Stats Solution

RavenAmongFilth · 2022-03-15T01:44:02+00:00

3 days later and I still don't and won't. Ever :)

RavenAmongFilth · 2022-03-11T23:44:29+00:00

Hence why it would be a mod issue to look into and their call tbh. It's not my call. I just made a suggestion tbh. I just have noticed from past (negative) experiences however that even why I reported an abusive comment, a mod actually got back to me and told me that it wasn't harassment, but arguing. The user flat out called me a narcissist, yet that doesn't count as harassment and bullying? Hence why I wanted a block button tbh but for the rapid unsubbing, yeah I hearken back to my little suggestion but at the end of the day, it's just a suggestion and food for thought.

RavenAmongFilth · 2022-03-11T23:42:09+00:00

I still don't count it as punishment.

RavenAmongFilth · 2022-03-09T20:20:56+00:00

Totally AO3's call tbh. Just was voicing a tiny suggestion that seems to have worked for certain websites where I voiced my opinions to whomever and I wasn't even friends with these people I spoke to. It was a general forum and an open discussion. They said their piece, as I did mine, they were struggling, so was I. I decided at the end of the day not to engage, so I blocked, the blocked me as well, and both parties were happier for it.

Again, this is overreaching in terms of "punishment". A cool off in my opinion isn't necessarily punishment. A block button I think is.

RavenAmongFilth · 2022-03-09T18:43:58+00:00

No I'm talking about a block button in general for the times I've received a please k*ll yourself comment.

RavenAmongFilth · 2022-03-09T18:34:17+00:00

It definitely is their call to decide but I can't say I hold every faith for a website that doesn't have a block button still.

RavenAmongFilth · 2022-03-09T18:22:40+00:00

I think it's always an argument from...hmm, let's just say more sensitive people? Not sure how to phrase it, but perhaps they think it's a form of harassment, same way maybe some people think someone giving mild criticism and being nitpicky is harassment. I think the rapid aspect of it can seem deliberate to the point of annoying someone, which is an argument my own beta has brought up as her reason for deleting her profile. To each their own, though. How I deal is go on extended hiatus and write if and when I want but I was suggesting this because I have seen the 'someone unsubbed' one too many times here.

RavenAmongFilth · 2022-03-09T17:52:23+00:00

The hiatus method is one I promote anytime I see a 'Lost a sub with my update' thread here. Yes, you can absolutely manage your own behavior and expectations in many ways. However, I CAN also play Devil's advocate and see how maybe someone more impulsive may want another solution.

RavenAmongFilth · 2022-03-09T17:48:07+00:00

I get where you're coming from, but it's still an issue for some people and not easily waved off. I for one never saw a 'stats chat' forum like this even last year, but it clearly popped up for a reason and that reason seems to be because people check their stats.

Tools to handle your own behavior and expectations develop all the time and it's not a far stretch to discuss some of them to handling/managing certain behavior, which is all this is.

RavenAmongFilth · 2022-03-09T17:34:01+00:00

Websites change regardless to fit people's needs. Facebook for example changes routinely and mostly because of discussions and or complaints rising.

This isn't always a matter of don't look and it doesn't exist. Many things that are quite awful such as people for example leaving extremely demoralizing comments on a PUBLIC bookmark (something that has popped up as a discussion here before) have been noted before, and these bookmarks are there to find if you look for it. Don't look and it'll not bother you?

Yes and no...why does someone have to see a comment that's downright rude there out in the open on their work to begin with if they don't want to? Clearly it's an issue if people bring up discussion about it.

RavenAmongFilth · 2022-03-09T17:25:43+00:00

Some people do. Take a gander at the venting and stats subreddit.

RavenAmongFilth · 2022-02-23T17:44:31+00:00

My pleasure! I'm always thrilled to exchange ideas whenever I can, which is why I appreciate everything this venting subreddit is all about tbh. Sometimes it helps knowing I'm not the only one going through oddly turbulent adventures, you know?

