Annoying reviews

[H Dean]

Howard,
The sweet young thing in that tight little nurse uniform (the one holding the corkscrew syringe) claims acute paranoia is an early sign of recovery. Glad to see you're well on your way.
Mad

She better keep that thing away from Howard's End.

[H Dean]

~holds syringe in one hand and thermometer in the other...my tight little costume and impossibly high heels making me wiggle about a bit~ I do hope you are feeling better, Mr. Dean, because honest to goodness, I don't know the first thing about using either one of these. They could prove highly dangerous in my very uncapable hands.

~thinks I may have just provided a story idea with that~

I should say so. Perhaps I should liberate such implements from your person; they are not for the uninoculated - and it is clear that you need an inoculation. Step close, bend over and...well, wait for it.

And I wouldn't dare mock you! That would make me a lout and rude at the same time. I don't do those together as a general rule. Although I might give it a try if there's a possibility of having your wit smite me around some.

tessa

You already appear to be smitten by my wit. Shall I indulge in overkill and chance you collapsing from too great a weight of wit? That would not do.

[Mad Lews]

[I]
As for Ceasar, you had me at "feel free to scream, bitch". And while there were a couple times throughout my focused perusal that gave me pause to consider my decision to undertake such a challenge, my curiosity in finding out if proud Rebecca would ultimately fall apart (which she did, thank you very much) overcame any qualms I may have had. Besides, Cassius is such a delightfully evil thing (what he did to Leona was inspired). I enjoyed him throughout the entire story.

But most of all (selfishly so), it was nice to be the surprise instead of the cliche. So thank you for that as well.

tessa

An interesting point tessa,
I never saw Cassius as particularly evil. He had so many good qualities, a very professional military strategist, a confident and steady leader who truly cared for his men and was quite proud of them. A military man aware of the limits of his position and also aware enough of the political climate to deal effectively with the real power players.
He doesn't even seem to take personal delight in tormenting the prisoners in his care. It's all just part of the job for him, he'll do it because that's what's called for.
As for poor Leona, the goal of the entire day was to entertain the masses, it was nothing personal, and he even seemed a bit relieved when ordered to end it all after the circus.
Well that was my goal, but your reaction is perfectly valid and thought provoking.
See reviewing can be fun
Mad

[tessa]

An interesting point tessa,
I never saw Cassius as particularly evil. He had so many good qualities, a very professional military strategist, a confident and steady leader who truly cared for his men and was quite proud of them. A military man aware of the limits of his position and also aware enough of the political climate to deal effectively with the real power players.
He doesn't even seem to take personal delight in tormenting the prisoners in his care. It's all just part of the job for him, he'll do it because that's what's called for.
As for poor Leona, the goal of the entire day was to entertain the masses, it was nothing personal, and he even seemed a bit relieved when ordered to end it all after the circus.
Well that was my goal, but your reaction is perfectly valid and thought provoking.
See reviewing can be fun
Mad

I'd ask Leona about her take on it, as she'd be the foremost expert on this issue of Cassius' evil streak, but we know what happened to her, so...

I will say that Cassius, at times, seemed to be above it all...especially when he was behind and a bit above Rebecca, giving her free reign to scream and such. Quite right. No delight for him in that at all.

He was indeed a shrewd and very aware participant in the political arena. He more than proved that at the end of the story. And he was a great leader of men. That quality was written all through him. I will say it again. I was quite delighted with his character.

You more than made your goal, Mr. Mad, surpassed it even.

And yes, such fun!

Most sincerely-
tessa

[tessa]

I should say so. Perhaps I should liberate such implements from your person; they are not for the uninoculated - and it is clear that you need an inoculation. Step close, bend over and...well, wait for it.

~gladly hands over the implements, but not for innoculation reasons~ And I can't bend over here, Mr. Dean, not in this nurse's costume. And I abhor waiting, so there is that as well.

You already appear to be smitten by my wit. Shall I indulge in overkill and chance you collapsing from too great a weight of wit? That would not do.

Damn, I've already been wit smitten?!? Did I get it on my face?? Oh, please tell me it didn't dribble onto my dress!! This is silk...

~goes off to check the damage, repeating "weight of wit" over and over just 'cause it's so fun to say~

[H Dean]

~gladly hands over the implements, but not for innoculation reasons~ And I can't bend over here, Mr. Dean, not in this nurse's costume. And I abhor waiting, so there is that as well.

Then you should do what is logical. Simply remove the costume. Then, remember that good things cum to those who wait.

Damn, I've already been wit smitten?!? Did I get it on my face?? Oh, please tell me it didn't dribble onto my dress!! This is silk...

