Danyealle

I pulled Kryptonite off the web everywhere, sorry.

I think Melrick's summed that up nicely. It's my understanding that there has already been a petition to add this to movies banned by reason of the Geneva Convention when choosing films for prisoners of war.

I think I'd rather staple my scrotum to the bottom lip of a rabid, starving tiger than to watch a 50 Shades of Gray movie. That's what I think.

That is very much not worth it. And I doubt they're going to get the big fandoms that pull the most people either. Like Harry Potter. The anime they may as those--they tend to be treated differently and, from what i know, some of the companies in Japan are willing to license that. I'm not seeing this as a good thing for the authors, just Amazon trying to cash in on the craze that started with Fifty Shades of Grey when it became well known it started life as a fanfic.

Its fine to seek perfection in yourself if that's what you want to do, but have compassion for those not as skilled as yourself some people just enjoy telling a story even if its not grammar and spelling perfect. I have read stories with perfect grammar and spelling and tone of voice that comes across superior and the story ends up boring as hell! To me a good story makes me want to read each word that comes next even if they are spelled wrong and the periods and commas are missing. To me character development and plot structure are much more important than pure and perfect grammar and spelling... surely not every word we say to each other daily is perfect english we are all flawed is some ways, so are stories. A really good story rises aboves its flaws just like people do. No ones perfect, neither are stories. It must be very boring to read stories only to seek out their mistakes. Guess that's why I wouldn't make a good editor. Cal

Heaven forbid, though, if we point out to someone that they make mistakes or need help. After all, this isn't a professional writing site and we shouldn't treat things in it as such. Or we hold the written word that people post to a standard of readability that doesn't want to make you spork your eyes out or you need a version of Babel Fish to figure out what was said.
And, sorry, not buying the dyslexia excuse for poor writing either as I am one that suffers from it and i sure as heck don't put that kind of horribly written stuff out there!
Sorry, all the excuses out there for poor writing are just that... excuses! There are ways to get help or fix it if you want to, most just think they don't have to bother.
</rant>
*goes back to hiding*

I'm gonna add mine here. Like Rogue, I did C-Section because I couldn't go into labor. As in no labor pains at all, whatsoever, for 24 hours after the water broke and they tried everything they could to induce it with nothing working. However, unlike what most here are describing, I was friggin' miserable for the whole term, all nine plus months of it (yeah, mini-me was two weeks late). I had morning sickness (read that all day long, every day) the whole time and i couldn't be around cooking hamburger unless I wanted to spend time in the bathroom. For the last two months, i couldn't wear shoes because my feet were so swollen. And I was huge though I gained no more than BW talked about. That had to do with the way I carried her. However, in contrast, my sisters can pop the lil buggers out quickly with no issue. My next youngest, she said the longest she was in labor with all hers was five hours. The first? She was in hard labor for about an hour, it. My other sister was the same way. They had no problems and no major complications when it came to their pregnancies. I was the exception. And, passed that exception onto the daughter because she had the same issues I did when she gave birth by C-Section as well And, yeah, she was it for me! We ain't doing that bit again, no way, no how, forget it!

I'm gonna add mine here. Like Rogue, I did C-Section because I couldn't go into labor. As in no labor pains at all, whatsoever, for 24 hours after the water broke and they tried everything they could to induce it with nothing working. However, unlike what most here are describing, I was friggin' miserable for the whole term, all nine plus months of it (yeah, mini-me was two weeks late). I had morning sickness (read that all day long, every day) the whole time and i couldn't be around cooking hamburger unless I wanted to spend time in the bathroom. For the last two months, i couldn't wear shoes because my feet were so swollen. And I was huge though I gained no more than BW talked about. That had to do with the way I carried her. However, in contrast, my sisters can pop the lil buggers out quickly with no issue. My next youngest, she said the longest she was in labor with all hers was five hours. The first? She was in hard labor for about an hour, it. My other sister was the same way. They had no problems and no major complications when it came to their pregnancies. I was the exception. And, passed that exception onto the daughter because she had the same issues I did when she gave birth by C-Section as well And, yeah, she was it for me! We ain't doing that bit again, no way, no how, forget it!

