*blink blink*

[sekiharatae]

Anybody ever get a review that made you stare and go:  Huh?

Not because it's good or bad, but because it's just confusing?  All the right words are there, and the sentences make sense, but you still don't get it?

If so, care to share?

Comments

[quoth-the-ravyn.livejournal.com]

Oh lord yes. I'll try to dig up an example. But yeah. Totally know what you mean by the 'huh'. It's like they totally missed some concept so they are speaking in a completely foreign language.

[sekiharatae.livejournal.com]

Mine is overall very nice, but in the middle is a line about worrying about the "social implications" of Cloud using materia (magic) during an "intimate moment".

I want to reply and thank them for the nice things, but I just can't wrap my brain around that part...

[qwi-xux.livejournal.com]

Ughhhhh, yes. I had one particular reviewer for "Anchor" who wanted to pick EVERYTHING apart and tell me how I should have done everything to exactly his specifications. I should have added more of this, less of that, made Cloud and Tifa do this instead--there was some stuff in there that made me squint and go 'huh? Did he read this at ALL?' One of my other reviewers, after reading numerous reviews from this other guy, finally left a good long rant to him in a review. LOL

[sekiharatae.livejournal.com]

Yay for reviewers who stand up for you! =)

confusing reviews: that's me!

[(Anonymous)]

I don't know if you accept anonymous reviews--kinda risky maybe, and chicken on the part of the anon.person, but the one who mentioned the use of spells during intimate moments was me. I've been wondering if I should 'fess up--as you said, you could always ask me what I meant, but I think you are such a good writer, I want to respond and so will take the bull by the horns...I feel kinda like a voyeur in your site, but this is where you post a lot of what I want to read. I don't know how to use LJ--I don't write, all I do is read and dream so I don't think I can sign up... Anyway, I have spent my working life needing to be aware of "full consent" so I was bothered that Cloud blurred the consent issue when he was leaving Tifa. That's MY issue, and I probably shouldn't have mentioned to you--I think I must have because you are so good that I kept on reading despite my disquiet and that's what I wanted you to know. I don't want to be a flamer, but I also want to show appreciation in an honest way...and I'm probably clumsy at it because I'm new in this world of ff7 and fan fiction; I love it because it continues the story (which has sucked me in completly) in ways that I am not good at doing. The good writers take me in directions I would never think of on my own because I'm old, stuffy, etc...it took some time before I worked up the nerve to "review"--I want to do it responsibly. So I apologize for confusing you by what I said. I really do love your stories. They remind me of when I was "frisky" and how much fun it was to find a new place to make out... Also,I really liked your musings about dominance. Do I sign my name? For Fan Fiction, I am mom calling. If you need my real name, I can give it to you--again I am not sure how these things work. Over & Out [to lunch].

Re: confusing reviews: that's me!

[sekiharatae.livejournal.com]

Hey there!

I accept anonymous reviews =) I was very reluctant to join livejournal myself, so I understand not wanting to have an account. However, reading and dreaming are perfectly viable here on LJ, so please don't let preconceived notions keep you away. *hugs*

Also, let me just say that the reason I was pondering your review was 100% because I wanted to reply to it. You probably have noticed, here on LJ, that I tend to reply to every review/comment I get (with the exception of the anon ones, as I never know if they'll be read). If you're nice enough to take the time to tell me what you thought of what I wrote, I think I should take the time to acknowledge that. And I always try to think about whatever is said in the review in the way of criticism -- that's where the whole dominance discussion came from -- and address it.

When I first read your review that line struck me as something I needed to come back to, because I wasn't sure what it meant. I worked my way back to it recently and still wasn't sure what it meant. However... Cloud did blur the line, and when talking about your review to my husband, we wondered if maybe your concern was along the same lines. Basically, if maybe you viewed his use of materia as somewhat on par with the 'date rape' drug.

(See, I do think about things people say!)

Now, I don't see it that way (date rape) because I know that if she had been awake Tifa would have been all for it (pausing only to demand what took him so long). But I do plan to write something (eventually) that will allow Tifa to have words with him about it. They will probably be somewhat weak words (it's hard to lecture someone about not doing something you would have let them do anyway), and may focus more on the leaving than the sex (as I think that's the part she'd be most upset about), but she will have them.

That said, I mainly want to say -- as I mentioned in my comments/post above -- thank you for all the lovely lovely things you've said. I appreciate the feedback, and it makes me happy to know you enjoy my writing so much. I hope you continue to do so!