Unreasonable Reviewers - "You rudy writers"

[Apocalypticat]

Hi guys. I had no idea where to put this so I apologise if it's in the wrong spot. I seriously needed to vent my rage over this.

This morning I received the following review from ff.net for my angst AD/MM fic, Him Again (which can also be found on this board... *finishes self-plugging*).

It is very inconsiderate of you to keep us readers waiting for so long. I really couldn't care less if you have exams or God knows else, but if you can't keep on writing I suggest you just don't write at all. You rudy writers that beg for reviews and then just don't write for weeks. It is hard enough to find decente ADMM, and then when we do they are just incomplete. Be reasonable!

It's one thing to urge an author to update. It's another to be like this. I agree that a writer should continue what they've started, if it's salvagable, going in the right direction and especially if there are people waiting for the next chapter. What I object to is the tone of this. Not only does it make a personal attack on me but on all writers.

This person quite obviosuly believes I have nothing to do with my time except write. I wish that was so - but it's not. I have exams right now and whenever I come out of them, I feel too drained to sit down and write. Perhaps this wouldn't offend me quite so much had this story not already been delayed earlier due my grandmother's heart attack, which resulted in me being dumped at a relative's with no access to a computer, and which most reviewers sympathised with. I felt that I had to explain both that hiatus and this hiatus properly in order not to leave readers hanging in the air. As for 'begging for reviews' - well of course. How am I supposed to know whether I'm a bad writer or not?

It's going to take more than this rubbish to make me quit my story, but this tempted me to just scrap the whole thing. Has anybody else had reviewers like this? This person has no idea what else is going on in my life and quite obviously doesn't care. I've never felt so uninspired as I do now. Should a writer just ignore the rest of their existence in favour of fanfiction?

I don't believe so, and this person will undoubtedly get an acid reply when I put my next chapter up.

[zoeteproet]

I understand that you're shocked. I would feel the same, should I ever get such a review.
And I agree with you, life isn't only writing. What this reviewer want is that you fail your exams, just so he/she can have her update? That's totally unacceptable.
I know that it can be frustrating for readers to read unfinished stories, but they should accept it, especially when the writer explains why he/she can't write at the moment.

Please forget about this unreasonable review, you shouldn't believe a thing of it. Finish your story when you have time, I wish you all the luck in the world.

Sarah

PS: I just love your avatar! ;D

[Trulyamused]

First of all don't fan the flames. This person does not seem have any interests outside of reading fan fiction and abusing others, they do not have a life.

Your writing is imaginative and insightful. It reflects the fact that you are experiencing life not just living it.

I'm sure the encouraging reviews, far outweigh, any dissenting ones you have received.

Don't dwell, move on and let your muse run free.

Good luck,

Truly

[Catwoman99]

I would be very upset if I'd gotten a review like that. I have stories on FF.net that I haven't touched in months because I'm just too busy with RL. Same reason I was away from here so much. This reviewer apparently thinks fan fiction writing is a full time job. We're not JK Rowling, John Grisham, or Terry Pratchett, we don't get paid to do this. While I do feel bad for leaving people who are interested in my fics hanging like that, they need to understand that things come up. Sorry, I'm going off on a tangent. :-)

I understand your frustration and I can even understand the frustration of the reviewer at not seeing an update to a fic they like, but this "review" was uncalled for and inappropriate. It could have been worded much nicer and still have gotten the same point across.

On a side note, should I point out that "rudy" should be "ruddy" and "decente" doesn't have an "e" on the end? :-P

I agree on not fanning the flames, but at least a response telling them how uncalled for their "review" was might be fine. Don't let it keep you from writing.

- April :-)

[mcgonagallrocks]

I've gotten a few reviews like that. People don't like what you're doing with a story or in my case don't like the name you chose. It's frustarting to no end at times. There is no reason to flame. Some people like most of us have lives and can't write all the time. I for one have school and homework and riding my horse. Those come first. Apocalypticat I love your stories you're a great writer. You should keep it up don't let those stupied flames annoy you like Trulyamused said "Don't dwell, move on and let your muse run free."

**Endora

[Apocalypticat]

Thanks for all the support, everyone! You're right; I really shouldn't let a flame like this get to me. I won't let it stop me from writing - it's mainly other things that are doing that! I don't plan to start a verbal sparring match in my author's notes but I may write something to the effect that I don't write for readers like that. My exams must come first, and sadly so must my introspection and periods where I don't need to think at all. My parents are on the verge of splitting up and I'm intensely involved. I can't concentrate on writing when there are such distractions.

Glad you like the avatar, Zoeteproet - and thanks for the praise, Truly and McGonagallrocks (of course she does ). Thanks everyone!

I will try and let my muse run as free as she can without letting her get away from me!

[emeraldeyes]

I'm a little late to this, but...

I agree with what everyone above said. It was inconsiderate of the reviewer to state such a thing, because life happens, and I know how you feel with the "too busy" thing. I want to write, but just can't think about it.

