Some people just don't get it.
written by:
Billy Jack

Some people just don't get it - By Billy Jack

When I first saw this site on the internet, I fell in love with it. I used to scan through the titles, read the small caption that told a little about the story, and if it intrigued me, I read it. I always voted on the stories that I liked, and sent an email to those that I really enjoyed. I never voted on the stories that weren't very well written. Hell, to me it was a free site, so why put in a bad mark against someone who can't write as well as others? It's the story content that I always looked for.

Some stories that I have read, I could barely stay with. The grammar, the spelling, constant use of the wrong words, but even those, I did not vote low on. To me, they were doing the best they could, so to destroy something that other's enjoy doing was, to me, wrong. The lowest mark I would give would be a nine. If I didn't like the story, I often emailed the author and told him why I didn't like it, and I wouldn't vote on it. Most times the author appreciated my input. Those that apparently didn't like my constructive criticism didn't respond back.

After months of reading others stories, I decided to write one myself, just to see how well it reviewed. I was a new author, so I couldn't perceive how anyone could be so cold with their comments, or how they could vote so low. Why did they vote at all? Do they think they are professional critics?

I would submit a story and have twenty seven votes with a ten, nineteen with nines, and then I'd come up on that one individual, the one who thinks he is being cute, that voted with a six, or a five. If they don't like these types of stories, why do they even bother to log on? And the sad part, those that vote with 6's and 5's never submits stories. Well, I can't blame them for not submitting a story. I am not too sure they could put two words together intelligently anyway. If it wasn't for the click and send voting, they would probably be lost. It's a shame that there is not an essay one must take before they can vote on an author's story, that way the illiterate ones could be weeded out.

When i make mistakes, i appreciate the reader giving me their thoughts, and no matter which of us is wrong, it helps me better my stories.

Ninety percent of the responses I received, I earn, and cherish, as they help me to better my writing abilities, but there are those few that I feel are Neanderthals, and that feel that they are being cute by voting so low, but do not respond on why they voted low. If I write a story that warrants a five, then I can see it, but at least be adult enough to tell me why you voted like you did.

Those that find mistakes with my story line, and respond to let me know, I deeply appreciate it more than I can say. I try to be careful with my writing, but like all the other writers, I am only human, and subject to mistakes.

None of the authors on this site gets paid, and yet wework hard to entertain you, the readers. Our reward comes from those who enjoy our stories and respond to them, along with the good grades.

Think before you vote, this is not your time to put bad marks on the author because they have good imagination, or they have sex lives. If you are lacking on either, please do not blame us, after all, we didn't sit back and wait for life to find us, we went out and got it.

I am truly sorry if I offended anyone with my brutal honesty, but some of you deserve it. For those who enjoy these stories and continue to help us become better writers, I thank you. For those who vote low, thinking they are being cute, please, go get a life, and let the rest of the readers enjoy the site.