Let's all try to comment more on the stories.
There have been a dearth of story comments lately. A third to half of all comments have been on blogs or forums and half of those have been argumentative or disrespectful of other readers. I'm not particularly happy about this but I recognize that these things go in cycles.
I've gone in and turned comments off on some blogs and moved others off the blog list on the front page. This isn't something I want to make a habit of. I've also reduced how many blogs (and stories and comments) listed on the front page but that's mostly related to trying to reduce server load in this time of being the leading TG site still getting regular updates.
Please, try to comment on the stories. It's basically how you pay the authors for their contributions. And when commenting, try not to be provocative to other readers. We haven't had any flame wars over any of the recent threads but the soles of my socks are scorched. :)
Hugs to all and Happy New Year,
Erin
Comments
Well, now that I'm back...
where I can have reasonable access, I'll return to my normal rate of commenting... Hopefully that'll help the story comment #s... For SOME of the authors. Hey, I might even find time to WRITE something! (Visiting one's FAMILY, while hiding one's true self, is NOT conducive to getting much writing done.)
How I comment
I do comment on the few stories I read, but usually 9 times out of 10 its a PM directly to the author or in one of the several chatrooms they and I frequent. I prefer a "personal" contact and the public comment is too "impersonal" IMO. Hugs and love, Cindy
Public Comments
One of the advantages of public comments is that it can bring a story to the attention of a wider audience. Sometimes I read the intro to a story and, for some reason it doesn't catch my imagination - so I don't bother to read it.
If the story then starts getting lots of interesting comments, I'll change my mind and give it a try. This has lead me to enjoy a number of stories I would otherwise have missed.
Pleione
Same for Me
I've read a number of stories (and held off reading a few) because of comments.
The Down After Sitting on a Thistle
After peering at my screen and seeing the word “dearthâ€
I stood and I shouted -- “Erin, what on Earth?â€
You could have used “shortageâ€, or “scarcityâ€, or “lackâ€,
It must be precise, because you have the knack.
It’s in the dictionary, with “death†right next door.
And sounds dreadfully like “dirge†which leaves my ears sore.
Should the accompanying verb be “have†or “had�
One dearth or two? Good grammar -- or bad?
A blog that’s interesting must have stiff gristle;
That shouldn’t be cause for the propriety cop to whistle.
Every time I feel the scourge of the censor,
I have to use the Kleenex dispenser.
"Too many words here! And, there – not enough."
It’s not only “dearth†that makes understanding you tough.
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Poetry
A poet who reads his verse in public may have other nasty habits.
Lazarus Long - Time Enough For Love
Robert A. Heinlein
KJT ;-)
Sir Charles Panther
“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” - Turkish Proverb
Would be nice
I have to confess that I have reduced my public commenting. After being jumped on by one author for comments I made about a character, I try to be very careful in my public comments, either PMing the author or doing nothing.
KJT
Sir Charles Panther
“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” - Turkish Proverb
Comments and Morality
Maybe I made a mistake in asking for more comments. :) The last three comments I've read have all been attacks on stories based on moral positions. This sets my teeth on edge. Conflict is necessary for dramatic fiction, complaining about EVIL in a story is basically saying that you don't want real conflict. That's okay, there are plenty of stories here that do not have much conflict in them but complaining about conflict and EVIL is trying to bully the author into giving you your story and denying other readers their story.
Imagine if someone threw the sort of fit a few commenters are doing about conflict and EVIL on someone who wrote a shopping scene. It's the same thing. Let other people have their stories without bitching that they aren't your kind of story.
Hugs to all,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Backhanded compliment
I suspect I know which story you are talking about, and yes, the comments have been quite forceful. But it seems to me they are more about the morality of the actions of some of the characters rather than the story itself being moral or evil. I don't want to get into a discussion of the story on here, it's the wrong place. But the author has certainly engaged her readers, who appear to be tracking the story closely and watching every nuance.
So in that regard, I'd say that the author has done an excellent job, look at how everybody is so concerned for the protagonist's well-being. The conflict between the protagonist's view of the people around him, and what the readers see those people doing, is spirited; precisely because they have submerged themselves in the story and are living it with the protagonist. Everybody does need to be careful, as these can boil over, but so far people seem to be discussing the characters, not the author.
KJT
Sir Charles Panther
“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” - Turkish Proverb
Time is a real problem for some, Erin.
I agree that there is no excuse for not writing a comment that thanks an author
for the time and effort, unless the story falls below a certain norm where you
don't feel any encouragement is wise. Then a polite note to the author is an
option.
I honestly think, thought, that commenting of late has been effected by the
lack of time many are feeling. I comment on just about every story I read,
even if I don't really like it, I do try to comment.
Unfortunately, I just don't have the time to read anything lately. There are
good stories out there, that deserve any recognition, it's true. Without the
time, it's a moot point.
I walked into my daughter's room the other day. Her hampster got off his little
wheel to look at me and say 'You poor bastard...' I think lots of folks are in
the same boat, and I don't mean talking hampsters or doormice.
Sarah Lynn