When you can't say something nice...

[kellifer]

Hmmm...

A friend has gotten negative feedback on a story where the person is bemoaning a pairing(s) within the story.

Just got me thinking... why do people do this? Constructive criticism I get but WTF? I've had this happen I think only once but I mostly figure it's because I'm not known for a particular pairing but pretty much write everything. My flist is a melting pot and I know that they would just simply skip over something of mine if it's not what they usually read (or, because my flist is the Awesome, will actually read outside their normal pairing/fandom just because).

I like constructive criticism. I just don't get negative feedback where someone is basically saying, "Hey, that's not my OTP, how dare you??"

Comments

[brandifer.livejournal.com]

I have an answer for you: the anonymity - or just plain distance afforded by the internet at large.

I learned years ago that people will say anything to you as long as they don't have to look you in the face to do it. Many years ago I worked in a resort hotel, where I did a little bit of everything- switchboard, reservations, front desk. It never failed to amaze me how toxic people could be on the other end of the phone line, then arrive on site and behave with all civility. The advent of the internet only shoved this behavior directly into the mainstream.

Even if the author knew who this person was, the offender can easily say, 'What are you going to do about it?'. :-(

[kellifer-fic.livejournal.com]

I know... I just see little point to it. Of course... it kinda is along the same lines to me as those 'fandom hate' LJ communities that keep cropping up where people post anonymously about authors they don't like.

I've started reading stories and thought 'eesh, this is terrible' so I use the back button.