A thank-you and some thoughts about active participation

There is an issue with writing even slightly critical comments, and that is that this is a text based forum and and so there is not the additional information which the recipient would gain from speech.
All there is is a few words and these are easy to misinterpret.
Also you may think that your comment was very mild and possibly only expressing your view about a character's personality, motivations or actions, but the author will only see the bare words will have their own cherished view, ( not surprising, considering how long they have taken to produce said character) and then your innocuous comment can appear far more harsh in their eyes.
I fell foul of this on another forum where I commented that I viewed a character as self important, and a less than savoury person. The reaction from the author was swift and aggressive, so much so that I felt the need to use that author's pen name as a (unpleasant) character's name in one of my own stories. Fortunately this was so tenuous that the only person to notice was me.

I apologize for rarely commenting these days. My age is now approaching 86, and I have limited computer access and limited energy. In the past I used to write a lot in spurts (double meaning intended) but age takes its toll, in both regards. This site had been invaluable to me for many years, back when I felt all alone, as so many of us have been most of our lives; were it not for sites like this and Handprints and Boyzbeingboyz and now, "Smiles and Spanks" (Check it out) and the writings of people like Jillian Keenan, we would be much more isolated, and spankos do like to write! Keep this site going, and every so often, thank Februs and Flopsy for what they do!

I have some visual problems myself but fortunately can read the stories and forum comments, though I have had to enlarge the texts.
I haven't really concerned myself about the 'Woke' factor here, though the moderators have been very careful in what they allow to be posted. This is among the very best sites available.

Dear Friends:

I did not direct my comments about commenting and commenters to those with impairments and impediments to doing so but to the thousands(!) of members and subscribers(!) who read so many stories without commenting that the Library restricts them from reading more until they comment. If you don't like a story, I want to hear why. If you love a story, I want to hear why. You think it needs a sequel; that is my motivation to write it. Nobody must draft a review, rant, or screed; just a few words about the story go a long way.

With fond regards, I remain,

The Spanking Agent

I try to comment on every story I read here. Many really intensify my interests. Authors need some feedback too.

I'd like to add one unmentioned note to the AUTHORS on comments: while getting comments is indeed getting more and more difficult, keep in mind that one sure way to discourage comments even further is to not reply to the ones you get with a pop-up message of some kind. Most do, but if you are among the few who don't?????..............well it's definitely a criterion for ME for future comments. Meaning, if you don't acknowledge my comment, don't expect another. Others may feel the same.

Thanks for the further replies. As always, it is enlightening to hear your thoughts.

Spanking Agent, I didn't take what you wrote as criticism, I just thought your post was a good springboard for discussion.


Erm ... okay.

There are a few authors who don't reply to comments or pop-up messages, unfortunately, but most do.

I used to not comment on stories from authors who have been inactive here for years, thinking they'll never read the comment anyway.
I realised later I often use reader comments to find new stories I might be interested in, so now I do comment, if not for those authors' than the reader's sake. The synopsis doesn't always give you all the information you want.

This a very good point. A comment is not only a compliment (or the opposite!) to the author, but also a recommendation to prospective readers.