User blog comment:AB1997/Behaviors That You Dislike That Aren't Against the Rules/@comment-25052433-20151115042916

Okay folks, prepare the fun and excitement centers of your brains to go into full over drive, because I am about to pour my two cents all over this bad mamma-jamma. Before anyone asks, my opinion here was actually REQUESTED!!!! I know, I can hardly believe it either. So, with no further hesitation, let's cut the figurative crap and listen to what I have to say!

So, the real deal here seems to be about tact, or, in this case, perhaps a lack of it, being compared to honest feedback, of the tactless design. (Be warned, I'm going to over-use the hell out of the word tact.)

Some people are defending ol' Mikemacdee, stating that his talent as a writer and over all contributions to the community both warrant and permit his rather..... salty...reviews on stories.

I don't agree with that one little bit. If the guy is talented, bully for him. I've been called talented by some as well, bully for me. However, the big difference here is that I do not get all nasty on feedback. Even if the story is in fact complete crap. I will point out what I don't like, over used crap like vomiting from fear, not calling the cops, wearing a hoodie...blah blah blah. However, for the most part, I will always aim my feedback towards the constructive side of the fence, ensuring that any negative bites I may inflict, are also met with some nice, positive licks to sort of even the whole thing out.

Now, let's start this off and be fair. I don't know Mikemacdee and I don't really know AB1997. However, I have read a couple of Mike's reviews, and I must say, they are nasty, they are unprofessional and they are unbecoming. I see words like "stupid" thrown around a lot, as well as insults that seem directed not only at the story, but also at anyone else who liked the story. To me, this demonstrates someone who has missed the point of art in general. Art is to be appreciated. No one has to explain why or how they like something, and they most certainly shouldn't be insulted if they do. Art is also to be crtiqued, and with those critiques may come negative comments. However, there is a vast difference between negative feedback and outright insults. If you do not know the difference, or if you simply choose to ignore it, then I suggest you leave reviewing alone until you can figure out the difference. Simple as that.

Now, let's examine the other side as well. Blogs like this are a problem because they generally reek of hurt feelings. To be an artist, you MUST develop a thick skin. Trust me, I have stories out there that have some very harsh comments attached. Hell, my last stand-alone pasta, one of my usual review friends straight-up refused to read it, because she hated it so much within the first couple paragraphs. But, she was totally respectful when she declined to finish reading. She was polite and explained to me why she didn't like the story. There were no hurt feelings.

That, that is the way it should be.

Here's the deal, if you're going to review a story, review it like a mature person. List what you like and don't like, but really look at what you write before you submit it. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE between being honest and being an asshole. If you don't know that difference, as I said before, then don't review until you figure it out.

If you're a writer, THICKEN UP THAT SKIN! The world is full of folks that aren't going to like your shit. Some people hate what I write, yeah, they HATE IT! When Love Always got a MrCreepyPasta reading, one guy spend two dozen threads explaining why it was complete and utter garbage to him. Did I get pissed? Not at all, because guess what, that guy doesn't pay my bills, so fuck him and his opinions. It's that easy, don't get pissed and get sucked in to the cycle of anger.

So, that wraps it all up. Personally, I liked Something is Wrong, I liked it a lot. I think it's a good pasta, and my resume on this site also speaks for itself, so there ya go. Also, if you read this and feel like the negative remarks are pointed towards you, chances are, it's because you've been a prick for no reason on someone's story. If you are a writer and feel like my comments are also directed towards you, then chances are you need thicker skin, all the better reason to get used to.

At the end of the day, I love the community and the writers that work hard to make this happen. Good, bad or ugly, this, to me, is the greatest collection of our genre. We need to treat eachother wish some respect, some tact, and take more pride in the idea of helping someone than tearing them down.