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leethetI've been reading, and trying to write, in a new-to-me fandom. This, and my archiving of my MFU stuff on AO3, has made me think about something.
One of the things I like about LJ is that it makes actual comments about as easy as it's possible to make them barring being face to face with an author after you've finished a story (well, easier than that - what if you hated it?). One of the things I've observed in my own reading behavior in this "new" fandom is my own commenting. Now, I don't finish about 90 percent of the stories I start to read (this is true of any fandom). Of the ones I finish, I find most to be just OK (keep in mind this includes my own [see earlier poll] so I hope I don't sound too awful). Because of this, that "kudos" button is the easiest thing in the world. It sends an accurately mild (in terms of my time investment) "this was OK" message to the author.
I like it and I don't like it.
I like it because it's the exact right level of involvement for a story I only sorta liked. If I really like something I leave a comment, because if I really like something, there's always something I have to say about it.
It echoes the "like" button on FB. This is why I don't like it (yes, I'm a hypocrite. Or just human). One of the things I don't like about FB is the pretense it allows of intimacy. Of engagement. It's an extension of those Christmas form letters - "Dear INSERT NAME HERE" followed by some boasting. It (FB) allows people to pretend to maintain relationships without any of the actual (to my old-fashioned mind) maintenance of those relationships.
In this way the "kudos" button is the same; it permits readers to feel like they've "done their part" (I don't, for the record, think readers are required to do squat for writers - just so that's clear) without having actually troubled to give real feedback. Then again, do people use it because they can't think of what to say, because they're lazy, because they're busy, because they're intimidated - or because, like me, they don't really like most stories enough to feel they merit more than a lazy, in-passing thumbs up (again, I'm not finding fault with any of these approaches, just wondering)?
So, a poll. And, as always, please elaborate in comments. The way writers and readers think about stories is endlessly fascinating to me.
[Poll #1974799]
One of the things I like about LJ is that it makes actual comments about as easy as it's possible to make them barring being face to face with an author after you've finished a story (well, easier than that - what if you hated it?). One of the things I've observed in my own reading behavior in this "new" fandom is my own commenting. Now, I don't finish about 90 percent of the stories I start to read (this is true of any fandom). Of the ones I finish, I find most to be just OK (keep in mind this includes my own [see earlier poll] so I hope I don't sound too awful). Because of this, that "kudos" button is the easiest thing in the world. It sends an accurately mild (in terms of my time investment) "this was OK" message to the author.
I like it and I don't like it.
I like it because it's the exact right level of involvement for a story I only sorta liked. If I really like something I leave a comment, because if I really like something, there's always something I have to say about it.
It echoes the "like" button on FB. This is why I don't like it (yes, I'm a hypocrite. Or just human). One of the things I don't like about FB is the pretense it allows of intimacy. Of engagement. It's an extension of those Christmas form letters - "Dear INSERT NAME HERE" followed by some boasting. It (FB) allows people to pretend to maintain relationships without any of the actual (to my old-fashioned mind) maintenance of those relationships.
In this way the "kudos" button is the same; it permits readers to feel like they've "done their part" (I don't, for the record, think readers are required to do squat for writers - just so that's clear) without having actually troubled to give real feedback. Then again, do people use it because they can't think of what to say, because they're lazy, because they're busy, because they're intimidated - or because, like me, they don't really like most stories enough to feel they merit more than a lazy, in-passing thumbs up (again, I'm not finding fault with any of these approaches, just wondering)?
So, a poll. And, as always, please elaborate in comments. The way writers and readers think about stories is endlessly fascinating to me.
[Poll #1974799]
Re: Reply deux
Date: 10 July 2014 07:24 pm (UTC)I'm caught somewhere between a nurturing heart that wants to help people along and a very short lived career teaching piano (one time, as I recall) because I thought the student ought to know more. Illogical no matter what way you look at it.
The only time I was ever sent out into the hall (a very bad thing back in the day), was due to my enthusiastic offer to help a frog voiced boy practice the song for our Spring Fling. Instead of seeing through the obvious social awkwardness of that suggestion to the altruistic gesture that it was, it was viewed as being not very nice to said froggy voiced boy.
So you see, criticism comes with a price, and I've chosen to not encounter it any more often than is absolutely necessary.
I don't mind criticism if it's helpful. I don't take ranting very well, especially when it overlooks any positive aspects of the target.
I do like discussing things like this though, so ... don't shoot me... kudos to you ;)
Re: Reply deux
Date: 10 July 2014 07:57 pm (UTC)And I don't think it's illogical at all to hold those apparently conflicting views - I feel the same way. I don't like seeing people hurt and I do like seeing people happy. That's normal for most of us. By the same token there's an element of recognition that skill is valuable - it produces good houses, good chairs, good music, etc. - and that it's earned, and deserves recognition - that praise just for showing up is somehow false, because it implies that skill and accomplishment are unnecessary or unvalued, or that showing up is as valuable as doing something well. I believe in merit. And (on the third hand) you certainly want to encourage learners in any art or craft, so to demand something of them they're not yet capable of, or in some way blame them for being beginners, is blatantly unfair. But I still won't lie and say I think a story's good if it isn't (and frankly, who cares about my opinion anyway?). I owe it to a beginner to not be unkind, but I'll still be honest. Usually that means silence. :-)
So, yeah ... there's more to it than any simple statement can convey, and I think on any given day a person can lean more in one direction or another.
Re: Reply deux
Date: 10 July 2014 07:59 pm (UTC)Re: Reply deux
Date: 10 July 2014 08:03 pm (UTC)It's what I do for a living, and boy, does it. I mean, it pays the bills, sure, but you learn fairly quickly that most people cannot see their darlings, and when you start suggesting they kill them (or even just shoot to disable), they react entirely on emotion and bruised ego. The people who are going to improve as writers are the people who don't stop there. I've been fortunate enough to have worked with quite a few of those.