ANONYMOUS FEEDBACKers ARE CRUEL!!!

[SexyChele]

Now I just had someone post a 0 rating in a PUBLIC COMMENT, for putting my story under the wrong category, and that one was also left ANONYMOUSLY. So here is another idiot, who lowers my voting potential, who berates ME, the writer, and does not even realize that I am not the one who picks the category for my story, LITEROTICA does the categorizing!!!

I'm not sure what you mean when you state that Lit does the categorizing. I've always selected the category my stories go into and those are the categories they end up in. So I'm a bit confused by this.

I do know that I had received several emails from people (men, mostly) who requested stories about people who were older and didn't have perfect bodies. So I submitted a story to the "Mature" category about a couple who were celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary. The characters were in their 50s and I described them both as having the typical qualities of folks in their middle years. (So no 55 year old woman who had the body of an 18 year old!) Now, I guess I had never really checked out this category previously, because I thought "Mature" meant "older people." I had no idea that the "typical formula" was the tired old story of older person with a younger person. I had so much hate mail from people who thought I was decieving them. BUT....it has remained one of my most popular stories, and I received more "thank yous" from the older set letting me know they appreciated a story that was erotic and one they could identify with by having characters who just as they were in real life.

The moral? Screw those who look for formulaic erotica and cannot understand why some one would want to stretch the boundaries of what is considered "normal". Write what YOU want to write and place it in the category YOU feel it best represents. Those who send anonymous feedback - in my opinion - are simply not worth it to listen to or take seriously. Hey, I've put my screen name and email address on my stories. I even have my picture on my profile page. The least a reader can do is be honest about who they are when criticizing me, if they want me to take them the least bit seriously.

As for the public comments? I believe you have the opportunity to modify them, don't you?

As the saying goes, don't let the turkeys get you down!

 

[SexyChele]

**Double post, sorry!**

 

[Boxlicker101]

I'm not sure what you mean when you state that Lit does the categorizing. I've always selected the category my stories go into and those are the categories they end up in. So I'm a bit confused by this.

I do know that I had received several emails from people (men, mostly) who requested stories about people who were older and didn't have perfect bodies. So I submitted a story to the "Mature" category about a couple who were celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary. The characters were in their 50s and I described them both as having the typical qualities of folks in their middle years. (So no 55 year old woman who had the body of an 18 year old!) Now, I guess I had never really checked out this category previously, because I thought "Mature" meant "older people." I had no idea that the "typical formula" was the tired old story of older person with a younger person. I had so much hate mail from people who thought I was decieving them. BUT....it has remained one of my most popular stories, and I received more "thank yous" from the older set letting me know they appreciated a story that was erotic and one they could identify with by having characters who just as they were in real life.

The moral? Screw those who look for formulaic erotica and cannot understand why some one would want to stretch the boundaries of what is considered "normal". Write what YOU want to write and place it in the category YOU feel it best represents. Those who send anonymous feedback - in my opinion - are simply not worth it to listen to or take seriously. Hey, I've put my screen name and email address on my stories. I even have my picture on my profile page. The least a reader can do is be honest about who they are when criticizing me, if they want me to take them the least bit seriously.

As for the public comments? I believe you have the opportunity to modify them, don't you?

As the saying goes, don't let the turkeys get you down!

The writer suggests a category and Lit usually follows the suggestion but sometimes they post it somewhere else. I had one story I wrote over a year ago and it included a TS in a threesome. It was the first threesome I had written and I listed it as Group Sex. For some reason, Lit. posted it as a Fetish. By rights, it should have gone into TV and TS.

Generally speaking, Lit will avoid posting stories in the E/C category if there is anywhere else they can put them because E/C is such a big category. Many stories will fit into several different categories and it is usually up to the reader to decide which one will make the story most popular. An interracial lesbian story fits better into the Lesbian category but an interracial hetero story would better go into the Interracial category. If anal sex is involved, it would fit better into the anal category. It's mostly a matter of judgement.

The story you described was correctly placed and if some didn't like that, not just screw them, but fuck them. We try to please readers but nobody can please everybody and nobody should try to.

 

[Rocky Mountain Man]

Hey, I actually recieved a very nice annonymous reply. Made me wonder if my mom is a member here.....haha oh wait, that's just gross! Oh well, at least someone was nice.

 

[75corner]

Re: Re: ANONYMOUS FEEDBACKers ARE CRUEL!!!

