I apologize ahead of time for the rant, but, well, this is my blog—such as it is—and my fuse on the matter of replies to story postings has been growing shorter and shorter with every month and every chapter posted with only one or two—sometimes no—replies. I’m hardly the only one in this boat; all the GDIT authors are going whistling for responses, and many are on the verge of giving up storytelling because of it. I don’t think I’m there yet, but my patience is running very thin on the issue…
I once described members who read tales and then do not reply as leeches, moochers taking the author’s creative work and giving nothing back in return. At the time I thought it perhaps a bit hyperbolic, but more and more I find myself standing by my original description—especially when it’s been very loudly noised about the forum that many of us authors are very dissatisfied with the lack of response. When members know that authors are stressed because of a lack of reply and they still don’t reply, it shows a callous indifference to the needs of the authors. The attitude seems to be “Hey, as long as I get my chapters, who cares about the authors?” Thus, most of our previous authors no longer post tales, and those of us that are left are seriously questioning whether the (not-for-pay, by the way) work is worth it. Yes, leeches, moochers…I think I’ll own the assessment!
The worst part is that many of those members are themselves authors! Too many post their chapters without the slightest concern for their fellow writers who also need feedback; I often wonder if those authors even look at any other strings on the forum! They are happy to get feedback from other members, but heaven forfend that they should themselves offer any feedback to any other authors! It smacks of indulgent self-centeredness. Some of us—particularly Orpheus, and lately, gingertom, and frequently, Lars—make a point of trying to get around to as many authors as possible to provide response and feedback, even if it’s a mere line or two, simply because we know how frustrating it is to post chapter after chapter to a weak or nonexistent response. It’s just the decent thing to do, and I wish more were like Orpheus and the others that take time to encourage all the authors!
And yes, I know the excuses. My favorite is the “I just don’t have time to post” excuse; as in “yes, I have time to sit and read long chapters, but I can’t take thirty seconds afterward to give a pat on the back to the person who brought me the entertainment.” Sorry, doesn’t wash! If you have time to read, you have time to reply, dammit!
Okay, I think I’ve about exhausted my rant! I’m sure I come off petulant, not to mention whiny, but when one posts up a 356-page story and gets as little feedback as I’ve gotten from anyone but the regulars (although I’m pleased that Evil Lurker has dropped in, and of course Toby Robin and cresent), one begins to wonder whether one is wasting one’s time. Okay, let me out that more definitively—I begin to wonder whether I’m wasting my time.
On another topic, Orpheus has established a backup GDIT group at LeFora, which I’ll post up with a link here, and I hope you check it out. LeFora is a nice little forum site, and seems
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