A Fantasy for Authors

I don’t believe your original post in this thread cross referred to your earlier comment in another discussion.


I disagree, as explained at the outset of my post. It presupposes that the author was accurately responding to the request, which is not always guaranteed. I also don’t think your analogy works because authors that respond to public requests can hardly be compared to hosts of a party. But to work from that analogy, if I was at a party and I asked a large group of people if anyone could suggest a glass of white wine for me, and you hand me a glass of red, I should not be required to take the glass, drink it, and say “thank you for this glass of red wine, I only wish it were white.”

Generally speaking I find the request threads to be quite polite and utilised in good faith. I think that is the spirit in which it should be approached.

I recall a post from Februs some years ago about someone who was so opposed to making one comment every fifty views, which was the requirement then, that they set up multiple accounts, which involved setting up multiple email accounts, all of which was much more work than a simple appreciative sentence or two.

I’m not sure what the value of a comment from them would be…

Anyway, I like your idea of awards to commentators; the only problem is that the most prolific ones are all authors as well!

danjackson84
We obviously view good manners differently........and from the way people currently behave I believe you have more who agree with your perspective.

For me the drink analogy holds. Regardless of the quality, accuracy, or flavor of a drink given in response to a request, the host is still providing a service, and it costs nothing to acknowledge that. And doing so shows manners.

theo54
Good point! I believe that's because we know what it's like to put effort into something and have it go unacknowledged and therefore try to "do unto others".

Isn't it also interesting that a thread that affords folks a lighthearted way of rebuking bad manners, has instead attracted comments defending or excusing such behavior? It really reflects our current society which has abandoned shaming as a nonviolent way to establish decent social mores in favor of either silently accepting bad manners, or excusing them completely, and then wondering why people aren't as polite as they used to be.