five stars, but if I don’t think it’s worthy, I don’t mind giving four. If it’s really not good and posted by an author who doesn’t seem to care about quality and constantly clogs the system with volume in the place of it, most of the time I’ll avoid, but occasionally will rate one for what it deserves. I think we do the system a disservice if we don’t vote appropriately. If everyone abstains from voting if they don’t think it’s five worthy, then every story would be a five. That’s not cool with me.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

I rate stories based on what I believe they deserve. I do my homework (look at ratings, comments, body of work) before I read, so it’s likely I’m going to like it beforehand. I look forward to giving five stars, but if I don’t think it’s worthy, I don’t mind giving four. If it’s really not good and posted by an author who doesn’t seem to care about quality and constantly clogs the system with volume in the place of it, most of the time I’ll avoid, but occasionally will rate one for what it deserves. I think we do the system a disservice if we don’t vote appropriately. If everyone abstains from voting if they don’t think it’s five worthy, then every story would be a five. That’s not cool with me.

The way I vote is an adjustment because of how faulty the voting system is. Few people, mostly authors, vote according to the story quality. Most just vote based on kinks/themes present and quality be damned

 

[lovecraft68]

The way I vote is an adjustment because of how faulty the voting system is. Few people, mostly authors, vote according to the story quality. Most just vote based on kinks/themes present and quality be damned

But if the kink and theme is all that matters to the reader, then what's the problem if they give it a five because it delivered what they wanted?
There's stories here with a lot of depth and great writing, there's flat out porno one handed reads here. The audience for both will vote according to if it met expectations, as in theirs, not anyone else's.

There is no right or wrong way to vote here, no strict guidelines, no unspoken rules. Like it five it, don't like it vote whatever or not at all.

Too bad not at all seems to be the majority of lit readers

 

[Euphony]

The way I vote is an adjustment because of how faulty the voting system is. Few people, mostly authors, vote according to the story quality. Most just vote based on kinks/themes present and quality be damned

I see the why but since your adjusted vote isn't really singled out in a way (now maybe if it was attached to your post story comment then your reviewer characteristics could be weighed ) what is accomplished?

If we assume the scores are buoyed by "I got the kinks I wanted" votes, your dragging (however ineffectual it really is as a singular vote) runs counter to the voting assumptions authors make after getting the lay of the land.

You are noising up the data not fixing the macro problem.

This is why comments and review critiques are so valuable. They address story craft for those that want to in a way voting doesn't as it currently operates.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

But if the kink and theme is all that matters to the reader, then what's the problem if they give it a five because it delivered what they wanted?
There's stories here with a lot of depth and great writing, there's flat out porno one handed reads here. The audience for both will vote according to if it met expectations, as in theirs, not anyone else's.

There is no right or wrong way to vote here, no strict guidelines, no unspoken rules. Like it five it, don't like it vote whatever or not at all.

Too bad not at all seems to be the majority of lit readers

Deep down, when they see a 4.5+ story most readers think "There is a good story" Many people have confirmed they avoid lower rated stories because they think those are bad. I'd say most of us use the rating as a filter, it is just a matter of where we set the bar. When the bar is at 4.5 for example, as it is for many people, you know yourself how damaging it is when a reader gives a 1* and pulls it down. It takes many 5* to counter it, assuming the story deserves them. Some time ago I argued that the numeric rating system could be replaced with a simple thumbs up option to reflect better how most readers decide about rating a story. For most people seeing thumbs up equals liking as it's such a common thing in all the social networks and when they see a rating, they assume quality by default. I know I did for a long time, until I got deeper into the whole thing.
So, to summarize, because majority of readers see stars as a way to express liking rather than opinion about quality, yet, in my opinion, they perceive the rating as quality when filtering through stories, there is a real discrepancy in logic there that can be problematic on some level.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

I see the why but since your adjusted vote isn't really singled out in a way (now maybe if it was attached to your post story comment then your reviewer characteristics could be weighed ) what is accomplished?

If we assume the scores are buoyed by "I got the kinks I wanted" votes, your dragging (however ineffectual it really is as a singular vote) runs counter to the voting assumptions authors make after getting the lay of the land.

You are noising up the data not fixing the macro problem.

