As a low-profile member, not yet having contributed a story, it took me some time to realise that my comments on other people's offerings were considered valuable. Now you can't shut me up. Mostly, I like to relate what I read to events in my personal life, or events I would love to encounter in my personal life. Or suggestions on where the story might go next. 'Nice story' or 'enjoyed that' don't seem worthwhile. I try to avoid negative remarks, though I did recently have a go at some editorial failings. Then again, I set out to praise some new offerings, but decided not to comment on one piece of out-and-out illiteracy — what's the point? Gratitude is not expected. If I comment, I liked the story. As I usually do — many thanks to all the imaginative and inventive writers who knock themselves out to give pleasure to the rest of us. Replies can be problematic, especially when I have to dig back through two months to find what I said. Perhaps njrick can give me some education on how to kick these things around in the chatroom. |