Should I just give it up? · 5:30am Dec 4th, 2013
I, um, had an encounter with a Fimfiction.net member eariler today over my new story. "Equestria Girls: Beast Hunters". It devolved into a flame war.
I'd like to say that -
I don't mind criticism.
I don't mind people disliking my story.
I don't mind people deciding not to read my story .
I do mind people being an arrogant pains-in-the-backside.
I have deleted all the comments this member and I exchanged as they reflected badly on both of us, but thanks to the power of Email accounts, I still have records of his replies. I would have liked to kept mine for comparison, but I didn't realize I would be making this post when I decided to deleted them.
Now, these are his replies to the things I said. His initial comment was that my story needed to be "dragged out to the back of the barn and shot", had poor grammar, and included several profanities. I replied. This was his reply to my reply.
"So your solution to this is to then delete the offending chapter and say that because I engaged in a bit of hyperbole and used some colourful language suddenly I have no point and you're not going to listen. And to add insult to injury you actually bother to answer my post but make it impossible for me to actually know about it. In deleting the chapter I posted my commentary on, you effectively deleted the comment.
Well congratulations. You're now officially a terrible writer. It's important to listen to your critics even as much as it is to listen to your fans. But instead of taking a step back and saying, "you know what? All those thumbs down on this story but not so much on my others might mean there' ;s a problem with the plot for this one". No instead you say to yourself, "I'm not going to listen to you because you're a meanie pants."
But you don't need to listen to me or anything. I'm only a writer by trade and an editor when the mood strikes me. I've got my name in print and I've helped others do the same. I can tell you right now that with all those thumbs down, you're not going to get anywhere with this story. You can try to breathe new life into it. You can attempt to win back all the naysayers but I'm pretty confident that it's not going to work and you'll be left with a black hole where this story used to be. "
Now, the reason I deleted the chapter was because I thought moving its contents into the next chapter might address some of his more valid criticisms. (He did have a few good points) I didn't know deleting the chapter would also delete his comment. But at no point did I say anything that would be reason for him to mention that he was an editor.
The fool that I am, I replied to this comment as well. His reply to my reply to his reply was this:
"You know what? Do whatever it is you want to do. I pointed things out that were weak, I showed you where you needed help and I did it the way that I normally do these things. But you're obviously too proud or too full of yourself to listen. It's okay, I was where you were once and was convinced of my own brilliance until somebody basically told me in no uncertain terms that my writing was crap. He did the same thing to me that I did to you, the only difference is I listened.
So have fun with your story and finish it the way you want to finish it. I'm done dealing with you."
Now, please tell me, not knowing what I said to him exactly (since I finally smartened up and deleted the entire conversation), but knowing that it was a little impolite, and perhaps a touch self-justifying, do these comments sound like a person worth listening to at all?
I just . . . I need a second opinion on this one.
But another thing!
I P.M the founder of the Plan 9 From Equestria Group, (Embarrassingly putting "Cybertron" where "Equestria" should have been) 'cause I thought I was being targeted. My story had 38 views, 4 thumbs up, and 1 thumbs down at the time. Next time I checked, it was put in the "Plan 9 From Cybertron" group, and it had 42 views, 4 thumbs up, 10 thumbs down. Does the math seem off there to you? It does to me. It's since gone up from 42 views to 51, and 10 thumbs down to 18, but I digress.
However, after a bit of back and forth, the Plan 9 Group Founder, while reasonable, had this to say:
"Your story is falling fast. My suggestion is to get out while you can or at the very least take it down completely for retooling. You're at 18 thumbs down to 4 thumbs up. Things are not looking rosy for that story."
Makes sense, right?. . . but my problem is that my story, "Equestria Girls: Beast Hunters" is the retool. Of "Equestria Girls: Infiltration" Now, the Plan 9 guy also mentioned that people just instantly hate any story involving Equestria Girls, so there's that to consider.
But I also had an anonymous review on EG: BH on Fanfiction.net decrying it for its dark themes and undertones, and had a conversation with a friend of mine about the same thing that went well, but also highlighted the fact that my story is not all sugar and spice and everything nice.
So, between that anonymous review, the Plan 9 Group Founder's advice, my conversations with my friend and with that throbbing pain-in-my-side who will remain unnamed, and given that Equestria Girls: Beast Hunters was my attempt at a reboot/retooling of my story . . .
Should I just give up and throw in the towel?
Edit: Removed the identify of the jerk after a concerned comment.
People can be assholes, others can be saints. Your story might have hit a bump Do not let it put you down, push past it and soilder on.
Carry on
It looks like he was trying to point out flaws and help. I don't know him at all so I can't say for sure. I don't even know you that well, to be honest. But here is what I think based upon what I see here...
He read your story and decided to point out flaws and other things he didn't like. Then you, most likely, lashed out in a defensive manner and try to disprove his points. He lashed back saying that he just wanted to help and knew more about this thing then you do (I don't know if this is true or not). This lead to an all out war of you trying to disprove his points and him defending his own.
How close was I?
Now, remember that this is just based on what I know and can deduce from what I have seen so far. I could be completely wrong! But let me tell you this... some people are blessings in disguise. Sometimes you get comments that are really douchey, but once you get past all of the meanness, they can actually have some helpful information.
