Dealing with negative comments

[RemoteOperator]

I've published a story recently and the initial comments were negative in that they didn't like the theme or it wasn't realistic for them, doesn't align to the morals and no body would act this way, woman who cheat are trash... etc.
Not on the content or style of the text.

Now I get that not everyone would like the theme, but these are fantasy and the comments were their views, not on the story or it's quality. I've tried to be clear in the tags of the themes but people read these and negatively comment they didn't like the theme or actions.
Others have pm'd me telling me to delete the negative comments

Ive seen the same on other recent stories as well that I thought we well written.

So question is do I leave the comment there, how and when to delete the troll posts?
Thoughts?

 

[TheWritingGroup]

Thoughtless posts aren't necessarily trolling. Some people feel as if the reason for comment feature is to give their opinions of things. You seemingly think it's to get helpful feedback so you can improve your story.

I'm with you, but those readers aren't writers (mostly) and don't care if your next story is better. They just get satisfaction from expressing themselves in a comment. Who am I to kinkshame?

Trolling is deliberately trying to start arguments.

-Rocco

 

[THBGato]

I notice your latest was in Loving Wives. I've never written in the category and have no intention of doing so, but received wisdom on the Author Hangout is that there are lots of very entitled readers there. From what I understand, they seem to set themselves up as gatekeepers, trying to either actively discourage writers from posting stories whose morals/plot/themes they dislike, or try to bully writers via the comments into writing the kind of stories they want to see.

Whether you leave the comment or not is entirely up to you. I've only ever deleted one comment, and that was because it was pointing out a mistake in my story which I then fixed via an edit. Leaving the comment there afterwards seemed odd.

They are your stories, do what you like. You're in charge of the commenting space - perhaps some readers need to be reminded of that?

Good luck!

 

[geronimo_appleby]

let me guess - loving wives?

for me, if it's a trolling comment with no value at all, bin it. i'll leave some of the more hilarious rants up there just for the grin. those LW folks can be rabid. it's not a good trait in me, but i poke them with a sharp stick every now and then.

 

[Bazzle]

some negative comments have truths in there, some its because it was their male equivalent of the time of the month and you triggered them.

Don't worry about it, share some on the board for laughs.

Those with the truths, learn from them. I have taken quite a bit in over the years from the critical feedback. Some might not actually agree, but I feel like I have.

 

[Sappho_CGN]

You have to evaluate whether the comment is meaningful or not. Try to be objective. I got an elaborate negative comment on my first story. The comment is both true and laughable. The user wrote as if he evaulates for the Nobel-price or Pulitzer which is totally over the top and really laughable. But of course, he is right, I will NOT get a Nobel price ... .

I decided not to delete it because the writer himselfs shows clearly that he is a total moron only wanting to insult me, to hit me. He is in the German forum notorious for his bully attitude.

 

[RemoteOperator]

I notice your latest was in Loving Wives. I've never written in the category and have no intention of doing so, but received wisdom on the Author Hangout is that there are lots of very entitled readers there. From what I understand, they seem to set themselves up as gatekeepers, trying to either actively discourage writers from posting stories whose morals/plot/themes they dislike, or try to bully writers via the comments into writing the kind of stories they want to see.

Whether you leave the comment or not is entirely up to you. I've only ever deleted one comment, and that was because it was pointing out a mistake in my story which I then fixed via an edit. Leaving the comment there afterwards seemed odd.

They are your stories, do what you like. You're in charge of the commenting space - perhaps some readers need to be reminded of that?

Good luck!

Thanks for the advice. Not sure where else would have been appropriate and it seemed to fit the genre. Seen other stories posts with equally unwarranted/hard opinions and just wondering what the norm was,

 

[RemoteOperator]

some negative comments have truths in there, some its because it was their male equivalent of the time of the month and you triggered them.

Don't worry about it, share some on the board for laughs.

Those with the truths, learn from them. I have taken quite a bit in over the years from the critical feedback. Some might not actually agree, but I feel like I have.

Thanks. I wrote the stories primarily for myself and know I'll never pleasing everyone. I'm not really fussed about the negative when I they add feedback. There are now other comments ridiculing the negative commenter so was wondering if I need to police this or break out the popcorn?

 

[Shady_Lady]

Negative comments tend to fall into two distinct areas.