Hi Leslie,
Yup, there are assholes everywhere. I'm afraid I have to disagree with you on the shutting off of your anonymous feedback, though. I've been roaming these threads for a few weeks now, and to be honest all I've seen of reviews are Great! Awesome!

I haven't found anyone who wants to give an honest critique, it seems, while using their user names. I'm not saying the reviews aren't there...I just haven't found any.

Anyway, aside from the morons, the anonymous critiques seem to be the most honest. Just my two cents.

I'm new to Literotica (1 week anniversary today!) and I don't post feedback anonymously. I have been writing for 22 years and the main thing I have learned in all that time is "there is ALWAYS room for improvement".

Improvement only comes from honest, open feedbak from readers. Editors and agents, I have found, only tend to make changes to improve marketability, which is necessary, but not the type of constructive criticism a writer needs to improve literary style.

Whether a writer is good or bad, I always leave an encouraging comment...if only because writing is HARD WORK! (This is something, I have found, that only writers understand.) But I don't just gloss their egos. If I see something that could be improved upon I say so as well. I try to be sensitive and constructive in my comments; something I hope writers appreciate.

As for the anonymous negative posters, I keep wondering what it is they have to hide?

Literotica is my my first attempt at writing erotic fiction. I must admit that I rushed my story a bit in my excitement at finding a site like this to post to. I was appalled to see that in my haste I let a few typos slip by. I am still in self-flagellation mode over them. But, what the heck, I'm leaving them there as a reminder to myself to be more careful next time.

http://english.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=177975

 

[Darkest Lord]

I am a new member of Literotica. I have taken the time to read a great many of the stories that have been posted on the site. I have never liked the idea of someone who needlessly criticizes an author's story and then does not have the common decency to at least let the author respond to that criticism.

When I come across a story that I enjoy reading I always make sure to tell the author so. I also make it a rule that when I send feedback that I leave my name and e-mail address so that they can respond.

I still do not see why people need to cruel or spiteful to an author about a story. If you do not have anything nice to say...THEN DON'T SAY IT!!!!

That is but my humble opinion, I could be wrong.

 

[LeslieBlue]

Welcome to Literotica, my friend! I am really a newcomer too, but I have made some really great contacts here, and since my first posting about the anonymous feedbacker, I have not had any more such cruel ones posted to my stories, so I hope and think that it was a rarity that you just get an asshole once in a while. Cuz I totally agree with you, about only saying nice things, altho I have gotten very good at taking good constructive criticism as well.

Thanks for your post, and I was wondering if you are a writer as well as a reader. Would like to check your stories out, and leave you some good feedback, if you have any posted, send me the links.

Love, kisses, and Happy New Year, baby --
Leslie

 

[_Savannah_]

Aaaaaaah, annonymous feeders......you know who you are!!! LOL. I love it; I saved the very first Negative feedback I ever got from an Annonymous. More than anything, it inspired me to write more! Not only that, after comparing it to the hundreds of Positive feedbacks I got, I just had to think to myself, "Okay, and my writing is bad How??" Keep up the good work!

 

[patricia51]

If you write, you're going to piss someone off sooner or later. Someone will object because there's not enough sex in a story, or because there's too much sex, or the time of the moon was off or something.

Sometimes its amusing. I once received a long detailed email bemoaning the lack of professionalism in one of my stories. The cause? I had used the word "taunt" instead of "taut". Yes, it was an error and I'm glad someone brought it to my attention. It was funny that it was accompanied by a 8 paragraph rant though.

On the other hand, I got 3 comments from obviously the same anonymous writer on three different stories. I dearly wish he had provided an address because I would have loved to correspond with him on his suggestions on how to improve my male characters and their reactions.

We've all got those "You must be a slut and I hope you catch something and die" comments though. You shrug.


http://english.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=204232

 

[Wholemanz]

Anonymous Feedback

There is one option I could wish for, feedback from registered only.

That way if you do get negative feedback, you can discuss it with the individual.

Sometimes you might not understand the feedback. That would allow you to contact them for a better explanation.

At least on this board, if you get hateful feedback, you may delete it.

I am somewhat of a newbie here. My first story published here on 10/15/04.

I did start posting stories on the Internet a year and a half ago though.

I understand how you feel about the anonymous feedback, having received my share.

I usually ignore them since they do not have the brains to even form well thought out criticism.

Take heart and take care,


Holly

 

[LeslieBlue]

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE WONDERFUL SUPPORT!

I just wanted to thank every single one of you who posted replies to my post about anonymous feedbackers. I am so pleased with all the sweet, kind, and constructive things that were written here, you have more than made up for the ignorance and cruelty of one idiot!!!