Dribbling would not happen if you simply accepted wit with open mouth.

~goes off to check the damage, repeating "weight of wit" over and over just 'cause it's so fun to say~

I was feeling as alliterate as I am literate. Really. Feel me.

[tessa]

I was feeling as alliterate as I am literate. Really. Feel me.

Mr. Dean, your alliteration is so prominent, I don't have to feel it to feel it. ~checks out your alliteration once more~ Quite impressive!

[H Dean]

Mr. Dean, your alliteration is so prominent, I don't have to feel it to feel it. ~checks out your alliteration once more~ Quite impressive!

Yes, it is very powerful.

[tessa]

Your powerful alliteration makes me wonder...oh, does it make me wonder.

Could an entire passage of prose be written as such? Hmm...

To revive the issue of annoying reviews (as that is the thread title), what makes even a positive review annoying? Is that a common happening? Just curious. You author types may be willing to shed some light on the annoying subject perhaps?

Respectfully submitted-
tessa

(As a by the way, say 'annoying' 8 or 9 times in a row. You will understand why the word has the meaning it does.)

[H Dean]

Some positive reviews, while not necessarily annoying can be relatively, well, uninspiring. I have seen reviews of a 10 that hold zero weight because the reviewer routinely reviews crap with very positive reviews. I cringe when I see those good reviews because it makes me wonder how my story could have been so bad as to get such a high review from someone who likes crap.

[Mad Lews]

I cringe when I see those good reviews because it makes me wonder how my story could have been so bad as to get such a high review from someone who likes crap.

Hey, who are we to judge fetishes though that does seem a bit unsanitary and might smell bad.
I hesitate to whine about reviewers (so what am I doing on this thread?) as they are already few and far between. Still in the spirit of the thread the ones that give me pause are the thought free one liners.
"Good idea, looking for more." Or the even more laconic, "Good story." If you are going to the trouble to review inject a few of your thoughts and feelings into the process.
Mad Lews
(together again, for today)

[tessa]

Thank you both for the input. I don't review "crap", as Mr. Dean calls it. If the story is repelling to me, either in content or in basic form, I just don't review at all. Why state the obvious? And besides, when people take the initiative to put it out there, as it were, I'd hate to be the nightmare in their dream.

And since Mad Lews is so in sync with himself today, his thoughts on the review process are easy to comprehend. If it had been just Lews offering, it probably would have been covered in drool and been much more difficult to understand.

[H Dean]

Sure - it would have been drool.

I don't think so, princess.

[tessa]

Sure - it would have been drool.

I don't think so, princess.

~wonders who "princess" is and hopes she doesn't mind me commenting in ahead of her~

~blinks ever so innocently~ Why Mr. Dean, whatever do you mean? It could have been just that. Haven't you ever drooled on your own thoughts? I think it's been known to happen on occasion. Perhaps I am mistaken though. That's happened on occasion as well.

[mkemse]

As far a good and bad reviews go, everyone has their own fetish, and may want to read something they normaly would not read
What is CRAP to One person, may not be CRAP to Another
I like gold, you may like silver does that mean my taste is CRAP, no it means my taste is DIFFERENT that is what people are people, everyone is different, how odd it would be if EVERY REVIEWER wrote the same type of review for every story, my guss is after 1 or 2 people would stop writing reviws cause they would all be the same
I write what I feel, sometime I leave a brief reviews other times longer ones, but I reserve the right to review a story as I see it, and others should so the same, the only exception is if it is woefully bad I will read it buy leave no review
As the old saying goes "If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen"
if you do not like bad reviews, don't write, you willl never please ever one with every story, this is a reality of life, not even Steven Speilberg had hits with every movie he made, he made 1 or 2 turkey's during his career

[Mad Lews]

As the old saying goes "If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen"
if you do not like bad reviews, don't write, you willl never please ever one with every story, this is a reality of life, not even Steven Speilberg had hits with every movie he made, he made 1 or 2 turkey's during his career

Hey! I liked AI, and so did Lews so that makes two of us.

[tessa]

What is CRAP to One person, may not be CRAP to Another

You are exactly correct.

I like gold,

Hey! Me too!!

does that mean my taste is CRAP

If it does, I guess my taste is too, as we both like gold. But I do like silver as well, so I think I'm good to go as far as the gold/silver debate goes.

I write what I feel, sometime I leave a brief reviews other times longer ones, but I reserve the right to review a story as I see it, and others should so the same, the only exception is if it is woefully bad I will read it buy leave no review

It's a good thing we can come to a site like this and say what we think, isn't it? What makes a story "woefully bad" for you, mkemse?

