Dual Comment Swap Features

This went really well when I posted it in a blog, so here it is!

I think we should have two comment swap features.

First comment swap feature: this is just the one we already have, with a 200 character limit. People who are just looking for comments purely to increase their comment count or for basic feedback or for comments on the layout, or even struggle to get their comments up to 200 characters; they would use this one.

Second comment swap feature: this is the new one. This would have a higher word/character count (unsure of what it should be) to ensure that the feedback being given is better quality. Thus, anyone who is really interested in getting proper in-depth constructive criticism on their writing would be able to use this one and get decent, helpful comments.

I've seen people complaining about how they rarely get proper feedback through the current comment swap feature, so this might be a solution. :)

I really support this idea. I hardly get in-depth comments on my stories, and rarely any legit constructive criticism. That would be really helpful. :3

I think we should just extend the requirement to a 200 word count and force people to put more effort into it.

part of dru's world.:

I think we should just extend the requirement to a 200 word count and force people to put more effort into it.

That could work too.

I agree with part of dru's world. somewhat, but I also think that might cause some folks to spam. They're are those who might just repeat the same thing over and over again. Also, having both would be easier because sometimes you don't know what to say on some stories to make a longer comment/review.

But I definitely love this idea.

I agree with this so much. I never get true criticism when I use the Comment Swap feature. People just rample about how the layout is pretty and that they liked the flow of my story, that's about it. I'm pretty sure that it never actually even gets read.

I think that we should not only have a second comment swap feature/option on the first for like 600+ characters or even words, actually, but we should make the original character count much larger like 400+

I totally agree with Dru, only because the majority of comments (not all, I've gotten some great comments from a handful of people) I've received through the feature have either been comments based solely on the fandom I write in, comments that are incredibly vague/could be applied to anyone's story, or comments that it's obvious they didn't bother to read the story, they just piggybacked on someone else's previous comment.

I think with a higher minimum requirement, it would be harder for people to just bullshit their comments.

I completely agree darkfallenangel! I've seen a lot of people who simply comment on aspects that other people have commented on. Like someone will have tiny spelling error or the layout isn't readable and one person will take notice and comment about it. But then other people will comment on the exact same thing and then they don't even comment on the stories content! I mean, I know people don't have time to read the entire story, but at least read the first chapter!

(I've seen this on other people's stories as well as my own.)

part of dru's world.:

I think we should just extend the requirement to a 200 word count and force people to put more effort into it.

I think this, or darkfallenangel's idea would be great. I've just gotten so many comments that are just so vague, or "Oh, I know nothing of this fandom, so I can't really comment on that." I don't want people to comment on the fandom! I just want someone to comment on the writing and such.

I really think if people were forced to write more, there'd be a better chance of actually getting a helpful comment. It gets frustrating reading the same comments over and over.

tabula rasa.:

I think this, or darkfallenangel's idea would be great. I've just gotten so many comments that are just so vague, or "Oh, I know nothing of this fandom, so I can't really comment on that." I don't want people to comment on the fandom! I just want someone to comment on the writing and such.

I really think if people were forced to write more, there'd be a better chance of actually getting a helpful comment. It gets frustrating reading the same comments over and over.

I completely agree with everything you said.

capture me inside.:

I agree with part of dru's world. somewhat, but I also think that might cause some folks to spam. They're are those who might just repeat the same thing over and over again. Also, having both would be easier because sometimes you don't know what to say on some stories to make a longer comment/review.

But I definitely love this idea.

If they repeat the same thing over and over again though, whether it's with this new feature or the one we have now, you can report them and I'm pretty sure they'll get banned from using the Comment Swap feature.

So, really, I'm just agreeing with what Dru said.

I think this idea would be nice to have, I mean people who actually want to swap comments because they are concerned about their writing skills and want to know what they can do to change it and then others who feel the same way and want to help. And people who spam could be reported and dealth with efficently. I agree!

I love this idea.

I've stopped using the comment swap because of the quality of comments that people have given me, and I would definitely start using it again if there was a "stricter" one. I hope they take this suggestion into mind. :D

I think I suggested/asked about this when the comment swap first went up and Dujo said he'd see how the first version of the swap went. I think it'd be cool if in addition to a higher word/character minimum, the second swap had stricter guidelines about what should be commented on (like the review swap thread vs. the comment swap threads). And there might need to be a longer time limit as well.

@ battalions
I agree. I think review (instead of a simple comment) is probably a better name for the second one, and definitely for the time limit too.

@ battalions
I don't think there needs to be a longer time limit. The time limit on the story review thread is 2 hours, so I think 24 is more than necessary even if we get stricter guidelines.

@ part of dru's world.
Oh that's true; I'd forgotten that. But I feel like the thread needs a stricter limit because only one person can review at a time, so if you take a long time you're blocking up the thread for everyone. The swap doesn't have that problem. Also since a review swap would probably have fewer participants, if you have restricted criteria there might not be a story right away, so possibly you'd sit down all ready to do a long review but there's no story for you, and then when there is one you're busy, y'know?

Eh I dunno.

@ battalions
Yeah, I just think a 24 hour time limit is plenty of time.

Ok, does anyone else have any opinions on the time limit issue?

And how about suggestions about the word/character limit?

darkfallenangel:

And how about suggestions about the word/character limit?

I don't think word count should be used as a quality control method. Someone can make up 200 characters or 400 words without issue. If users want more

battalions:

@ part of dru's world.
Oh that's true; I'd forgotten that. But I feel like the thread needs a stricter limit because only one person can review at a time, so if you take a long time you're blocking up the thread for everyone. The swap doesn't have that problem. Also since a review swap would probably have fewer participants, if you have restricted criteria there might not be a story right away, so possibly you'd sit down all ready to do a long review but there's no story for you, and then when there is one you're busy, y'know?

Eh I dunno.

I don't think Dujo plans to allow you to restrict the criteria so much that you'd have to wait days for the chance to get a story. That would be too limiting, and defeat the purpose of comment swapping. And, if you do choose to make the criteria as strict as possible, that's your choice and you accept the fact that you may not get a story for days. Users who are more open will have an easier time with the comment swap because they're flexible.

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On another note, I think using word counts to control quality is not going to be effective, and there is evidence of that in all the comment swap threads on the site. Even after imposing word counts, you still get bogus comments, even after raising the limits.

What does work is strict monitoring. In the review thread, users who give bad reviews have their comments deleted. We need users to report bad comments, so that those users can be banned from the swap.

Additionally, in the review thread, you have to comment on five separate things that are not grammar or spelling related, which encourages users to comment on things like plot, characterization, dialog, word choice, etc. I think that kind of requirement will be more effective than requiring a certain number of words.