Ah...that was refreshing. *bright smile* I got flamed of a perfectly good piece of fanfiction (how do I know it was good? More than one person read it, plus I have good syntax), but you know what? I just emailed them back, saying "Thanks for reviewing. ^-^"

And I never got any answer back. These people just want to trash your stories for no reason.

And most of them don't leave their email address, as you pointed out. Thanks for posting this.

I had a good laugh. Have a nice day! : )

I've said this many times before and I stand by it still: If a person can't get their point cross without cursing or name calling, all it does it show their lack of intelligence and should be ignored. (The trash talk that is, not the person)

I remember Reply A from the reviews page way back when the first part was posted. Back then, the above statement was thrown out the window as I flamed the person in my head. Sad, yes, but still something I do. Once flaming was done, I collected myself and thought, "What's the point in trying to either explain or counter anything he has to say? It won't change his view and certainly won't change that attitude." While I think an e-mail to you would have worked better, I'm just not into e-mails all that much, hahaha.

Another saying comes to mind: "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink". The horse here is Reply A and the water is, well, sadly everything you've written on this subject. Reply B has good points as well, but I think the sarcasism could have been left out. Hostal words breed hostal replies.

On the topic of poor summaries I have this to say: you never want to put so much into them that it's like a shorter version of the story, it makes reading it pointless. By the same tack, too little and the reader doesn't know if it's worth the time to read. I have trouble with them myself, never knowing just how much to say in them. Usually, I end up with a one to two sentances that are about the overall theme but say nothing about the plot entirely and why the rating is set at that level. Between that and the genre, nobody should have too much to say about the shortness of the story. This is expecially true, for fan-fics, since they are already in a sub group of a known fictional world. Just because it's original doesn't make the world any less fictional and that is why there are sub sets of fantasy, and adventure, etc. If the basis for the blast is because the summary is short, ya need to find something else to do than write reviews.

Speaking of which, why bother to leave a review if you didn't like it at all and only want to flame it in the first place? Do people who like only Ranma 1/2 fiction go into say Sailormoon fiction which they hate the anime and expect to like the stories they find? If it's not your thing, why bother to read it? I don't like a few anime, but that doesn't mean I go out of my way to read a story about that series and flame the crap out of someone because I don't like it. Also, if you don't like what you're reading, you only have yourself to blame. Don't waste your time and the authors...and the subsaquint review readers...with trash talk and cursing. YES not everyone does this, but, not everyone is smart enough to use the back button either.

Neko, hun, from one writer to another: Don't matter what the review, as long as they come back for more and get them talking about it for times to come! Shoot, it's been over five years since I last left a review here, and wow. Keep writing, you have a talent.

I really enjoyed this to tell you the truth. ^-^ It was well written and had a very real/familiar veiw to it. ^-^ Which I really enjoyed. You spoke the truth and also you said your opinion. ^^ The only thing I find wrong or bad about this essay. Is that it is insulting.

I have no idea how I even got here, since I hardly ever read original fiction, but...I have to agree with you almost totally. There IS a difference between constructive criticism and a flame, like you said. Constructive criticism is where another author points out something about your work to make it better, and a flame just insults it, deserved or not.

I've never gotten an out-in-out flame (plenty of criticism, though), but I dislike some of the nastier ones that I've seen. I'm sorry, but people can usually figure out what the story is using the summary (even down to the style of writing if it's long enough), and if you don't like it, then I have one point of advice for ya: DON'T READ IT. It's your fault for not clicking the back button!

Oh, and that review you got from "Shellback?" THAT is a prime example of a flame. He is the rare case, as he can at least SPELL, but...oh anyway, great essay! It probably helped quite a few people who have been flamed!

I very much agree with what you've written...especially in response to "Shellback", having recieved flamers for my stories as well. I will admit, unfortunately, that I don't have your objectivity when replying to them...^^;; It's a bad habit, i know, but I rather have a fiery personality (hence the name)and in the heat of the moment...well...I do get my point across...but perhaps not as nicely...

Thank you for writing this. it was immensely satisfying

Wonderful Bry!

Who does that person think they are...or you for that matter. Even popular writers who never get flames dislike flamers. I know I do!

Keep up the good work!

Hey! I totally agree with what you're saying Neko-chan. There is a major difference between constructive critisism and just flaming someone. Flamers are cruel people who enjoy dissing others work when most of the time they either: A) Don't agree with the views of the story or B) Deep down, they're jealous. =) There are more but I'm a bit tired to list them all. That Shellback guy was a jerk and Americans are smart! hmph. Guy must be raciest or something like that. The problem is when people see something that they disagree with or they find strange, they instantly begin to make fun of it. They don't understand it and so they are cruel. They make fun of others to hide their own insecurities. Ignore the jerks is the best advice I have to offer to anybody and when you read people's writing that is different that what you normally see, try to understand it.

*huggles* Luv ya Neko-chan!!

awww this wasn't about a pyromaniac! *pouts* just kidding ^_^. i agree with you on the subject, although, i actually like getting the occational flame via e-mail. it gives me something else to laugh about for a good five to ten minutes. then i e-mail them back, tell them how to fix their grammer and spelling errors. it's interesting how quickly their skills increase with each passing message *grins*.

