Counterattack of the Gwackers

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I got this review for the penultimate chapter of "Director Jones" today:

Gwen bashing aside, this was a decently written story. I really don't understand this hatred towards a character. Jack does have an interest in Gwen, get over it. He has. He does love Ianto but Ianto has trouble loving a man. Your writing had a good look at Ianto's emotions. I would of added to it, made it longer.

Now, I've got three things to say to this:

1) All my stories are clearly labelled as not Gwen-friendly. If someone is a Gwacker, why do you read them in the first place.
2) None of us go around, read Gwack fics and then leave indignant reviews. Why can't the Gwackers leave us alone?
3) It's obvious that the story isn't finished yet, although it has 19 chapters already. Also, it's the pilot episode of an even longer series. Just how much longer would the reviewer want me to make it?

I wish that the 75 people who favourited the story and the 131 who put it on alert (also presumably like it) would be half this eager to leave reviews as those who delight in finding fault.

I'm really happy that the story will be over next week. I've just completely lost the joy in writing it. :(

Comments

[jsks.livejournal.com]

Don't let the gwackers get you down you are wonderful writer.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It's just a bit disheartening that the naysayers are always so much more motivated to comment.

[janiemc.livejournal.com]

I heartily agree and would add that you have only played with the character flaws she was given...I find it interesting that where I avoid Gwack they seem to seek non Gwen friendly tales then bitch. I really enjoy you wide variety of tales and the quality writing..just ignore them

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

By this opportunity, I'd like to thank you for the reviews. I couldn't answer you on FF.Net, since you weren't logged in, but they are much appreciated. :)

[janiemc.livejournal.com]

Ah yes I regularly lurk on ff.net, but with 3 accounts on 3 sites I am trying not to add no.4

[hagiel29.livejournal.com]

I love your fic, i wait your updates. I do not hate Gwen but I do not se what make her so great is fallible, bigoted. Characters do not have to be perfect, but i do not find her very likable. I love Toshico, but her character is poorly developed in the series. And I really love Ianto, and Janto. I blame him of my coffee addiction

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Honestly, at first I was just mildly annoyed with her... the stupid way she was running, the stupid things she did. But I could have warmed up to her, had she actually learned from her experiences. But no, she got exalted to the pedestal of a heroine, of the bleeding heart of Torchwood, and every man just had to fall in love with her, even though she was the least attractive and least intelligent woman in the whole cast. I just don't like Mary Sues. Even if they are canon. Especially if they are canon.

[excentric397.livejournal.com]

Condescending twat! And this: "Ianto has trouble loving a man." Seriously? Gwackers, Jack and Ianto are it. "Get over it." What a jerk.

Gwen has her moments. She is written as quite a nice and loving person in some ff I've read. But the Gwen from Torchwood itself is a lying, cheating, manipulating, incompetent, self-centered and self-righteous bitch who doesn't care about anyone else so long as she gets what she thinks she should have. I'm sorry, that's how she's written in the show, people. I didn't write it. Did these Gwackers not actually _watch_ the show? Did they miss the part where she retconned Rhys after confessing her affair with Owen? Did they not see her being oh so condescending to Tosh? Did they not notice when she defied Jack, and treated him with great disrespect, while at the same time throwing herself at him shamelessly in front of his lover? Did they not see her treat Rhys exactly the same way, and more so, like the village idiot, so beneath her. I did not watch Mayo Day, but I have read that she pretty much told Jack how much better she is than her colleagues, because they died and she didn't. Yeah, Jack. I'm so much better than your lover. You know, the one whose death broke you. Because I am so compassionate, I just can't help rubbing your face in it. Scuse me, I have to go be sick from just thinking about her.

[tardisjournal.livejournal.com]

Jack does have an interest in Gwen, get over it. He has. He does love Ianto but Ianto has trouble loving a man.

These lines alone tell you everything you need to know about where this person's head is. (Obviously, it's up their arse.) You can't take any criticism from them seriously. I suspect, given how clearly you word your anti-Gwen disclaimers, they just read your story looking for something to criticize. Really, given this, the fact they found something to like at all is a testament to your strong skills!

Don't let delusional nay-sayers get you down! It's a shame the few negative voices are always louder than the many positive ones, but that just seems to be the way it is on our society. :/

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know. It's just depressing to see the dozens of gushing reviews a lot of poorly-written mediocre crap gets, while I amd often nervous to click on a review alert, not knowing what to expect.