This is a prime example of why the ratings system is flawed:
Hits [3147] -:- Reviews -:- Average / Total Vote [+++++ / 10109]
More than three times the "rates" than it has views.

Reported, Rogue!

Samsung pays Apple $1 Billion sending 30 trucks full of 5 cent coins

I'm actually not denigrating anyone who chooses to follow the path of being a slave. However, at 56, I'm pretty sure that I know my limits, and it's not something I could offer. I do understand the strength of personality it requires, however, and I do know people who are exactly that, full of personality and spark.
Having said that, I still believe that for many of our younger writers, there is a blurring of the roles, and an unwillingness to do the research. Hence this thread.

Mau, I would suggest that you go back a couple pages here and reread what was said about authors killing chances at getting reviews. In your case, it's probably a contributing factor.

I'm going to say this honestly... if you are here to get reviews, get out now. This isn't the place to do that. Some fandoms, especially those that cater to younger beings, get those no matter what craptastic, unreadable BS you put up but most of the fandoms don't get the kind of thing you are looking for, especially the older ones. Some stories, ones that have gone on forever, do get such things but newer ones from authors people don't know tend to not get the mega-hits or review counts. However, though reviews might be scarce as hen's teeth, that doesn't mean what you do get doesn't mean anything. Hell, I have a multitude of stories on this site that have been up for years that have no reviews. A few even came down to be published, and I don't mean self-published either, though they had no reviews on this site. Lack of reviews means nothing. It means that people aren't reviewing for their own reasons. You also need to take into account the concept of review karma, meaning the more YOU review, the more apt you are to get them in return. It does tend to work that way.
Reviews are an odd thing. As so many have pointed out, many stories that get mega hits, reviews and rates aren't worth it and you wonder if those that did that read the same one you did while really good ones don't get such things. It just goes that way on all sites I've seen.
In closing, I'll say this... if you like what you're doing and do it for your own reason, what difference do reviews make to you anyway?

