Forum: Author Hangout

Where are these comments?

I've seen three so far, from the same person. One was in the comments for Al Steiner's Intemperance Book 5, one was in my A True History Book 5, and one was in Emmeran's A Ten Pound Bag, which just concluded. There may be others, I'm not specifically looking for them, these are just in stories that I read.

Pretty sure everyone can see the comments posted to stories, unless the author has hidden them.

Edit: Or disallowed commenting.

https://storiesonline.net/s/29616/a-true-history-book-five

https://storiesonline.net/s/30878/intemperance-v-circles-collide

https://storiesonline.net/s/23696/a-ten-pound-bag

I think a lot of it is that they only want to read stories that are exactly as they want them.

This isn't just a problem with 'asshole commentators' on SoL. This is a systemic and extremely longstanding problem. The 'asshole commentators' are just blunt and crude about it in such a way as to be easily dismissed.

I can't tell you how many movie reviews I've read that boil down to: 'Here's how the movie should have gone, and if it had gone this way it would've been a masterpiece, therefore this movie is garbage because it didn't go that way.'

The problem is that what the creator(s) created and what we can view is what they created. Is it fun? Is it perhaps also a masterpiece? Who can tell, when that's the review?

Usually, of course, they're far less blunt, and you have to read the whole review to realize that the pull quote 'The film-maker missed the mark significantly, rendering this just a bore. 2/5 stars' means 'The film-maker missed my incredibly brilliant idea and substituted their own vision, and I stopped paying attention once I realized they weren't going to do what I wanted.'

There are all sorts of bad commentators. In retrospect, I got most of them over and done with in the first 40 chapters or so, and most of the rest in a book or two. That's not much help to anyone writing shorter works, though.

My answer is always 'Sorry the story didn't go the way you wanted. I can't write it for everyone, and I'm telling it the way I intend to. By all means, go find a story you love. Life's too short to spend reading things you don't like.'

Or they're your answer:

I think a lot of it is that they only want to read stories that are exactly as they want them

As various pairs of my characters have been observed to say:
"Fuck 'em!"
"Or, better, don't!"

I think you are correct, and that is tragic.

From having read your stories, I am fairly certain that we disagree on a bit, are at variance on quite a bit, and are in relative agreement on most vital things.

Thus not only do I enjoy your stories. Quite often aspects of them challenge me! Get me to consider different perspectives, and occasionally change my mind.

I have been through more than a few "crucibles" and thankfully had a good base from my youth to provide me a framework and core of values and beliefs. I have changed less than some, but mostly because I had much tested just before I turned 13/ From 13 to 19 I faced significant challenges, including further death in my family, and going to war.

My metal has been tempered. Yet, through my life I have continued to engage with people who challenge my beliefs and perspectives in a healthy way. Mostly people whom I respect, so I consider their perspectives as worthy, if not mine.

In one of your most recent chapters, one of your characters made an "internal comment" that has me thinking, and re-thinking a matter quite a bit. I have not resolved the matter, and likely won't for some time.

Mostly I read your story for entertainment. That it gets me thinking, often, is a Huge Bonus!