I do not take any of the anonymous remarks to heart anymore, at least not the ones that are just plain stupid! Cuz it is obvious to me now that the negative remarks are made only to taunt and hurt anyway, there is no substantial or intelligent content in them.

It is one thing to receive negative criticism when it is truly constructive, and meant only to help in the long run and not hurt. But the inane kind of negative remarks I get about the length of my stories and no chapter numbers are just so ridiculous, they mean absolutely nothing to me now.

Literotica.com and the Literotica Discussion Board are wonderful places to meet and make new friends, as I have with all of you guys who responded to this post. Thanks again, and I am going to go back now and read all of your stories, and I am gonna give you all a 5 star vote, and I do appreciate so very much your kind thoughts and words!!! Keep up the high class and style of your writing that I have seen so far.

Maybe if we just IGNORE the anonymous assholes, they will go away! hehehe

Love and kisses ,
Leslie

 

[Bridget69]

I have quickly learned that you can't please everyone. I bet even the highest praised stories receive the odd few derogatory comments. The important thing is to enjoy what you do. Welcome to Lit!

 

[MagicFingers]

Got this from Anon a couple of days ago

About the submission: The Office Tease
This feedback was sent by: Anonymous

Comments:

Oh, how sad it is that such a good story is spoiled for me because you failed to read it through before submitting it. How can you expect your readers to work their way through your story if you do not have the decency to do so yourself?
Don't you want it to be as perfect as possible? Why write "matre'd" when the word is "maitre'd"? Why write "heals" for the shoes on her feet when the word is "heels"? Don't you care? Obviously not - but I do and shall never read another
word of yours to save myself from the frustration of your mistakes.

I wrote 3395 words and 15088 characters CORRECTLY and 2 letters incorrectly and I get flamed for it. This is one of my own pet peaves, where stories are so bad grammatically that they are hard to read. I DID read this several times and just missed 2 little things.

So, Anon, if you don't let me respond to you directly, please keep your word and don't read any more of my stories!!!!

 

[LeslieBlue]

Aw, Magic Fingers, now don't you dare take that bullshit to heart! You cannot honestly believe that two lousy little typos could spoil the whole story for ANONYMOUS, do you?!?!?!?! Obviously, your 'critic' is just trying to be an asshole, and in the process of trying, he is doing a pretty dam good job of it! Pay him no mind, Magic! You just keep on writing your wonderful stories, and all the rest of your million readers will forgive you for your faux pas!!!!

Love and kisses,
Leslie

 

[Darkest Lord]

What is ths world coming to?

There are always going to be those who blindly attack that which others create. It never ceases to amaze me when I see the blatant ignorance and stupidity by which people who do not understand that a modicum of tact and diplomacy would have gone much further than just by flaming an author simply because they did not like something.

I sign my name to every feedback that I write to an author. I do this because I want an author to know that I appreciate their work, and if I have a criticism about something in a story that I have read, I have the decency to do so in a tactful and gracious manner so as not insult or demean someone.

Even I have read stories out there that I did not like. But it does not give me the right to be needlessly cruel or insulting to another person. Whatever happened to having some manners?!?!

What the fuck people!!!!! If you cannot behave yourselves, or if you cannot go without shitting on someone else's work, then get off the fucking internet and take up sock darning as a hobby, because this is not the place for it.

If you feel that you cannot read the stories posted on Literotica without the need to flame the authors who work so hard to post them, then I suggest that you go some place else.

That is but my humble opinion, I could be wrong. I here by step down from the soapbox.

 

[MagicFingers]

Leslie,

Aw, Magic Fingers, now don't you dare take that bullshit to heart! You cannot honestly believe that two lousy little typos could spoil the whole story for ANONYMOUS, do you?!?!?!?! Obviously, your 'critic' is just trying to be an asshole, and in the process of trying, he is doing a pretty dam good job of it! Pay him no mind, Magic! You just keep on writing your wonderful stories, and all the rest of your million readers will forgive you for your faux pas!!!!

Love and kisses,
Leslie

I don't know you but I wish I did!
I don't know if he was really serious or not, but it sounded serious. It may have been his way of letting me know I made a couple of errors. He DID say it was "such a good story" which is a nice thing to say. And he DID take the time to send an email. I thank him for that, but feel that he is not allowed to be more anal about my spelling than I am!

I really hope he can enjoy more of my stories and not let a couple of words ruin the whole thing.