I'm going to be honest, I’ve been avoiding this thread like it's nuclear waste because it's the kind of thing that can lead to serious rants and some very hurt feeling but, after today, I decided to add my two pennies to it (and Apollo is checking those pennies to make sure I don't step over the line with this rant).
For those on here that don't know, I've been an archive moderator since '08 and seen a lot of things over those years so I can quite honestly say that, despite what someone asserted, it's not a few bad apples that have ruined reviews for most everyone but a whole lot of them rotten apples that have killed it! That's no joke, folks! And the biggest problem with getting reviews is the authors themselves. They are the ones that have, bluntly, made it to where so many are out and out scared to leave a review of any kind for anyone. It's sad, but it's true! I know people are going to argue with that assertion but hear me out.
One very shining example of this happened today. A few days ago, I was working on doing my ten reviews for AFF's Review Association (for those of you that don't know what that is we go in and review stories each month that have none. Our reward for that? We get a banner. Nothing else. If interested, they are always accepting members-plug over, back to rant...). It's been a few days since I did it so I didn't think anything of it until I woke up today and was getting ready for work. Checking the standard pages I do when I get up, I found that one of the beings I left a review for reported me for it! Now, being a mod, I know what the difference between what a flame and concrit is. I also know where the line is drawn and don't even step close to it. If I feel something I’m saying is too harsh, I get BW or Apollo to check it over for me to see if there isn't a way to soften up what I said or to ensure that I didn't step over any kind of line with it.
The review in question wasn't even one I had to do that with. It was nicely worded, slightly blunt but not overly so, giving the issue, a link about how to fix the issue and how what was done affects the reader when trying to read it. I started and ended the review with positive things about the story. Nor did I rip the thing apart. But, still, I got reported for it and there was a long rant from the author about the whole thing basically saying I need to quit pretending this is a professional writing site or Hollywood and stop leaving those kinds of reviews. I was... STUNNED. Then I laughed my ass off! Am I mad about it? No, I thought it was funny as hell! Am I in trouble for it? No, because I did nothing wrong and I didn't flame or attack anyone. Is this odd? Yes and no. It's odd that I got reported but these kinds of tantrums over concrit reviews are quite common. There are plenty out there, more than just a small handful of them, that want nothing but fandpoodling OMGWTFILUFFIT reviews and for you to say nothing else though they ask for reviews.
Other examples are just as bad. Plenty pimp the hell out of their stuff all over and ask for reviews but when you give them an honest one, they just delete it and don't bother to fix any of the issues you pointed out even if you give them a very easy way or solution to fixing what is wrong. Talking to Rogue, another member of the RA, we figured out that we are running about 50/50 with reviews we leave. About 50% stay up and the other 50 either get rid of the review or out and out delete the story (this month's 5 I did serious concrit for has resulted in 2 reviews already being deleted and one reporting me for what I had to say so you can see this is not an exaggeration). That is sad but true. And, generally, they all but beg for reviews in the story, the thread in the forum to promo the story or elsewhere. But if you don't just gush, they get rid of it. How many times are you going to go through with this until you give up? It generally doesn't take long before you throw your hands up and say 'I give' then quit. It get's worse though.
Though many of you might think I’m joking (I can assure you, I’m not), it goes downhill from there. Like I said at the beginning, I’ve seen a lot over my time as a mod and a common thing to happen is the flame baiting by authors. BW and I have both had this happen to us because we're mods and the author didn't like something we told them to change. We've had them say something in the story then had their readers go after our stories with reviews that are intended to be retaliatory and bombing our ratings. And if they'll do it to a mod, who knows what's going on and how to handle it, you can damned sure bet they do it to reviewers that say something they don't like! They have too, many, many, MANY times.
They leave a butt-hurt, whiney ass AN about how someone was so mean to them in a review or that they think they should just stop writing because of something that is said then BAM the reviewer gets nailed. It happens more than you think, folks! And if you think it's just younger authors that do this, think again! There are plenty of older ones that do the same thing. This, more than anything, has made it to where people are afraid to leave a review. Would you want attacked because you were honest or were giving feedback to someone that's not mean but intended to help them improve what they do? The majority of you would say no to this but it's what happens. And plenty have seen this so they back off and say nothing rather than be on the receiving end of that kind of flaming. That results in people not reviewing. Since this has gone on for years, the end result is what you see now; reviews are minimal. If someone gives one, it's just standard fanpoodling OMG update soon or something like that.
So, know what? You want to bitch and complain to someone about this? Go find the authors that do this bonehead stupid stuff, and more I didn't mention, and let them know because they are the ones that have killed the reviews for the rest of you more than just the readers that never bother.

One of the things that drives me crazy is seeing a Master/slave relationship portrayed as Dominant/submissive. The two relationships are NOT interchangeable, at all.
I'm going to post a link to a site that has probably one of the best explanations of the two terms, and I urge anyone who wants to write a real D/s relationship to read this.
A Slave is Not a Submissive
The author uses rather silly gender neutral pronouns, granted, but the definitions are superb.

Mau, I would suggest that you go back a couple pages here and reread what was said about authors killing chances at getting reviews. In your case, it's probably a contributing factor.

::chuckles:: I promise not to pummel anyone.
I'm going to speak strictly as an author here, and not as staff, so keep that in mind.
I love reviews. I love the quick "That was great!" reviews, and I love when someone takes the time to leave a long and thoughtful review chock full of the kind of concrit that will make me improve as a writer. I like to know what works, and I like to know what doesn't, because I'm not suffering from the delusion that I'm awesome. I'm good, but I can be better. Lots better.
Now, I don't care if you want to leave me a quick line, and then come chat on my review thread. That's wonderful, and I'd love to hear the concrit portion there. I'm fine with forum PMs, too. But the whole point is that I like to know I'm not just wanking here. I like to know people are reading, and I like to know how they reacted to what I wrote.
I don't always have a lot of time to leave long reviews, but I'll try to at least say something if I take the time to read a story. If I get the feeling an author wants real dialogue, as opposed to just pats and squeals of delight, I'm happy to chat more. That's how I've met some marvelous people.
I won't fanpoodle, though. That is just beneath me, and anyone over the age of twelve, actually. You want blind adoration, get a dog. I'm more of a dragon myself.

