The Importance of Feedback

POSTED BY: browncoatjim
UPDATED: Sunday, November 5, 2006 06:17
VIEWED: 6177
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AGENTROUKA

Friday, October 27, 2006 1:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by browncoatjim:
But the next time you are sitting on that side street, trying to pull onto a main road, and no one will give you a break, and you're ready to go completely sideways about it, just remember, no one is required to give you a break. That is something that people do purely out of common decency. We all remember that, don't we? Doing something for someone not because we are required to, but just because it's a decent thing to do?

The idea of not doing a single thing unless we are required to by law, contract, or whatever is, of course, the prevailing sentiment in our society, and look at all the good it has done for us.

Geez.

This isn't traffic or human beings in need of help. This is writing fiction, in your free time, about the characters of a tv show that doesn't belong to you. A hobby, at best. Human society isn't going to fall apart over it.

There's the kind of common decency that keeps the world going round, but I don't consider feedback part of it.

Feedback is a gift from the reader to the author. A gift of thought and attention that they make if you have given them something worth doing so.

You don't expect or demand gifts and then complain that you didn't get them, not when you're over the age of ten and have learned some manners.

Gifts are something to be grateful for, and I'm kind of missing that about your attitude.

BROWNCOATJIM

Friday, October 27, 2006 2:07 PM

You missed the point, i think......

I was responding to the attitude of "I am not required to, so why should I?" You don't want to, that's fine....say so; you don't want to be bothered, that's fine too, just say so

Maybe I am preaching to the wrong chior (which is really not what I am trying to do, please believe me on that).....it was just the callousness of the "I will do exactly what I have to, and not one bit more" attitude that rubbed me wrong......forgive the editorializing, but I just couldn't keep my mouth shut.

No offense meant, sincerely.

Simon: "Were there any Feds?"
mal: "No, no Feds, just an honest brawl between folk."

AGENTROUKA

Friday, October 27, 2006 2:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by browncoatjim:
You missed the point, i think......

I was responding to the attitude of "I am not required to, so why should I?"

I think our points are both not so far apart that they'd miss each other, really.

I don't disagree with your digust about this attitude in general, but I simply think that it doesn't apply in the case of feedback.

In your opening post you said something to the effect that giving feedback is a simple courtesy and not terribly much to ask of a person, and I disagree with that.
You imply that it's discourteous not to leave feedback and that not leaving it is somewhat selfish. You're actively complaining about not getting feedback, really, and I consider that rude.

Feedback isn't a simple courtesy. It's something you earn, not something you're entitled to. When people say they don't owe it to you, it's not just a way of justifying laziness, it's a truth and a way of calling you greedy.

Earn your feedback and be grateful for it when you get it, and don't imply that people are selfish if they don't feel inspired to feedback you. (The general 'you'.)

BORNTOFLY

Saturday, October 28, 2006 5:46 PM

Just my two cents...

I agree that feedback is a courtesy given, not a courtesy expected. No on is under any obligation whatsoever to give feedback.

But I personally try to give feedback at every opportunity. The way I see it, if fanfic is a hobby, then the author is under no obligation to post it. They have written the work for their own enjoyment.
IF they choose to post it, they typically do it for two reasons: The first would be for feedback, whether positive or negative, and usually not for ego stroking. They are taking the risk of putting their work in a public forum. That's a daunting proposition for many, as writing (no matter the subject) is a deeply personal thing. Lack of feedback is discouraging. Feedback or any kind is encouraging, it let's you know your work is appreciated, or unappreciated, and shows that people value your efforts.
The second is for the readers enjoyment and pleasure (or displeasure, the words could burn your eyes, whatever).

In my experience talking to fanfic writers, these two reasons are almost never exclusive of one another.

I said before that if fanfic is a hobby, then the author is under no obligation to post it. That they have written the work for their own enjoyment. The author has taken the courtesy and effort to post it for me to read and enjoy (or not). That courtesy deserves to be repaid.

Feedback, whether negative or positive, is not expected.

It's common decency.

There's a whole bunch of points that can be argued against in my ramble of a 'two cents', but it's 4:44am, and I'm too damn tired to proofread what I just wrote.

RAINSTICK

Saturday, October 28, 2006 10:56 PM

i think feedback is very important to the authors. i haven't read that much fanfic yet, but I have tried to make the occasional comment. as for my own writing, I only get feedback from one person (BlueEyedBrigadier whom i'd like to thank for that), but it would really be helpful to know from more people if they actually like what i write or whether i'm totally missing something in my characterisations or plot development. i guess other authors think similarly. why you might not like every comment you get, it helps you get a perspective.

LEIASKY

Monday, October 30, 2006 4:02 PM

Feedback is not an entitlement. Readers are not required to leave it for an author. Sure, we love getting feedback. Constructive feedback is even better for a lot of people. Some authors say they want feedback but then whine and complain when its not always positive. Every person is different.

I only leave feedback if a story has left an impression - even if it was a bad one.

"A government is a body of people usually notably ungoverned."

LOLAINCONTROL

Sunday, November 5, 2006 6:17 AM

As a lurker (and used-to-be fanfic writer ) feedback was great and often a lot of fun to recieve, but would you really stop writing without it? Hell no, writing fan fic is far too much fun to quit, feedback or no, so therefore I consider it optional (ahem, imho...)

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