Are We Just Too Nice on Triond?

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Are We Just Too Nice on Triond?

Posted on September 15th, 2009 in Online Writing by Atikin

While looking around on Triond, a very scary but true thought crept into my mind. Are we too nice on Triond that we risk being honest just to be liked?

Recently, I was looking around for a few interesting articles on Triond that I was determined to comment and having given up quite quickly, I decided to really sit down and comment every article on my ‘News Feed’. But again, I gave up quite quickly after a tiresome day and I decided to seek solace in just reading articles. So voila, I went on the ‘Hot Content’ list and the ‘Recently Published’ list and decided to have a nose around. There were many writers there. Some prolific and some not so prolific. Some that I had heard of and some that I’d never heard of. Some popular and some not so popular. Of course to each of these articles there were a bunch of people who commented on the article. I remember reading some comments that were just awfully nice.

37 Responses to “Are We Just Too Nice on Triond?”

agriculi
September 15th, 2009 at 4:23 am

I rather have that people are honest with me.
martie
September 15th, 2009 at 4:42 am

I think you can be honest and nice. I too suggest corrections when I feel they would benefit the article. I also tell someone when they have an especially well written articles.

The rest I admit I just say something like interesting, nice effort, ect. I do this because I want the person to know someone has at least taken the time to read what they wrote. But don’t feel I can say good job, if the article is not that great. Neither do I feel I should say bad things if there is nothing wrong with the article.

Afterall, many times it is simply my subjective opinion as to whether the article is good or not.
Jackie118
September 15th, 2009 at 7:02 am

Unlike you young ‘uns, I was taught ‘if you can’t find anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all’!

I agree with you totally that there are good writers and extremely bad writers. I tend to ignore the bad, take note of who they are and then not bother with them in the future but I do keep a regular eye out for those writers I think are worthy of reading (and commenting upon). That way I don’t offend or upset those bad writers; they just find they’re not getting the viewings and eventually, through natural progression, they make up their own minds that they’re not cut out for this writing lark. You’ll be pleased to know that you’re way up on my list of excellent writers, so keep at it.
Jenny Heart
September 15th, 2009 at 7:08 am

Honesty is the best policy. Like it!
Darla Smith
September 15th, 2009 at 7:25 am

I prefer that people be honest with me about my writing.
gianne
September 15th, 2009 at 8:13 am

I think that people offer their opinions here. Doesn’t mean their right. And, there are some writers here who don’t want criticism. Just like there are others who welcome that.

People who comment positively on every article may only be commenting on articles that they feel that way about. OR maybe the positive commenting is designed to get others to read what we’ve written.

To lump us all together and make any statement about ANYTHING is inaccurate in my opinion.
giftarist
September 15th, 2009 at 8:33 am

Very thought provoking piece! I too prefer that the ones who responses to my piece/write – will be honest about my style in writing..
Sashya
September 15th, 2009 at 9:32 am

I like honesty and i think you used the phrase “too nice”, too often. I appreciate any comment that a person leaves on my article. It only helps me to be a better writer. I have no degree in writing and i think Triond is a place where we learn from each other. It is like a classroom of students teaching themselves. Keep up your good work, i can see that you are 16 from your profile, which means that you are still in school. This only makes you a very brilliant student and i know that you will emerge top of your class if you haven’t already! Great articles, all of them.
Cashmere Lashkari
September 15th, 2009 at 11:19 am

I don’t think being nice has to be a fault. Its good to know that people like what you read and I have had people politely point out that they disagree with what I have said as well.
cutedrishti8
September 15th, 2009 at 1:46 pm

people should be Honest …in every thing
mzmax100
September 15th, 2009 at 1:58 pm

Well, I’ve had several experiences with “honesty” on a writer’s site of mine (where I post my stories) and uh – you learn that it’s something you gota be willing to take.

Now see, if the honest feedback is good – you feel really really great. It’s just getting a compiment from Simon Cowell. If I say you can sing! – you’re going to be happy but not as much as this being said from Simon Cowell, if you what I mean.

The truth can hurt too, and that’s why you must ask yourself before publishing – “Can you take the bullet?” in other words – “Can you take rejection?”

I’ve seen plenty of writers quit (not only the site but even their passion for writing) because they’ve gotten “honest” and negative feedback on their peice.

I’m not discouraging honest feedback, in fact I alwasy do it myself when reading other’s work. But to an extent…This meaning, if the author had already recieved plenty of bad stuff about his piece – I’d look for only possitives to keep that balance.