As the old saying goes "If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen"

This is my ticket out of there!!! Thanks!!

if you do not like bad reviews, don't write

Another ticket out. The cowardly ticket, I call it.

, you willl never please ever one with every story, this is a reality of life

Yep, that's true.

Interesting thoughts, mkemse.

[Alex Bragi]

As far a good and bad reviews go, everyone has their own fetish, and may want to read something they normaly would not read
What is CRAP to One person, may not be CRAP to Another
I like gold, you may like silver does that mean my taste is CRAP, no it means my taste is DIFFERENT that is what people are people, everyone is different, how odd it would be if EVERY REVIEWER wrote the same type of review for every story, my guss is after 1 or 2 people would stop writing reviws cause they would all be the same
I write what I feel, sometime I leave a brief reviews other times longer ones, but I reserve the right to review a story as I see it, and others should so the same, the only exception is if it is woefully bad I will read it buy leave no review...

Yep, I couldn't agree more. I guess there's an awful lot of subjective reviewing goes on here--I do it myself. If I fine a story really titilating I'll find it much easier to over look mistakes, or clumsy writing, to give a higher score and generous comments.

To your full credit, mkemse, from what I've seen, your reviews are good and a good indication for other readers of what's hot and what's not.

And Mad Lews..*hugs x 2* I love you both equally! *gg*

[mkemse]

Alex,
Thanks for your kind remarks and support even with movie reviews with Ebert & Roeper, they do not always agree om every movie , i have seen many 1 thumb up 1 thumb dwon, this is life
i would hate to see everyone where i live wear the same clothe oufits everday imagine 500 people everyday wearing the exact same clothes as the next perso,n it would be very boring within a day or 2 and have everyone look like eveyone else
I may not agree with another reviewer or thier review but I will defend thier right to express their feelings about a story whether i agree with what they said or not
The only time i have a major issue with any author is when they have say 25 stories posted and all are very similar in genre and storyline you can only cook a hamburger so many ways without repeating a way

[Mad Lews]

I may not agree with another reviewer or their review but I will defend their right to express their feelings about a story whether i agree with what they said or not
The only time i have a major issue with any author is when they have say 25 stories posted and all are very similar in genre and storyline you can only cook a hamburger so many ways without repeating a way

Got to agree mkemse, freedom of thought and expression needs to be celebrated when it's found, even when it's dead wrong. That doesn't mean you can't have healthy disagreements.
I do trust you'll let me know if my storylines become stale though they do all tend to revolve around BDSM (at least on this site)
Mad

To your full credit, mkemse, from what I've seen, your reviews are good and a good indication for other readers of what's hot and what's not.

And Mad Lews..*hugs x 2* I love you both equally! *gg*

Yes Alex but will you still respect us in the morning?

I suspect part of the hub-bub is that reviews have two not necessarily compatible functions. Readers want a heads up on the story before they invest the time, and writers want some feed back. OK writers want good PR, accolades for their efforts, and then any helpful feedback.(It's nice to want things, gives you motivation and what not.) So I suspect many shorter reviews are directed more at fellow readers than at the authors themselves, but writers are an egotistical lot and probably expect everything written about their story to be addressed toward themselves and we have been known to ignore readers on occasion, much to our peril .

& Lews

[mkemse]

Mad Lewis,

I have only run into 2 authors on this site who does the same basic storyline evertime they write the stories vary slightly but the same exact theme is there
There are authors who get real testy over alot of bad reviews, as i said if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen, if you do not want to be critized for any reason and expect everyone to love your stories all the time you may need a major reality check, no author is going to post the prefect story, if they did, they would go professional and have them publishedand even atthat point someone for some reason will find something wrong about it, it is human nature

[tessa]

mkemse-

How kind of you to send me your answer to my question. Your reply gave more perspective as to what you posted here about reviews and the stories that get them.

tessa

[H Dean]

As far a good and bad reviews go, everyone has their own fetish, and may want to read something they normaly would not read
What is CRAP to One person, may not be CRAP to Another
I like gold, you may like silver does that mean my taste is CRAP, no it means my taste is DIFFERENT that is what people are people, everyone is different, how odd it would be if EVERY REVIEWER wrote the same type of review for every story, my guss is after 1 or 2 people would stop writing reviws cause they would all be the same
I write what I feel, sometime I leave a brief reviews other times longer ones, but I reserve the right to review a story as I see it, and others should so the same, the only exception is if it is woefully bad I will read it buy leave no review
As the old saying goes "If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen"
if you do not like bad reviews, don't write, you willl never please ever one with every story, this is a reality of life, not even Steven Speilberg had hits with every movie he made, he made 1 or 2 turkey's during his career

I tend to agree with your statement - mostly. However...

