fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2988 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2988 ⌋

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Notes:

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well this is something that we probably just aren't going to agree on. I think that people should have the right to say they don't want critiques without others trying to force them on them anyway. I think unwanted criticism is always not constructive because it can't possibly be helpful if it's not going to be read and considered, and I don't know why so many people waste their time giving criticism to people who don't want it and then complain that the people they say they're trying to help are being unreasonable. I hate when people act like writers have some kind of obligation to only ever write their absolute best and must be lectured when they've failed to live up to the standards of the critic. By all means, provide criticism when it's wanted, but people don't need to want it.

Basically, I feel similarly about the complaints of critics as you do about the complaints of the criticized.

Oh sure -- I think it definitely goes both ways.

But it's just that even though writers have the right to say that they don't want criticism, I can't help but to feel that it's almost counter-intuitive to publicly post about.

I doubt the people leaving the harshest, meanest reviews are really going to stop -- in general, when people are insulting the writer, they're doing it to get a reaction. Which is what these types of public proclamations are.

In practice it is counter-intuitive because you're right about how it ends up, but I don't think it should be that way. To drag out one of fs's favorite words, a lot of people are really entitled about leaving comments. "How dare you tell me you don't want to hear my opinion! I'm going to leave even more comments now!" It's so petty.

I think at least half the problem is that everyone arguing about it has different definitions of what 'critique' is.

From reading comments, I get the impression that some people take it to mean statements like "here is what is wrong and here is how you should fix it", while others mean "I didn't like the pairing/trope/other item clearly labeled in tags and summary", while still others mean "I was confused by/not really feeling/felt rushed by this bit".

So you get people who are using that third definition saying there's nothing wrong with crit and people using the second yelling about how it's just rude and people using the first saying it's not really helpful, and we're all left in this muddle of talking past one another.

This is true and definitely makes these arguments more frustrating. Though to be honest, my response stays the same no matter which of those definitions we're talking about. If a person says they don't want feedback, or a certain kind of feedback, then of course you still have the right to do it but it's nice to respect their feelings.

I absolutely agree that you should respect people's feelings about what kind of feedback they want.

My problem is with people trying to declare that their opinion of what kind of feedback is acceptable is the ONLY right way to do fandom. I did not sign your manifesto; please go sit down.

I would say to them: By all means, please put what you want to get on your fic. Just stop telling that person who may be reviewing MY fic next week what they can and can't say in ALL reviews.

Agreed. This sort of thing isn't really about what's right or wrong, just what each individual prefers, so those declarations are annoying.

[ SECRET POST #2988 ]

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