Forum: Story Discussion and Feedback

The story was written by writer 406. ystokes created the thread.

I made the comment because he came out of nowhere and told us the story was probably the best story on the site. That annoyed me for several reasons.

One of those reasons is we all have an opinion as to what constitutes a good story. ystokes presented his opinion without regard to what the rest of us considered to be a good story. (Awnlee decided to set it aside for the time being.) ystokes essentially told us it was one of the best stories on SOL. Although he did say probably.

I am not sure how long ystokes has been on this site, but he is not listed as an author. I also don't know why he thinks he is qualified to conclude the story is one of the better stories on the site. As far as I can tell, he is just an average reader.

Although I do think it is a very good story up to now.

Considering the story is by a new name, has only a perfunctory description, is still quite short and misses the tags that automatically give the story a premium, the number of voters and the stellar score seem remarkable.

The author isn't pantsing, making me wonder whether the story has previously been published elsewhere.

AJ

No offence given.

None taken.

Man I want to lower myself to your level but I won't.

If you want to call me a piece of shit because I questioned your qualifications, go right ahead.

I hate to break it to you, but 'average readers' are our bread and butter, as they're the ones who keep us motivated to continue. Thus saying that non-authors aren't entitled to express their opinions is just an odd, baseless concept.

The bigger issue, is that few of us have ever heard from him before, and like a few others, who suddenly pop up on the site and begin criticizing stories, often have a specific agenda and are often Trolls, who seek to spread discord, and thus should always be watched carefully.

Most who come to the site, simply read and observe, until they've gained enough experience to understand how the site works. Thus, when they begin posting comments, they're sensible, straightforward points.

Trolls, don't give a damn about anything, other than disrupting things, as that's their bread and butter, as they don't give a damn about the stories themselves.

Not every critique is from Trolls, yet it's best to observe whether new posters have a clue about any story on the site.

Again, that's fine, yet for a newbie, just getting to know the SOL authors and how they relate to each other here, in the forums, is a LOT different than just 'reading' their fictional stories.

Again, just because a character behaves a certain way, doesn't mean that's a reflection of the author, as not everything written is autobiographical, although many readers assume it is, anyway.

Yet, from most of your comments here, you seem much more of a disrupter, starting arguments just for the attention, rather than actually adding anything of value. And since I don't personally know you, how else would you expect me to judge you, other than by your own words?

As I said before, I doubt we'll ever be friends, as I have enough of those and who really trust any online friends nowadays. I also seriously doubt you'll ever read a single one of my stories, or would I expect you too, as mine are usually pretty esoteric.

Generally, when first introducing yourself, it's best when you don't insult everyone, right off the cuff! You could very well be a great guy, yet from what I've read, there's little indication of it.

Not seeing where your accusations (starting arguments, being a disrupter, and insulting everyone) against ystokes are coming from

I suspect he is remembering the actions of a prior poster who behaved like ystokes has done in this thread.

Thus saying that non-authors aren't entitled to express their opinions is just an odd, baseless concept.

If you review the above posts, you will find that I never said that ystokes did not have the right to express his opinion.

What I said was I objected to him telling me and others what to do. In other words, he spoke as if our opinions didn't matter to him. The essence of his post was that his opinion was superior to our opinions so we should do what he told us to do.

ystoke posted:

The fact that my opinion seemed to annoy you just show how petty you are.

So, if we don't agree with his posts and become annoyed with what he says, we are being petty. His comments remind me of a poster who is no longer on the site; who was a Troll.

The bigger issue, is that few of us have ever heard from him before, and like a few others, who suddenly pop up on the site and begin criticizing stories, often have a specific agenda and are often Trolls, who seek to spread discord, and thus should always be watched carefully.

I agree! Although to his credit, he was promoting the story.

Therefore, I am not ready to classify him as a Troll at this time.

Have you ever heard of the concept of "underlying meaning?"

Did you ask yourself "Why is this poster telling me I am missing something?"

Your interpretation of his motive appears to be that he was just being helpful and you may be correct.

My interpretation was he was attempting to compel me to read the story.

I posted:

I agree it is a very good story. However, I follow a large number of authors and some of them wrote stories that are as good or better.

Sunseeker replied:

Wow, nothing like trying to knock a new writer down a peg or 2...

My post had two parts. It complemented writer406, who is writing the story. It also addressed that we all have opinions that differ. I don't understand how saying it is a very good story was knocking a new writer down.

I responded to Sunseeker with a post about ystokes apparently being new to the site, and that his post annoyed me for several reasons. I touched on one of those reasons. I went on to say that ystokes appeared to be new to SOL and that I did not know his qualifications for his stating that the story was one of the better stories on the site.

My post about not knowing much about him must have been a blow to his ego for ystokes responded with a personal attack. He apparently took my observation about knowing his history on SOL to be a personal attack on him and his opinion. I don't understand why my admitting to my ignorance regarding his history on SOL or my ignorance regarding his qualifications as a reviewer makes me an elitist, as he stated in his attack.

I made the observation of him not being an author for a reason. ystocks seems to think that reason is I believe his being just a reader is me saying readers do not have valid opinions about a story, which is not true. That is his incorrect assumption.

One thing that I do know is we all have the right to an opinion; we all have the right to express our opinions; and we all have the right to agree, disagree, and question another's opinion without intentionally insulting the holder of the opinion.

You may think that he was instructing you to consider it a good story; I think he was merely being enthusiastic in in his recommendation.

I would expect recommendations to include more detail. Just a single sentence saying 'probably the best story on this site' is something a shill might write.

As I've said, I think it's a good story but I prefer the author's two previous stories.

AJ

Awnlee decided to set it aside for the time being

I caught up with it yesterday, interspersed between worky stuff.

It seems to be a modern day fairytale, hence the cookie-cutter characterisations and lightness of detail. I'm very impressed at how the author piles on the feelgood moments, but I'm not sure how the tale will end - there's no evidence of a 'lesson' as there is in Lazlo Zalezac's fairytales - and a straight 'happy ever after' might be anticlimactis.

Although I do think it is a very good story up to now.

I agree.

Technically it's very good, only a few small typos here and there.

If I understand the author's blog correctly, I prefer the author's previous stories - more conflict and deeper characterisations.

AJ

I started reading it, but when the protagonist kept looking in the mirror to remind himself of what he looked like, I opted to leave the story at least for the time being. But I added it to the end of my 'perhaps worth another try later' queue.

AJ

The story is worth reading. Getting beyond his appearance is an important part of the story.