If it wasn't written for you, complaining about it on the comm will only annoy the mods because they'll brace for wank, annoy the author because she wasn't writing for you, and possibly make the giftee feel like she's an idiot for having enjoyed her gift (if she did). There is just no way to win here and no graceful way to do it without looking like a gigantic douchebag. It's not simply "tacky" but illogical: the fic was not written for you, so why should anyone in that community, reading the comments, care what you think? The exchange is public, certainly, but it is still an exchange, and the recipient -- not the author, and not you -- is the most important person who will open and read that fic post.
That it is public, however, means you're perfectly entitled to talk about the story elsewhere. If the author happens to read your journal (or fanfic rants if you're that upset about the fic XD), she'll just have to suck it up and cope: you are entitled to your opinion, fest fic or not, but where you share that negative opinion is
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Yes, I agree with this. Regarding the first paragraph, I just wonder because people other than the recipient will, hopefully, comment on the fic and hopefully they won't just lie through their teeth to be "nice". I'm curious what the best protocol is for when you just didn't like a story, and I agree that commenting negatively is probably not the thing to do. You're right, it's illogical, but surely there should be allowances for honesty.
Have people been reviewing the HD Holidays fics? If so, point me? I've been reading rec reviews, but nothing that's meant to be objective.
people other than the recipient will, hopefully, comment on the fic and hopefully they won't just lie through their teeth to be "nice" Hehehe, a lot of fandom readers are not very picky about what they read. ^_^
When I don't like a story, I backbutton out of it -- if I like it enough to finish it, I can find something positive to tell the author. But even if I were the type to read something I hated to the end just for the trainwreck factor, I'd probably just say nothing. If it annoyed me enough, I might mention it on Twitter or post about it in my LJ, disclaimered with "my opinion; if you don't like crit, do not read this" the way I used to do for the H/D reviews way back in the day.
I've seen a few people mention things that didn't quite work for them in Hols fics but I mostly glaze over at that stuff so I don't remember who, but yeah, that's usually in the context of recs. Considering that fandom's collective knickers get all bunched up in a bad way every time someone attempts to engage in (legitimate) criticism... xD
I TOTALLY agree with your first paragraph. However, I differ slightly from there. I feel that if you do feel the need to vent about a poorly executed story, it should not mention the name or link to it. People are entitled to their opinion, and to express it, but why hurt someone's feelings over a matter of what may just be your personal taste
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So, whether or not I leave concrit actually depends on how much I can say I liked. I'm currently debating leaving a concritical comment on a particular exchange fic in which I really liked the fic up until the last, like, 300 (edit: OF a few thousand) words, because it was all character0driven and rounded and interesting andthentherewassmutpastedon. I may or may not. I think I would leave a comment if I for some reason (probably other than the recip whining, actually) was aware that the fic really hit a definite no--I would probably try to couch the comment as, hm, I fear that many readers would see this as [thing recip finds squicky]; when you're de-anoned, I would be interested to hear how it seemed not like that, to you. (and I would not then assume their explanation, if they offered one, was bullshit; I think it's REALLY rare that an author does this on purpose, and sometimes it's a matter of having a really different perception of [thing]). If it felt deliberate, I'd just poke the mod, I think
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Haha, you're so right - those same variables apply to me! Make it "how tetchy I'm feeling about my day" vs. "how good I feel about my hair today" and you've got it about right!
The odd thing is, I'm far more inclined to comment to the negative if I thought the fic had actual merit that it somehow failed to live up to, as opposed to straight-up bad!fic. If I begin it and it's clearly terrible, I just click away and put it out of my mind. But if it was good enough to draw me in and then disappointed me down the road, I would be far more tempted to tell the author exactly where I thought they'd fucked it up, in hopes that they would never disappoint like that again.
I like your concept of the ratio between things you can honestly say that you liked vs. concrit. Hmmm.
if I thought the fic had actual merit that it somehow failed to live up to I think that's the crux of it. If it was just a same old story trope and your average amateur hobby writing technically, you (the reader) wouldn't care. You'd click away.
But when the concept and some of the writing is good enough to suck you in, but it's still average amateur hobby writing technically, then You (the reader) are disappointed. You really wish it had been better, because that's what you're craving, that's why you bother with fanfic in the first place, to find the good stuff. So I'm thinking that perhaps it's better to wait until after reveals to see if the writer really wants to work on the craft and would welcome critique, because right now, it's about your disappointment.
I only comment on fics I like during fests. After the reviews when the authors write back their thanks I reread the ones I commented on and save the ones that I really love in my favorite. By that time Ive forgotten entirely about whatever badly written fics I may have read or skipped over. Only good fic get my comment.