This is why comments and review critiques are so valuable. They address story craft for those that want to in a way voting doesn't as it currently operates.

Oh I have no illusions about how much of a change I am making, trust me, I am just adjusting my voting to reinforce the positives and those that would deserve a lower rating I skip, as it is likely they will get pulled down by someone else. It is all based on the logic that 1* is so much more powerful than a 5*, as the bar is set so high, probably on 4.5 and that red H for most.

 

[lovecraft68]

Deep down, when they see a 4.5+ story most readers think "There is a good story" Many people have confirmed they avoid lower rated stories because they think those are bad. I'd say most of us use the rating as a filter, it is just a matter of where we set the bar. When the bar is at 4.5 for example, as it is for many people, you know yourself how damaging it is when a reader gives a 1* and pulls it down. It takes many 5* to counter it, assuming the story deserves them. Some time ago I argued that the numeric rating system could be replaced with a simple thumbs up option to reflect better how most readers decide about rating a story. For most people seeing thumbs up equals liking as it's such a common thing in all the social networks and when they see a rating, they assume quality by default. I know I did for a long time, until I got deeper into the whole thing.
So, to summarize, because majority of readers see stars as a way to express liking rather than opinion about quality, yet, in my opinion, they perceive the rating as quality when filtering through stories, there is a real discrepancy in logic there that can be problematic on some level.

I understand your point, and this has lead to people thinking score should be abandoned completely, or the red H no longer a think to level the playing field.
So we accept and agree that score is the tool many use when choosing to read(Personally I go by title/tag line if its interesting I read, but I'm probably an exception to the rule) but now we look at how does the story get that score?

Delivering whatever the reader wanted out of it would be first thing to come to mind. After that it could be the reader likes the author, the reader is someone who votes five or nothing, there's a lot of reasons people vote how they vote.

In general this is a very soft voting site, most stories here are over 4. If someone chooses 4.6 to read over 4.4 there's nothing anyone can do about that. Eliminating score will just create an endless sea of stories with nothing to separate them and then everyone will be crying over dropped views etc...

A system like this is flawed and uncontrollable. All I know is we can't tell readers how to vote or what the criteria should be. This is a free erotic story site, not a writing contest published by a major publishing company.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

I understand your point, and this has lead to people thinking score should be abandoned completely, or the red H no longer a think to level the playing field.
So we accept and agree that score is the tool many use when choosing to read(Personally I go by title/tag line if its interesting I read, but I'm probably an exception to the rule) but now we look at how does the story get that score?

Delivering whatever the reader wanted out of it would be first thing to come to mind. After that it could be the reader likes the author, the reader is someone who votes five or nothing, there's a lot of reasons people vote how they vote.

In general this is a very soft voting site, most stories here are over 4. If someone chooses 4.6 to read over 4.4 there's nothing anyone can do about that. Eliminating score will just create an endless sea of stories with nothing to separate them and then everyone will be crying over dropped views etc...

A system like this is flawed and uncontrollable. All I know is we can't tell readers how to vote or what the criteria should be. This is a free erotic story site, not a writing contest published by a major publishing company.

I think it would be quite fun and interesting, if instead of rating, readers would get explicit questions

Do you like the theme and kinks of the story? yes/no

Do you think the story was well written? yes/no

I don't doubt there would be another kind of mess coming from explicit questions like this, but it could be an idea. As a reader, you can check what readers thought about content and what they thought about quality.

It would take work yeah, but I like experimenting with stuff until I find the best possible system. Then again, I am insane like that

 

[Euphony]

Oh I have no illusions about how much of a change I am making, trust me, I am just adjusting my voting to reinforce the positives and those that would deserve a lower rating I skip, as it is likely they will get pulled down by someone else. It is all based on the logic that 1* is so much more powerful than a 5*, as the bar is set so high, probably on 4.5 and that red H for most.

I honestly applaud the intellectual effort.
If you found a way to deftly include your rating/scale specifics in a post story comment, I *hope* I wouldn't find my story too precious to not see the angle you're coming from.
Honestly, the whole votes thing is fraught and the wise ones figure out a way to not be too concerned with it but still keep themselves open to criticism and improvement.
That is a tightrope walk some have better internal balance for than others.