What the hell? I'm looking for good erotic fiction and I find a rant about researching religion. Do you really want to go there, Lazeez?
It's bad enough sifting through all the homosexual entries but at least that is erotic fiction eh? Just not my cuppa tea.
But this? If this gets started you will have to change the name of the website. For sure.
But this? If this gets started you will have to change the name of the website. For sure.
"Stories Online" doesn't say anything at all about what type of stories. And just because it's not YOUR cup of tea, doesn't mean nobody is interested.
"Stories Online" doesn't say anything at all about what type of stories.
What he is complaining about isn't a story, or even a poem, the author called in an essay.
What the hell? I'm looking for good erotic fiction and I find a rant about researching religion. Do you really want to go there, Lazeez?
If you can specify what you're talking about, we might be able to have some intelligent discussion and I can maybe address your concerns.
I believe he is referring to this:
https://storiesonline.net/s/16095/my-journey-away-from-religion
You are probably right.
Considering his remarks, he really needs some help finding authors that write the type of stories he would like.
@ Amosbayou - check out the Story Discussion section. It may help you find Authors you like.
I seem to set you guys off. I don't mean to. This is a great site. I check it regularly and find some real gems to read here. Specify! Ok, I know I'm a terrible writer! Mostly I just sort of paraphrase what I am thinking about and assume everyone else can follow. So apologies to you and your very excellent story site.
And thank you for your response to Lance's essay.
I seem to set you guys off. I don't mean to
Not a problem; it doesn't take much to get us going.
Take a look at the Story Discussion section of the Forum to find a couple of good Authors. If that doesn't help, start a new thread and define what you like to read. The more detail the better. Feel free to stop in here and chat.
While I agree with Lazeez's decision (after all, this isn't a blogging site), I'm leery of specifying content which isn't allowed.
If the author had built a story around it (say someone searching for answers about the universe and it's meaning, or more likely, someone questioning religion in the face of a disaster, there would be no reason to object to it. It's simply another story posting. If you don't read MM stories, then why can't you simply bypass stories questioning someone's religious beliefs? When did a personal search for truth become worse than watersport or scat stories?
Update: Okay, there are the obvious demands of decent story telling: decent character development, conflict, story arch and a successful resolution (which most blogs don't have), but as long as it's a decent story, what's the problem with it?
but as long as it's a decent story, what's the problem with it?
I took a look at it before I posted the link. It's not a story at all, just an anti-religion rant. The author didn't even try to pretend it's a story.
The author of that rant has an actual story with this as the description.
Several years ago, I was having a discussion with my daughter about the way religions might have gotten started. My position was that inventing a religion was pretty easy and that I could invent one that was, unlike every other religion I've heard of, not falsifiable. She didn't believe me. It took me only about a half hour to come up with this.
I think it's quite clear that this author is more of an anti-theist* than an atheist.
*Anti-theist: an evangelical atheist who is deeply bothered by the mere possibility that someone somewhere might believe.
There are a number of stories here with a heavy religious theme, but still good stories. My short story Same Sex Marriage Debacle is but one with a heavy religious component and quotations of scripture while still a good story.
https://storiesonline.net/s/11815/same-sex-marriage-d-eb-acle
There are a number of stories here with a heavy religious theme, but still good stories. My short story Same Sex Marriage Debacle is but one with a heavy religious component and quotations of scripture while still a good story.
The original posted didn't complain because it was a personal blog, or that it dealt with religion, but that it was an anti-religious (anti-theist) rant.
The original posted didn't complain because it was a personal blog, or that it dealt with religion, but that it was an anti-religious (anti-theist) rant.
I took his post differently.
It sounded to me that he was looking for a story and found a rant, no mention of a blog. Yes, he defined the specific type of rant, but his main objection seemed to be that it was a rant and not a story, which was what he was looking for.
The original posted didn't complain because it was a personal blog, or that it dealt with religion, but that it was an anti-religious (anti-theist) rant.
I know that he was complaining it wasn't a story, I was simply pointing out that actual stories with a religious theme were acceptable. I was supporting your previous post about stories built around religion were acceptable, and providing an example of that.
I know that he was complaining it wasn't a story, I was simply pointing out that actual stories with a religious theme were acceptable. I was supporting your previous post about stories built around religion were acceptable, and providing an example of that.
Sorry, I was questioning whether the original protest who completely about it being a 'rant', or about it's supporting an unpopular topic (he specifically mentions gay stories and 'anti-relgious' views). I see that view as being potentially dangerous. While he called on it this time, he could very easily try to protest gay stories next (which is a constant problem on Amazon, where any protest can get a story banned (theoretically for banning Amazon's rules), whether there's any basis to it or not.