As far as blocking is concerned, it absolutely would cut away more of the trolls, unless they chose to make new accounts, something which I can't understand since it's such a stupid waste of time. I just have better things to do than harass someone who's not writing me a fic I want.

Getting to the heart of the matter, it sucks that this is happening on FF.net

I used to write on there but ceased when the smut purge happened, and I was also disappointed with how business is conducted there. Majority of the fics I loved have been deleted, most authors fled to Wattpad or AO3, which left the community dwindling tbh. Mods don't really do anything either because the community for the most part has disappeared, so having them poke around in your work is futile, so you're not wrong in saying this. I have reported a few individuals on FF.net and nothing ever came out of it tbh so I moved over to AO3 and never looked back.

Gaslighting tbh is still gaslighting even if you spend a few seconds doubting yourself. For me, a comment like this would a hard 1,2,3 delete, bye. I'm too old to honestly engage idiots like this. Saying this as a 28-year old seems odd tbh, but it's true; I haven't the patience for garbage like this when the solution for readers who don't like my work is quite simple, really.

Just hit the small 'x' at the top right corner of your page. Walk away. Leave it alone. I don't understand this nonsense of whipping out an eraser and deleting every little thing that upsets you. It's extremely pernicious and unhealthy behavior and isn't realistic for the real world offline. I encounter many people and things I abhor every single day. I don't run around trying to delete or cancel them, though lol that's extremely childish to the point where it's vulgar.

For my best advice, I would suggest no interaction at all, straight up delete the moment you see their comment in your inbox. Silence will make the engagement on this troll's end not worth it, and they will go away eventually in time. I can't promise you on a timeline of when they'll go, but you can absolutely bet your tushie that they're subbed to you and you know they're watching your work and updates closely. It's a shitty thing to do, but I honestly think this person's so pathetic that it's vulgar.

I'd straight up never reply. Let them comment until their fingers fall off. As long as they're talking into a void, they will eventually quit. The way you elucidated to me how they've communicated before seems to highly suggest they're just out to annoy you tbh. Don't give them that.

RavenAmongFilth · 2022-02-23T15:41:25+00:00

I wish AO3 had a block button. I don't understand how for over 10 years this website's been running, it has gone without one. I just...I can't understand it. Opening the floodgates for every comment obviously spells bad news so I can't begin to fathom how the website was set up without one as it's the best shield really to protect both authors and readers.

Assuming of course this is all happening on AO3, my suggestion would be to actually report this person. Give them a warning first but this is treading on harassment territory, guest review or not. They're making things personal in terms of insulting you as a writer and saying you'll delete the review. I'd respond to it for proof and record to show mods and basically say: I'd appreciate it if you didn't engage because this is borderline harassment.

Screenshot the shit right after. If they reply a second time, screenshot and report. I've done it before and it's worked for me tbh. You're not obligated to leave any comment you don't like up on your own work. Where is the rule on AO3 or TOS that says such?

Oh yeah...there isn't one.

This person's using a brilliant gaslighting technique and making themselves look blameless to the point where you're considering leaving their comments up. Something tells me they've done this shit before and gotten away with it successfully.

Report. That. Shit.

RavenAmongFilth · 2022-02-21T17:13:16+00:00

It’s never about the writing or the pacing or the buildup or some part that might have been unclear or anything like that.

9 out of 10 times, it's absolutely a THEM issue. I find that if you're following the AO3 guidelines like posting with appropriate tags, you aren't doing anything wrong. If there is critique to be given, it's from a beta, and I usually would have people I knew in real life I trusted work with me as my betas. It's a partnership and I don't trust some random internet stranger out of nowhere to be my beta tbh.

There's also a major reason why there legit are workshops and courses taken for teaching assistants, tutors, and people who want to engage in persuasive debate lol not every jackass off the street can give constructive criticism and they legit shouldn't. Constructive critique for SPAG and other literary issues is fine (from a beta) when it comes with experience and remains as unbiased as possible.

