Feedback: what is TMI?
This post about the sort of personal information some people include when making requests at story finder comms amused me, but I was also interested in some of the discussion in the comments about TMI people have left as story feedback, e.g. talking about the moisture content of their underwear after reading a particular story. I, too, would find that to be a little TMI, but I wondered what authors--and readers--thought about what constitutes too much information when it comes to reader responses to erotic content in a story.
Because presumably if you're writing an erotic story, you're trying to provoke a particular response, yes? And I assume the TMI feedbackers are just trying to find variants of "omg that was so hot" because 25 other people have already made that comment. I myself am partial to "I think my brain just melted," or possibly just "Guh," but again, those are fairly common, and I imagine when you're particularly, um, moved by a story, I can understand how you might want to convey that more strongly.
So, writers: when, if ever, does feedback about the sexual content of your stories go to far for you? And what is "too far"? (Funny feedback stories encouraged as long as the names aren't attached). Readers: have you ever gone too far in a comment and been embarrassed later?
I'll start: Way back in my lurky days, I sent a LOC in response to someone's Methos/Kronos rape-and-murder fest that still makes me cringe when I think of it (the feedback, not the story). I can't even remember what I said, except I was WAY too emphatic about how I enjoyed some of the rape/torture bits, and I was convinced afterward the reason the author never responded to me was that she was convinced I was a psychokiller or something. (I am actually blushing as I type this).
Edited to add: Wow, it's always exciting when I start a big discussion! Of course I always manage to do it on weeks when work is crazy. I promise to get to all the comments eventually, but maybe not all of them today. In the meantime, talk amongst yourselves.
Because presumably if you're writing an erotic story, you're trying to provoke a particular response, yes? And I assume the TMI feedbackers are just trying to find variants of "omg that was so hot" because 25 other people have already made that comment. I myself am partial to "I think my brain just melted," or possibly just "Guh," but again, those are fairly common, and I imagine when you're particularly, um, moved by a story, I can understand how you might want to convey that more strongly.
So, writers: when, if ever, does feedback about the sexual content of your stories go to far for you? And what is "too far"? (Funny feedback stories encouraged as long as the names aren't attached). Readers: have you ever gone too far in a comment and been embarrassed later?
I'll start: Way back in my lurky days, I sent a LOC in response to someone's Methos/Kronos rape-and-murder fest that still makes me cringe when I think of it (the feedback, not the story). I can't even remember what I said, except I was WAY too emphatic about how I enjoyed some of the rape/torture bits, and I was convinced afterward the reason the author never responded to me was that she was convinced I was a psychokiller or something. (I am actually blushing as I type this).
Edited to add: Wow, it's always exciting when I start a big discussion! Of course I always manage to do it on weeks when work is crazy. I promise to get to all the comments eventually, but maybe not all of them today. In the meantime, talk amongst yourselves.