Basically... Don't let life run you over because you're too busy writing fic. I wish I could let it, but alas..

[ravenhaired]

*points to self*

Also late.

Any negative reviews I've ever got were generally anonymous because people like that simply can't take a civilised (or otherwise ) reply to their rantings. And most often have never done any fanfiction of their own.

I wouldn't take any heed of their nastiness.

[EloquentPhoenix]

I am also late, but I had exams too.

I'm really shocked that people like that have to upset us all, the ADMM shippers are the nice ones! Stupid cow. Pardon my language, she's not worth the time it spent to read the 'review', most of us write in our spare time, and we have RL, everyone knows that. Chh.

[Michelle]

Hey,
im a lurker and very rarely review,mostly cause im lazy. lol sorry, i suggest you tell this idiot to 'get bent!'. Wait that would be childish on your part. MMmmm ok ill go give this moron a piece of my mind. Pft, im pretty angry now. I really do enjoy that particular story and do urge you to update at your own pace. =)

Michelle

[Virtuoso]

Hideously late, but that's okay.

At one point on ff.net, I put "please review!" at the end of my fic, and got a review from an unregistered user who completely b!tched me out for 'review whoring' and being horribly immature. I was rather irritated, flamed her back, and started a war... but I've gotten past that habit, now. ^-^

[chell]

I'm late in answering this too, but I agree with everyone else. We all have real life that gets in the way, and reviewers have to understand that. If they really like your story, then they'll be willing to wait. I have yet to write a story, but as an avid reader, I understand that writers have a lot else going on (just like me) and can't always update as quickly as I'd like to read. But I'm willing to wait eagerly for updates. So don't let it get you down. Besides, if this person can't understand that you have other obligations in your life, then my guess is he/she doesn't really have much of a life of their own. Hope your exams have gone well and the other stresses in your life are abating.
Chell

[colleen777]

I think it´s really unfair to write such things, ´cause they can´t force you to update/write more often! If they are dissatisfied, they should write some FF´s too,´cause then they are able to see how diffcult it is to accomplish all things.

[jellybeans]

I got a flame once for when I put the wrong name, it was a name, but not, it's wrong, yadda, yadda, yadda.


BTW Does that person realise they can't spell?

[osusprinks]

I can't believe people would write reviews like that. I am an avid reader and I will admit I wonder what happened to authors if they don't update for long periods of time. But that is more out of concern for them than for their lack of updates. I agree with those above that this person and others like them must have nothing to do with their time but to read and be mean. How did they think that review would encourage you to write more? Frankly I would think about waiting even longer to update! lol I hope you have gotten a lot of positive reviews since this one. If I ever write a review that comes off as pushy, let me know. I would feel horrible!

[gahhMinerva]

Wow, I can't believe someone would write that! That's completely out of line. I know I sometimes wish that writers would update more often, but I wouldn't flame them about it. I have taken a long time to update a fic (like 3 months), due to business and writers' block, so I understand why some stories might not be updated for a while. This person likely isn't a writer and doesn't understand the challenge it is to keep up with a story in a timely manner.

I say just ignore the flame... that reader's not worth it.

[Tabby67]

Yeah, I'm late with this as well.

That is terrible. I've been one to completely forget about my own fics. (Oops... ) If I were to get a flame like that I would simply tell them to get off their arse (I love that word...anyhoo) and write something themselves. I've never gotten a review, or flame for that matter, that terribly absurd.

They complain about your having life, I would complain about their lack of grammar skills. But that's just me. I would start a very nasty argument about it.

Well, that's my two cents on the matter.

~Branda~

[mmadlyinlove]

Yeah, I hate it when someone says something like that. Like we writers don't have anything else going in our lives.

And then there are those who feel the need to flame us for our choice of coupling. One time, someone reviewed and said that my coupling was unreasonable and completely stupid, creepy, and in no way plausible. I was like, "Hey, if you don't like it, then why are you even bothering to read it?" You know what I mean? I mean, I honestly do not know why that reader bothered. There are only two ways he/she could've gotten my story and that was to either go to the ADMM section of ff.net, where I have all of my fics, or to have me on their author alert list and anyone who has me on their author alert list has it for either my Labyrinth fics, PD story, or my MMAD HP fics. Why would you have someone on your fave's list if you didn't like what coupling they write? Stupid....

Okay, sorry, I have ranted for way too long. LOL! Once I get going, it's hard to stop sometimes.

MMADLYINLOVE

[DaBao]

I can see it from the reviewer's point of view too, they love your story so much and it's agonizing when they can do nothing but wait for an outcome (if there'll even be one). I am often annoyed with writers who don't update after... a few months, but it seems rather childish and extremely rude to write a review like the examples given above.

I'm fairly new to fanfiction writing, my first fanfiction ever was just recently posted on Fanfiction.net. So we'll just wait and see if I'll get any flames.

