Voting and Comments

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An essay for writers.
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49greg
49greg
452 Followers

This is meant to be a short essay aimed at other writers, writers who read, and readers who write (I put myself in this last class.) In it I plan to discuss the evolution of how I vote on other stories and ask how others vote, followed by some comments on comments about my, and other, stories.

My aim is to encourage some discussion on these subjects.

oooOOOooo

Part One: Voting

When I first discovered Literotica I immediately started reading all kinds of stories, I couldn't get enough. Within a short time I started voting. I am sorry to admit that I was harsh. Very harsh. I came up with a loose subjective system.

If there were spelling or grammar errors that I noticed I would only give a maximum of four, regardless of how much I liked the story. Too many errors would result in a maximum of three. I don't think I ever voted less than three. I saved Five for those stories that I really really really liked, that had no errors in spelling and grammar (that I spotted.)

Please note that this was all before I even thought about posting a story. This was a result of growing up in the Fifties and Sixties, where in school, regardless of the subject, spelling and penmanship counted towards the grade.

Then in early 2012 I actually posted a story. I didn't think it was that good, but I thought I would give it try. I was afraid to use my original log-in name, and I still can't figure out why, neither is more or less anonymous than the other, so I opened a second account and posted it. I don't think I've gone back to my original account since then. As I read through the actual approved story on lit I couldn't believe how dumb it sounded or how I missed some typos.

That's when I started changing how I vote. After several more stories I started voting completely differently. I realized how hard it is to actually catch my own typos and misspellings. And my word processor tries to complete words for me. I let it because it is easier, but have got caught out a few times when I let it use a different word that sounds like the word I want. Argghhh.

I suppose I should find an editor.

Now I vote a Five whenever I read a story that I enjoy and that didn't have enough errors to end that enjoyment. I let my enjoyment govern my voting, as well as how well written it is. If the plot makes a twist that I don't like, I still judge my vote on how well it was written.

So if I vote, I vote five. I leave my disappointment on plot twists to the comment section. If I can't give it a Five, I just don't vote. Kind of a version of what my mom used to say, “If you don't have something nice to say, don't say it.”

How do you vote? Do you let personal feelings about the actual story, how it ended, how the plot didn't run to your taste etc, influence your vote? How do you think others should vote. Has writing your own stories changed how you vote?

OooOOOooo

Part Two: Comments

Do you, as writers, comment on other stories. If so, how do you comment – harsh emotional criticism, or reasoned supportive critique?

What are the worst comments you have gotten? How often do you delete comments?

I recently posted my first 'Loving Wive' story. I feel that I have a real perspective on a cheating wife, since my first wife, after fifteen years left me for another woman. It wasn't that bad a deal, I was relieved more than anything as I had been wanting to split up for some time, but by waiting 'till she left me, it made the settlement much better for me.

Back to my LW story. I actually got hate mail comments. I was used to some bad comments by Mr. Anonymous from a few Cross-dressing/femdom type stories. But this was really bad. I finally deleted the comments that talked about what a horrible or perverted person I was. One actually talked about Killing people. It was bad enough to read about how the husband should beat up the wife and throw her out.

But everyone has opinions, as long as someone talks about the story, and not me, I guess I'll let them stand. I don't think I ever got that personally vicious on any of my comments, if I did, I am so very very sorry.

So, what are your policies on deleting comments – letting them all stand, deleting some but not others, not allowing comments?

What are your methods of writing comments on other stories? Do you nit pick or offer criticism? Do you comment at all? Do you comment anonymously or with your regular ID?

This isn't a cry for help so much as a hope to generate some discussion with other writers, both the more experienced ones as well as those like me who are new at this. I also welcome comments from polite readers, especially those who use their Literotica ID.

OK, how many grammar and spelling errors did I make? And how dumb and pathetic is this essay?

49greg
49greg
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Tootight1Tootight1over 3 years ago
ok

Too much to care about. I vote according to believability, or how close to reality it is, of course according to me. I don't even pay attention to spelling, unless it's overwhelmingly bad. If a story teller can get the thought across, and have me associate with it, he has succeeded.

In my past my late wife and I tried cuckolding, but it didn't work, as intended, so we dropped it. You have to remember that it was in the 70's, and we both knew the guy. Not everyone has had the experience you had, you have to understand that before you start a story.

Oz_JohnOz_Johnover 4 years ago

I enjoyed this - it is good to see how another thinks.

Like you, I largely only vote 5s. If the story is well written enough to keep my attention to the end then it deserves a good score. If I don't like the story much, I simply stop reading. I'm not a fan of spelling/grammar mistakes, but they don't usually make or break a story for me.

I also never make my comments anonymous. (In any case, giving my user name still leaves the real me ultimately anonymous!). However, I am grateful for comments even if they are anonymous.

KaereniSisterKaereniSisterover 6 years ago

I think the worst comment I received was and I quote, "Fuck you! You suck at writing." I reply I deleted and removed the option to be a anon poster. I have gotten a few good ones, some hate mail and many indifferent ones. One the things I do when reading a comment left is that I look at the poster. Have they tried writing and posting a story? If not then what right do you have to tear my work down. While I don't mind someone pointing out my errors, I want you do do so in a nice way. If not I ignore it

When posting a comment, which I don't always do. I point out what worked and then what I had an issue with. I can deal with spelling errors or run on sentences more than I can a plot hole so big you could throw a dog through.

Finally I had one comment of a story tell me to get an editor. Well I have one and he like me is working for free, It is this point that people who love to sh*t all over our work refuse to understand..

Ib_SaysIb_Saysabout 8 years ago

Voting is supposed to show people how many enjoyed reading it, but if you only vote with 5 stars you are undermining that system, and artificially propping up some stories that don't deserve it.

People should be warned off bad stories so they don't waste their time, giving one star (if you are honest and not just malicious) is just as useful as giving 5 stars, and for many people spelling and grammar significantly influences whether they can enjoy a story, it is not something to be disregarded just because you have now learned that proofreading isn't easy.

Just because you are an author yourself, doesn't mean you should be doing other readers such a disservice.

squirrelzosquirrelzoalmost 10 years ago
whining

All the whining about anon comments.

I get them; I sometimes leave them. I don't give a flying crap that I get anon comments. Its all funny. I don't care. What am I going to do anyway, get in a private fight with them? They want to be anon, let them. Its a choice on this site.

The reason writers get so pissed at anon is because they have doubts about their own work. Lack of self-confidence. They secretly wonder if anon is right, but it's easier to get all pissed at anon than to admit their own insecurity.

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