Very nicely written Bry-chaaan! ^^ And so many of those things are so true! Some people probably just flame 'cause they have nothing else better to do...
Anyway...like I said...nicely written...it wasn't some crazy rant (hehe) and it was just...good! Maybe you should consider a whole newspaper writer career thing...you know..."Bry's Corner" or something...Lol! (Just another thought.) ^_^

Oh! Another idiot who thinks they're justified by bombing stereotyped evil, let's join in kiddies!

First of all, you preppy stuck up bastard, not every "flamer" uses stupid little 'chat-cronyms' as I've heard them called. I've seen quite a few flames that gave constructive criticism as well as crushing the hopes of the author; I found it quite amusing to say the least. As well, there are many "flamers," that leave an address, me being one of them. I will admit the majority is surprising scarred shitless that the author, who for god given reasons, might actually have a backbone and email them. As well with the imagination bit, I bet you EVERY single one of them has more imagination than you. How can I make this bet? Because you're preaching ** I'm tired of hearing every day/week/month. Find a new topic of interest moron.

I have to severely disagree with paragraph four. Flamers flame 90% of the time not because they want to be rude or insulting (that is the other ten percent), but because they dislike the fiction and feel it is their Americanized constitutional right to blast it for being something they personally disapprove of. So they don't leave their email, big whoop-deedoo for you. You my friend wouldn't leave an address either, you'd leave a signed review. Why? Because it looks better if the flamer leaves one. That way he doesn't have to show one in the profile. I'm not calling you or your minority a bunch of chicken ** asses but I'm sure as sure implying it.

And another thing (geez I'm starting to sound like you), flamers don't need reasons to flame. You don't need a reason for anything but people ask because they think they're being smart when if fact they look like idiots for asking obvious answer questions.

"Once again, the answer is very simple: The typical flamer lives only to insult people. They have no other purpose but that. Why? Because the typical flamer is uncouth, rude, insulting, and negative. Also, the observer can see that the average flamer has no manners just by reading their 'reviews.' To sum it all up, the typical flamer is a very negative person." You sure hurt 'em bad that time cowboy. May I correct you again by saying that only a SMALL minority of "flamers" actually LIVE to be insulting, rude, etc., etc.. Think about it for a second chief, who do you know who is spiteful, better yet, how many people do you know who are spiteful enough to commit their LIFE to insulting others? Not many, but then again I'm picturing you as some kind of desk worker, book worm, "Look I'm better than all of you because my life is so ** perfect" kind of people. With my luck you're only the latter.

Tell me, are you by ANY chance American? Why do I ask? Because you are so bloody dumb. First off, EVERY last writer writes for him or herself, UNLESS they have to for work or for a school project. Even then they write what THEY feel they should write, sure they will follow guidelines but they put what THEY want into what they write. What you OBVIOUSLY don't understand is that people, like you because you wrote this knowing you'd grind the nerves of someone like me, would respond by the truck load. Yes, people write for themselves but they only continue to write because of the feedback they get. If a person gets all flames and hurtful comments than they WILL stop writing, why? Because they either suck to no end or don't clearly grasp what they are doing. Also, people do care what people say, because they are shallow and rely on the praise of others to feed their egos. It can be really bad for some crazy writer who can't use MS Word who's got some super-huge ego with a piece of ** 200+ word story with no plot, ZERO character development and who says in their summary: OMG PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review! It's my first ficcy, I don't know where to post it so please be nice. Thanks for the summary blondy. That simply BEGS for a flamer to come along and destroy their pitiful hopes and dreams of being god's gift to whatever fandom they belong to.

"They don't seem to realize that compared to a reader that reads most of the author's work and LOVES IT, they are nothing. _They don't matter at all._ They are _worthless._" Um... what? Who are you bashing now? It sounds like, for some reason obviously not apparent to me, that you are dissing the good reviewer, but at the same time the reader too? Whose grammar is bad now?

"So, in conclusion, if an author has almost all flames, but still has at least ONE reader that loves their work, then all of the flames that they received don't matter. And, even if the author has ALL flames, they still don't matter. You write for yourself, not for anyone else. And flamers are people who have nothing better to do than flame people all day long. And you know what type of people they are." WHAA??!?!?!?! Of course they matter. May I inform you that flamers only go the incredibly bad writing. I know this from experience. Unless their stuff is complete **, they don't get touched. Believe me, I've started my fair share of flame wars and mud slinging contests, but I had good reason too.

P.S. You complain about flamers having bad spelling and grammar and then you have the gull to put "huggles" into your author's notes. What the ** is huggles? If it is the obvious then don't bother answering. Seriously, you make them out to be children and then do something so... so... STUPID! As put "huggles" into the mix. People these days, I dunno.

And it's all so true ^.^ If I ever get a flame I'll think of this and not care *lol*

and Neko-chan~, *you* rock ^^ And you should stop writing so much I can hardly keep up Oo;