EXPLANATIONS PLEASE - (only non commentors need reply)(ha ha as if!)

I am a relatively new author on the site, and one thing that has held me back in terms of commenting is that I don't feel confident enough in my own writing ability to have right to comment on other people's efforts. I am trying to comment more frequently and have managed to raised my status to "grand commenter."

One thing that potential commenters should keep in mind is that if they like a particular story, letting the author know may spur them on to write more tales along the same line. Fully 1/3 of the stories I've written wouldn't exist if someone hadn't said something to the effect that a tale I'd written had the potential for continuation.

No one should feel as if they need writing skills simply to comment, you are right, we don't encourage just "good" or "nice", but it doesn't require an essay, just some simple feelings or observations would be appreciated. Please don't feel under pressure, we simply request an occasional response. I assure you it gets easier once you stop worrying so much about it. I felt the same at first, thinking "what can I possibly have to say that is worthwhile"? But the rewards are gratifying, especially when the author responds to your comment. I love the interaction both ways, I respond to my commenters, not all the comments I make receive a response, but many do and when that happens, I'm delighted.
Just give it a try, after all, this is a spanking community and we are all friends here!

Oo er, that's brave of you, Mini. I must say, if I were a regular reader, I wouldn't like that approach at all. It would irritate me, and others may feel threatened or intimidated by it.
The bottom line is that readers are not expected to comment on everything they read - they just have to comment when they've read 50 stories, and as long as they do that, and make a proper comment, they fulfill the requirements of the site.

Re davenhall's post above
That's right. It doesn't take too much effort to write a couple of sentences saying why you liked the story. Something generic like 'good story' could apply to anything, and if the author has gone to the trouble of writing something to share and make freely available, it isn't too much to ask for people to make the occasional meaningful comment. You don't have to be a literary genius to do that

I stand suitably corrected, Flops!

Although the odd messages ive sent have never been threatening (actually very polite/friendly) but I can see your point of view.

Apologies.

XxxX

I had just about finished with a well thought out, exquisitely reasoned and lengthy reply when I ham-handedly hit the wrong button: And gone!.. Oh well, just another reason, I suppose, why authors don't get the number of comments they deserve. But let me quickly ask the following:
1. Is it useful for a writer to read a comment on a story that was written say five years ago?
2. Is there any value to the author if I pretty much just want to parrot what another or other commenters are saying? For example, "Would a surgeon performing delicate surgery in the morning really be giving his three teens a total of 850 spanks with his bare hand the night before?"
3. Is a preference of a reader worth hearing about like, "it would have been better if you had bared her bottom?"
4. Should I keep harping to various authors over and over about my particular nit pickings: don't see progressive spankings as realistic (hand to hairbrush to strap), Don't use swear words in front of your own offspring - who does that and expect to maintain their respect? etc.

Kind of liked Kdpierre's line about the one handed typist but won't comment on it.

I have had an author respond to a comment I made but his story was similar to a real life experience of a friend.
I find it hard sometimes to something meaningful, but I should engage more.
So to quote the teachers: "must do better."

Oops - I didn't intend to sound confrontational, just said I wouldn't like it and others likely wouldn't either. However some of our subby boys would love being told what to do!

Possible answers:

And to answer #! - if what was written 5 years ago reflects your feelings then write it, at least you are acknowledging the author's work

Answer to #2 - many people will walk up to a parrot and try to get it to speak to them right after they heard it speak to someone else nearby. Why---because they like hearing the feedback and don't mind at all the parrot likely says the same words over and over

Answer to #3 - if one likes to read about bare bottom spankings than there is nothing wrong with making your preference to the author. Maybe the next story the author writes will have a bare bottom spanking and then you can enjoy the story even more. If one never tells the author what they like how in the heck can the author possibly know?

Answer to #4 - If you find the writer does not seem to respond to your request simply find another writer and see if your comment makes a difference to them...plain and simple choose your writers for what you like and do not read stories by certain authors who you know do not have your preferred style of story

Always remember what my (cannot remember who) used to say...keep it simple silly ... the saying applies to many areas of life and commenting is included

CS

Februs' rant is entirely correct, of course, and helpful on the facts, but I suspect many people aren't clear on the facts. So many of those explanations may be valid in the sense that they help to explain non-commenting.

There are other possibilities. One is that the person lacks confidence in his/her own ability to express things well. This might not appear to matter on a site full of ungrammatical and loud-mouthed English, but the standard of English here is very high. So if your grammar is weak or your English (not your first or second language) is adequate for reading but weak when you want to express yourself, or you're just very uncertain and overawed about keying in something hundreds will read, you may stay silent.

Another, which has stopped me commenting sometimes, is that I quite like the story but can't think of anything original to say and don't see the point of posting something like "Interesting story, quite exciting" when plenty of praise has been posted already. There are also the stories I don't actually dislike but I can't find enthusiasm for, maybe because they're just not my thing.

There is, of course, also laziness.