Bad Comments

I have really enjoyed reading this thread. As an author I sincerely appreciate any comments on one of my stories. A comment says the story has been read and the reader has taken the time to let me know his/her thoughts about it. All comments are welcome.

When I get a negative comment and there have been enough of them over the years, it's still a story that was read and someone took the time to comment. One negative comment I received was about a very long series. The reader accused me of being a male writer using a female name. I had a giggle fest over that one. What I got out of that was that I was capable of writing as a male as well as a female. I took that as a compliment.

~Sar~

This thread has been fascinating.
I am perhaps one of those to whose comment objection was or might have been made. I should have been less succinct.

I said that it came close to being a horror story. Perhaps I should have said why but I assumed that it was obvious at the time.Obviously it was't obvious judging by many of the comments that came later. Maggie struck me as quite a frightening individual, the kind who would mature into a person with an icy heart and a completely dispassionate nature. The ages of the children had nothing to do with the feelings the story aroused in me.
I 'enjoyed' the story because it gave vent to similar thoughts and emotions in me that do some of Edgar Allan Poe's more creepy tales. To me that was because the writer was skillfully able to say so much by saying so little.

The comments I've received as a writer here have mostly been encouraging. I have found that I do not comment stories that I'm uncomfortable with. When I comment a story, it's mostly because I've found something in it that I liked.
A quote from Hans Christian Andersen, "If you haven't got something nice to say, then you'd better keep quiet!" Criticism must be positive!
ernalones

After reading a story I usually read the comments as well which are sometime useful in figuring out what I'd just read . Different strokes for Different folks. As Barb mentions the author sometimes responds and gets you back on track. Negative is never as good as positive but unless abusive should be given some thought and maybe pick a new friend or two.

I am a reader and occasional commenter and agree with LK's post. I am often moved to comment when I see a particularly good story and would like to compliment the author. I am most often moved to comment when I like the story and see inappropriate criticism in the comments.

My problem is that some comments seem to me to more about conveying the commenter's real world view and values system rather that the quality of the story. Every story is a work of fiction which creates its own little world and has a narrative describing people and events in that world.

Commenting on the elegance of the writing and how plausible and consistent the story is good. Commenting on the ways you like or dislike the story (ie how it presses your buttons) is good. Offering feedback about how the story could be altered or extended into further parts is good. Writing that the author should not have a character doing something because you do not agree with it in the real world is not appropriate or helpful.

I guess that the emphasis on promoting commentary is healthy but I think the 'read, have feelings about the story, then spout a comment' isn't good enough. I appeal for a little more discipline in making comments.

The main negative stuff I've had is when I've dared to publish a M/M story. If readers cannot wait for the validation to give them a guide, then the odd shock is inevitable.

I disagree. I appreciate all comments, but really don't want to be told how I could alter or extend a story. That story is written, finished, and I am not about to alter it. If it is to be extended to another part, I already have an idea of how I want to do that. But what I do appreciate is a sincere comment that a reader would like to see it extended.
As far as comments about what a character might do in the real world, I think it depends on the spirit in which they are given. I try to make most of my stories realistic, and find it helpful to hear other perspectives. I can't relate to all of my characters at the same level, so I like to get feedback about how believable they are, as long as it isn't a moral judgment.

I would rather write something positive about a story than something negative. When I have criticism, I usually try to find something positive to say about the story, too. After all the writer submitted it for publication here, and that takes a measure of courage. The writer is even letting me read the story for free, and I buy enough books to know what an extravagant gift that can be. This is just me, and I'll admit I don't always live up to my own standards. Nor do I expect anyone else to live up to them at all.

I may have ended my comment on an arrogant note. I did not mean to come off that way. There are doubtless many members of this site whose standards of kindness and gentleness in their comments exceed mine. I did not mean to imply otherwise in my previous comment. I simply did not wish to burden anyone else with expectations.