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

[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.