I'm going to say this honestly... if you are here to get reviews, get out now. This isn't the place to do that. Some fandoms, especially those that cater to younger beings, get those no matter what craptastic, unreadable BS you put up but most of the fandoms don't get the kind of thing you are looking for, especially the older ones. Some stories, ones that have gone on forever, do get such things but newer ones from authors people don't know tend to not get the mega-hits or review counts. However, though reviews might be scarce as hen's teeth, that doesn't mean what you do get doesn't mean anything. Hell, I have a multitude of stories on this site that have been up for years that have no reviews. A few even came down to be published, and I don't mean self-published either, though they had no reviews on this site. Lack of reviews means nothing. It means that people aren't reviewing for their own reasons. You also need to take into account the concept of review karma, meaning the more YOU review, the more apt you are to get them in return. It does tend to work that way.
Reviews are an odd thing. As so many have pointed out, many stories that get mega hits, reviews and rates aren't worth it and you wonder if those that did that read the same one you did while really good ones don't get such things. It just goes that way on all sites I've seen.
In closing, I'll say this... if you like what you're doing and do it for your own reason, what difference do reviews make to you anyway?

I'm going to be honest, I’ve been avoiding this thread like it's nuclear waste because it's the kind of thing that can lead to serious rants and some very hurt feeling but, after today, I decided to add my two pennies to it (and Apollo is checking those pennies to make sure I don't step over the line with this rant).
For those on here that don't know, I've been an archive moderator since '08 and seen a lot of things over those years so I can quite honestly say that, despite what someone asserted, it's not a few bad apples that have ruined reviews for most everyone but a whole lot of them rotten apples that have killed it! That's no joke, folks! And the biggest problem with getting reviews is the authors themselves. They are the ones that have, bluntly, made it to where so many are out and out scared to leave a review of any kind for anyone. It's sad, but it's true! I know people are going to argue with that assertion but hear me out.
One very shining example of this happened today. A few days ago, I was working on doing my ten reviews for AFF's Review Association (for those of you that don't know what that is we go in and review stories each month that have none. Our reward for that? We get a banner. Nothing else. If interested, they are always accepting members-plug over, back to rant...). It's been a few days since I did it so I didn't think anything of it until I woke up today and was getting ready for work. Checking the standard pages I do when I get up, I found that one of the beings I left a review for reported me for it! Now, being a mod, I know what the difference between what a flame and concrit is. I also know where the line is drawn and don't even step close to it. If I feel something I’m saying is too harsh, I get BW or Apollo to check it over for me to see if there isn't a way to soften up what I said or to ensure that I didn't step over any kind of line with it.
The review in question wasn't even one I had to do that with. It was nicely worded, slightly blunt but not overly so, giving the issue, a link about how to fix the issue and how what was done affects the reader when trying to read it. I started and ended the review with positive things about the story. Nor did I rip the thing apart. But, still, I got reported for it and there was a long rant from the author about the whole thing basically saying I need to quit pretending this is a professional writing site or Hollywood and stop leaving those kinds of reviews. I was... STUNNED. Then I laughed my ass off! Am I mad about it? No, I thought it was funny as hell! Am I in trouble for it? No, because I did nothing wrong and I didn't flame or attack anyone. Is this odd? Yes and no. It's odd that I got reported but these kinds of tantrums over concrit reviews are quite common. There are plenty out there, more than just a small handful of them, that want nothing but fandpoodling OMGWTFILUFFIT reviews and for you to say nothing else though they ask for reviews.
Other examples are just as bad. Plenty pimp the hell out of their stuff all over and ask for reviews but when you give them an honest one, they just delete it and don't bother to fix any of the issues you pointed out even if you give them a very easy way or solution to fixing what is wrong. Talking to Rogue, another member of the RA, we figured out that we are running about 50/50 with reviews we leave. About 50% stay up and the other 50 either get rid of the review or out and out delete the story (this month's 5 I did serious concrit for has resulted in 2 reviews already being deleted and one reporting me for what I had to say so you can see this is not an exaggeration). That is sad but true. And, generally, they all but beg for reviews in the story, the thread in the forum to promo the story or elsewhere. But if you don't just gush, they get rid of it. How many times are you going to go through with this until you give up? It generally doesn't take long before you throw your hands up and say 'I give' then quit. It get's worse though.
Though many of you might think I’m joking (I can assure you, I’m not), it goes downhill from there. Like I said at the beginning, I’ve seen a lot over my time as a mod and a common thing to happen is the flame baiting by authors. BW and I have both had this happen to us because we're mods and the author didn't like something we told them to change. We've had them say something in the story then had their readers go after our stories with reviews that are intended to be retaliatory and bombing our ratings. And if they'll do it to a mod, who knows what's going on and how to handle it, you can damned sure bet they do it to reviewers that say something they don't like! They have too, many, many, MANY times.
They leave a butt-hurt, whiney ass AN about how someone was so mean to them in a review or that they think they should just stop writing because of something that is said then BAM the reviewer gets nailed. It happens more than you think, folks! And if you think it's just younger authors that do this, think again! There are plenty of older ones that do the same thing. This, more than anything, has made it to where people are afraid to leave a review. Would you want attacked because you were honest or were giving feedback to someone that's not mean but intended to help them improve what they do? The majority of you would say no to this but it's what happens. And plenty have seen this so they back off and say nothing rather than be on the receiving end of that kind of flaming. That results in people not reviewing. Since this has gone on for years, the end result is what you see now; reviews are minimal. If someone gives one, it's just standard fanpoodling OMG update soon or something like that.
So, know what? You want to bitch and complain to someone about this? Go find the authors that do this bonehead stupid stuff, and more I didn't mention, and let them know because they are the ones that have killed the reviews for the rest of you more than just the readers that never bother.

