I'm a pathetic coward

[wiseheart]

No, really, I am!

I got a mile-long review on FF.Net to "Out of Legends". It starts with "I don' think you're a bad author, but"... and I just didn't have the courage to read it to the end. I got a glimpse of a later paragraph where the reviewer had some problems with Sheppard bein removed from his position but quickly navigated away from the review board.

I know I should appreciate the effort of the reader to give me a detailed review about things s/he probably disagrees with. It's *not* a flame, based on the beginning. So why the heck do I feel so ridiculously bad about it that I wish it were an anonymous review and I could delete it? I haven't even properly read it, for God's sake!

"Out of Legends" has always been a bit of an ambivalent story. There were several people who didn't like it, for various reasons, mostly because I killed off Sheppard, whom I hate like the plague. But I hoped it would be safely forgotten by now. I've stopped trembling for a while when I saw a review alert. That was, apparently, a mistake.

Perhaps I should stop posting my stuff in public archives entirely, since I seem unable to grow a thicker hide.

Edit: I seem to have forgotten how to block users on FF.Net - can anyone help? I don't want this idiot litter my review board again.

Comments

[artemis10002000]

You're not a coward. Well, or maybe instead we can be cowards together. I never really had the guts to read review alerts, either. Unless when I had a very good "ready to conquer the world" day, I preferred to avoid reading reviews. Especially during the writing process, when I knew negative reviews would just make me feel insecure.

So yeah, I can't give you advice since that'd be hypocritical, but at least I can tell you you're not alone :)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Misery loves company, eh?

I'm really pathetic in that way. Negative reviews completely devastate me. Strangely enough, they don't make me insecure - I know very well what I want with a story and why - they depress me completely.

[artemis10002000]

*hugs* At least we aren't alone *smiles*

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

You don't happen to know how to block users on FF.Net, do you? I really don't want that sh*thead on my review board again, but I forgot how to block them.

[artemis10002000]

No, I don't know how either or if it's possible at all. I only know how to deleta anonymous reviews.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

The stupid thing is: I did it before. Repeatedly. But I've forgotten how...

[artemis10002000]

Heh, glad I'm not the only person that happens to :) I always feel so annoyed with myself then.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I know the feeling...

[nerwen-calaelen.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

I've had a look at it - don't read it! For a start the reviewer seems to have a very strange idea of fanfiction. It certainly isn't something I'd like to read about a story of mine - unless I was feeling secure enough to laugh at them. It isn't constructive, so don't feel like you're missing anything worthwhile.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thanks for taking a look and sparing me the hurt. I seem to attract rude, lecturing reviewers for some reason.

Now I'm doubly pissed that one can't remove signed reviews on FF.Net.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Don't bother reading: it's from somebody who wanted to read an entirely different story from the one that you wrote.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thanks; I won't.

It seems to be a returning pattern with my self-approved critics: they always want to read a different story. Why don't they *write* the stories they don't seem to find elsewhere is beyond me. That's what *I* do - which might explain the moderate appreciation. I just happen to have a very different taste than most people. ;)

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

It's a review by someone with an entirely different view of the show to yours -- ignoring it is the only way to go.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the advice. Will do. :)