The first is where your view of things does not meet theirs. There is little you can do about this apart from moving on and not engaging. They won't change their opinion any more than you should change yours so a pointless argument.

The second is where the comments whilst critical are constructive and have value. Those are worth learning from even if ultimately you ignore them.

The way in which people write their comments often leaves me cold as I wonder if they would talk that way face to face, or whether they would put them in a more 'polite' way to avoid a physical response.

 

[Bazzle]

Thanks. I wrote the stories primarily for myself and know I'll never pleasing everyone. I'm not really fussed about the negative when I they add feedback. There are now other comments ridiculing the negative commenter so was wondering if I need to police this or break out the popcorn?

You can play "god" and delete comments.

The power is all yours!

 

[magic_rat]

Laugh at them, move on.

 

[Auden James]

I got an elaborate negative comment on my first story. The comment is both true and laughable. The user wrote as if he evaulates for the Nobel-price or Pulitzer which is totally over the top and really laughable.

It is telling that you find the comment in question "elaborate" and "laughable," for it is neither, at least not if you are familiar with standard elements of story criticism (analyzing and evaluating the plot, style, and meaning of a given story). That you did not expect to receive such criticism here, does not invalidate said criticism.

Try to be objective. . . . I decided not to delete it because the writer himselfs shows clearly that he is a total moron only wanting to insult me, to hit me.

Which is not in the least an "objective" statement, but rather an "insult" itself. Another exemplum of hypocrisy!

 

[Sappho_CGN]

Now you know all who I mean ...

 

[Sappho_CGN]

and you can see that he is really stalking me ... I can hardly write anything wthout triggerig comments of him.

 

[Auden James]

That is the way of the muse, my dear!

 

[Phlegeton]

That is the way of the muse, my dear!

Dear Auden, in Ancient Greece, the muses were a source of inspiration and supporters of the arts. Whereas you, in the course of the last decade, did nothing but insult, discourage, and ridicule nearly every author on Literotica who was unlucky enough to cross your path in the most disparaging way. Clearly, you are not a muse. If it comes to mythological creatures, you are nothing but a troll. With ambitions to become a stalker, too.

 

[jaF0]

... , how and when to delete the troll posts?
Thoughts?

'At will.'

 

[RelentlessOnanism]

I generally leave the comments in place, even if they're negative. I've only ever deleted two comments, I think: One that (falsely) accused me of plagiarism and another that was grossly insulting about another writer.

 

[Auden James]

Why, by Jove, do you, @Phlegeton, think I was talking about myself? Of course, I am not muse unto myself; that would be patently absurd (if only because the Muses of ancient Greece were an all-female gang). So, who then could be the muse I was talking about? Any educated guess?

 

[Phlegeton]

Why, by Jove, do you, @Phlegeton, think I was talking about myself?

Probably because it is the only thing you ever do.

 

[ElectricBlue]

So question is do I leave the comment there, how and when to delete the troll posts?
Thoughts?

Some people regard it as heroic or a badge of honour to keep inane/stupid comments. I consider them the same way I look at dog-shit on your lawn or graffiti on your fence. Would you leave it there?

It becomes a comment on your neighbourhood if you do.

 

[Auden James]

Probably because it is the only thing you ever do.

Well, evidently not, as I did just prove (see above)!

 

[jaF0]

Do we need to get out the Rock'em Sock'em Robots game?

 

[Phlegeton]

Probably not. I know these discussions, and they never find an end, unless you end them yourself. Which is what I'm doing now.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I've published a story recently and the initial comments were negative in that they didn't like the theme or it wasn't realistic for them, doesn't align to the morals and no body would act this way, woman who cheat are trash... etc.
Not on the content or style of the text.

Now I get that not everyone would like the theme, but these are fantasy and the comments were their views, not on the story or it's quality. I've tried to be clear in the tags of the themes but people read these and negatively comment they didn't like the theme or actions.
Others have pm'd me telling me to delete the negative comments

Ive seen the same on other recent stories as well that I thought we well written.

So question is do I leave the comment there, how and when to delete the troll posts?
Thoughts?

Unfaithful women set off some people here even if the story is not in Loving Wives. I've never seen the same for unfaithful men.

I usually leave such comments in place unless they are gibberish or irrelevant. I may answer if I have something to say, but I've never gotten a second message on any comment that I remember. It's a wide-open site, and anonymous comments are allowed. Once in a while the person complaining is right although not subtle about it.