Frigging nitpickers!

[wiseheart]

Epic rant behind the tag. Don't like, don't read!

Some people on FF.Net really piss me off! Here I am, finally finding my way back to "Kansas 2 - The Yellow Brick Road", my epic Babylon 5/ST:Voyager x-over trilogy. So much that after five years, I've finally figured it out all and started posting regularly again.

And then there is this person who has the story on alert (perhaps on their favourite list, too) and hadn't left a single comment so far. Until now. Until they think they found an error, a false interpretation or simply something they don't agree with. Now they comment to point out the error of my ways. And in a signed review, too, so that it can't be removed.

Never mind that I'm writing a crossover here, merging two different universes, so some things are naturally a bit different than in canon. Never mind that the Voyager gang are in a situation they've never been before. Never mind that I use something from book canon that naturally leads to results never seen in the TV series. Never mind that I might actually have a reason to change things; a reason that might be revealed in a later chapter.

No, I'm obviously wrong and must be lectured. Because someone who couldn't be arsed to say something encouraging in five years, now finally saw their moment of importance coming.

This calls for the Buliwyf icon. Hopefully, he has his sword still, so I can send him on a mission of vengeance.

Comments

[saki101.livejournal.com]

If it helps to have some empathy, you have mine. I don't know what people think they are doing when they ambush an author like that, very much as if they've been lurking simply waiting for a moment to write something negative. Perhaps that is even why they read, sort of "proofreading" so they can feel important when they catch what they think is an "error".

Since you can't delete the comment, I'd answer it with a brief reference to your artistic intent (without giving away anything you will be revealing in future chapters), just so other readers can see a rebuttal if they happen to look. In fact, I think you should include a bit of advertisement of upcoming chapters in there (without spoilers, of course), so that you turn the negative comment into an opportunity to post a teaser or two. If the comment-writer actually had malicious intent, that should really irritate them.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Oh I wrote a very short answer on the review board, just in case somebody else was wondering, but I don't bother really answering such people. This isn't the first time something like that happened to me, and it likely isn't the last one, either. For some reason, I seem to draw annoying know-it-alls, while all those people who favourite my stuff or put it on alert can't be bothered to post a positive comment.

Ah, well, that's the way it always was. I just lack the popularity gene. Which is why some of my stories - usually the better ones - have more chapters than reviews. It's a bit discouraging, but nowadays I'm glad if I don't get shit like above.

[saki101.livejournal.com]

True enough. May you not get any more of that nonsense!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Amen.

[ideealisme.livejournal.com]

You have my sympathy, believe you me!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

I get these folk too. I guess they must have very narrow miserable lives with nothing better to do.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Not to mention enviably much time. It is still insulting. You pour years of research and agony into a project, to create something beautiful, and then some idiot comes and tears it down...

[sammydragoncat]

I'm so sorry to hear that. There are just some people out their just love to criticize.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

You are probably right. I still don't understand why must they be so petty, though.

[jen-rock.livejournal.com]

It's always annoying when people only comment to criticize over some minor issue. I had that happen a few times. On "Truth and Consequences," my Kavanagh story from awhile back I clearly stated at the beginning of the fic that he didn't have a canon first name at the time so I created my own. Someone left a review that simply said, "His name is Peter." Thanks, that was so helpful.

I think some people just look for things to complain about. I only leave reviews when I really like a story. Sorry that happened to you. It's frustrating.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I like it even more when share with me a piece of oh so useful info they heard from a producer on a convention or read in some borderline non-canon book and treat it if it were the Holy Scripture.

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

These energy-suckers only do it to you because you are popular.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Am I? Popular authors don't have stories with more chapters than reviews.

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

Unpopular authors get scarcely any reviews at all!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

That is what I am talking about. I have 2-3 faithful readers per fandom, but no casual ones. At least not the sort that could be arsed to drop at least a "liked it" line. Popular authors get more positive reviews for a drabble than I get for a ten-chapter story. But that is nothing new. I am used to it and can meanwhile live with it, though I still think it is unfair. Still, it it what it is. I only wish the idiots would stop commenting, too.

[ithilwen.livejournal.com]

It's the Pit of Voles - what do you expect? The site exists to create a market for blood pressure medications.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, it is still the easiest site to handle, and one of the few multifandom ones.

[ithilwen.livejournal.com]

Have you ever taken a look at AO3? it's miltifandom, too, but I don't think it has the snarky reviewers that ff.net seems to attract.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I do have a few stories there. Still trying to learn how to post multichapter stuff.

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :)

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

Others have said all the sensible things, so here's my not-grown-up addition: Mac is on his way to give that "reviewer" a good chewing and shaking... and to leave a little something in their shoes.