When it comes to reviews, I used to be hurt to hardly get any when I first started on out FF.Net (at about age 12 or 13). But then, as I grew and got older I started noticing how when I did get reviews, they would influence my writing. Instead of writing for me, I was writing to please my readers which would change the entire plot/tone of my story in a direction I didn't like. So I quit.
Years later, I've come back with a different perspective: I don't care about reviews. Sure, they're great to get or know that someone is enjoying your writing, but I'm not going to let reviews or the number I get put me in a down place. I use writing to getting away from the real world, as hobby, a way to express myself during difficult times. My feelings, thoughts and emotions comes out in my characters when I write since I've experienced what they have.
Now, I'm writing for me; not my readers, not my reviewers. You get what I give you. It may sound a little harsh but it's honest.
When I do get reviews, I favor those that aren't afraid to speak their mind and point out errors. I love criticism and tips for improvement. That's why when I review, I tend to be the same way by helping the author improve if they'd like.

As a writer, you have me scratching my head here. I'm not seeing how you can do what is asked without angst of any kind. To change sides, you're going to need angst on someone's part to make a decent fic, honestly. Not to mention fics with no angst tend to make the leads Mary Sue/Gary Stu's.

I got to say. Not only am I not interested in this challenge I'm surprised anyone is.
Because entitled much? You demand that someone write your long complicated plot, (incredible a-canonical and ooc plot that someone has to try and make it work for you) and then you demand it has to 50,000 words long. (Are you any kind of writer? Because that's a freakin novella)
And then you whine about how unreliable fanfic authors are how you must totally promise to finish it if you start. Because people don't have real lifes or anything. They can't start something in good faith and then not able to finish it.
so... yeah, No.

May I also state that perpetuating ignorance by continuing to use the pentagram in such a manner doesn't actually indicate to any of us that you are aware of its origins or meaning?
As to the issue itself, I would hardly think that Richard the Lionhearted would consider his family crest to be an evil symbol, yet the Muslims of that era would certainly consider seeing that banner flying above one of their cities to be an evil thing. The symbol on the banners would be the crest of the army's leader. (See this image from Mulan) Try this Google search. If you don't like feudal Japan, try a different Asian nation.

i would suggest that the symbol you are talking about is the baphomet, the symbol for the Church of Satan, not the pentagram. It has the goat head on it. Japanese symbolism is very different than those of us in the west use. You may want to do some research before using something like that.