[MinnieQuill]

I'm late for this but here's my two cents worth.

Don't worry too much about that review. That person obviously has no concept of live OUTSIDE fanfiction. I think anyone who writes gets at least one bad review and they do make you feel like shi**. I remember that I got a bad one for my first ever fanfic and felt miserable for days afterwards. And whilst I do acknowledge that starting a verbal war is probably not the best thing to do, it can relieve some stress. And (judging by that review) you'd win hands down seeing as you can spell and use correct grammar. lol.

[Aeronnen]

That person is so evil. I felt so sure I would get flames for my latest chapter in MMAD Beginning, I think I will. But you don't ned to worry about that one, cos' they are so obviously complete and utter*$!!*$%"!* that they aren't worth worrying about!

[csifreak16]

I see where both sides are coming from. I haven't received a review like that before (but I'm sure it will come). I do know what it is like to be pressured by RL, exams, writer's block, etc. I have stories I haven't updated in months.

From the reader's view, I patiently wait for an update as humanly as possible. The writer may be slow in the creative department and isn't able to chuck out a chapter to keep the hungry, little, obsessive readers in check before they maul her.

Blow it off, they're stupid and obviously don't care about your intelligence and wit.

[CrankyCauldron]

Okay, so I'm the latest to respond! But I feel the need to write my tuppeny worth because this is more relevant to me than most... I haven't had any horrible flames like that, but I'm probably the worst for updating.

The last time I updated Nouveau was in 2004! I'm finally writing the finale, but obviously it's taken me longer than most! I do feel guilty about it, expecially since I've had so many reminders from my wonderful reviewers, but Real Life interrupted in a rather brutal fashion- unfortunately.

On the whole, ADMMers are wonderfully kind people who haven't hassled me, reviews have always been about how much they want to read the finish, not how awful I am at updating!

This person shouldn't dare call themselves a fan of ADMM - the ship is about more than the regularity of updates, it's a community - where writers should feel welcomed and encouraged.

Honestly!

I really waffled didn't I? It's the guilt...

[mmadlyinlove]

Yeah, that's one thing I love about us mmaders... We may be starved for attention and long for great reviews, and we may want some of our fave stories to be updated, but as far as I can see, any flames I've gotten were mostly from those who hate the MMAD shipping. Any negetive comments were told in a way so that they were not so negetive, just suggestions, and most of the ones that hurt me were really early on. I do know how it is to get horrible reviews from those who hate my writing and I for one have learned to ignore them. It's one thing to offer constructive critisism, but quite another to just say "You suck, don't ever write these again... You ruined my fave shipping so I'll ruin your self esteem by telling you what a crappy author you are...." Yeah, I've gotten those a lot and they suck. LOL! So don't think too much about it.

~mmadlyinlove/Always Hopeful/writerincognito~

[Hes]

Those kind of reviews are exactly the reason that I prefer to write the entire story before posting it...

[MMADfan]

Just adding my 2 Knuts to this rather old, but still interesting, thread. A reviewer like the one Apocalypticat quoted is just insane. Maybe even literally. As others have said, this is FREE entertainment! Sheesh! While I hate it when a writer disappears in the middle of writing a fic, I sometimes wonder if the person became ill, died, or had something else bad happen to them, and that bothers me more than an unfinished fic! If somebody's still around fanfic and has abandoned a fic, I'd never think it was my place to DEMAND that they continue it! I might tell them how much I enjoyed it and how I hope they'll continue it, but that would be the extent of it. Fortunately, the readers of RaM have been very nice, and although they've PM'd me about when the next update would be out, they were very nice and complimentary about it, which was fine (if a bit impatient *grin*). So far, I haven't gotten a flame. I'm sure I'm due for one, though! (That was not a request for a flame, BTW! LOL!) Of course, I could be just too thick-skinned or stupid to recognize a flame . . . . Hahaha!

[kissofdeath]

Man, if i got a review like that i would've been so pissed. I have anger management issues. Just ask anyone who knows me.

[StormAngel]

Evil person!!! I swear, if I get a review like this, this person would be at the receiving end of my temper. Just ask anyone who knows me. eg. my classmates

[mmadlyinlove]

LOL.... Whenever I used to get a bad review, I used to cry. Now, I grumble about it and my friends are just like, "Ah, bad review, huh?" ~mmadlyinlove~

[QuillofMinerva]

Don't let their comments affect you or your writing. I agree with everything that has been said above.

I'm very guilty of disappearing between fics, I haven't written anything AD/MM related for a couple of years. I have about 3 unfinished stories on here and also on ffnet. I've just struggled to get back into the AD/MM frame of mind after reading HBP and all my ideas and plans were sucked out of me. I feel bad for my readers but, I wouldn't just want to knock out something that I didn't think was any good just to appease certain readers.

Work at your own pace and keep doing what you are doing )

Clayre x