I have had problems with several stories where the spelling and grammar were so bad that I couldn't finish the story. And others that I did finish and wanted to give them a "5" but could not because there were just way too many errors. (I usually don't vote when this is the case, not wanting to bring a good story down.)

Leslie, Thank you. I am not too bothered by his post. However, I'm really excited by yours! I look forward to seeing more of you.

 

[rydia57]

Hey,

What I don't understand is why the anonymous feedbackers do it, when they don't have anything to say? I have done it just cos' I had finished reading a story late, and I was too lazy to log in... but I said something nice. I haven't had anything really bad like Leslie, but I thought your story was ok. Doesn't really sound like you had anything to say, you could just rate the story... or just read it. I dunno... but I think most anon feedbacker (not all) are just bored... and wanted something to do. If that means be assholes... hey, it's something to do!

 

[elsol]

I like to post my 'anonymous' feedback where others can read it.

I judge the value of the feedback by how many of my regular readers tell me the jackass is an idiot.

Most frustrating though... is when said anonymous feedback actually has something relevant to say and you can't enter into a discussion to pursue the point to the betterment of your craft.


ElSol

 

[hmmnmm]

I finally got the first story posted about one month ago. Was very excited/nervous. I was not new to writing as such, but it was my first attempt at a short piece intended to be decidedly erotic.
I did not get many views, which doesn't bother me so much, but I got one feedback (not annonymous) which said the story was 'not very erotic' and a 'waste of time to read'. I appreciated the fact that it was not an annonymous feedbacker, but it would have been helpful to know just why the reader did not find the story erotic. Well, I went into panic mode and looked it over and yes, it wasn't that great, really. But I think it had and still has potential for reworking and improvement. While in that panic mode I sent in a request to have the thing removed. Now I have another one posted and an annonymous responded with pure praise. Since I don't know who they are I cannot contact them and thank them for encouraging a person already extremely nervous in posting his words for the potential masses.
I don't find the voting feature here to be that important although I tend to get addicted to checking on the votes. What is important to me is that the set of words written and submitted are something that the Writer is relatively pleased with (even though we usually find places to improve even after the twentieth version), and if someone doesn't like it, oh well... If one person out there finds something in the words that speaks to them, lifts them up, helps them to see the world from a slightly different angle, then the effort was worth it.
Just my two cents.
You just gotta write for yourself first. And that itself ain't always so easy.

 

[TheCaptain]

Hey, I actually recieved a very nice annonymous reply. Made me wonder if my mom is a member here.....haha oh wait, that's just gross! Oh well, at least someone was nice.

Why is that gross, huh?

I finally got the first story posted about one month ago. Was very excited/nervous. I was not new to writing as such, but it was my first attempt at a short piece intended to be decidedly erotic.
I did not get many views, which doesn't bother me so much, but I got one feedback (not annonymous) which said the story was 'not very erotic' and a 'waste of time to read'. I appreciated the fact that it was not an annonymous feedbacker, but it would have been helpful to know just why the reader did not find the story erotic. Well, I went into panic mode and looked it over and yes, it wasn't that great, really. But I think it had and still has potential for reworking and improvement. While in that panic mode I sent in a request to have the thing removed. Now I have another one posted and an annonymous responded with pure praise. Since I don't know who they are I cannot contact them and thank them for encouraging a person already extremely nervous in posting his words for the potential masses.
I don't find the voting feature here to be that important although I tend to get addicted to checking on the votes. What is important to me is that the set of words written and submitted are something that the Writer is relatively pleased with (even though we usually find places to improve even after the twentieth version), and if someone doesn't like it, oh well... If one person out there finds something in the words that speaks to them, lifts them up, helps them to see the world from a slightly different angle, then the effort was worth it.
Just my two cents.
You just gotta write for yourself first. And that itself ain't always so easy.

I couldn't agree with you more! I love the voting system and, for the most part, the feedback that I get for my stories has been of a positive nature. I do get criticsm and tips to improve my work from time to time, usually just after posting a new piece of erotica, and approach each one of them with an open mind and a heart-felt desire to grow as a writer.

My writing is for the most part for my own benefit but I love the positive feedback that I've gotten from those who've enjoyed my work. I personally don't like Public Comments, but recieving feedback in my email is always a real kick for me.

I think you've got to have a certain outlook on those anonymous reviewers who just want to pick apart a writer's masterpiece without providing constructive criticsm... who are they, and why can't they register themselves and make their presence known? Are they writers, or just people who enjoy cutting others off at the knees?