[milady-dragon.livejournal.com]

Oh, good grief. It's good to know that the Gwackers are just as delusional as they've always been. Delusional and condescending...they just don't get it. Jack and Ianto are the couple people most love in Torchwood, just look at how long fans have been mourning Ianto (Ianto...dead? No, he's just out for the coffee.) Don't listen to them, sweetie, and don't let them get you down.

I admit, I haven't been reading but I've actually been waiting for you to finish so I can download the completed story to my Kindle. Once I do that, you will most certainly get a review from me. If it's like the other stories of the series, I know it's going to be fabulous.

Here, have a Dark Archer icon and pretend you've hired him to put an arrow into that reviewer's idiotic arse.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

You'll only have to wait another week. :)

[milady-dragon.livejournal.com]

Yay!

Then I'm going to re-read the entire series you've done so far :)

[thistlethorne.livejournal.com]

I'm another one waiting for the story to be finished so I can read it all at once on my Kindle. I know it's difficult, but ignore the Gwackers that obviously haven't watched Torchwood. I was fine with Gwen until the second episode. I find her self-centered and definitely not someone who should be admired. I certainly don't identify with her because she's "us" in Torchwood. If that was "us" none of "us" would be at all likeable.

[mist-stalker.livejournal.com]

meh sorry I don't comment much, I tend to be able to read the stories in fits and starts, I'm lucky to get 5 minutes to read let alone review, so I LOVE YOUR STORIES. That does me for about 6 months gotta go.

[sammydragoncat]

I love your stories! If the reviewer has such a problem with your characterization, why did they read all 19 chapters? - pay no attention to them.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I'm really grateful that you're such a diligent reader and always take the effort to drop a line. That's the only reward of us, poor writers, after all.

Idiot Gwackers!

[ma2d2.livejournal.com]

Please disregard the idiotic comment from the imbecile Gwacker!
If you were to stop writing the rest of Sleeping Dragons 00 series, it will be a very big loss to me. I love your stories!!
I am tempted to get a membership in ff.net just so I can personally write to the arsehole who made you feel bad!!!

Re: Idiot Gwackers!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Strange. Why would LJ mark your comment as suspicious?

[sandiw64.livejournal.com]

Please, don't let others steal your joy. I'm totally in love with the pilot to the Sleeping Dragons series so much, I have to smack my fingers off the keyboard to keep them from wondering over to the other stories in the series! They will be part of my future Spring reading.

Just finished reading chapter 19 (ther1945) - thrilling as always. Will never understand why a Gwacker would read 19 chapters of a story that is clearly labeled as "not Gwen-friendly", then make a back of the hand comment such as that. I totally & completely despise the character Gwen Cooper - therefore, I bypass all stories by Gwackers. And, where in cannon is there any indication that Ianto has trouble loving a man? Did not appear that way in TTLM & TKKS. Delusional, much!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

No worries, the last chapter is already written and will be posted next week. The following parts of the trilogy might take quite some time, though, so feel free to go on to the other episodes in the meantime. You won't find real spoilers in those, since I'm writing this backwards, so you'll - hopefully - be able to enjoy the rest of the trilogy when I get around to actually write it... in another ten years or so.

[tlen2.livejournal.com]

Don't let this idiot get to you. Give her a proper answer dn then delete her comment if possible.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Oh, I did give them a piece of my mind. Unfortunately, you can't delete signed stories on FF.Net. I did block the idiot from further reviewing, though. I've got an impressive list of such people by now.

[evalentine99.livejournal.com]

Its one the curses of creative people that one negative comment holds more weight than all the others put together. I know Oprah once told her audience she would call those people who said horrible things about her like what she was wearing because it affected her so.

If this person chose to read your story despite all warnings then that's their issue.

Don't allow that one comment to taint the experiance.

This was a good story. An unashamed Gwen Bash. What I don't understand is if I don't like a story I just stop reading and move on. Why did this reader continue to read on knowing the story made her uncomfortable? Its says more about the reader/commentator than you as a writer.

Take the comment as a critique rather than a critisim and move on.

Regards Eva

[raynewton.livejournal.com]

So sorry about the negative comments. I have really enjoed the story and look forward to more. Mea culpa about leaving comments. The worst thing is that it has spoiled your enjoyment in writing it; I shall hope that you can defeat her by regaining the fun. Thank you for the story so far; I shall hope to see more - much more. All the best to you, Valerie

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Well, this particular story will be finished next week, and then there are Episodes 01-04 for your reading pleasure. At the moment, I can't really promise anything for sure. Inspiration is a very tricky thing and easily killed. That's how my 'Wishverse' series ran out of steam a few years ago.