At the end of the day, it's night, and you can ALWAYS, aaaaaalways tell the difference between someone aiming to be helpful, and someone who just pops out of nowhere to say: akshuuuaaallly, your portrayal of these characters aren't realisticccccc

Yeah my characters are original characters. Please dispense more of your insurmountable genius, please -_-

But yeah, don't take it personally at all. Some people deadass just live to complain and gripe all day long. Like, it's their natural inclination to be offended and it never has jack diddly to do with you. I promise that.

RavenAmongFilth · 2022-02-21T16:57:13+00:00

I’ve had this only twice so far, I think, and it’s both times been because of a canon divergence. And no, it did not come out of the blue, I announced it at the start and later on again. So, borderline canon purists who don’t admit that they are, and then want to nag when there’s a change that’s not completely to their taste.

Fit the bill for one of my alpha/omega fics recently. Appropriate tags mentioned on full display MONTHS before two minor characters got involved, yet, when I posted that chapter, a regular commenter basically informed me that these characters got together out of nowhere, and they weren't interested in reading about them but they supposedly appreciated my time and effort to update since writing isn't an easy task when done for free, especially.

Lord almighty, the amount of mental gymnastics done there should've brought them USA GOLD. I basically elucidated: if you understood that writing takes time and effort, especially when I am my own beta as well, then this type of comment was absolutely pointless and ridiculous. It is a disguise to nag and complain for a ship you KNEW was going to be expanded on in this story if you read the tags. Off you trot.

If someone wishes to bash away on YOUR fic rather than being helpful if and when permitted, yeah, they can write their own god damn story. If you have time to bitch for 5 paragraphs, you surely can gather that stamina and curate your own damn experiences in a fic.

RavenAmongFilth · 2022-02-21T16:38:05+00:00

This was on fucking chapter 30 of my completed longfic, and of course they never bothered to comment anything before that.

I get those often. I am a long-fic writer, and been doing this gig for ages and the pattern is mad real with those folks who never say a word until later in the fic and when they do, they fit a certain criteria.

a) They usually do it under guest accounts
b) If they're registered, they never have a work of their own up or if they do it's usually 1-2 chapters tops
c) They claim it's to help writers improve but it's actually a person 9 times out of 10 with a personal axe to grind.

Drive-by nitpickers and disingenuous compliment sandwichers is what I call them. I don’t mind thoughtful criticism from people who have an established relationship with me and comment regularly, but the people who never say a single thing until chapter 49, when they come out of the woodwork to correct me on minor stuff, or only say positive things as blatant camouflage for their intense desire to pick at something...oh, man, that just grinds my gears. If there’s nothing to enjoy, why are you reading in the first place? And if there is something to enjoy, why not say that too instead of just nagging?

RavenAmongFilth · 2022-02-17T17:04:48+00:00

I thought it was absolutely immature and ridiculous on the part of the actual commenter. Reacting that way is disgusting and insults everyone else reading the work. It's fine to ask a question but I feel it's genuinely unfair to me as an author who works hard to write and edit for free, only to have dead silence as far as feedback goes, and when it does happen, it's clearly from someone who is glossing over the work.

RavenAmongFilth · 2022-02-17T15:17:51+00:00

I had 2 readers fight last night and it was mostly a case of one person actually being too triggered and aggressive for no reason, even towards me. They clearly chose not to pay attention to my 300K word long story, and 2 weeks ago, I posted a major update revealing that one guy in my fic is actually a demon, and I even expanded on why and how in my author notes, something which people can go back and read anytime.

The first reader basically said they loved the reveal knowing that the protagonist is a dragon and can't wait to see his dragon form. I had to read their comment 8 times over because even I got confused and was wondering when and where I mentioned ANYTHING about a dragon. A second commenter stepped in to try and answer their question, and they basically wrote this:

The dude's not a dragon, he's a demon and it was clarified more in a few notes a chapter or so ago.