I'm not specifically attacking the original poster, nor Lazeez for taking action against the pseudo story, I'm just issuing a caution about responding to our personal squicks. After all, this isn't a religious protected site, nor an anti-gay site.
Now that I've registered my caution, I'll shut up, since it wasn't the basis of the first complaint.
He needs to be an author, then he could blog anything he wanted. Or if he were a reviewer he could write a negative review...
He needs to be an author, then he could blog anything he wanted. Or if he were a reviewer he could write a negative review...
He had posted a story, so he is considered an author, but he didn't post a blog, instead he posted a rant posing as a story. He didn't write a story about his issues, he instead tried to slip a blog post on a blog site onto SOL.
I will try to make myself clear. Bear with me. I regularly come to this site and have for years. Long before Lazeez offered me a way to make an occasional comment about what is posted. If I am clear. It is a way for READERS to comment. Not necessarily criticize, just comment.
So i read a lot of story descriptions without reading further because sex stories are not what interest me.Also, I have personal squicks that get yanked pretty hard in some stories. But that is all beside the point. I don't have to read anything I don't like. But that doesn't mean I am oblivious to that stuff.
It's just a matter of sifting through the junk till I find that gem. The most junk IMHO has been allowing writers blogs on the story list. While some of you guys write good stories that doesn't always follow through in your blogs. I mean, I come for the stories eh!
Then today I find that an author has gone past the status of a blog and submitted a full fledged personal rant. Beautifully written, cogent and well reasoned. But who cares? I argue this tripe with my adolescent son. And now my favorite story site is allowing this.
I just wanted to make sure, in my own inimitable way, that Lazeez was aware and point out that religious discussion is not what I come for and I am sure others feel that way also.
Put it in a story, I will read it or not. And so it goes.
And now my favorite story site is allowing this.
You are mistaken. Blogs are separate from the story listings. What Lance did was improper. Lazeez agreed with you that his rant did not belong in the story listing and he removed Lance's rant from the story listing.
You are mistaken. Blogs are separate from the story listings.
I think he's referring to the list of recent posts on the home page which includes author blog entries. However, that's not recent, it's been that way forever.
I think he's referring to the list of recent posts on the home page which includes author blog entries. However, that's not recent, it's been that way forever.
No, the main page didn't used to post blog entries. That's a relatively recent (several years ago) change to the site. The first time it changed, I was shocked that I was getting responses to my blogs from readers who'd never read any of my stories. Before readers had to specifically visit each blog to see what an authors said.
My protest, earlier, was that the poster of the rant was posting what would normally be found on a personal blog site as a story, but what might get posted as a blog entry here. (Geez these distinctions get confusing sometimes!)
I think he's referring to the list of recent posts on the home page
That may be what he is referencing, but that is not the story listing. As you know DS to access the story listing you need to click the Alphabetical link. For recent story posts, you click New Stories or Updates link.
Did you confuse what you see on the Home page for the story listing as Dominions Son suggested?
Not a problem if you did, just curious.
Finally read My Journey Away From Religion (I won't mention where to protect the author). I don't know if this was the original post which triggered this thread or not (there was nothing about the author's kid asking about God), but instead of a 'rant', I found it a thoughtful, considered recollection of one man's attempts to discover the truth.
Granted, it's not a fictional story, per say, but it's hardly what it's been made out to be (if it's the same story).
there was nothing about the author's kid asking about God
I thought I made quite clear that that was the description of a different and older story (an actual story) by the same author.
I thought I made quite clear that that was the description of a different and older story (an actual story) by the same author.
Sorry, I conflated (mixed up) two different replies to the same thread.
I suspect one aspect of how the way SoL operates isn't clear to some readers, due to the original comment in this thread.
When a story is submitted it's checked by moderators, but I'm very certain they don't sit and read the entire story. I'm sure they simply check:
a. the story layout format for suitability for posting,
b. convert the story coding for posting at Sol,
c. run checking software looking for key words that indicate a possible violation of the posting guidelines.
If a submission isn't kicked out at any of theses stages it's posted. I don't think the content is checked in detail by the moderators, unless a complaint is received. There's just too much goes on for the moderators to operate in any other way. That's why it's important for readers to report posting guideline violations to the webmaster when they come across any.
Maybe this topic's originator would more enjoy this one by the same author:
https://storiesonline.net/s/15917/a-home-invasion
I sure did.
