I'm most certainly a fool

[wiseheart]

Got a very bad review on FF.Net for "Out of Legends" - which happens, I see other good stories get even worse. So, why do I let such things get to me so much?

Two reasons. Firstly, because I put a great deal of work, research and love into my stories, and it simply hurts. I can't help it. Secondly, because while I do have some excellently positive reviews for the story, compared to the over twenty thousand hits, very few people actually take the time to give feedback.

Why is it that people find it so hard to say something positive but can't withstand the urge to smite an author down when the story doesn't go the way they expect it to do?

Comments

[cirdan-havens.livejournal.com]

They assume we must know it's good or we wouldn't post it. -_- Or don't gush because they don't know us anyway. It's a thankless life of a fanfic writer. *sigh* *shakes head*

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

You know what irritates me most? The fact that stories written out of boredom with no effort and niveau at all are rarely attacked like that. There seems to be a certain sort of reader that just doesn't have the patience for subtlety and world-building, and that needs to say bad things about stories that contain these things.

I mean, why start to read a really long story if someone doesn't have the patience for details? Anything beyond a hundred thousand words *ought* to contain a great deal of description and background building - or is it just verbose crap, IMO.

Still, if I read something I don't like, I won't start insulting the author. There's such thing as the BAck button, right?

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

IMHO, the raving over drivel reflects the lack of critical thinking skills on the part of the readers.

I speculate that the readiness to pounce on anything that isn't exactly what the reader wants reflects immaturity, coupled with the instant-gratification consumer culture (I want what I want exactly the way I want it) and reinforced by the Web, where every odd whim or fancy can be indulged. Add to that the tendency toward bad manners that Net anonymity seems to bring out in some folks, and we have inexcusable nastiness. I'm sorry you were the target. As you say, why don't they just hit the Back button... [hugs]