The polls are closed.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

We asked the question: Do you comment?  View the results here
Please understand that the following is an editorial response.  I love entitlement.
In a nutshell, most people comment in order to encourage, while a portion feel that only the most exceptional story deserves commendation.  Considering how few stories garner remarks throughout LJ and beyond, most of us are, apparently, falling short of that mark.  I'm not sure if that viewpoint encourages writers to do better or simply shrug and walk away.  It is, in the end, a good thing that the key impetus for writing is the enjoyment of getting a story told, regardless of who else enjoys it.  Brava to the bold.
Many feel that a Kudos button would be helpful 'sometimes', but several are vehemently opposed.  Don't push the button if you hate the story.  
My mother had a friend when I was growing up, and she had an interesting sense of humor.  I recall one of her stories: When confronted with a couple's new infant, who was according to her narrative definitely not cute, she simply replied, "well, that's a baby!".
Perhaps we need a button to convey that same response.  I believe the parents were still proud of their accomplishment, and none the wiser.

Comments

[carabele.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure though that what keeps any writer writing is feedback.

Hell, I love feedback and, like most writers, probably at times have brooded that my work didn't seem to get enough of it.

But honestly is it comments or lack of them that drive me to keep writing or make me think about stopping doing so? No. It's the joy of sharing the tale.

I hope folks do read and enjoy my stuff, but I also realize that "different strokes for different folks" is very much true. Thus what I write just won't appeal to everyone for one reason or another, and getting discouraged by that fact is simply self-defeating.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's why I said our impetus for writing is to satisfy ourselves ultimately. The Kudos, virtual or well crafted, is a welcome bonus.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

I don't live and write for comments, though getting them is nice. I write because I enjoy it, and hope other do to, whether they comment or not. I agree with Lorna, not everyone is going to enjoy what I write, and that's not going to stop me, nor will the lack of comments.

I enjoy hearing from people in regards to one of my stories, and I think that interaction is what I like the most. It's nice to pm back and forth after a comment has been made. I've gotten to know quite a few interesting and nice people because they chose to comment.

The analogy to a musician playing to an non-reactive audience was used in the discussions, and being a musician, it hit home. I know I perform much better and enjoy myself more when the audience responds. And I suppose if thet continued not to respond, I would find that discouraging.

Comparing that to writing is appropriate. We're in a more anonymous situation posting on -line than being on a stage in front of people. Still we write for ourselves and our own enjoyment, just as a musician enjoys playing. But posting a story on line, for the public consumption comes along with the understanding that people will hopefully read it.

And if one doesn't care about people reading it, then why post it in a public forum? What's the point or purpose then?

There has to be a certain expectation that people will read what you write.

Using Kudos is a good idea to let someone know you've read their story, but have nothing to say about it. If you didn't like the story, then as Glenna said, don't push the Kudos button. A personal comment is better of course, but some people don't feel comfortable doing that, so Kudos solves that issue.

I can't believe for one minute that someone posting stories online doesn't want feedback on their writing. Lack of feedback can be discouraging to some, but feedback is an encouragement to all, whether it's in the form of a Kudo or a personal comment.

[carabele.livejournal.com]

I can't believe for one minute that someone posting stories online doesn't want feedback on their writing sometimes. Lack of feedback can be discouraging to some, but feedback is an encouragement to all, whether it's in the form of a Kudo or a personal comment.

Of course every writer wants feedback. I'm just on the side of the fence that doesn't see generic kudos as feedback. Just a different perspective, I guess.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

OK I get you better now, Kudos isn't feedback in the true sense, but it is an acknowledgement. Though giving a Kudos means you like what you read, so in essence, it is a form of feedback, though the barest.

Kudos is for people who don't know what to say, there's a lot of shy people out there who just don't comment for that reason. So Kudos would be a nice option for them to acknowledge to a writer that they liked what they read. It's not for everyone... that's all.

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

Just to say, I found this poll interesting, and thank glennagirl for the idea.

I marked myself as 'kudos, sometimes'; and since I find myself agreeing with both sides of the kudos dispute, I think I'll keep to that.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

I'm glad it provoked some conversation. We tend to get ourselves behind our screens (literally) and forget that what we are doing and writing can and does impact other people. To the creative soul, affirmation is essential. Anyone who sings, dances, writes or does finger painting and says it doesn't matter what people say is either numb to their own feelings or fibbing a big one.
We don't need to live and die by the stroke of a comment or the sound of applause, but without it the experience is a little less enjoyable.
Thank you for all of your generous comments to so many writers.

[the-wretching.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, a "well, that's a story" is actively insulting while just keeping quiet is...well, just keeping quiet.

Anyway, this has been a very interesting question.

So, do I correctly infer that the addition of some kind of "kudos" button is in the works at Section 7?

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Well, that's an idea ;) LJ doesn't have a Kudos button, so the best we can do is encourage people to post it as a comment. I know, it's Some Big Kind Of Deal.