In Triond – I gota agree, we’re all nice guys and girls here =) But is that really a bad thing?
Sourav
September 15th, 2009 at 2:23 pm

Well, if you don’t like an article or a poem and don’t want to be rude or negative you can simply avoid those. I agree with you this happens. Sometimes we give comments that are not so genuine. But it’s okay to an extent. Every one has a right to express and if people like it then it’s fine. If they don’t then better to avoid those. Having said that I must say Honest Feedback doesn’t necessarily means that you are rude or not so nice. Being honest never a BAD thing. What say Nikita?
littlekid137
September 15th, 2009 at 3:03 pm

Wow I have never thought of that but it makes sense. I do not always post little ‘nice comments’ I will tell anyone how I really feel. (I cant control my voice or thoughts) So sometimes I will just let the other person have it. In my opinion it is constructive criticism, but others may feel it is just criticism. This was a well thought out article, very nice. (And that is how I truly felt )
Lostash
September 15th, 2009 at 3:19 pm

Atikin has a very valid point! I tend to not comment if I feel no connection to the piece, or I just don\’t like it! Us English are so polite you see!!! There are times when I would welcome an honest critique on some of my photos too, especially as I\’m quite new to the field, but that would only be appreciated from a technical perspective. If a picture (on its own) causes a reaction in the viewer, then I have achieved what I was after. As a viewer (or reader), if you like something, then just say so. If not, move along to the next piece. One of our ex-Trionders commented on one of Atikins pieces just the other day; he felt that Triond had become more of a social networking site. Maybe that\’s something for a whole different article…..?
CA Johnson
September 15th, 2009 at 8:05 pm

I think you made an excellent point Atikin! I do think that there is a way to be honest without being rude to the writers. I think we all want to have compliments to our work, but I would appreciate honest but fair feedback as well.
PR Mace
September 15th, 2009 at 9:42 pm

I once had a friend on Triond ask me to please help him with a story. How did it sound? I told the true. He needed a better hook, ending and the story did not flow well. He got mad and stopped writing fiction. We are nice and as we are not publishers or editors, I think nice is okay. But sometimes I do speak my mind, usually on sometime really crude. This was a well thought out article. Not something I would have thought of writing.
Guy Hogan
September 15th, 2009 at 9:50 pm

Many theories sound good but often don’t work too well in real life. Triond is not a class room but is a community of strangers. If we are too nice to each other try to imagine the opposite. And to think there could be some happy balance is probably asking for the impossible.

Better to leave things just the way they are.
Ruby Hawk
September 15th, 2009 at 10:19 pm

I am not a publisher or editor and I do not want to critic anyone’s work.. I try to always say something encouraging. If I completely disagree with someone’s article and it really nags me I say so, but I had rather not, because after all who am I to be critical?
papaleng
September 16th, 2009 at 12:22 am

just be honest to yourself, if you like what is thrown at your table then say it so, however if then you feel you disagree with what the writer offers then put a negative criticism. or better send a private message to that fellow.
CaSundara
September 16th, 2009 at 4:10 am

Hey Aitkin, firstly I’d like to apologise for not reading anyone’s articles for around a week: I’ve had no internet and then I injured my shoulder and neck. Secondly, I think this is a very important topic and something I’ve thought about for a while, because I’ve experienced this behaviour elsewhere, too. I think a lot of it is the result of us being online – it makes it far more difficult…
Personally, I would much prefer people to be honest, although I expect that honesty to be expressed politely and maturely – which can be done. I don’t appreciate rudeness, but by the same token I don’t appreciate false niceness, either. Perhaps those of us who do want constructive criticism (I know you’re studying and so am I, so perhaps it’s more important to us to receive constructive criticism because we know it will help us attain better grades) should set up a group where all members promise to be honest, but to do so nicely. That way those of us looking to improve our skills would know which comments are 100% honest.
Mythili Kannan
September 16th, 2009 at 7:04 am

Truly said
chitragopi
September 16th, 2009 at 7:53 am

Now I feel people have been nice to me. It was encouraging, and even if not for money (I did not earn more by the comments I got), the feeling that someone, not someone nameless, reads you, is good, and keeps you going. Nice ones, keep you flying!
Jane Jane
September 17th, 2009 at 8:50 am

I guess this is the one I’ve answered. People often give positive comments to others for the sake of being like but there are some who leaves a short one because they don’t have much time.
sunshine926
September 18th, 2009 at 4:38 pm

Even the most experienced writers can benefit from constructive criticism. You do have to look at the source. Does this person have knowledge and experience in their field? Everyone has a different writing style. I am a Broadcast Journalist, however, I do have experience writing for newspaper. So right here the style is different. I also write motions for attorneys so the writing is totally different here. Working for attorneys, sometimes I get my work scribbled in red and end up having to go back and re-write it until it is perfect. In Triond, my opinion is you can disagree with someone’s writing style and even views, but personally who am I just to go and post something on a writer’s page to make them feel bad. If I have nothing good to say, then I just don’t comment. When you are first starting, you need all that encouragement and motivation to keep on going. marlene
Agnes Chin
September 19th, 2009 at 10:57 am

