So I almost never post a thank you for those who have read and commented my stories (though the number is pretty small, so it would not be hard to do), though I will occasionally email someone who left a particularly nice or interesting comment. Am I being rude and lazy? I tend to ignore them when I get them, but I may be in the minority. And if I do, do people prefer it as an image with text added, or just a simple thank you?
I am SO GRATEFUL when people Read and Comment... (I almost NEVER say so...) I take it as a given... Every now and again, when I notice a CONSTANT READER, (SK) I'll send a PM thanking them... But usually, I don't even LIKE comments...
(I kinda feel like The Stuff EXISTS up there on it's own... Who cares what I think? That said, I LOVE comments... Nothing Worse than a VOTE without a comment!) Good or Bad!
xx SF
I've made up graphics with 'thank-you's' for reading each of my stories, and post them in my friends' comment boxes when they read and comment my stories. Non-friends who read and comment, I send thank-you messages to. If they can take the time to read and comment my stories, I can take a minute to thank them. I was taught to be polite. :-) If ever I've missed any of you who commented, I apologize.
Lots of people do the custom made 'thank you' graphics for a particular story or series of theirs and either send it via PM (if the reader isn't on their friends list) or as a post on a wall.
You're pretty brave for openly admitting that you purposely don't thank people for reading your work...as some people take that sort of thing quite personally and get offended by it.
Before we got the option of liking and commenting on story comments, I used to go the PM/wall post route. I'm actually considering going back because even that seems a bit too impersonal for my tastes.
As far as whether or not you should thank your readers goes, that's totally up to you. It's good etiquette, if nothing else, to thank someone for taking the time to read your work...especially if they took the time to score and comment. But you are by no means obligated to thank them.
My personal feeling on the subject is that it's rude. I can appreciate the fact that it's your time and effort that goes into crafting a piece and we should be able to appreciate each other's work, but someone taking the time to acknowledge and appreciate your efforts shouldn't go unnoticed. Most authors thank their readers in some form or fashion, and not just on Lush, but in general.
It's one thing if a few scores or comments go unnoticed by accident...it happens all the time, but some people don't know better and still take it personal. But deliberately ignoring those who take the time to read/score/comment on your stories seems kind of arrogant, even if it's not your intention to seem that way.
Also, thanking people for reading/commenting/scoring is a great way to establish a good rapport with your readership as well as other authors.
As I said before, you're brave for posting this thread...so brace yourself for the onslaught that's sure to follow from those who feel strongly about this.
░P░U░S░S░Y░ ░I░N░ ░B░I░O░
I always thank all my readers with a thank you and several pictures of things they might like.
I think if they are taking the time to read my things, the least I can do is to thank them.
xo
I guess I'm very rude then.
I'm not arrogant whatsoever.
I know no one owes me anything.
I would still continue to write even if no one read/scored or commented because I write to say what I must.
I appreciate the comments, so I try to send a personal email if they are not friends. If they are friends, I generally post a picture of a Studebaker on their wall (or equivalent) with a note underneath thanking them. I hope I never miss anyone, but I am one lazy mofo so I might have. I don't get many comments like the better writers here do, so I treat my commenters like the Very Important People they are. The one thing I generally don't do much is use the new reply-to-comment function, cause I don't want to do that for one or two people and not do it for the rest. I don't do all that glittery, graphic stuff cause I am an ignorant dork and too lazy to learn that shit.
“It's nice sometimes to open up the heart a little and let some hurt come in. It proves you're still alive.”
You can't always get all of them, but I say thank you in my forum signature if people have read my stories. Usually if I do get comments, they are short. I do get a few longer ones too, but thanks to everyone to comments on mine.
While I don't always thank all my readers for taking the time to read or score/comment on my stories, I am SO GRATEFUL when they do. I simply put stories out too fast to make graphics for each one (besides being graphically challenged anyway).
However I do want to go on record here in saying I am very appreciative of each and every person who has read one or more of my stories. I never in my wildest imagination thought I could become an author much less have my stories so well received. Thank you one and all for your time, your attention, and your wonderful comments. I am honored beyond words.
@}-'-,- Master Jonathan
After reading some of the comments here, I'm reminded of celebrities who refuse to be bothered to sign autographs for their fans for basically the same reasons some authors here refuse to send thank-you's for story comments. While I think its wrong for any commenter to EXPECT a thank-you, (or for a fan to expect an autograph, for that matter), this is an issue of individual preference. Courtesy is just something some people extend and others don't. What I failed to consider however, is how my thank-you graphics posted on my readers' pages may be construed as cheap promotionalism, so I may, in the future, curtail the graphics and simply send private thank-you messages instead. It has bothered me when authors send spam promotions of their new stories in mass PM's, as I feel its tacky and sets a bad precedent. If I want notifications of your new stories, I'll 'follow' you! Personally, I will never spam my friends with this crap, as I feel its playing into this Lush undercurrent of 'popularity-contest' mentality. My stories are there. Take them or leave them, but I'm not going to beg you to read them with either spam, or graphics attached to forum-comments linking to my stories.
I always try to thank all readers of my (our) stories. Sometimes I'm a little slow replying but I sincerely appreciate even if most of the guys and some women are a little racy in their comments but the racier the better. I do have one request to everyone, If you see a military man or woman take the time to say "Thank you" as they give up so much for us. Best of everything, JuLee
). At any rate. Thanks for your honesty. Mea Culpa.