[blucougar.livejournal.com]

I read that review, and the first thing that went through my head was "WTF?"

Firstly, as you point out, your stories are clearly labelled as not being Gwen-friendly. If a reader doesn't like stories like that, they don't have to read it. If they feel compelled to read it, then they have no right to complain about the content.

I really wanted to respond, but I don't want to step on your toes. But the rest of the so-called review was a load of bollocks. Sure, Jack loves Gwen. He loved Tosh and Owen, too, and probably fantasized about all of them. But it's blatantly obvious that Gwen was supposed to be to Jack what Rose was supposed to be to the Doctor. Except, there was precious little chemistry between the characters, whereas it was like NYE fireworks between Jack and Ianto.

And seriously - Ianto has trouble loving a man? That was RTD's bullshit treatment of the couple, and it was Jack who didn't want their relationship to be labelled as a couple; Jack who couldn't tell Ianto he loved him when Ianto was dying in his arms. And why was that? Because he loved him so much that he couldn't stand to say goodbye.
Who was it that he left sobbing in her hubby's arms on a hill at night because he had nothing left to stay on Earth for? That's right - Gwen. The one he loves soooo much that he couldn't get away from her fast enough. She reminded him of everything he lost, and he hated her for it. And anyone who can't see that is wilfully blind.

*takes deep breath*

I'd very much like to post at least part of that in response to your idiot reviewer, but only if you're okay with that. :)

Please, please, PLEASE don't lose your enjoyment in writing it. I am one of those guilt ones who has been reading it voraciously but neglected to read reviews. I plan to rectify that now. The best way to counter a ridiculous review is with a slew of positive reviews. So prepare to be bombarded....

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Bombardment is good. ;))
But the person isn't worth our time. I gave them a piece of my mind and blocked them from further reviewing - they don't deserve more.

[blucougar.livejournal.com]

True, definitely not worth our time. I think we've all experienced this sort of idiocy at some point. We all take care to clearly mark our stories as being not-Gwen friendly so readers can't argue that they're not expecting it. I know I don't leave nasty comments if I find myself unexpectedly Gwacked. It's fanfiction - it's whatever the author wants it to be, not what the readers think it should be.
You're right, the trolls are not worth our energy, except to laugh raucously at them for their stupidity.

[blucougar.livejournal.com]

You should have seventeen new reviews for your story on fanfiction.net.
:)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

You are amazing! Thank you so much! I've saved your comments to my HD, to enjoy them again and again, even if I'm not online. :)

[blucougar.livejournal.com]

I'm just sorry that I was neglectful in commenting earlier. Won't happen again, I promise.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Oh, I understand. I know from first-hand experience what is it like to barely have enough time for your own writing. I've been very neglectful in my commenting lately, too.

[theromangeneral.livejournal.com]

While I admit that I haven't been following your Director Jones series I have always enjoyed your writing. Please don't let a review from a Gwaker disuade you from continuing.

One thing I have realised from many years in various fandoms is that the vapid, carbon-copy fics are often the ones that get the most squeeing responses because the reviewers often write the same thing. Some of the best fic I've read does not have the same high review count because the people reading it dont feel the need to post "OMG, LUV IT" after each chapter but will leave a thoughtful review on a single chapter that has the most impact on them (or on the last chapter to give a review on the piece as a whole).

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I used to get that kind of encouragement in the Tolkien fandom a lot - usually from people who had hundreds of *positive* reviews themselves.

I could live with the occasional bombardment of "OMG, LUV IT" comments from time to time. It would be a nice chance to the fact that some of my stories have more chapters than reviews.

Sorry, I understand that you're being supportive, and I thank you for that. I'm just a bit tired of being the fandom pariah in several of my numerous fandoms. Actually, the Torchwood fandom is the best of all to me, thanks to this very comm and the nice people who populate it. :)

[theromangeneral.livejournal.com]

Yes, that is one of the fandoms I am part of (though next to none of my fan fic is published anywhere).

I can see that being annoying, I hope I didn't sound to patronising (I certainly didn't mean to). Your work deserves mountains of praise (and I admit I can be a bit of a lazy reader by not reviewing - I am trying to break myself of that habbit).

I can go leave you a few dozen "OMG LUV IT" comments if you like :)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

That was a joke. ;)

[dylantoms.livejournal.com]

You are a great writer who writes satisfyingly long chapters and fics. The people who read it are more appreciative of the care you take in writing which is probably why you don't get the instant 'gushing' response!
Someone who responded like this person is actually saying more about themselves and their ignorance than it does about your writing.
Keep writing and thank you for sharing.