Guess they are just being polite. However, it is good to have constructive negative feedback for us to improve on our articles.
writing4angels
September 21st, 2009 at 4:49 am

well, we may appear nice on Triond but generally if you have something to display or present, then you should do the same for others and a genuine comment is always welcomed.
Diverseblogger
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:01 am

Very true! I like criticism but when it becomes too much(from the same person). It tends to get annoying
Francois Hagnere
September 24th, 2009 at 2:08 pm

Of course, you may disagree with what somebody wrote, but honestly most of the time here we have discoveries and very talented writers. Am I too nice?
Rookie Expert
September 30th, 2009 at 1:57 am

How true, people are just too polite around here. There was a time when all the “good job”, “grear article”, etc was rubbing off on me…i thad started talking the triond talk. Then i had to take a break, i stopped commenting on article unless i felt absolutely compelled to.

Some people just comment so that the author knows that they have ‘visited’ the article, its like an unsaid “I read your article, now you have to return the favour”…

I would like to add, if you donot like an article, and choose not to be rude, then dont say anything at all! The author must have written whatever they had to write expecting to interest some readers, and it may have, for all you know! Dont discourage people by being rude in the comments. If you feel you can help a fellow author, just send them a personal message! Easy, right?

Im glad that a young girl like you had the gutts to bring up this topic.
deep blue
October 10th, 2009 at 8:56 am

I’m open to be disliked in my opinions in whatever I may have written or if my English is in the right/wrong context,etc. But you nailed it, we are unconsciously submitting ourselves to the fad of commenting constructively no matter what. BTW, if the comments seem long enoughed, you could spot who were happy about an article…as for this article for instance.
Christopher DeRoche
October 10th, 2009 at 5:07 pm

I have no problem with feedback. That is why I signed up for Triond. I want to hone my skill and I feel that some are too night. I use http://www.reviewfuse.com to get critical feedback and that is more personalized and not public. I think the fear here is that you will be labeled a cynical critic if you give harsh literary feedback.

I encourage all to point out mistakes but also give the parts that they enjoyed. Its important to know what attracted them to read the article in the first place. CONSTRUCTIVE!!!

Thanks
-Chris DeRoche
Christopher DeRoche
October 10th, 2009 at 5:08 pm

auto correct…. night=nice in the previous post.
Starpisces
October 11th, 2009 at 1:29 am

I agree with you to be frank in our comments. However, I think we should be tactful and thoughtful in our comments to other’s work. Our comments may be frank, but not critical. For instance, we can say “too bad I am confused, I don’t quite understand”, rather than “you confused readers with your bad writing”. I am very sure everyone agrees that when we receive positive feedback from readers, our morale are boosted and will think of writing more. I believe we are all here as we have the common interest, that is our passion in writing, hence encouragement to one another is very important.
Thanks for sharing, and I have clicked “I like it
blackrockrose
October 14th, 2009 at 7:53 pm

If I find something I like in an article, poem or story, I point it out. Otherwise I’ll just make a vanilla comment about the subject matter. I think it’s important for new members particularly to know they are being read. Sometimes we find something we just have to write about, but thet opic does not lend itself to being promoted outside of Triond, so Triond members become the only audience.
If I felt so strongly that something needed correcting, I would do it privately via the author’s in box, and hope that I didn’t lose a friend in the process. Any friends reading this, I encourage you to be frank, but polite, with me in the same way.
Teves
October 15th, 2009 at 11:44 pm

I love triond….
Vikram Chhabra
October 16th, 2009 at 2:04 pm

You have raised valid points and your intentions are well meant. If it is the aim of a writer is to improve his or her writing skills, then they would take such critique positively. Unfortunately for many of us the other factors take priority and its all about generating views. many time I feel people don’t even read the article, but just automatically click the ‘Like It” button followed by a one line standard comment….
Avaxier
October 16th, 2009 at 6:29 pm

Rookie Expert and Vikram is right, some of writers on Triond are wanting views by commenting on other people works and hope that they will return the favor. But I’m also one of those nice Triond users who would view and comment back on other people articles even their articles are not very interesting for me.

I was also commenting to other people’s articles like a madman back then with hope they would give extra views. But now when I realized that more than 90% of the views are not actually came from my Triond friend, I just browse and comment on people’s article that I’m really liked or those who are commenting on my work.

Nice article!