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edenfallingI got this comment today on a slash story from several years ago:
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It's old. It's odd. It's short. And I am homophobic.
But still, it's good for a laugh, and definitely WAFF-y. :) I like it.
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...
Um. That. What???
I sent a neutral response because I can't help suspecting this person is a troll, but I wanted to say something more like this:
Dear [Redacted],
You don't need to tell me that you're homophobic before praising my story. In fact, please don't.
I am willing to concede that your intent may have been along the lines of, "I don't usually like Pairing X but you wrote it well enough that I enjoyed the story anyway," but you know something? I am not thrilled by those reviews either. I understand that they're meant to compliment my writing ability by saying I persuaded readers to like something they usually dislike, but... I don't actually need to know that you usually dislike the aspect in question, whatever it is. Just say you enjoyed the story, no qualifications necessary. That is more than enough of a compliment -- and in this particular case, also avoids the problem of making me feel vaguely icky in a complicit fashion.
--Liz
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It's old. It's odd. It's short. And I am homophobic.
But still, it's good for a laugh, and definitely WAFF-y. :) I like it.
---------------
...
Um. That. What???
I sent a neutral response because I can't help suspecting this person is a troll, but I wanted to say something more like this:
Dear [Redacted],
You don't need to tell me that you're homophobic before praising my story. In fact, please don't.
I am willing to concede that your intent may have been along the lines of, "I don't usually like Pairing X but you wrote it well enough that I enjoyed the story anyway," but you know something? I am not thrilled by those reviews either. I understand that they're meant to compliment my writing ability by saying I persuaded readers to like something they usually dislike, but... I don't actually need to know that you usually dislike the aspect in question, whatever it is. Just say you enjoyed the story, no qualifications necessary. That is more than enough of a compliment -- and in this particular case, also avoids the problem of making me feel vaguely icky in a complicit fashion.
--Liz
(no subject)
Date: 2013-03-29 02:36 am (UTC)I suddenly feel very lucky that my only "don't like X"-esque comment on a fic was such a mild version! That is kind of vaguely squicky, in that same way as when RL people I scarcely know try to tell me about their sex life/family problems/medical issues/opinions on generic groups of people. D:
(no subject)
Date: 2013-03-29 02:53 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-03-29 04:15 am (UTC)opened with 'I'm so glad this story isn't slash,'
Hahaha, this is basically what my own weird review was! Not the opening line, but the sentiment was the main focus of the comment. (With some emphasis as to how it's not necessary for it to go into slash territory because it can just be friendship... This on a fic with "pre-slash" in the tags.)
I find that "thanks for your comment! I'm glad that the story worked for you" is a very good generic reply to mind-boggling comments. :D