Missing reviews...
POSTED BY: Leiasky
UPDATED: Monday, July 10, 2006 20:23
VIEWED: 20099
PAGE 3 of 5
I was an anonymous reviewer, and liked reviewing anonymously here as one could leave a 'liked' or 'disagreed' or 'what does character X think they're doing' comment or two without the risk of someone jumping down your throat.
I particularly liked how some anonymous comments would start off reasonable and rational discussions in some of the fanfics. I'm going to miss that dialogue the most.
The only flame I've ever seen to a fic was a story of Leiasky's; the comment truly was incendiary. I've seen one or two instances of mistaking a 'I don't like your take on Character Y' comment as a flame and then flame the original comment. But for the majority, this is a pretty sane fanfic site.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mordsith:
But I think too many people have taken it upon themselves to flame others.
I think you're mistaking someone criticizing a fic with actual flames. Flames are extreme - I can criticize a fic, I can't overcriticize the fic or call the author nasty names.
Ie/ I don't like how Early is portrayed in this work; he'd never do that.
Versus
Oh my gawd you *insert favourite slanderous adjective*, did you have your *insert another favourite slanderous adjective* when you wrote that?
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As a fan of the fanfic (tee hee, not an author I mean), I consider it an honor to be asked for my input on anyone's work.
I'm so glad the anonymous option is gone! True, I often used it because I was too lazy to log in while at work or something (*loves you, Mordsith*), but I always signed my name within the post...making it not really ananymous.
I absolutely agree with what was said about being allowed to offer constructive criticism or to say a character is out of voice, etc. HOWEVER, what is said by the person commenting should never be so bad that the comment-er FEARS retaliation from the author. If you are afraid what you are saying would cause someone to jump down your throat, then perhaps you shouldn't say it. That may sound like playground logic (if you don't have anything nice to say...), but seriously folks...show some respect. These people are putting themselves out there for our entertainment. Be civil.
Is that to say I like everything I read? Hell no. But, my public comments remain largely positive. There have been times that even my favorite authors have done things with stories or characters that don't sit well with me. In those cases, I comment publically and positively about what I can praise. Then, I write them privately and say, "You know, you might want to look at this..." What they choose to do with that is up to them. At least they get the information in a safe, non-threatening fashion.
In the end, the work posted is the property and often pride of the author. It should be respected as such. If what I read is so bad that even the soft touch outlined above won't work, then I just DON'T COMMENT AT ALL and I tend to stop reading that person's work. Easy peasy. Just because something rubs ME the wrong way, doesn't mean it doesn't have the right to exist and others don't have the right to enjoy.
Some people juggle geese. Is it too much to ask that we employ simple kindness and etiquette when discussing said geese?
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Quote:
Originally posted by tkid:Quote:
Originally posted by Mordsith:
But I think too many people have taken it upon themselves to flame others.
I think you're mistaking someone criticizing a fic with actual flames. Flames are extreme - I can criticize a fic, I can't overcriticize the fic or call the author nasty names.
Ie/ I don't like how Early is portrayed in this work; he'd never do that.
Versus
Oh my gawd you *insert favourite slanderous adjective*, did you have your *insert another favourite slanderous adjective* when you wrote that?
I'm not just talking about me. But I have gotten annon complaints about the character pairings I've written. Someone once had the 'overwhelming urge to spit on me' because of that.
Is that constructive critcism?
If you don't like a work, you don't have to comment on it. Or like Reenie said, contact me through PMs I find that much more costructive. Or don't just point at the negative in the story, but the positive as well. I don't post what I write to get comments. Sure they're shiny, but I post it because I liked writing it and because I'm offering it to someone else to enjoy.
These people are not my editors, they aren't book reviewers, they're just other browncoats and I think EVERYONE has different views on how characters should be potrayed, and that is just fine and dandy, but you shouldn't make a writer feel bad because they didn't write the way YOU feel they should write.
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This needed to be said again because its amazingly true.
I've noticed a lot of people consider flames as someone commenting that they don't like the characterization of someone in an author's story. That's not a flame. That's someone giving their honest opinion, which an author may or may not agree with.
I've found that authors who write non-cannon pairing's get this a lot more than those who write cannon pairings. Probably because it takes more work to get those characterizations to a place where they are believable and it isn't often where a lot of people agree with those characterizations.
A flame...well...TKID has it spot on when he/she explains what that is.
"A government is a body of people usually notably ungoverned."
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Quote:
Originally posted by tkid:
I think you're mistaking someone criticizing a fic with actual flames. Flames are extreme - I can criticize a fic, I can't overcriticize the fic or call the author nasty names.
Ie/ I don't like how Early is portrayed in this work; he'd never do that.
Versus
Oh my gawd you *insert favourite slanderous adjective*, did you have your *insert another favourite slanderous adjective* when you wrote that?
Feh, the reply with quote didn't work the first time...maybe it will this time....
"A government is a body of people usually notably ungoverned."
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Quote:
Originally posted by tkid:
I was an anonymous reviewer, and liked reviewing anonymously here as one could leave a 'liked' or 'disagreed' or 'what does character X think they're doing' comment or two without the risk of someone jumping down your throat.
You know, I feel exactly the same way. Too many times, I, or someone I know, would leave a review, only to get e-mails back from friends of that author flaming the HELL out of us because we DARED to give our opinion, which happened to not agree with a characterization. Now, I just don't even bother to respond to those people who obviously have nothing better to do than to kiss ass in public and flame in private.
"A government is a body of people usually notably ungoverned."
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I totally agree with TKID's example of what a criticism is and what a flame is. I know authors pour alot of their ego into their work and when someone comments on it in a negative manner, it is not always well recieved. Yet it also inspires growth and helps authors look at what they are writing and think, Now how can I improve what I am doing? It may be a little painful...I have had comments where I disagreed with what was said but that doesn't mean that they weren't vald to the person who wrote it. Everything is subjective and we all have our own opinions, right or wrong. I think sometimes our bruised egos get in the way of what is trying to be said.
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I completely understand the distinction the last few posts have tried to make between constructive criticism and flaming. I'm not disagreeing with this.
The point I was trying to make, and may not have done so that well, is that how much criticism an author can take before he/she feels attacked is variable. Therefore, if EVER in doubt of crossing a line in which even innocent remarks could be misunderstood...then, don't cross the line. Said another way, it isn't what you say so much as how it's said.
I was simply trying to offer that it's the responsiblity of those leaving comments to uphold a minimum standard of kindness and tact. If you ever, even once, leave a comment that gets YOU a negative reaction in return...perhaps take that a sign to not comment like that again. It may be something you as an author would find acceptable, but clearly not everyone does.
Call it flaming or cronstructive reviewing or anything in between...if it hurts or offends someone, stop. If it even might, don't do it. Find another way to express yourself.
That's all I'm sayin'.
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I was merely stating that if we all put our wrtings up for public display, we are not always going to get the response we want. Not only that, sometimes constructive criticism spurs a writer to try and do better, or even creates inspiration for another story. It can be encouraging and still critical, or it can open up new possibilities. The world is not a perfect place, we can't expect everybody to like everything we write. Not only that, if people don't want criticism or comments then maybe they can state that on their posts, or make a point to mention that they only want nice feedback. Although I do think that is a little limitting on the response you get from your story. I don't advocate making it a point to say only critical things, there should be some encouragment as well.
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