Crap:

Crap is not subjective. Crap is crap. When I speak of crap I mean stories that appear to have been written by a 3 year old or worse. I have seen stories that were so badly written that they were nearly impossible to understand. I have also seen these stories get 10/10. That's what I am talking about. Any reviewer who routinely gives indicipherable stories big time reviews is a reviewer I dislike getting reviews from.

[J's blu]

well, i think i have to jump back in again here. as a BIG time reader and sometime reviewer, and ardent member of several Fan Clubs of authors,(not looking at Anyone in Particular of course) i will just say this. i quite often read the reviews for a story before i read it if i havent read any of that persons work before. if any of the reviews are from people i have come to recognise as others who have similar tastes to me, and who seem to appreciate the same level of writing as me, then i tend to take their reviews very seriously. if i see reviews by some whom i have little respect or affinity for, then i totally disregard them. i usually try to write a review to the author, while giving other readers some idea of why i like or dislike the story.
i will add, that if i feel like reading a story and cant be bothered scrolling to look for myself, i will go to the reviewers list and choose someone i trust and see what they have been reading lately, and try some of those.
*steps back, takes her seat, and listens once more*

[mkemse]

J's Blu

while giving other readers some idea of why i like or dislike the story.
my point exacly, authorsneed to be told what otherthink oftherework and i admire that ifyou do not carfor a story will will sayso and say why, this is called CONSTRUCTIVE CRITISISM, not intend to hurt an author, onthe contart it is to HELP the author improve in weak area of a story, nothingmore noting less, if i give apoor review i an not intending to sound condicending or appear to be "looking down on him or her" but rather pffer ideas andsuggestions as to how to improve a story but saying what I like is did not like about a particular story

[Eponine]

jamb,
I think "Petrol Station" is great!
I read the review which was a 1-star and the reviewer's comments- although I think 1 star is way too low, I can see the point made. In the beginning of your story, Valerie's thoughts vacillated between fear and retaliation; however, I saw this as more realistic and that is one thing I enjoyed about the story. I think you did a good job getting into her mind and explaining it to the reader.
I understand you would find the one star rating annoying, as it brings down your average unfairly. But more good reviews- which are well-deserved, will take care of it.
I just submitted a story for the first time and I am curious as to how I will react to the reviews. I imagine it's difficult to have that necessary tough skin, no matter how prepared I think I am.
Anyway, good job on the story and don't worry about one bad review that seems unfounded.

[Dragon's muse]

I tend to agree with your statement - mostly. However...

Crap:

Crap is not subjective. Crap is crap. When I speak of crap I mean stories that appear to have been written by a 3 year old or worse. I have seen stories that were so badly written that they were nearly impossible to understand. I have also seen these stories get 10/10. That's what I am talking about. Any reviewer who routinely gives indicipherable stories big time reviews is a reviewer I dislike getting reviews from.

See, even the definition of "crap" is subjective. You define crap in terms of language usage. i define crap in terms of storyline creation.

Example: i think John Grisham writes crap. The storyline never changes, only names, settings and few minor specifics. Obviously, a lot of people disagree with me. But i fail to see how that makes my opinion any less valid, just different.

But for the scoring system here, we could adopt what the ice skating scores do in the olympic and throw out the high score and the bottom score. just a thought.

My tuppence, your mileage, as always, may vary.

[Mad Lews]

But for the scoring system here, we could adopt what the ice skating scores do in the olympic and throw out the high score and the bottom score. just a thought.

My tuppence, your mileage, as always, may vary.

But but what about the stories with just one or two reviews?
ya throw out the high and low and you're left with 0
Mad

[H Dean]

See, even the definition of "crap" is subjective. You define crap in terms of language usage. i define crap in terms of storyline creation.

Example: i think John Grisham writes crap. The storyline never changes, only names, settings and few minor specifics. Obviously, a lot of people disagree with me. But i fail to see how that makes my opinion any less valid, just different.

But for the scoring system here, we could adopt what the ice skating scores do in the olympic and throw out the high score and the bottom score. just a thought.

My tuppence, your mileage, as always, may vary.

I was merely referring to the sort of crap that is not subjective. I find Picasso's art to be crap. That is subjective. So, on that note, I tend to agree. But there is some crap which is, objectively, crap, even if the story is not, subjectively, crap.

[mkemse]

This goes back to what was said before, what s CRAP to one person by their own defintion may not be to another by theirs