moan and plea

11 posts / 0 new

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Thu, 2006-02-02 19:34

moan and plea

Ok i have been a member of this site for just over 3 weeks, and i have noticed that the forums aren't used in the way i had anticipated.

When a piece of work is flagged, i often find that the one flagging is the only one except for the author who responds. I find this quite disheartening as when i flag a piece i truly want others to read it and comment. And i am sure the author would like opinions.

Now maybe people don't follow up a thread because they don't like the work, but that is useful information to, if you bother to read it at least add a comment to the thread.

As far as i can gather the only threads that receive attention are when an argument begins, which normally has nothing to do with the original work or they go off topic.

Am i the only one who feels we need to spend time on the already flagged pieces before flagging up yet another piece, which will undoubtedly get one other comment at best?

Obviously there are people on the site who do take the time to repsond to other's flag, but could we all do more of it please.

My rule: Only flag a new piece if i have responded to at least one other thread first.

Also, last whinge, i promise, if you are a member don't just come on and put up your work and log off, at least make one forum comment somewhere.

Before you all attack, i know we all send private emails aswell, but the forums help us all to develop our critical abiltities. If i flag something you think is crap, then i to learn from your comments.

There all done.

Juliet

Thu, 2006-02-02 19:52

rokkitnite

What you're proposing would generate loads of brief comments saying 'didn't like this - cheers'. I'd rather get one comment from one reader who liked it (or didn't, and had some advice for improvement) than twenty superficial ones by people who feel obliged to say something. Fact is, there's quite a lot of interesting work going up at the moment, and some won't get flagged. Doesn't mean it doesn't get read. I've been really enjoying going through the recently added pages and having a good old browse. Most of the time, however, I don't flag something unless: a) I really, really like it b) I feel I've got something intelligent (positive or negative) to say about it The same goes for making comments. Moan and plea all you want - I don't think it'll make a blind bit of difference to how people use the forums, and I don't think that matters. Maybe you should be a little more choosy about what you flag.

Thu, 2006-02-02 20:23

Juliet OC

i guess that is the point, i am trying to develop my critical skills so if i flag something and you think it isn't worth it, then please add a comment as to why, then the author gets feedback and i get more discerning. Juliet

Juliet

Thu, 2006-02-02 20:39

rokkitnite

I didn't mean it like that. Your opinion is just as valid as anyone else's and I'm sure all the authors you flag are very grateful for the attention and feedback. I just meant that if you feel that just one comment on a thread means it's not worth posting, then perhaps you need to choose fewer pieces, or, alternatively, pose some questions to potential posters, i.e. 'I really liked this line... but I wasn't sure about this one... What do other people think?' Or 'I interpreted this poem to mean x y z... What do other people think?' As a forum browser, I don't like to step in and flatly contradict someone if they've said 'Love this piece' and when I read it, I don't feel the same. It seems churlish to intrude and piss on their bonfire.

Thu, 2006-02-02 20:54

camus

I agree with rokkit, I tend to only flag or comment on something if I think it is really good. If someone has flagged something that I don't like or don't like enough to comment on then I won't as I understand that likes/ dislikes are subjective. There are often some excellent pieces on here that stay with me for a long, long time after I have read them, but for each one of those I have probably read 100 others that are instantly forgettable. In my humble opinion if you submit a piece and it isn't flagged don't dwell on it, carry on writing and trying to improve, reading the work of others, (especially the really good ones on here) often helps to see what you may be doing wrong in your own work and for me is more constructive than comments like...I really liked this poem or this doesn't work for me.

Fri, 2006-02-03 14:45

tcook

Juliet - thankyou for your constructive comments. I think the ideal is somewhere between the two positions. We don't allow comment on the end of stories becuase all you get is 'great' or 'rubbish' and no decent debate. On the Discuss Writing forum some things do get a good and relevant debate going - others slide off the scale. It's the way of life. Getting listed on the forum does undoubtedly push up the reads for any particular piece though - and that's always a good thing!

Fri, 2006-02-03 16:46

Moimo

Harry Kerdean I personally don't feel in a position to comment on other's work. Don't ask me why, probably to do with self-esteem and self-belief. How can I judge others work when I'm not qualified to. What do I know? Cop out maybe, but it's true.

Fri, 2006-02-03 17:16

Juliet OC

in repsponse to Harry but we are all readers and therefore critics, and though our likes and dislikes are subjective, there are still important to the writer. We critique and judge all the time in our everyday life, we are all qualified, i for one would love to hear your comments Harry, even if they are not in praise. You know as much about reading and writing as we all do, and you offer a unique perspective. Juliet

Juliet

Fri, 2006-02-03 17:25

Moimo

Harry Kerdean I'm flattered, but sadly society has dictated that I know my place. But if it's any consolation I read and enjoy.

Fri, 2006-02-03 17:38

#10

Juliet OC

just started your book Naughty by nature, and i will comment but i will be constructive. It is sad that you feel that way, but then i know nothing of your experiences, hopefully i will know a little more after reading your work. Juliet

Juliet

Fri, 2006-02-03 21:32

#11

neilmc

I think there's a fine line to be taken in all of this - on the one hand, we don't want anyone, especially new writers, to be crushed by harsh criticism yet chains of responses praising your work to the skies aren't all that helpful unless there's scope to highlight weaknesses. I'm assuming that most people who are prepared to let their work be seen by all and sundry on the internet are aiming to be better writers and would welcome realistic assessment! I don't think there's a special category of people who have the "right" to comment by virtue of an English or Creative Writing degree - simply saying what you enjoyed about a piece of work (or not) is perfectly valid. Harry's very modest about his talents but he's an accomplished writer and obviously a keen reader and I'm sure he'd find his views respected here.

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