On the whole, the anonymous feedback I've been getting has been good - they are probably just people who want to keep their identities completely private, and that is quite understandable. I just don't let the few bad eggs spoil things for my other fans, those who just want to interact with me, and contribute in whatever way they seem fit.

 

[TheCaptain]

I like to post my 'anonymous' feedback where others can read it.

I judge the value of the feedback by how many of my regular readers tell me the jackass is an idiot.

Most frustrating though... is when said anonymous feedback actually has something relevant to say and you can't enter into a discussion to pursue the point to the betterment of your craft.


ElSol

That's so true... with the pretenders, you might be able to strip them away and reveal them for exactly what they are! And with those who have good points, you can follow them up on those issues and grow as an author.

A win-win situation in every plausible aspect.

 

[luvmehardtonite]

Hmmm..... at least you GOT some feedback! lol I did get one (and only one) and although it was very complimentary, I wish I had received more so I could tell if my writing is any good. I've only published 1 story so far but I have several others "in progress". BlackShanglan is a wonderful (and very honest) critic. Perhaps he would be willing to critique your story for you? JMO

Penny
(luvmehardtonite)

 

[hmmnmm]

well, luvmehard, I bet I have more rejections that you, too! one because of underage roleplaying by adult characters (which I can understand, really, I knew it was pushing things, remain clear from that area) the other, the paragraphs were too long.
But - again, back to the topic - of course, one wants one's work to be well-received by many but it just can't - and should not - happen. The one that said my story was not erotic, waste of time, fine. I can handle that. But why? Was it just a matter of taste? Was it too long-winded? Was it too graphic? Not graphic enough? Stupid setting? unbelievable characters? Was it something that I would say, "oh yeah, I do that too much. Yeah, thanks for the word." or something that I happen to do that will likely not change, and therefore becomes just a matter of their opinion and they will maybe know to read stuff by writers they like and will know what they are getting.
So, anonymous or not anonymous, doesn't matter to me - positive feedback feels good, yes, negative feedback stings. But at least if a negative feedback will merely say WHY that's all I ask - and I would do the same if they were to post a story that I read and maybe or maybe did not care for.
It goes the other way, too. The one praise feedback said WHY they enjoyed what they read. Thanks. Now I have an idea what at least one person found appealing, at least in that case.
Ah, too much here... sorry

 

[Boxlicker101]

well, luvmehard, I bet I have more rejections that you, too! one because of underage roleplaying by adult characters (which I can understand, really, I knew it was pushing things, remain clear from that area) the other, the paragraphs were too long.
But - again, back to the topic - of course, one wants one's work to be well-received by many but it just can't - and should not - happen. The one that said my story was not erotic, waste of time, fine. I can handle that. But why? Was it just a matter of taste? Was it too long-winded? Was it too graphic? Not graphic enough? Stupid setting? unbelievable characters? Was it something that I would say, "oh yeah, I do that too much. Yeah, thanks for the word." or something that I happen to do that will likely not change, and therefore becomes just a matter of their opinion and they will maybe know to read stuff by writers they like and will know what they are getting.
So, anonymous or not anonymous, doesn't matter to me - positive feedback feels good, yes, negative feedback stings. But at least if a negative feedback will merely say WHY that's all I ask - and I would do the same if they were to post a story that I read and maybe or maybe did not care for.
It goes the other way, too. The one praise feedback said WHY they enjoyed what they read. Thanks. Now I have an idea what at least one person found appealing, at least in that case.
Ah, too much here... sorry

If you are fishing for comments on your stories, you should provide a link such as I have below.

Did you say that you had a story rejected because the characters were adults who were role-playing children? I ask that because I have a story, "I Keep Tracy after School" about a 30 year old woman and she role-plays a schoolgirl and the narrator role-plays a teacher who keeps her after school and threatens to expel her if she doesn't have sex with him. I have another one in the works about a woman who role-plays a Girl Scout selling cookies. I make it very clear that all the people are adults and it is all in fun. I hope the new one doesn't get rejected when I submit it.

 

[hmmnmm]

Well, the one I had rejected I tried to make it clear that they were two adults and one of them wished to be treated as a much younger person and the other was a bit uncomfortable with the idea but realized that as they were both adults engaging in private fantasy...Maybe it was the wording, maybe it's a recent thing they're looking closer at. In the rejection they sent there was a prohibition on role-playing such a thing.
No big deal... everything that I am working on now, I make sure that there is no question that the characters are at least 18.

and I'm not really confident enough to actively fish for compliments, yet... just let the one float and hang out there for now.