I wish I could actually give you an accurate and helpful answer... but I would need to know more in orded to be comfortable saying so. But what I can say is that taking a break (for only a little while) on a frustrating project always helps me clear my head enough to think strait.
~ Michael
If his first comment held a point you felt was worth listening to then do so. EVERYTHING AFTER THAT IS JUST PIG SWILL! He may have good intents at heart but unfortunately he is too much of an ass to do the job he wishes to do.
even if his points were valid he treated you badly, ignore him.
I'm more of a "if I don't like it, I wont read it" type of guy
I did not even thumb down cupcakes 
and I hate that story 
I think she looks really really cute, but any way I'm getting off topic.
hiss)
but it's been very rare from when I give a thumbs down
for one it makes Pinkie look like a cereal killer when her mane's down
I think thumbs down are mainly down to preference of what people like I for one don't like transformers stories, so I wont read them there not in my preference, but I will give it a shot if the idea looks good.
for equestrian girls, I think my view was similar to many other people's and that equestrian girls was going to be rubbish, but after seeing the film I quite liked it and would give it a thumbs up though I must mention Flash Sentry should have been Shining Armour, that would have been funnier (I hate Flash Sentry
1570635
Yeah, that sounds about right.
The thing is, I try, as much as possible, to live in a world of absolutes, black and white morality. No middle grounds. No compromises unless they are logical and pragmatic. I know that's not a good code to live by, as the world is full of grey, but it's the one I choose. And in that code, if he is an arrogant *******, then any and all of his advice must now be regarded as idiotic and invalid.
Here's something: he was rude in his first comment, including a sexual innuendo which he didn't care to apologize for.
I admit I lashed out a bit and probably didn't react as smartly as I should have. Being smart would have been blocking him from the start, rather than carrying on the conversation where only his opinion is "correct", but Bilge Appeal made want to know what he had to say. I'll try to avoid that next time.
1571909>>1570626>>1570635>>1570920
Am I overreacting if I not only block him, but also anyone who's following him?
1573465 That depend... who exactly is the he you speak of?
~Michael
1573528
Blackguard.
1573450 I can undestand that.
And yes, take this as a learning experiance. Make sure to not repeat this in the future.
~ Michael
1573531 I don't know him.
~ Michael
1573649
He's the one who left the rude comments, boasted about being an editor, et cera.
1573743 I got that part, I was talking about how I havent heard of him before this point.
~ Michael
1573465
yes, you don't know their reasons for doing so. He gets at you so block him but unless his followers trouble you to i would say leave`em be.
1573465
maybe, it is all really up to you my friend
1573465
Well in my opinion I would ask "him" for a chance so that the two of you can no longer hate each other by putting the past behind each other
then if he does not want to put the past behind him or bury old grudges then I would block him but only him his followers may have nothing to do with it and it wont be their fault
but if they do something then you can explain to them in the high ground that you tried to see reason and put the past behind for the both of you.
*Initial thoughts without having read comments*
I really like your stories. I fail to see what people are complaining about 'dark themes' especially when there are so many other truly dark and hideous Fimfictions out there. This series isn't to dark for an AU interpretation for My Little Pony, and even it it did go a little beyond, when things like the jubileeverse and mother-freaking-cupcakes (Which I can rant about in detail at a later date) I fail to see how anyone can complain.
The only thing I can say you might have done wrong is revealing the identity of the Troll. Moves like that should be used to end a conflict, not as a parting shot. Not only is it in bad taste, it makes you look like the bad guy, I have learned that you cant control how some one treats you, but you can control how you respond.
*Thoughts after reading comments*
About Blackguard, I think that you should try and forgive him.
...I realize this is may be unexpected.
There is a more practical rationalization behind the idea of "Love your enemies, and Pray for those who persecute you."
1. If you let an enemy get to you, you are giving him a victory.
2. It proves, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that you are better than him. her. or both. you never know, theses days...
All the other commenters are right. Keep going with your story, and expect persecution. Everything good will have people tearing it down. Extend the hand of forgiveness, be prepared when him/her/other slaps it away, and go through the rest of your life pretending he/she/other doesn't exist.
I can only hope this is helpful.
One last thing: That is a great code to live by. Things are right or wrong, even if sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference. Stick with that.
1583278
I don't know . . . you have a point, but he clearly had an ego the size of planet on him. I expect that if I try to approach him and apologize for my admittedly poor behavior, he'll just try to turn it around on me. Something to the effect of "Oh, you lash out on me and then come crawling to me to apologize? Forget it, (profanity here)!"
Also: pointing a grammar error is criticism. ("This grammar is terrible in this sentence) Asking something not immediately obvious is criticism. ("Why is Character doing X? That's not explained in the story.) (it's actually explained later, but he'll never know that.)
Saying my story "sucks long and hard" and "needs to be drawn into the back of the barn and shot" is so totally flaming, and I'm not inclined to forgive for that.
I dont know, man, (Or woman) Its up to you. I really dont want to sound like I know better than anyone, but here's my logic: You cant control what he does. You can only control what you do.
If you try to forgive him, he's going to act like a jerk. that's almost a given. But you'll know that you did the right thing. That's what's most important.