Have Feedback Ratios Improved?

[morgandawn]

When fans began posting their fanfic to the Internet, the number of zine submissions dropped and kept dropping.  One of the reasons writers gave was that by posting online they got more feedback. I don't know how many websites allow you to track who has read your story, but in the case of fanvids, I can track my vid downloads. And the feedback ratio....well it has been less than 1/2 of 1000 percent. In fact, I had one potential viewer send me an angry email because my standard "welcome to my vids and here is the password" message contained the following peremptory language: "And don't forget to send the vidders feedback. Enjoy!"   Apparently I was rude for both demanding feedback and ordering them to enjoy the vids.

Anyhow, the year is 1992 and in the letterzine Southern Enclave,  the editor of  the fanzine Tremor in the Force writes: "I have received 7 LOCs out of the 150 copies sold." (5%)  The editor of Bright Center to the Universe estimated her feedback ratio to be slightly higher, around 10%

Comments

[klia]

We rarely get feedback about anything on our site, anymore. It's gotten more scarce over time. One of the reasons I look at our visitor stats is because sometimes I'll find a link where someone mentioned or rec'd a story or vid, and that's the only way we'd ever see it.

[nagasvoice]

There's also the more recent issue with YouTube requiring people to be members of Goggle+ before they can comment, and then the commented-upon has to go to the commenter's own name to see it or something bizarre?? I still don't understand it.

[raine]

I get more kudos than I do comments on AO3, but considering I also remember not getting feedback at all and having to rely solely on hit counts on what I'd posted, it feels like I get more feedback via kudos than I used to just relying on comments. Comments still feel like a treasure to get, though.