(no subject)

[butterfly]

The feedback discussion is coming around again (every discussion happens over and over again in fandom). My stance is this: I, personally, find it polite to reply to feedback. This means that, first, I will attempt to reply to all feedback that I get (even if, on my more antisocial weeks, it takes me a few days -- and there are times when I don't reply to comments on personal posts for emotional reasons, but I really try not to let that bleed over into fannish stuff) and second, if I notice that an author does not reply to feedback, I do not, as a rule, leave them any. If they don't reply to it, how do I even know that they got it (perhaps they have comment e-mailing turned off)? And if I don't know that, then there really isn't any point to giving them feedback.

Also, I can't stand being ignored and won't hang out around places where I feel that my opinion isn't wanted. That's probably the basis for my attitude, really.

Comments

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

and second, if I notice that an author does not reply to feedback, I do not, as a rule, leave them any.

Yeah. Back when I actually read fic on a regular basis, I'd send lots of feedback. And the people who never responded, even if I'd read stories of theirs down the road, I'd never bother sending any further feedback.

I think for me it's rather like giving someone a present and never having that present acknowledged. People don't *need* to send feedback. They don't need to take the time to type something up (however brief). It's not something that's owed the author, in spite of what the author might think. And so acknowledgment of compliments and constructive criticism seems the bare minimum of manners. (And thus ends where I sound like an 80-year-old wagging her finger at the youngins.)

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Indeed! It's about respect and an awareness of other people as human beings. I firmly believe that an author (vidder/creator of any kind) doesn't just have the right to have feedback. I consider feedback to be the icing on the creation cake -- I have a few red-headed stepchildren stories that got no feedback at all, but I don't love them any less than the others. Feedback is neither required nor necessary and, when received, deserves to be acknowledged.

[frelling-tralk.livejournal.com]

And naming no names *ahem* but I just love the people who never bother to acknowledge feedback, and then complain that they don't feel they don't get enough quality comment for their fic *eyeroll*

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Ha, yes. That's always a bit annoying to read.

[chase820.livejournal.com]

I agree. If someone is nice enough to give you a compliment, the least you can do is say "thanks," so they know you received it.

To me, all these discussions of feedback/no feedback come down to making excuses for laziness. Hey, we've all been lazy in the past: I've read fics I adored, and never given feedback for. But I'm not going to try and argue that it's somehow the author's failing I couldn't be arsed.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

I agree. If someone is nice enough to give you a compliment, the least you can do is say "thanks," so they know you received it.

Just so.

To me, all these discussions of feedback/no feedback come down to making excuses for laziness. Hey, we've all been lazy in the past: I've read fics I adored, and never given feedback for. But I'm not going to try and argue that it's somehow the author's failing I couldn't be arsed.

Indeed! Complete agreement on all points.

[morgandawn.livejournal.com]

one of the things I don;t like about iMeem is that there are no notifications when someone leaves you a comment. If you have more than one vid online, it is a pain sifting through each page to find new comments. grumble.

I recently read one vidder's complaint that (a) because she was not getting comments when she posted her vids in XXX journal/forum, she would no longer announce them there and (b) it ticked her off when people were recommending other people's vids (that she thought were crap) but no one recommended hers.

So in general I try to be mellow about this issue - if I leave feedback that's fine. If I leave nothing - that's fine. If I hear nothing back from the author - that's fine. if the author responds to feedback - even better than fine.

And I guess - If the author/vidder posts statements like those above - I'll have to be fine about that too. Right?

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Yes! That's the thing that's been frustrating me about iMeem. I like being able to thank people for their comments on the things I've created.

So in general I try to be mellow about this issue - if I leave feedback that's fine. If I leave nothing - that's fine. If I hear nothing back from the author - that's fine. if the author responds to feedback - even better than fine.

You clearly don't have my issues about being ignored! I admire the laid-back-ness of your attitude.

[obsessive24.livejournal.com]

Am in perfect agreement with all that you said. If they don't have the common courtesy to reply, I don't feel obligated to leave them feedback any longer. And also agree with morgandawn about imeem being hard to navigate comment-wise, and also probably the main reason why I haven't used it more.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Exactly -- it's about courtesy and showing respect for other people as human beings.

And also agree with morgandawn about imeem being hard to navigate comment-wise, and also probably the main reason why I haven't used it more.

Mmm, yes. I will likely continue to use iMeem, but it's certainly not going to replace being able to straight-out download my vids and I will continue to ask that the people who watch the vid on iMeem comment on my lj page instead.

[fannishnonsense]

Yeah, if they don't bother to reply to feedback then I wont bother to leave any. Why spend the time if it's not appreciated?

Also, I'm more likely to leave feedback on stories with less popular pairings. Like in SGA fandom, I read any pairing that has Rodney in it. But I'm more likely to say something about a Rodney/Teyla fic than a Rodney/John fic. Just because that pairing needs more support. Not that I won't say anything on McShep fics of course, just that I only do it when a story really blows me away.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Yeah, if they don't bother to reply to feedback then I wont bother to leave any. Why spend the time if it's not appreciated?

Exactly!

Also, I'm more likely to leave feedback on stories with less popular pairings.

I would likely do this if I weren't such a ship-oriented reader. I rarely read outside my fandom OTP.

[thawrecka]

That's exactly my attitude when it comes to feedback, actually. It's no fun feeling like you just yelled into the void when you send feedback.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Yes, just so. I want to know that my response went to a person, who actually looked at it.

[spiletta42.livejournal.com]

A bulk of my early fandom experience was with the Star Trek Voyager fandom. Anyone else who's experienced it is now snickering. Basically, leaving feedback on a fic is dangerous, and replying to one's one feedback doubly so. These are folks who can turn "Hey, thank you to X for making the new message board avatars," into a full scale flame war occupying the entire fandom's attention for months, and then hold a grudge about it so extreme that mentioning X by name three years later in an unrelated context gets you banned from a message board. So yeah, that fandom taught me to pretty much keep my head down, and remembering to reply to feedback in other fandoms is a bit of a challenge.

I try to reply to all my email, including feedback, in a reasonably timely manner, but don't really lose any sleep waiting for anyone to reply to feedback I've left. The odds of me remembering who didn't reply is slim to none, so it doesn't affect me leaving later feedback.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Wow! That sounds very stressful. I was never big into Voyager fandom, though I did read the occasional Paris/Tuvok or Paris/Janeway fic.

[sperrywink]

I feel the exact same way.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Kindred spirit! Yay!

I just really do like having my existence acknowledged. It's nice.