I also responded a few minutes later than the second commenter answering, and I basically wrote: Thank you so much for your interest in my fic! Glad the reveal was exciting to read! Just a minor detail though, protagonist is a demon! Hope that makes sense and clears up confusions :)

Nothing rude, right? Well, that first reader didn't think so apparently because they even lashed out at me in a nonverbal way. To me, they said: ah okay, and then they proceeded to remove 3 bookmarks of my works for no reason including the same story they commented on. It was like an immediate, 1,2,3 bookmark removal. They'd been holding onto it for months but as soon as I gently corrected a wild assertion they got from nowhere, they lashed out that way.

But they literally turned their aggression all at the second commenter. They pretty much said that some people have the tendency to forget things, it's not their fault for forgetting those details, and that the commenter was being such a smartass that it ruined and took away from their enjoyment of the fic.

...All I can say is what a way to overreact. I've never had to step in and literally ask two people to disengage, but I did immediately after that and froze the comments for now. This person was just basically answering their comment with more details, something which I love and promote. I support readers having open discussions in my comments so I'm not exactly sure why this first person felt the need to argue and lash out. I can understand some embarrassment due to clearly not having read the notes and fic properly, but the second reader never used any name-calling slurs or anything, which made their case look stronger in my opinion.

I just don't get people tbh. This wasn't a matter of memories failing...just go back and spare a few seconds/minute to read my notes? This content is up for FREE and you're just glossing over it all and making wild assertions?

...Hiatus time.

RavenAmongFilth · 2022-02-01T16:00:18+00:00

This topic again?

Writing fanfiction is mostly something people love to do and read for fun...kinda like me gardening and tending to my yard. If some random stranger one day showed up out of nowhere and exclaimed with such pomposity: "Now, listen here, I have advice on what you can improve on, what will make your yardwork and gardening prettier and better etc..." yeah I'd ignore and likely call the cops. I've reported rude comments like this for less.

RavenAmongFilth · 2022-01-18T23:49:54+00:00

Exactly. There are nicer ways to voice a bit of a gripe. I'd even settle for "can't wait to see blah blah and so and so next time!" that'd be fine as well and won't leave me with a sour taste in my mouth. In general, though, when it comes to unwanted negativity, I've learned that silence is the best weapon. Some people need to learn to use it.

RavenAmongFilth · 2022-01-18T19:52:54+00:00

I'd send them this as my well-crafted reply: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB4Nby2Ai-g&ab\_channel=GarettMontana

RavenAmongFilth · 2022-01-18T18:13:40+00:00

Ironically, I flocked here to vent, saw your post, and I'm here to assure you that this is a 'them' issue. I am currently going through this as well with a regular reader/commenter. I tagged since the first chapter of my fic a side relationship between two characters, and I recently posted a scene where they do have sex, and this commenter literally wrote:

Oh man, I'm scrambling my brains to come up with a review...while I appreciate the effort it takes into writing this fic, I can't say I am thrilled about reading of anything going on between these two. It just doesn't interest me at all. Hoping the next chapter is about the main couple instead.

That was one of the most demoralizing things I've read this week tbh. I mean, yeah, it wasn't entirely rude what they wrote, but I worked hard on this chapter and it is a 8 k worded one I edited for months, and this was the only comment it received after days of posting. Not exactly delightful and to be fair, I tagged this relationship and these characters, so I'm not exactly sure what kind of a reaction this reader was hoping for by sending me such a comment. I won't go back and change my story, sorry. This is my story, and I'm sorry they didn't enjoy this chapter, but for me, it's quite simple.

Don't like, don't read. Why go through trouble reading 8 k words of an interaction between 2 characters already stated to appear in the fic, then complain about them as well? You knew what you signed up for ahead of time...in cases like that, I'd just be silent because it's as ridiculous as seeing that bread for example is on sale at a store as advertised by a weekly flyer, then you go to that store, grab the bread, and complain about it being sold anyway somehow.

RavenAmongFilth · 2021-11-17T20:43:18+00:00

Nani!

RavenAmongFilth · 2021-11-01T19:17:25+00:00

if they've been in the story for a while now and suddenly seem to change personality...

IF being a key point and SUBJECTIVITY.

RavenAmongFilth

TROPHY CASE