Ooh, yes! I just had this thought: I wouldn't comment during the fest posting, but once an author reposted in their own journal, then I might go and leave concrit! Thanks for inspiring that! :)
Probably a good choice, but at the same time the sheer volume of the stories produced during the holidays is overwhelming. I have no idea how I would even begin to go about tracking down all the fics I read over the course of two months and rereading to post comments a second time.
Kudos to you for being that devoted though! That's awesomesauce
I dislike douchebaggery in any form even in my ficcage
That's precisely my point: it's not our ficcage if it was a gift for someone else. Think of it like this: you go to a holiday celebration of whatever sort that features a dinner. Let's say that one guest's gift to another is a cake which the recipient shares with the entire party for dessert. While the recipient loves the cake, you don't, and you freely pipe up that you thought the baker used way too much vanilla or something like that. Is that opinion wrong? No, of course not, and since you were eating the cake, obviously you were entitled to have an opinion, and to share it if you felt the need. It just seems a little bit misplaced, since it wasn't a gift for you, personally. Maybe the recipient really, really liked lots of vanilla in a cake.
I do agree about the public business, though, as I said. I have many thoughts, hence my post. :)
Ha, I wish I knew more rational adults in the offline world, too! :P
Hm... I guess I never thought of exchange fics or gift fics as being exclusive property. I guess that would make sense. Though in the above situation I would still be critical of the cake, just expecting that others would not share my opinion but hopefully share their own
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Sorry, butting in with my opinion (er, I guess I'm doing what the guest mentioning too much vanilla is? I'm sorry if this feels misplaced/rude/whatever, I just thought this thread was interesting
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I don't think I would call it tacky perhaps. I think there is something to do with the fact that the author is anonymous and can't fight their corner that doesn't appeal to me - this may just be me though :P If it was something you felt strongyly about though, it might be worth waiting 'til you know the author and messaging them personally? It might then feel a bit more like constructive-nes than flaming (although I know as the commentor this is not your intention!) :)
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That it is public, however, means you're perfectly entitled to talk about the story elsewhere. If the author happens to read your journal (or fanfic rants if you're that upset about the fic XD), she'll just have to suck it up and cope: you are entitled to your opinion, fest fic or not, but where you share that negative opinion is ( ... )
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Have people been reviewing the HD Holidays fics? If so, point me? I've been reading rec reviews, but nothing that's meant to be objective.
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Hehehe, a lot of fandom readers are not very picky about what they read. ^_^
When I don't like a story, I backbutton out of it -- if I like it enough to finish it, I can find something positive to tell the author. But even if I were the type to read something I hated to the end just for the trainwreck factor, I'd probably just say nothing. If it annoyed me enough, I might mention it on Twitter or post about it in my LJ, disclaimered with "my opinion; if you don't like crit, do not read this" the way I used to do for the H/D reviews way back in the day.
I've seen a few people mention things that didn't quite work for them in Hols fics but I mostly glaze over at that stuff so I don't remember who, but yeah, that's usually in the context of recs. Considering that fandom's collective knickers get all bunched up in a bad way every time someone attempts to engage in (legitimate) criticism... xD
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The odd thing is, I'm far more inclined to comment to the negative if I thought the fic had actual merit that it somehow failed to live up to, as opposed to straight-up bad!fic. If I begin it and it's clearly terrible, I just click away and put it out of my mind. But if it was good enough to draw me in and then disappointed me down the road, I would be far more tempted to tell the author exactly where I thought they'd fucked it up, in hopes that they would never disappoint like that again.
I like your concept of the ratio between things you can honestly say that you liked vs. concrit. Hmmm.
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I think that's the crux of it. If it was just a same old story trope and your average amateur hobby writing technically, you (the reader) wouldn't care. You'd click away.
But when the concept and some of the writing is good enough to suck you in, but it's still average amateur hobby writing technically, then You (the reader) are disappointed. You really wish it had been better, because that's what you're craving, that's why you bother with fanfic in the first place, to find the good stuff. So I'm thinking that perhaps it's better to wait until after reveals to see if the writer really wants to work on the craft and would welcome critique, because right now, it's about your disappointment.
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Kudos to you for being that devoted though! That's awesomesauce
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My issue here is this:
I dislike douchebaggery in any form even in my ficcage
That's precisely my point: it's not our ficcage if it was a gift for someone else. Think of it like this: you go to a holiday celebration of whatever sort that features a dinner. Let's say that one guest's gift to another is a cake which the recipient shares with the entire party for dessert. While the recipient loves the cake, you don't, and you freely pipe up that you thought the baker used way too much vanilla or something like that. Is that opinion wrong? No, of course not, and since you were eating the cake, obviously you were entitled to have an opinion, and to share it if you felt the need. It just seems a little bit misplaced, since it wasn't a gift for you, personally. Maybe the recipient really, really liked lots of vanilla in a cake.
I do agree about the public business, though, as I said. I have many thoughts, hence my post. :)
Ha, I wish I knew more rational adults in the offline world, too! :P
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