I might be commenting a bit more...

I checked recently, and it seems I owe quite a few comments. I have read 2899 stories but have only made 1464 comments - which means I owe 1435 comments. Now to make them all, while rereading stories I haven't read in years.

Its always satisfying to receive comments and I suspect we could all do more. Certainly I feel I could. I confess I was a little disappointed recently when a member read fourteen of my separate contributions over an hour or so, presumably enjoyed them but left no comment. Comments received are probably one of the major incentives many of us to make further contributions to the library.

It is strange that someone who has read eg an entire serial over a couple of hours, does not then comment on them. I see that regularly. There seem to be many fewer comments than there used to be and I suspect it is down to the smartphone. I can easily comment, if sitting at my laptop, with a keyboard, but find it hard to do so, one-fingered, on a phone.

Geoffrey Stirling.

Thank you everyone who's been kind enough to comment on my stories.

I greatly appreciate every comment I receive. But even more, I appreciate everyone who reads my stories, whether or not they comment. Thank you to all.

As a commentator rather than a writer l often don't comment straight away, especially on a series. I find a little time, like a day or two let's the story sink in and makes for better comments. Quite often l have made a comment quickly then a little later thought of something better to say. But l can't go back and change the comment or add to it which is frustrating some times.
Serials are often mentioned, and yes the temptation is to only comment on the series as a whole after the last episode hence each episode getting fewer comments. Personally l try and comment on each episode as well, as l think that's my acknowledgement of the effort the writer has put in.
As a reader l see commenting as my part of the bargain between author and reader that keeps this site running and being successful.

I'm new here, but will make a conscious effort to add comments on stories I read.

I appreciate why authors like to receive comments after a story is published. And I do try to comment on stories I have read. And all the stories I have read are certainly of a standard that deserves publication.

But I have made it my rule to not comment negatively. If I find a story that I don't really enjoy then I tend to not leave a comment. I also feel that my likes and dislikes are different to many on the site here and I would be wrong and unfair to comment negatively just because of my own preferences. That often leaves me with little to say and so I don't add any comment.

To add, I am of an age when corporal punishment was ubiquitous and have plenty of experience of punishments both domestically and at school. Unconsciously, I compare stories to my own experience and when I find a story implausible I tend to lose interest.

Naturally I know most people do not judge the stories as I do and so I find it fairer to leave no comment than to criticise over something that is only imprtant to me.

@Goodgulf
Sounds like a good new year's resolution!

Commenting has been a hot topic here for as long as I can remember, and I have certainly contributed my share of opinions on the topic. One that I believe I mentioned once or twice before but seems relevant again now is how I feel about not seeing any new comments on pieces that I have suggested in response to specific request threads on the forum. While the usual reader may or may not leave a comment, I think it's particularly rude to make a request on the forum for a story type, get well-meaning authors to take the time to respond with suggestions, and then not bother to acknowledge those suggestions. I even think that if a suggested piece falls short of the OP's expectations, it is still appropriate to acknowledge the suggestion with at least a "thanks for the suggestion. I read the story, but I didn't really connect with it." To do otherwise is like making a specific request for a particular drink from a host at a party, getting it, and then walking away without so much as a 'thank you'....as if the host was some lowly personal servant. We clearly live in a very entitled society.